Bowers & Wilkins x McLaren Launch Pi8 McLaren Edition: Luxury Sound Meets Supercar Style

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 McLaren Edition is a limited-edition variant of the Pi8 True Wireless in-ear headphones, developed in collaboration with the British automotive brand McLaren. This partnership, which began in 2015, has primarily focused on integrating B&W audio systems into McLaren vehicles. The Pi8 McLaren Edition extends this relationship into the portable audio segment, with cosmetic design elements inspired by McLaren's signature aesthetics.

Design and Build

While functionally identical to the standard Pi8, this edition features McLaren branding and a distinct McLaren Grey and Papaya Orange color scheme applied to both the earbuds and the charging case. These visual elements are designed to reflect McLaren’s automotive design language. The package includes a USB-C charging cable, analog minijack cable, and four sizes of silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, L).

The build incorporates materials such as diamond-cut aluminum for accenting, lending a premium feel. The earbuds also support touch-based user interaction for controlling playback and calls.

Audio and Connectivity Features

The Pi8 McLaren Edition features 12mm Carbon Cone drivers developed specifically for this model, aimed at delivering high-fidelity sound. Audio codec support includes aptX Lossless for full CD-quality playback, and aptX Adaptive for high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/96kHz, depending on source device compatibility. Note that these codecs require a supported Android device to function.

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Users can also connect the earbuds to a source device via USB-C using the charging case as a wired DAC. This can be practical in desktop environments or during travel, providing both audio transmission and charging simultaneously.

Noise Cancellation and Smart Features

Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC) is built-in and utilizes microphones to automatically adjust to ambient sound levels. This feature is designed for use in varying environments, such as offices and aircraft cabins. Additionally, the earbuds support multipoint connectivity, allowing simultaneous pairing with two Bluetooth devices—enabling seamless switching between, for example, a smartphone and a tablet.

Battery performance is rated at 6.5 hours per charge with ANC enabled. The charging case extends this to approximately 20 hours total. Wireless charging via Qi standard is supported, and a 15-minute quick charge provides up to 2 hours of playback.

App and Additional Controls

The earbuds are compatible with the Bowers & Wilkins Music app, which enables users to customize ANC settings, remap touch controls, and adjust audio preferences. The app also provides integrated access to streaming services such as TIDAL, Qobuz, and Deezer.

The earbuds support voice assistants (Google Assistant, Siri, Amazon Alexa), and include a hear-through mode for ambient awareness. A smart pause feature automatically halts playback when one earbud is removed and resumes when reinserted.

Each earbud houses three microphones to assist with both noise cancellation and voice call clarity.

Price: $580

Pi8 McLaren Edition specifications:

Feature	Description
Technical Features	High-performance DSP with dedicated DSP and amplifier/DAC True 24-bit audio connection Five-band customisable EQ + TrueSound™ mode Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX™ Lossless technology Multipoint connectivity Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Audio retransmission from charging case (aptX Adaptive) Wireless and USB-C charging Fast charging support Apple® MFi Made For iPhone® support
Wearing Style	In-Ear Noise-Cancelling True Wireless Earbuds
Bluetooth Codecs	aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX Classic, AAC, SBC
Microphones	3 per earbud for telephony and ANC
Drive Units	12mm Carbon Cone
Battery Type	Rechargeable Lithium Ion (earbuds and charging case)
Battery Life* & Charging	Up to 6.5 hours for earbuds (with ANC on) Additional 13.5 hours from charging case Charge time = 2 hours 15-minute charge = 2 hours playback
Wireless Charging Support	Yes
Water Resistance	IP54 (earbuds)
Audio Inputs	Earbuds: Bluetooth Charging case: USB-C & 3.5mm analogue jack (wireless audio retransmission via charging case)
Accessories	Extra Small / Small / Medium / Large ear tips 60cm USB-C to USB-C charging cable 80cm 3.5mm jack to USB-C audio cable
Dimensions	Charging case: 65mm (w) × 29mm (d) × 52mm (h)
Weight	Earbuds: 7 g (each), Charging case: 46 g
Finishes	Galvanic Grey / Papaya

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