Die Bowers
The British luxury manufacturer Bowers
The Pi7 S2 have inherited the somewhat extravagant appearance of their predecessors: Two shimmering metallic cylinders protrude relatively far from the cushions that sit in the ear cup. The design is appealing, so the 7 gram light noble plugs can be a bit conspicuous. The processing of the earphones, which are protected against splash water according to IP45, is of high quality, as expected. And for earbuds that need to be snug in the ear canal, they're relatively comfortable to wear.
The charging case, in which the Pi7 S2 magnetically docks securely on the top, is significantly larger than most other current Bluetooth earphones. It's also pretty to look at with its metal lid, but otherwise doesn't make much of a difference with its hollow-sounding plastic body. For its size, however, it is fairly light at 47 grams.
The dimensions of the box are probably due to its special ability: it can be plugged in via USB-C cable, stereo systems and other devices can be connected to the Pi7 S2 via Bluetooth. For example, you can listen to your records at home with the plugs or enjoy wireless in-flight entertainment on an airplane.
Provided that the silicone attachments that come in only three sizes fit perfectly, the earphones offer users a sound experience that comes close to the sound of good headband headphones. Their sound is at least equivalent to that of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, which is highly valued by ntv.de, or that of the Apple Airpods Pro 2 - and that's saying something.
Bowers
Overall, the tone is warm, but still remains neutral. The British earphones' wide and airy stereo stage is also impressive.
Actually, you don't have to change anything about the excellent sound. But not everyone has the same hearing ability and tastes are known to be different. You can only change the sound with third-party apps. The accompanying application doesn't even offer a rudimentary equalizer with a few sound modes, let alone customization.
In comparison to the lavish apps from Sony, Sennheiser or Jabra, for example, "Music" from Bowers offers a lot
However, the app has an extraordinary extra to offer. You can integrate streaming services like Tidal or Deezer directly to listen to high-resolution music. Thanks to a 24-bit transmission, the Pi7 S2 are able to do this. But you can also just as well use the apps of the services.
For a transmission that is as lossless as possible, the earphones support the Bluetooth codec aptX HD, among other things. The connection is also stable over longer distances, according to Bowers
There is nothing to complain about the active noise cancellation (ANC) of the plugs. In this area they have to admit defeat to the Airpods Pro 2 or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. But the Pi7 S2 are close and are also very effective at dampening traffic noise in particular.
The automatic adjustment of the ANC intensity also works well and it is pleasing that the earphones with active noise cancellation do not sound any different than without. The typical ANC inherent noise is also kept within very narrow limits. And when it comes to perceiving the surroundings well, the app actually gives you the option of determining the strength of the transparency mode yourself.
The endurance is not great with up to five hours with ANC deactivated, with noise cancellation you shouldn't expect more than four hours. In a pinch, 15 minutes in the charging box are enough for the Pi7 S2 to last around two hours. The case, which can also be charged inductively, offers reserves of up to 16 hours with a full tank.
Die Bowers
