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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're seeking high-quality wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling and better overall sound quality, the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 are suitable, especially for air travel and noise isolation. They also offer sweat and dust resistance, making them favorable for exercising. However, they come with a premium price. On the other hand, the Sony MDREX15AP are wired, budget-friendly, and excel in TV and video audio performance, but they lack wireless capability, active noise cancelling, and are not sweatproof. So, if budget is a concern and you don't mind wires or external noise, the Sony might be a better fit. 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 MDREX15AP
Very good for music
Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.8/10
8.3/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is very good for music, while the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is only fair.
Gaming
8.1/10
6.7/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is very good for gaming, while the Sony MDREX15AP is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.1/10
3.5/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 and Sony MDREX15AP are both poor for phone calls, though the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.8/10
5.4/10
The Sony MDREX15AP and Bowers and Wilkins PI7 are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Sony MDREX15AP is somewhat better.
TV and Video
6.8/10
9.3/10
The Sony MDREX15AP is excellent for TV and video, while the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
7.0/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 is very good for noise reduction, while the Sony MDREX15AP is good.
Battery
3.0 Hours
N/A
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 has 3 hours of battery life. The Sony MDREX15AP does not have a battery.
Cost
$399
$20
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 has a price of $399 and the Sony MDREX15AP costs $20.
Build Quality
8.9/10
8.0/10
The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 and Sony MDREX15AP both have very good build quality, though the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 has somewhat better 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."
"At the ultra budget $10 price-point (and we’ve seen the no-mic version go for as cheap as $7), I’d say these are a decent option if you’re looking for a passable pair of earbuds for basic use that’s as cheap as possible. I wouldn’t say they feel or sound as good as some of the ultra-budget alternatives out there – of which there are a few at this point – but some might disagree. I will say though that the cable is a little bit nicer than those of that same competition."
Get a great deal on the Bowers and Wilkins PI7 or the Sony MDREX15AP
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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