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Pi5 S2
Company ProductName Specs




Live 770NC
Company ProductName Specs




What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·

If portability and wireless convenience are your main concerns, the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 earbuds are compact and have better noise isolation. However, they're pricier and lack the over-ear comfort and longer battery life of the JBL Live 770NC headphones. The JBLs are better for extended use, with a foldable design and better battery life, plus the versatility of being both wireless and wired. The Pi5 S2 is optimized for both Android and Apple devices and has features like sweat and dust resistance, making them better suited for use during exercise. If budget is less of a concern and you prioritize a secure fit and active noise canceling for air travel or exercise, go with the Pi5 S2; if you want comfort and affordability without sacrificing overall sound quality, consider the JBL Live 770NC. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2
  • The Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 has no clear advantages over the JBL Live 770NC.
Advantages of the JBL Live 770NC
  • Good for music
  • Excellent for air travel

Key differences

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Music

6.7
Pi5 S2
Live 770NC
7.4
The JBL Live 770NC is good for music, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is only fair.

Noise Reduction

8.3
Pi5 S2
Live 770NC
7.0
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Live 770NC is good.

Battery

5.0 Hours
Pi5 S2
Live 770NC
76.0 Hours
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 has 5 hours of battery life. The JBL Live 770NC has 76 hours of battery life.

Build Quality

8.9
Pi5 S2
Live 770NC
8.0
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 and JBL Live 770NC both have very good build quality, though the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 has somewhat better build quality.
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Key similarities

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Gaming

5.3
Pi5 S2
Live 770NC
5.6
The JBL Live 770NC and Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 are both poor for gaming.

Phone Calls

5.0
Pi5 S2
Live 770NC
5.2
The JBL Live 770NC and Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 are both poor for phone calls.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

5.6
Pi5 S2
Live 770NC
5.9
The JBL Live 770NC and Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks.

TV and Video

5.6
Pi5 S2
Live 770NC
5.8
The JBL Live 770NC and Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 are both poor for TV and video.

Cost

$129
Pi5 S2
Live 770NC
$130
Product imageProduct image

$0

$50

$100

$150

$200

The Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 has a price of $129 and the JBL Live 770NC costs $130.

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How the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 and the JBL Live 770NC compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2JBL Live 770NC
Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2JBL Live 770NC

GENERAL

Price
$129
$130
Brand
Bowers and WilkinsJBL
Release Date
January 1, 2023March 1, 2024
Form Factor
EarbudsHeadphones
Connectivity
WirelessWired + Wireless

SOUND

Music Score
6.8/107.5/10
Phone Calls Score
5.1/105.3/10
Gaming Score
5.3/105.6/10
TV and Video Score
5.6/105.8/10
Exercise Score
6.3/106.1/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
5 Hours76 Hours
Wireless charging
YesNo
Charging time
0.75 Hours2 Hours
Bluetooth version
55.3
Case Battery Life
19N/A

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
YesYes
Noise Reduction Score
8.4/107/10
Virtual Surround
NoYes
Android App
YesYes
iOS App
YesYes
Mic Quality
6.5/107/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
8.9/108/10
Comfort score
8/107/10
Size
LargeMedium
Weight (headset or single earbud)
6 Grams220 Grams
Microphone style
IntegratedIntegrated

Shopping

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Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2

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Dig into reviews and images

Major HiFi

Chris Golembeski | January 2023
"Bowers and Wilkins isn’t looking to make an obscure, premium wireless bud catered specifically towards audiophiles. Instead, it seems apparent that they’re going for the crown: a cool and popular look, an easy and comfortable fit, and an engaging stage with a great balance that is perfectly suited for mainstream listeners and audiophiles alike."

Get a great deal on the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 or the JBL Live 770NC

About Bowers and Wilkins

Bowers and Wilkins is a British audio equipment manufacturer with a focus on innovation and product development. It was founded by a couple of real-life James Bonds, the co-founders John Bowers and Roy Wilkins, who met while working for MI6 during World War II. The company keeps being favored by enthusiasts due to their sound quality, craftsmanship and signature aesthetics.

About JBL

JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

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Why trust us

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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
106,700
Recommendations made
16,005
Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

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