Bowers & Wilkins Pi6From real comments

Verdict distilled from 16 mentions across 9 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment25%
PROS 25%
CONS 75%

Rank based on 16 mentions across 9 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want to tune the sound via the app's EQ rather than accept the flat default tuning
  • You value B&W's willingness to push firmware updates like the October 26 touch-control customization fix
  • You mainly listen from a single connected device and don't need seamless multipoint switching

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need rock-solid reliability, since some units arrived with a dead earbud or persistent bugs
  • You rely on multipoint pairing, as connections reportedly drop when paired to more than one device
  • You want a low-profile in-ear fit, since some find the earbuds protrude too much for comfortable exercise use

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choiceBest value
1Budget
EarFun Free
Strong bass and sound qualityGreat value for priceComfortable, secure, low-profile fit
EarFun Free
Strong bass and sound quality
Great value for price
Comfortable, secure, low-profile fit
2Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
3Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
4Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
5Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
6Premium
Lewitt MTP W950
Studio-quality vocal soundMinimal monitor and drum bleedTrusted for regular gig useDistracting large logoHigh price tag
Lewitt MTP W950
Studio-quality vocal sound
Minimal monitor and drum bleed
Trusted for regular gig use
Distracting large logo
High price tag
7Mid
Wharfedale Denton 85
Warm, non-fatiguing soundStrong bass without needing a subwooferExcellent build quality and finishCan be overwhelming at higher volumes in smaller roomsLess precise detail retrieval than pricier speakersPlacement-sensitive for best imaging
Wharfedale Denton 85
Warm, non-fatiguing sound
Strong bass without needing a subwoofer
Excellent build quality and finish
Can be overwhelming at higher volumes in smaller rooms
Less precise detail retrieval than pricier speakers
Placement-sensitive for best imaging
8Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
9Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
10Premium
Sennheiser MKH 8040
High Owner SatisfactionExceptional Sound ClarityGreat for Field RecordingHigh PriceNot Omnidirectional / More MuffledUltrasonic Self-Noise & Wind Rumble
Sennheiser MKH 8040
High Owner Satisfaction
Exceptional Sound Clarity
Great for Field Recording
High Price
Not Omnidirectional / More Muffled
Ultrasonic Self-Noise & Wind Rumble
You are here
31Premium
Bowers & Wilkins Pi6
Rich Sound Quality After EQ TuningCustomizable EQ in AppFirmware-Enabled Touch Control CustomizationUnit Reliability ProblemsComfort and Fit ConcernsPrice Versus Functional Issues
Bowers & Wilkins Pi6
Rich Sound Quality After EQ Tuning
Customizable EQ in App
Firmware-Enabled Touch Control Customization
Unit Reliability Problems
Comfort and Fit Concerns
Price Versus Functional Issues

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Sound quality shines once you dig into the EQ. Several commenters initially found the Pi6 sounding dull and flat out of the box, but discovered the companion app includes an EQ that transforms the listening experience once bass and treble are adjusted. One direct comparison against the AirPods Pro 2 rated the Pi6's sound quality as much better, even while flagging weaker noise cancellation and pass-through performance. For buyers willing to spend time tuning the app settings, the payoff in sound seems to be worth it.

Reliability and connection stability are recurring complaints. Multiple buyers report frustrating functional problems: one earbud arrived completely silent, another needed a case reset to clear a persistent bug, and long-term Pi7 owners describe years without a firmware fix for ongoing issues. Pairing to more than one device reportedly makes the earbuds nearly unusable as the connection keeps dropping and interrupting playback. Given the premium price, several commenters feel these bugs and instability are hard to justify and undermine confidence in day-to-day reliability.

Comfort and touch controls divide opinion. The earbuds' shape and touch interface draw mixed reactions. Some dislike how far they protrude from the ear compared to more streamlined designs, and one commenter worried the strong seal required might make them uncomfortable during exercise. Touch controls initially only offered limited customization, frustrating users who wanted independent volume and ANC control, though Bowers & Wilkins later released an October 26 firmware update addressing that specific complaint.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?