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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
For high-quality sound and active noise cancelling in a portable form, the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 earbuds are an excellent choice, especially if you value a premium listening experience for music and air travel. They're also suitable if you need a comfortable fit and are using them with devices that support aptX HD codec or prioritize low latency. On the other hand, the JBL Live 670NC headphones provide better value if you’re looking for durability, longer battery life, and the convenience of having both wireless and wired options. They also come with a foldable design for easier storage, and their sound is tailored for enjoying audiobooks and podcasts. However, you'll sacrifice some sound quality with the JBLs compared to the Bowers and Wilkins. If call quality is a frequent need, both offer good microphones, but the Bowers and Wilkins fall short on call performance. Choose the Pi7 S2 for premium sound and features, or the 670NC for good performance on a tighter budget with longer battery life. 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
Advantages of the JBL Live 670NC
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5
6.5
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is good for music, while the JBL Live 670NC is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.2
7.4
The JBL Live 670NC is good for phone calls, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6
8.6
The JBL Live 670NC is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
TV and Video
6.0
5.5
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is only fair for TV and video, while the JBL Live 670NC is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
6.7
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Live 670NC is only fair.
Battery
5.0 Hours
65.0 Hours
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has 5 hours of battery life. The JBL Live 670NC has 65 hours of battery life.
Cost
$259
$100
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has a price of $259 and the JBL Live 670NC costs $100.
Build Quality
8.9
8.0
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and JBL Live 670NC both have very good build quality, though the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has somewhat better build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.3
5.4
The JBL Live 670NC and Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 are both poor for gaming.
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How the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and the JBL Live 670NC compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 | JBL Live 670NC |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$259 | $100 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bowers and Wilkins | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | March 1, 2024 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 5.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 6/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 65 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.75 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 13 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 217 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."
Get a great deal on the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 or the JBL Live 670NC
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
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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