When it comes to wireless earbuds in 2024, we're seeing some fascinating divergent approaches to how we should experience our music. Today, we'll compare two premium options: the $229 Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and the $399 Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, which represent dramatically different philosophies about how we should listen to audio.
The wireless earbud market has matured significantly since Apple launched the original AirPods in 2016. We've moved beyond just cutting the cord - today's premium earbuds offer sophisticated features like spatial audio (which creates a 3D soundstage around your head) and advanced noise cancellation.
What's particularly interesting is how manufacturers are now targeting specific use cases rather than trying to be all things to all people. The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and B&W Pi8 perfectly illustrate this trend.
Bose's approach with their Ultra Open Earbuds is genuinely innovative. Instead of plugging your ears, these earbuds clip around the outside, using directional speakers to send sound into your ear canal while leaving it unobstructed. Think of it like having tiny speakers positioned near your ears rather than inside them.
This design offers several benefits:
The B&W Pi8, released in late 2023, takes the traditional sealed approach but elevates it to new heights. They use premium materials and sophisticated driver technology (the tiny speakers inside the earbuds) originally developed for high-end headphones. The result is audiophile-grade sound in a compact package.
The Bose Ultra Open offers surprisingly good sound given their design constraints. Music is clear and detailed, though bass is naturally limited because the earbuds don't seal in your ear canal. They're particularly good with podcasts and vocal-heavy music. The spatial audio feature creates an impressive sense of space, though it does reduce battery life.
The B&W Pi8 delivers reference-quality audio that rivals many high-end wired earphones. They support the latest aptX Lossless codec (think CD-quality wireless audio, if you have a compatible Android phone), and their custom-designed drivers provide exceptional detail and powerful bass. For home theater use, they even include a clever feature where the case can transmit audio from your TV, solving lip-sync issues common with Bluetooth.
Both products handle basic tasks well, but they shine in different scenarios:
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds excel at:
B&W Pi8 strengths:
Both support quick charging, but neither offers wireless charging - a surprising omission at these price points.
Both earbuds support Bluetooth 5.4 and multipoint connectivity (connecting to two devices simultaneously). The B&W Pi8's support for aptX Lossless is a significant advantage for Android users, while iPhone users will get identical audio quality from either model due to Apple's AAC codec restrictions.
Bose's app is straightforward and intuitive, offering basic EQ adjustments and control customization. B&W's app is more sophisticated, with detailed EQ controls and streaming service integration, though it can be a bit overwhelming at first.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds at $229 represent good value if their unique design aligns with your needs. They're essentially creating a new category, and while the price is premium, there aren't many alternatives offering the same features.
The B&W Pi8 at $399 are undeniably expensive, but they compete with high-end audio products costing much more. If sound quality is your primary concern and you'll use them for multiple purposes (music, movies, calls), they can justify their cost.
The B&W Pi8's case transmission feature is genuinely useful for late-night viewing, offering better audio quality than typical TV wireless headphones. The Bose aren't really suited for this use case due to their open design.
The Bose are clearly superior for outdoor activities, offering better situational awareness and stability. While both are sweat-resistant, the Bose's open design means there's less to worry about in terms of moisture damage.
Both excel in different work environments. The Bose are perfect for collaborative offices, while the B&W's noise cancellation makes them ideal for focusing in noisy spaces.
Choose the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds if:
Choose the B&W Pi8 if:
These two products represent diverging paths in personal audio. The Bose approach suggests a future where technology adapts to our need to stay connected to our environment, while B&W continues pushing the boundaries of what's possible in traditional wireless audio.
Both approaches have merit, and your choice should ultimately depend on how you plan to use them most often. Consider your typical listening environment, desired level of isolation, and whether you prioritize awareness over absolute sound quality.
Remember: there's no universally "best" choice - only the best choice for your specific needs and preferences.
| $229 Bose Ultra Open Earbuds | $399 Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 |
|---|---|
| Design Type - Determines isolation and awareness | |
| Open-ear clip-on (full environmental awareness) | Traditional sealed in-ear (isolation focused) |
| Sound Quality - Core feature impacting overall experience | |
| Good but limited bass, clear mids | Exceptional full-range audio with deep bass |
| Noise Cancellation - Critical for commuting and noisy environments | |
| None (by design) | Advanced ANC with adjustable levels |
| Battery Life - Important for all-day use | |
| 7.5 hours (4.5 with spatial audio) | 6.5 hours with ANC (20 total with case) |
| Water Resistance - Essential for exercise use | |
| IPX4 (splash resistant) | IP54 (dust and water resistant) |
| Key Audio Features - Affects versatility and sound quality | |
| Spatial audio, automatic volume adjustment | aptX Lossless, case audio retransmission |
| Fit Stability - Important for active use | |
| Excellent (clip design stays put) | Good (traditional IEM fit) |
| Use With Glasses - Important for eyewear users | |
| Excellent (no interference) | May cause pressure points |
| Call Quality - Important for work use | |
| Good in quiet environments | Excellent with noise suppression |
| Multipoint Connectivity - Useful for multiple devices | |
| Yes (2 devices) | Yes (2 devices) |
The $399 Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 is significantly better for home theater use due to its case audio retransmission feature and superior sound isolation. The $229 Bose Ultra Open design isn't ideal for movie watching since ambient noise can interfere with dialogue.
The key difference is their design approach. The Bose Ultra Open uses a clip-on design that doesn't seal your ear canal, while the B&W Pi8 uses traditional sealed earbuds with noise cancellation.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds offer 7.5 hours (4.5 with spatial audio), while the B&W Pi8 provides 6.5 hours with ANC enabled. Both include charging cases for extended use.
Yes, both work for this purpose, but the B&W Pi8 is superior due to its noise isolation and special TV audio transmission case feature. The Bose Ultra Open may leak sound that could disturb others nearby.
The B&W Pi8 delivers superior overall sound quality with fuller bass and better detail. The Bose Ultra Open sounds good but has limited bass due to its open design.
Both handle calls well, but the B&W Pi8 performs better in noisy environments due to noise cancellation. The Bose Ultra Open works best in quiet settings.
The Bose Ultra Open is significantly more comfortable with glasses due to its clip-on design. The B&W Pi8 may cause pressure points where glasses arms meet the earbuds.
The B&W Pi8 is much better for air travel, offering noise cancellation and superior isolation. The Bose Ultra Open isn't designed for noisy environments like airplanes.
Yes, both are compatible with all smartphones. However, the B&W Pi8 offers additional high-quality audio features (aptX Lossless) only for Android users.
The B&W Pi8 has better dust and water resistance (IP54) compared to the Bose Ultra Open's IPX4 rating, though both are suitable for light exercise.
Yes, both the Bose Ultra Open and B&W Pi8 support multipoint connectivity for two devices simultaneously.
The B&W Pi8 justifies its higher price through superior sound quality and features, especially for home theater use. The Bose Ultra Open offers good value if you specifically need its open-ear design features.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: rtings.com - techradar.com - consumerreports.org - runnersworld.com - soundguys.com - bose.com - nfm.com - bose.com - youtube.com - bose.com - bose.com - colorware.com - techradar.com - thetechnovore.com - youtube.com - youtube.com - audioadvice.com - audioholics.com - avnirvana.com - bowerswilkins.com - audioholics.com - digitaltrends.com
