Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 vs Technics EAH-AZ100
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 (#2, best premium) vs Technics EAH-AZ100 (#3): in our Earbuds for Studio scoring the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 totals 8.9/10 and the Technics EAH-AZ100 8.7/10, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 leading on Codec Support and Distortion.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 | Technics EAH-AZ100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $375 | $297.99 |
| Driver | 12mm carbon cone | 10mm magnetic fluid, aluminum diaphragm |
| Audio Chain | True 32-bit, dedicated DAC per earbud | — |
| Codecs | aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive | LDAC, AAC, LC3 |
| Features | TrueSound mode, case retransmission | Acoustic Control Chamber, Harmonizer |
| EQ | — | 8-band in-app |
How they differ in real use
Built from our earbuds studio scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and the Technics EAH-AZ100 made our Top 5 Earbuds for Studio, at #2 (best premium) and #3. 3.5mm input case enables lossless monitoring from any source—professional connectivity meets audiophile sound. Balanced, neutral signature perfect for checking how mixes translate to consumer devices.
We score earbuds for studio on Accuracy (40%), Detail Resolution (25%), Codec Support (15%), Distortion (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 totals 8.9 out of 10 and the Technics EAH-AZ100 8.7. The widest gap is Codec Support, where the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 scores 9.5 against 9 for the Technics EAH-AZ100 — lossless wireless options. Distortion also separates them: 9 for the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 versus 8.5 for the Technics EAH-AZ100.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Driver — 12mm carbon cone on the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 versus 10mm magnetic fluid, aluminum diaphragm on the Technics EAH-AZ100; Codecs — aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive on the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 versus LDAC, AAC, LC3 on the Technics EAH-AZ100; Features — TrueSound mode, case retransmission on the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 versus Acoustic Control Chamber, Harmonizer on the Technics EAH-AZ100.
Pricing as of August 19, 2026: $375 for the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and $297.99 for the Technics EAH-AZ100, a $77.01 difference in the Technics EAH-AZ100's favor. Owners praise the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 for case connects to any audio source and true 32-bit processing; the most common complaint is highest price. Owners praise the Technics EAH-AZ100 for derived from $1,199 reference IEMs and magnetic fluid minimizes distortion; the most common complaint is not flat reference (needs EQ).
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
- Case connects to any audio source
- True 32-bit processing
- Dedicated DAC per earbud
- TrueSound mode (disables EQ)
- Highest price
- Short battery (6.5h)
- Still Bluetooth latency limitations
Technics EAH-AZ100
- Derived from $1,199 reference IEMs
- Magnetic fluid minimizes distortion
- Harmonizer soundstage expansion
- Hi-Res certified with LDAC
- Not flat reference (needs EQ)
- ANC not best-in-class
- Comfort limited for some
Which should you buy?
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 is the better fit for connecting professional gear wirelessly and studio interface monitoring — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Codec Support and Distortion. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is the better fit for mobile reference checks and noisy environment monitoring. If the $77.01 saving matters more than Codec Support, the Technics EAH-AZ100 is the better value. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 is a poor fit for real-time tracking; the Technics EAH-AZ100 is a poor fit for critical mixing.
Choose the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 if
- Connecting professional gear wirelessly
- Studio interface monitoring
- Mobile production
Skip it if
- Real-time tracking
- Budget studios
Choose the Technics EAH-AZ100 if
- Mobile reference checks
- Noisy environment monitoring
- Checking consumer translation
Skip it if
- Critical mixing
- Tracking sessions
Common questions
Is the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 better than the Technics EAH-AZ100?
In our Earbuds for Studio ranking the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 scores higher overall, 8.9 to 8.7, with the biggest advantage in Codec Support. The Technics EAH-AZ100 does not out-score it on any criterion we weigh.
How much more does the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 cost than the Technics EAH-AZ100?
$77.01 more as of August 19, 2026: $375 for the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 against $297.99 for the Technics EAH-AZ100. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Codec Support — 9.5 versus 9 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and the Technics EAH-AZ100?
The headline spec difference is Driver: 12mm carbon cone on the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 versus 10mm magnetic fluid, aluminum diaphragm on the Technics EAH-AZ100. In use, the gap that matters most is Codec Support (9.5 vs 9 in our scoring): lossless wireless options.