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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are premium earbuds offering excellent sound quality, comfort, and noise isolation, with added features like active noise cancelling, sweat and dustproof certification, and low latency which makes them suitable for a variety of uses including air travel and exercise. However, they have a shorter battery life and are optimized for Android and Apple devices with additional app controls customization. The JBL 510BT headphones are more budget-friendly, have a significantly longer battery life, and offer good built-in controls with a durable on-ear design that's foldable for portability. They lack advanced features like active noise cancelling and sweatproof certification, making them less versatile for noisy environments or physical activities. Consider your budget, the importance of sound quality and noise isolation, as well as intended use scenarios such as commuting, exercising, or casual listening when making your decision. 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
- Good for music
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the JBL 510BT
- The JBL 510BT has no clear advantages over the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2.
Key differences
Music
7.5
6.2
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is good for music, while the JBL 510BT is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.3
5.3
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
38.0 Hours
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has 5 hours of battery life. The JBL 510BT has 38 hours of battery life.
Cost
$127
$30
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has a price of $127 and the JBL 510BT costs $30.
Build Quality
8.9
6.5
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has very good build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.3
5.4
The JBL 510BT and Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 are both poor for gaming.
Phone Calls
5.2
5.1
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and JBL 510BT are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6
5.6
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and JBL 510BT are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks.
TV and Video
6.0
5.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 to be only fair for TV and video, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
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How the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and the JBL 510BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 | JBL 510BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$127 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bowers and Wilkins | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | February 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 5.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 5.8/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 38 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.75 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 13 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 158.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2
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Dig into reviews and images
Engadget
Billy Steele | March 2023
"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."
JBL 510BT
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Sam Smart | September 2023
"The JBL Tune 510BT is affordable and compact, making it a great companion for a commute, so long as you don't need active noise canceling. If you wear glasses or have ear piercings, the on-ear design might not be comfortable, since the ear cups will squish your ears."
Get a great deal on the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 or the JBL 510BT
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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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
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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