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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 are more affordable stemless earbuds with good sound quality and active noise cancelling, suitable for exercise with sweat resistance and a snug fit. They're well-suited for air travel and offer portability with a compact carrying case. However, they have lower sound quality and soundstage compared to the Focal Bathys. The Focals are premium over-ear headphones with exceptional audio fidelity and virtual surround, ideal for an immersive experience in gaming and TV. They offer better comfort for extended listening and a more durable build, along with a detachable cable for wired listening, though they are less portable and not optimized for exercise. 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 S2
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has no clear advantages over the Focal Bathys.
Advantages of the Focal Bathys
Very good for music
Excellent for gaming
Best in class for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.5/10
8.0/10
The Focal Bathys is very good for music, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is good.
Gaming
5.3/10
9.3/10
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6/10
6.2/10
The Focal Bathys is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
TV and Video
6.0/10
10.0/10
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is only fair.
Battery
5.0 Hours
31.0 Hours
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has 5 hours of battery life. The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life.
Cost
$127
$699
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has a price of $127 and the Focal Bathys costs $699.
The Focal Bathys and Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 are both poor for phone calls.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
8.3/10
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and Focal Bathys are both very good for noise reduction.
Build Quality
8.9/10
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Focal Bathys to have excellent build quality, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has very good build quality.
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How the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and the Focal Bathys compare to other earbuds and headphones
"While the overall sound quality is great, these earbuds fall short in terms of battery life, customization and ANC performance. Bowers & Wilkins’ ability to consistently deliver pristine sound isn’t enough to make up for what the Pi7 S2 lacks, which is unfortunately quite a bit."
"As much as I hesitate to recommend a headphone that sells for $800 USD, if you’re looking for the best sound quality you can find in the ANC space: it’s the Focal Bathys."
Get a great deal on the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 or the Focal Bathys
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.
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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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