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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize wireless convenience and active noise cancellation for activities like air travel and exercise, the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 with features such as sweatproof certification and AptX Low Latency codec make them suitable for high-quality audio and calls. They're also comfortable and have a good build quality but come at a premium price. On the other hand, the Sony MDR-ZX110 are budget-friendly wired headphones that can be folded for portability and don't require charging, making them straightforward to use, especially if you're concerned about battery life and prefer on-ear headphones. However, they have poor noise isolation and comfort, and the sound quality is not designed for immersive experiences. 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 PI7
Very good for gaming
Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Sony MDR-ZX110
Good for music
Key differences
Music
6.8/10
7.6/10
The Sony MDR-ZX110 is good for music, while the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is only fair.
Gaming
8.1/10
5.9/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is very good for gaming, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1/10
3.0/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 and Sony MDR-ZX110 are both poor for phone calls, though the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.8/10
4.3/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 and Sony MDR-ZX110 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
5.3/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is very good for noise reduction, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Battery
3.0 Hours
N/A
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 has 3 hours of battery life. The Sony MDR-ZX110 does not have a battery.
Cost
$399
$10
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 has a price of $399 and the Sony MDR-ZX110 costs $10.
Build Quality
8.9/10
6.0/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 has very good build quality, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 has only fair build quality.
"The primary selling point of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 is the charging case that can transmit audio from any analog source to the earbuds. If you have a very specific and clear need for that feature, then the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 is for you."
"My opinion about Sony MDR ZX110 is they are the best budget headphones of Sony with top-class sound. Clear vocals, great bass, and balanced sound with low sound distortion. The treble could be sharper, but it's ok. 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give clear and precise audio, and an inline remote with a mic give decent call quality. Closed-Back Design also helps to improve sound performance."
Get a great deal on the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 or the Sony MDR-ZX110
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 Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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.
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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.
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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.