In a crowded market for customer relationship management (CRM) tools, it can be difficult for businesses to determine what is the right solution for their needs. There are a host of platforms on the market today all vying to be crowned the best CRM software. Some focus on workforce management, while others prioritize customer communications. The best solutions perform well across all the functionalities that customers have come to expect from CRM software. Among these options worthy of your consideration is Zendesk Sell.
Part of a suite of solutions that fall under the Zendesk umbrella, Zendesk Sell comes to you from the developers of a customer service tool and a bespoke customer experience platform. This review, however, will focus specifically on Zendesk Sell and why it should be one of the front-runners in your search for a CRM solution.
(Image credit: Zendesk)
Zendesk Sell CRM Review: Snapshot
Zendesk Sell may not be the cheapest CRM platform - especially when it comes to the more advanced tiers - but that won’t be an issue for larger firms. They’ll discover a feature-rich CRM that is well-designed with an intuitive user interface. It integrates nicely with a range of other B2B tools - especially if you are already a user of some of the other Zendesk solutions that are on the market. All-in-all, this is a great CRM tool. The only real downside is the lack of a free plan.
Zendesk Sell CRM Review: Plans and pricing
When you’re assessing any CRM tool, price is unlikely to be far from your thoughts. In fact, for any piece of B2B software, it’s likely to be a core consideration. That’s why in the world of cloud computing, for example, an entire market has developed looking to bring you the best free cloud storage services. The CRM landscape is no different.
It has to be admitted that Zendesk Sell is not the cheapest CRM tool on the market. There is no free plan, and if you’re looking beyond the most basic tier, things can quickly get pricey. The cheapest option, Zendesk Sell Team, is priced at $19 per user, per month, if paid annually and should be fine if all you need is email tracking and a single sales pipeline.
If you require more advanced functionality, you are probably looking for Zendesk Sell Growth of Zendesk Sell Professional. The former costs $49 per user, per month, while the latter is $99. It’s also worth noting that there is also an Enterprise tier, which will set your business back $150 a month.
If you’re comparing purely on price, Zendesk Sell will struggle to keep up with some of the most affordable CRM tools. For instance, Zoho CRM’s Ultimate tier is priced at just $52 per user, per month, which represents a significant saving - particularly if you’ve got a fairly large number of users. Be sure to read our Zoho CRM review for further information about which of the two platforms represents the best value for money.
Of course, businesses shouldn’t simply opt for the cheapest tool available to them. The range of features on offer with Zendesk Sell is impressive - and SMBs may find that it is a better fit for their needs than cheaper tools.
(Image credit: Zendesk Sell)
Zendesk Sell CRM Review: Features
To properly assess the features provided by Zendesk Sell, it’s easiest to break the CRM platform down by pricing plan. The Team tier, for example, does come with team collaboration functionality, letting you track emails, text messages, and calls, but not a great deal else. It does also come with customizable deal pipelines and activity tracking, but the reporting is pretty limited. The features available with this plan might suit smaller firms but might be too limited for larger organizations.
Moving on to the Growth tier, there’s more lead capture functionality and integration with other tools like MailChimp and Zapier. There are also enhanced forecasting and more advanced reporting options. Customers at this price point also gain access to customized sales reports and dashboards, sales forecasting and goal tracking, and advanced activity reports.
Professional customers also gain access to lead and deal scoring, task automation, advanced roles, and permissions, as well as the ability to build a company hierarchy tree to clearly define parent and child company relationships. The ability to further explore automation and analytics features means that this pricing tier is likely to be more suitable for bigger firms.
And finally, the Enterprise tier enables users to create custom notifications and access an automated power dialer, which is a great way of boosting productivity, allowing your employees to reduce the time they spend on customer outreach. Disappointingly, even more advanced functionality is only available as part of the Elite plan - which means additional financial outlay, with this plan costing $199 per user, per month, if paid annually.
Zendesk Sell CRM Review: Ease of use
Although you might find the cost of Zendesk Sell a little steep, the same can’t be said for its learning curve. This is a very user-friendly CRM, with few instructions required. Those you may find yourself reaching for are easily accessible too through a plethora of online lessons and chat support.
Increasing the user-friendliness of Zendesk Sell further still is how customizable the platform is. The ability to modify settings and personal preferences means that it is easy to set the platform up to suit your requirements. This means you are not only less likely to need support when setting up the platform but also throughout your time using it. Training is also available for free online - which is a nice bonus if you aren’t particularly experienced when it comes to using a CRM.
Zendesk Sell CRM Review: Final Verdict
If you’re searching for a CRM tool that ticks all the boxes, Zendesk Sell could be exactly what you need. Although perhaps on the pricier side, customers do receive access to a broad range of features, assembled as part of an intuitive, customizable user interface. As long as you select the right price point for your needs, you are bound to find everything you need to supercharge your sales pipeline.
Casper already makes one of the best pillows that we’ve tested. However, we may be adding the Casper Down Pillow as well. Admittedly, it’s not a budget-priced pillow; however, it does several things well. For starters, if you’re looking for a down pillow, and you’re not impressed with the down alternative options, you’ll appreciate that this duck down pillow doesn’t cost as much as a goose-down pillow. Also, the Casper Down Pillow is actually a pillow within a pillow, and both pillows include duck down and feathers. This combination of materials ensures the pillow is not too light and not too heavy. The pillow, which can be laundered in the washing machine, also has a 5-chamber design that allows it to be a good choice whether you’re a side, back, or stomach sleeper.
And, if you’re looking for a way to really boost your comfort level, take a look at our guide to this year's best mattresses for all budgets.
Casper Down Pillow review in brief
The Casper Down Pillow cradles your neck and head as gently as your mother did when you were a baby. We understand that’s a lot to ask of a pillow, but this one actually delivers. It’s incredibly soft, due to the combination of duck down and feathers, and creates the type of comfort that lulls you to sleep and makes you not want to get out of the bed.
Casper Down Pillow at a glance
Type: Down pillow Best suited to: Back, side, and stomach sleepers Dimensions: Standard: 18” L x 26” W; King: 18” L x 34” W Trial period: 30 days Warranty: 1 year
That was certainly the experience we had over the two weeks that we tested the pillow. It has a 2-inch gusset, and the mid-loft pillow is not too high and not too low. As a result, in every position – side, back, or stomach – we slept soundly and woke up refreshed. We’ve tested a bunch of pillows, and we know (first-hand) that the wrong one can disrupt your sleep cycle and also cause you to wake up with aches and pains.
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
However, the Casper Down Pillow felt delightful, and was soft, yet supportive, night after night after night. This is due in part to the fact that it’s a pillow within a pillow – and both have duck down and feathers. Our tester tends to sleep hot, but remained cool while testing the pillow. She also enjoyed not having to reshape the pillow every morning, although she did reshape it once – sometimes twice – a week. She loved the pillow so much that she actually sighed when the testing cycle was over and she needed to move on to the next pillow review.
Casper Down Pillow review: price and deals
The Casper Down Pillow is one of several pillows sold by the company. With a MSRP of $139 for a standard size, it’s tied with the Casper Foam Pillow with Snow Technology as the company’s most high-end model. However, you can save some money by doubling up on the pillows at Amazon. Two standard Casper Down Pillows cost $269 ($134.50 per pillow) and two king Casper Down Pillows, normally $179 each, cost $349 ($174.50 per pillow).
Among the company’s other pillows, the mid-loft Casper Hybrid Pillow is $99 for a standard size, and the low-loft foam Casper Foam Pillow is $89 for a standard. The prices for rest of the standard pillows, (which are all mid-loft) are as follows: Casper Original Pillow, $65; Casper Essential Cooling Pillow, $65; and Casper Essential Pillow, $45.
Comparing the Casper Down Pillow to competitors, the Parachute Down Pillow is $129 for a standard size, so it’s also considered the luxury pillow. It’s filled with European white down and feather fibers, and comes in a choice of three densities: soft, medium, and firm, which allows you to select the best density. It can also be laundered in the washing machine.
Another choice for a cloud-like experience (that’s not a down pillow) is the Tempur-Pedic Tempur Cloud Pillow, which has a soft to medium-soft firmness level. The low-profile pillow includes NASA-developed Tempur material that conforms to the shape of your head. While the pillow can’t be washed, the cover can be removed and laundered in the washing machine.
Casper Down Pillow: from $139/Queen pillow atCasper
The Casper Down Pillow is filled with duck down - and it also includes a small percentage of feathers. This combination of materials makes it ultra-soft. However, the 2-inch gusset and 5-chamber design also provide neck and head support, and makes it comfortable for any sleeping position. It’s the same price at Amazon.View Deal
Casper Down Pillow review: design and materials
Combination of ethically-sourced duck down, and feathers
Pillow within a pillow
Pillow is machine washable
The Casper Down Pillow is actually a pillow within a pillow! The outer pillow consists of 80% white duck down (ethically-sourced) and a 20% feather outer chamber. The inner pillow consists of 60% white duck down and 40% feather inner chambers. In addition, the pillow has a 100% cotton outer shell, and 100% polyester inner panels. If all of this sounds confusing, here’s the take home point: the outer chambers contribute to the soft, cloud-like feeling, and the inner chambers provide support for your neck while you’re sleeping.
While the duck down is soft, the feathers provide weight, and the combination of materials result in a pillow that is ultra-soft, while also supportive. The 5-chamber design, which includes a 2-inch gusset, allows the pillow to be responsive enough to support any sleeping position: side, back, or stomach. The mid-loft pillow isn’t too high or too low, and that’s what also makes it a good choice regardless of your sleep position.
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
Although it feels like sleeping on a cloud, the pillow also springs back to the touch. That’s why it doesn’t need to be fluffed every day. In addition, the pillow is cool to the touch and by providing temperature regulation, it ensures that you can avoid waking up hot and sweaty.
And when you need to clean the pillow, it can be tossed into the washing machine, unlike many of the pillows we test that have removable and washable covers. While a washable cover is convenient, the ability to wash the pillow itself provides a more hygienic experience.
Casper Down Pillow review: performance
Soft as a cloud
5-chamber design provides support
Cool to the touch
We slept on a pair of Casper Down Pillow for over two weeks to see how they fared in performance - testing for set up, comfort, support, and temperature regulation. We also changed up our sleeping positions, alternating between side, stomach, and back positions to see if performance was consistent throughout. Here’s how we got on...
Setup
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
5 of 5 stars
The pair of Casper Down Pillows arrived in Casper-branded boxes. We always have mixed feelings when this happens. The choice not to use more cardboard than necessary shows the company cares about excess waste. However, we also tend to be concerned that branded boxes may be more appealing to “bad actors” looking for something to steal during the shipping and delivery process.
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
Each pillow was securely wrapped in its individual box. After cutting through the plastic, the pillows started expanding immediately. Our tester left the room and came back 30 minutes later to find the pillows completely expanded and already fluffy.
Temperature regulation
5 out of 5 stars
The Casper Down Pillows were cool to the touch. Unlike memory foam pillows, which can be heavy and retain heat (unless they are infused with cooling properties), down pillows tend not to be hot. And this one certainly wasn’t. The 100% cotton outer shell is designed not to trap heat, so it helps to keep the body cool, and our tester slept quite comfortably. Some pillows are “cool” but not actually “cool to the touch.” However, our tester said this was one of the few pillows that actually felt cool to the touch. We tested them when the weather was cold, so our tester also had a weighted blanket on the bed during part of the testing process.
Since the pillows were cool to the touch, it would be expected that our tester would sleep cool without additional bedding. However, even when we later added the wintertime bedding, she didn’t wake up hot and sweaty, due to the pillow’s design.
Firmness and support
5 out of 5 stars
Although the Casper Down Pillow is soft as a cloud, it still provides exceptional support. That’s because of the 5-chamber design, which adapts to the body and provides support in any position. So, whether our tester slept on her side or stomach (her default combination positions), her neck was aligned and supported.
And even when she slept on her back, our tester reported being comfortable, because the pillow was able to adapt to this change in sleeping position.
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
But keep in mind that our tester likes fluffy pillows and mid-to high-lofts. And, regardless of what the experts say about sleeping positions, sleepers tend to have individual preferences, so, for example, one side sleeper may love this pillow, whereas, another side sleeper might find the pillow too soft, or find the 2-inch gusset too high.
As a general rule, the pillow bounces back on its own. However, roughly every 5 or so days, our tester also refluffed it. Casper recommends a weekly fluff that entails holding the opposite corners of the pillow and pushing in and out diagonally, and then repeating with the other two corners. However, our tester just tossed it in the dryer on the “Air Fluff” setting.”
Casper Down Pillow review: user reviews
On Amazon, the Casper Down Pillow has 4.1 out of 5 stars, with 402 ratings. Overall, consumers found it to be a high-quality pillow that’s soft, fluffy, and comfortable. Many stated that it alleviated neck pain. However, some consumers said it was super comfortable – but not firm or thick. Others stated that they woke up with neck and back pain because they couldn’t fluff the pillow back up.
On the Casper site, the Casper Down Pillow has 4.3 out of 5 stars, with 128 reviews. Many buyers said it was soft and supportive, and stated that they no longer had neck pain. Those who didn’t like it either said it was mushy or it was flat.
Should you buy the Casper Down Pillow?
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
If you want a down pillow, we wholeheartedly recommend the Casper Down Pillow. After spending over two weeks testing it, we found the pillow to be quite impressive in a variety of areas. The fact that it’s a pillow in a pillow is a unique concept that we like. The combination of duck down and feathers makes the design incredibly soft, but not so soft that the pillow can’t provide the right degree of support. Also, the down is ethically sourced, which is important to us. In addition, we like that the 2-inch gusset means the pillow is not too high and not too low. In either position, it provided an extremely comfortable sleep experience. The pillow also sprang back and retained its shape most of the time, only needing to be fluffed weekly.
The fact that the pillow is cool to the touch is another feature that our tester loved since she tends to sleep hot. And the ability to launder the actual pillow instead of just the cover is yet another feature that sold us on the Casper Down Pillow.
Casper also provides a 30-night trial, and a 1-year warranty, so you have time to decide if the pillow meets your needs or not.
However, we realize that some people may find the Casper Down Pillow too soft or the loft too high. Another down pillow option is the Parachute Down Pillow, which is $129 for a standard size. This pillow is filled with European white down and feather fibers, and since it comes in a choice of three densities (soft, medium, and firm), consumers can choose their preferred style. The Parachute Down Pillow can also be laundered in the washing machine.
If you want a soft pillow that doesn’t have down fill, the Tempur-Pedic Tempur Cloud Pillow has a soft to medium-soft firmness level. It’s a low-profile pillow that’s made of NASA-developed Tempur material, and conforms to the shape of your head. It’s not a machine-washable pillow, but the pillow’s cover can be removed and laundered in the washing machine.
But we think the Casper Down Pillow is definitely worth a try because it gets so many things right. The pillow manages to find the perfect balance between luxurious softness, effective support, and temperature regulation – and the pillow is easy to maintain.
The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX wireless earbuds presented plenty of promise when they were announced in April 2022. In true B&O style, they looked unlike any of the best wireless earbuds already available, exhibiting gorgeous Scandinavian design that would make them just as much a luxury accessory as a pair of earbuds. But with an equally luxurious $399 / £349 / AU$650 price tag, they had to offer substance as well as style to justify the investment.
And boy do they. If you’re looking for some of the best-sounding wireless earbuds, then you can end your search here. The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX exceeded all my expectations in the sound department to the point where I had to question how good my own pair of Apple AirPods Pro 2 actually were. Serving up perfect levels of bass and treble in my opinion, the Beoplay EX offers one of the best musical experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to.
Key to Beoplay EX’s success is the sheer amount of sound profile customization you can perform from within the companion app. Rather than just offer a range of presets – although these are there if you want – B&O serves you up with a touch-controlled on-screen dial that lets you fine tune the sound equalizer to set them up to your exact preferences. You can even save a multitude of sound profiles to seamlessly switch between depending on the genre of music you’re listening to.
The engineers at Bang & Olufsen also upped the ante of the Beoplay EX’s adaptive noise cancelation smarts, and it does indeed work exceptionally well. It may not be on the same level as the ANC found on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, but this is hardly a criticism as the Bose buds are truly in a league of their own. The ANC here still performs well, and does an excellent job of cutting you off from the outside world.
(Image credit: Future)
It’s not all glowing remarks in this review though and it should be said the Beoplay EX aren’t without their foibles. I experienced occasional signal dropouts during my time using them, something I’ve not previously experienced with my AirPods Pro 2, nor something I would expect from a pair of wireless earbuds in this price bracket.
The companion app, while offering a wealth of customization options, is also not immune to fault. The setup process to connect the earbuds with the app wasn’t as smooth as I expected, and it occasionally failed to recognize them on occasions when I opened it on future uses.
Battery life is also so often an important consideration for the discerning wireless earbud owner. Fortunately, the Beoplay EX claims a six-hour life with ANC turned on, which is extended to a total of 20 hours from the included charging case, putting them on par with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. We were favorable in our assessment of the Bose pair, and it’s a tick from us again here, but an extra hour or two would have been nice considering the money you’re spending.
I wouldn’t call these dealbreakers as, again, the sound quality alone does more than enough to make up for these shortcomings. But for such a sizable sum of money, I had expected a more complete package.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Price and release date
Released on May 5, 2022
$399 / £349 / AU$650
Available to buy now in most markets
Bang & Olufsen’s latest pair of wireless earbuds are available now for $399 / £349 / AU$650, making them around $100 / £100 more expensive than the excellent Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II in the US and UK, and some AU$200 more expensive in Australia. It's this high price that has cost them half a star in overall verdict.
The Beoplay EX initially launched on May 5, 2022 in just its Anthracite Oxygen color, before being joined by Gold Tone and Black Anthracite at later dates. In the US and Australia, these three colors have also now been joined by Lunar Red, which is the color my test sample arrived in.
How much you’re willing to spend on a pair of wireless earbuds is something only you can answer, but there’s no denying the Beoplay EX will be a stretch for many. And when you factor in the breadth of admirable competition from the likes of Bose, Sony and Apple – all of whom have produced class-leading pairs of earbuds that are never too far from price drops – the decision to dig deep to nab yourself a pair from B&O is one that will need to be carefully considered.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Features & battery
Adaptive ANC is effective
Experienced occasional signal dropouts
Battery life could be better
Bang & Olufsen has made the Beoplay EX as simple to use as possible. Unlike pairs of wireless earbuds from Bose and Apple, there’s no audio tests to conduct to determine the best fit for your ears, or to personalize the audio response based on your individual ear canals. Instead, just pop the buds into your ears, connect to Bluetooth and press play. Foolproof.
During playback, you can control your music using the earbuds, with the left and right playing host to different functions, depending on whether you’re listening to music or making a phone call. To adjust the volume, for example, you need to touch and hold a finger on the right bud to increase it, or touch and hold the left to decrease it. Play/pause functions require just a single tap on the right unit, and you can cycle through the various levels of ANC with a single tap on the left earbud.
Key Specs
Colors: Anthracite Oxygen, Gold Tone, Black Anthracite, Lunar Red Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 Codec support: SBC, AAC , aptX Adaptive ANC: Yes; adaptive Water resistance: IP57 Battery life: 6 hours (buds); 20 hours total (charging case) Weight: 6g (per bud); 53g (charging case)
I found the Beoplay EX’s glass touch surface controls to be incredibly responsive, although sometimes perhaps a little too sensitive. On more than one occasion I found myself accidentally touching the surface and pausing my music when readjusting the fit of the right bud. The Beoplay EX will also stop playing music when you take either or both of the units out of your ears, and resume when they’re reinserted.
Inside each earbud you’ll find a 9.2mm Neodymium speaker driver, the largest B&O has ever installed in a pair of wireless buds and which claim a frequency range of 20 - 20,000Hz. Connectivity comes via Bluetooth 5.2 (which has since been superseded by Bluetooth 5.3, although differences are minimal) and there’s good support for various audio codecs, including SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive. The latter is an interesting inclusion, as it’s Qualcomm’s Bluetooth codec that claims to combine the best of both aptX HD and aptX low-latency, i.e. one that can support music files up to 24-bit/48kHz with the promise of minimal to no interference.
But, you will only reap the benefits of this if your source music player supports aptX Adaptive. The bulk of my testing was carried out on either an iPhone 13 Pro or a MacBook Pro, neither of which support aptX. Apple has instead chosen to go down the route of AAC, and this could explain why I experienced occasional signal dropouts during my time with the Beoplay EX, because I wasn’t able to stream using the low-latency aptX Adaptive codec.
I couldn’t pinpoint any specific triggers that caused the dropouts, so can’t be sure if it’s a hardware or software issue, and I also only had the one pair to test so can’t say for sure that this is a problem that plagues all pairs of Beoplay EX earbuds.
I was also able to listen to them using a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra as the source device too, a phone that does support aptX Adaptive. I didn’t come across any signal dropouts, but I didn’t listen to them for as long a duration as I had done using my iPhone. Because I hadn’t noticed any triggers that cause the issue when paired with the iPhone, I wasn't able to easily replicate the same scenario on an Android device.
Still, the occasional dropouts weren’t enough to dampen my listening experience, which was bolstered by some rather effective active noise cancelation (ANC). Bang & Olufsen gives you the option of switching between Adaptive ANC – whereby the six microphones (three in each bud) analyze the environment around you and adjust the level of noise cancelation accordingly to prevent you from being disturbed – or setting your own level on a scale of one to three.
(Image credit: Future)
I predominantly leaned towards choosing my own level, which I kept at the maximum of three. I accept there are use cases for wanting some ambient sound to come through, such as if you’re cycling and need to be aware of the road conditions around you. There is a Transparency mode that facilitates this, although, to my ears at least, I couldn’t quite hear much of a difference when switching between that and Noise Cancelation when sitting in the office. I also couldn’t hear much of the conversations taking place around me in either mode, even when changing the level of effectiveness for each.
Conducting the same test using the Bose QuietComfort EarBuds II, however, did allow more sound to travel through when in their equivalent of Transparency mode. It's a close call, but Bose still manages to take the crown for noise cancelation here.
For my personal preferences, I prefer to stay in ANC mode. I only use public transport or my legs to get me places, so blocking out as much of the world around me to allow me to indulge in my playlists is something I value, and I can confidently report the Beoplay EX obliged with roaring success.
I wore the Beoplay EX on a quick weekend flight from Sydney to Byron Bay and continued to be impressed. I’ve previously used the Sony WH-1000XM4 and my AirPods Pro 2 on flights before, and of the three, the B&O pair – in my opinion – did the best job of isolating me from the trifecta of aeroplane annoyances: engines, screaming babies and your annoying seat neighbor. I could still hear the engines whirring away (thankfully) and I’ve personally yet to find a pair of headphones that can omit the constant hum completely.
You’ll also find a feature within the companion app to reduce wind noise, which is pretty self-explanatory. However, whilst waiting for a bus in rather windy conditions, I toggled the feature on and off, but didn’t notice any discernible difference. Perhaps it’s better-suited to hurricane-like conditions?
Other features include Bluetooth multipoint connectivity – which the Bose QCE II miss out on – meaning you can connect the Beoplay EX to two devices simultaneously, saving you the hassle of disconnecting and reconnecting devices if you’re switching between your phone and a tablet or laptop, for example.
As far as battery and charging go, it’s fair to say the Beoplay EX aren’t class-leading. Bang & Olufsen claims six hours from a single charge with ANC turned on and eight hours with it turned off. This increases to a total of 20 hours from the extra juice supplied by the (rather attractive) charging case. Said charging case is recharged via USB-C (B&O includes a USB-A to USB-C colour-matching cable in the box) or via Qi wireless charging (something not all other competitors can claim). A full charge via USB-C takes around 1 hour 45 minutes, or 2 hours 15 minutes via wireless.
Overall I had no issues with the battery life during my testing period. I used the Beoplay EX a lot, on the daily commute, at the gym and pretty much whenever I found myself out of the house. The headphones themselves were always fully charged, and I plugged the case in to charge whenever I was near a USB-C cable (you might be surprised how often this was). There’s an LED light on the case which displays green, amber or red, to indicate approximately how much charge it has left (a lot, some or not much).
Features score: 4/5
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Design
Lightweight and comfortable, ergonomic design
Gorgeous Scandinavian style in a range of colors
No fit test feature
When the Beoplay EX was announced in April 2022, one of the main talking points was how good-looking they appeared in pictures. They’re available in a range of colors, including Anthracite Oxygen, Gold Tone and Black Anthracite in the US, UK and Australia, but American and Australian audio fans also get the option of Lunar Red. I was offered the black, gold or red pair for my review unit, and I settled on the latter because it looks nice, different and it’s unusual.
Those dashing good-looks on paper transferred perfectly into reality, and I really do think they’re some of the best-looking wireless earbuds you can currently buy. Whereas other brands have gone for failsafe black or white colouring, B&O has – perhaps unsurprisingly given the aesthetics of its other products – treated its in-ears as just as much a piece of art as a pair of headphones.
The glass touch panel on each earbud gives off a delightful shine that cements their premium credentials, while the lightweight charging case with engraved Bang & Olufsen branding reassures you they’re protecting something special inside.
But they’re not the most discreet pair of wireless earbuds around, although I would hardly call them obtrusive. As with many other pairs on the market, they employ a stem design, which helps to bring the integrated microphones closer to your mouth.
They’re relatively lightweight too, with each bud weighing in at six grams on the scales, and they also get an IP57 rating protecting them against dust and water.
(Image credit: Future)
B&O supplies you with four pairs of silicone ear tips in increasing sizes, as well as a pair of Comply foam ear tips which help to ensure you create as tight a seal within your canals as possible. I initially tried the Beoplay EX as they came out of the box, with the medium-sized pair of silicone tips attached. I found they didn’t feel secure and the sound was pretty weak, so I switched them out for the largest pair and was astounded by the difference it made.
Not only did switching to the larger pair provide a more snug and comfortable fit, but they actually exposed how poor the fit of my AirPods Pro 2 was. I thought it was great, but being able to easily compare the difference, the AirPods felt loose in comparison.
I also tried out the Comply foam tips, but these too come in different sizes and unfortunately, the pair included were too small for my ears. I found them to feel more secure than my AirPods Pro 2, despite also using the largest pair of silicone ear tips on those. Indeed, the AirPods can be removed from my ears with barely any effort, but the Beoplay EX does require a little bit of extra force. Whilst I didn’t test the fit for runs or cycles at the gym, I’d be confident of them staying in your ears no matter what you’re doing – just as long as you have the tightest possible seal.
Unlike other pairs of wireless earbuds, such as those from Apple and Bose, there’s no feature here to test the fit in your ears. Instead, you just have to rely on your perceptions to determine if you’ve created the best possible seal.
Design score: 5/5
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Audio performance
Enveloping sound without spatial audio-like algorithms
Incredible level of sound customization
Decent call quality
The best word I can think of to describe the audio performance of the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX is ‘immersive’. I thought my AirPods Pro 2 did a fine job of delivering tunes to my ears, but B&O has turned the whole experience up to 11 for me.
You’ll no doubt have read or heard that other pairs of wireless earbuds can either lack bass or have so much of it it drowns out vocals, but I found no such issues with the Beoplay EX. Every aspect of the soundstage is balanced tremendously well and with great depth. You can clearly identify different parts and instruments on a track. But rather than them all being left to fend for themselves, B&O brings them all together to form one utterly convincing cohesive package. It’s quite remarkable.
I should make a note here that I was streaming music from Apple Music, which I believe offers superior sound quality to Spotify. The majority of my music is streamed in ALAC lossless quality.
(Image credit: Future)
I’m a man who enjoys his dance music, so a good amount of bass naturally excites me. I’ve previously been of the mindset that the more bass a pair of headphones can deliver, the better they are (much to the bewilderment of previous colleagues).
However, after listening to some of my favorite songs through the Beoplay EX, I now fully appreciate that a bass-in-your-face approach isn’t necessarily the way to go. Take Dom Dolla’s 2019 belter San Frandisco. The build up at the beginning shows off the Beoplay EX’s dynamic capabilities and the first bass drop is expertly handled with great impact. Yes, they still shake my brain around at a questionable level, but the overall package is more cohesive compared to what I’m used to. I loved it.
What I also love is, despite the eartips being inserted a fair distance into my ears, whereby I would expect the audio to sound incredibly direct and in close proximity, it was quite a different experience. The sound delivered feels more open and spacious. There’s no spatial audio computational technology here, but I don’t think it’s needed, as the soundfield created organically does a fine job of immersing (there’s that word again) you in whatever you’re listening to.
Some other favorite tracks of mine to test out include Rod Stewart’s Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? and Madonna’s Frozen. Through the Beoplay EX, Rod’s salacious single bounces along with great energy and enthusiasm. You can clearly define the guitar riff in the background, those iconic synth notes hit wonderful heights and Rod’s raspy vocals take centerstage. As for the latter, it’s exquisite and probably the best I’ve heard it sound through a pair of in-ears. This track, for me, perfectly highlights the difference in quality between the Beoplay EX and my ol’ faithful AirPods. There’s a greater impact on each drum beat from B&O’s effort and Madge’s vocals are goosebump-inducingly beautiful.
It’s a similar story when playing Rammstein’s Los. Comparing the performance of the Beoplay EX side by side with the Bose QC Earbuds II, it became clear there was a greater sense of enthusiasm from the Danish pair of buds. I kept the volume level on my iPhone the same when connecting both pairs and the Beoplay EX delivered a performance that I found to be louder and far more enjoyable. This doesn’t mean the Bose sounded bad in comparison, but I think B&O was simply showing where your extra money is being spent.
(Image credit: Future)
The beauty of the Beoplay EX is that you can fine-tune the sound profile to the nth degree. Bose offers some form of customization through its Music app, and Apple gives you a list of presets in the settings, but both pale in comparison to what’s offered by B&O. Within the app you’re presented with an EQ wheel, with four distinct directions for the sound: Bright, Energetic, Warm and Relaxed. You’re free to move the indicator to anywhere within the wheel you wish, including to various points in between the four set points. The further out towards the edge, the more pronounced the EQ effect, and vice versa when keeping it closer to the centre.
For me, the sweet spot was between Bright and Energetic, but closer towards Energetic. According to the wheel, this indicated a helping of high treble with a sprinkle of high bass. You can save multiple sound profiles, so if you listen to a range of genres, you may want to set different profiles for each. You can save as many as you want, but you can only have five appear on the home screen of the app for quick access.
The real beauty of this in-depth level of personalization, for me, is that there’s no ‘right or wrong’ setting. Everyone will have their own perspective as to what sounds good and what doesn’t. I will happily concede that not everyone will be down to party with the level of bass I like to listen to. So, rather than just give you a few preset options – we’ve all cycled through the usual array of Dance, Rock, Pop and Jazz EQ settings on our audio players – you’re instead allowed to decide what’s best for you. For this, I think B&O deserves plenty of praise.
One area that can cause wireless earbuds some trouble is call quality. There’s nothing worse than calling someone or leaving them a voice note, only for them to hear static or loud noises in the background. I regularly make international calls using WhatsApp and, whenever I’ve used my AirPods Pro 2, my dear mother has claimed I sound like I’m underwater. So I was keen to try out B&O’s claims that I would sound “crystal clear,” thanks to the three microphones in each earbud, combined with “intelligent beam-forming technology [that] distinguishes between [my] voice and other sounds.”
Whilst on a call to mum and walking next to a busy main road, I switched between both my AirPods Pro 2 and the Beoplay EX and asked her if I sounded clearer on one pair over the other. Well B&O, you’ve won my mother over, as she said I was much clearer when talking on the Beoplay EX. It wasn’t perfect mind you, and I wouldn’t say I came through “crystal clear,” as there was still some interference from cars in the background, but it wasn’t enough to drown out my voice and was a noticeable improvement over the AirPods.
As with audio, you have a few options to influence how you sound on a phone call within the companion app. I switched between these modes too – Own Voice, Neutral and Noise Cancelation – whilst on the call with mum, even with her not-always-great hearing, she could distinguish a difference. The best option? Own Voice.
Audio performance score: 5/5
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Value
Sound is some of the best I’ve experienced
More expensive than closest rivals
Signal dropouts disappointing
We said in our review of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II that they weren’t cheap, but the class-leading ANC performance and great audio helped to justify their cost. In the case of Bang & Olufsen, it’s a similar story. The sound quality and ANC performance are both excellent, but the question that has to be asked is, do they warrant a $100 / £100 / AU$200 premium over their peers?
To be honest, yes, I think they do. To me this isn’t just another pair of wireless earbuds, but more like a pair of speakers that you strap to your head – the audio quality is unlike anything I’ve personally heard before. We all have our vices, the things we’re happy to splash some cash on because they make us feel good. If you’re a lover of music and you don’t want to walk around with a pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, I implore you to at least try the Beoplay EX.
I only have the Beoplay EX on loan, and when they go back and I revert back to my AirPods Pro 2, I just know I’m not going to listen to music in the same way again. B&O has ruined all other pairs of wireless earbuds for me. For my personal financial situation, I can’t justify buying a pair, but boy do I wish I could.
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX?
Buy them if...
Don't buy them if...
Also consider...
How I tested the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX
Review test period = 1 month
Testing included = Listening to a range of genres in various scenarios: indoors, outdoor, on public transport
Compared with previous and similar five-star reviewed products
When I tested these Bang and Olufsen headphones, I gave them an initial buffering period of around 9- 10 hours to allow the speaker drivers to break in. I then used the same selection of songs that I use for all other headphone reviews, streamed from an iPhone 13 Pro via Apple Music.
I listened to the same section of a song multiple times to pick out various aspects, focusing on a different one each time. I then repeated this process with competitor products to see how they compared.
Because these B&O headphones featured active noise cancellation (ANC) I had to test its effectiveness in various situations where external noises were high. I used them in a quieter office setting, on my daily commute to the office by train and on a one-hour flight from Sydney to Byron Bay.
As a customer relationship management tool, SugarCRM has history on its side. Since debuting in 2004, it has served countless businesses, receiving praise for its customizability, advanced functionality and tight integrations.
Of course, SugarCRM isn’t considered one of the best CRM software solutions on the market purely because of its longevity. The platform boasts 24-hour support and a deep feature set, including plenty for developers to sink their teeth into.
As with most CRMs, SugarCRM is great for marketing, sales, and email communication but SugarCRM goes above and beyond all that. Overall, this is a CRM tool that boasts its fair share of complexity - which is both a strength and a weakness.
SugarCRM's interface has received plenty of praise(Image credit: Sugarcrm)
SugarCRM Review: Snapshot
Businesses with a sizable number of tech experts rejoice! SugarCRM is probably the right CRM tool for you. It comes with a substantial number of features and its above-average price tag is unlikely to scare you off.
SugarCRM comes in a variety of flavors depending on your precise needs - whether it's marketing automation, customer service, or sales. SugarCRM proudly declares that it is “trusted by millions worldwide” and this includes some big-name clients like CBRE and Sennheiser.
For smaller businesses, SugarCRM may not be quite right - it’s not the most user-friendly, after all. But that doesn’t mean it should necessarily be ruled out as an option entirely. SugarCRM may take smaller organizations a little longer to get up to speed with, but once they do, they'll discover a feature-rich CRM tool that can supercharge their growth.
SugarCRM Review: Plans and pricing
Top of the list of considerations for most businesses will likely be price. For all B2B software, cost considerations can’t be ignored, whether businesses are looking for cloud storage or online collaboration tools.
Where SugarCRM is concerned, there are several pricing plans to consider. At the cheaper end of the scale, there’s Sugar Sell, which starts at $49 per user, per month. Then, there’s Sugar Serve, costing $80 per user, per month, Sugar Enterprise, priced at $85, and Sugar Market, which is $1000 per month for up to 10,000 contacts.
Altogether, these prices make SugarCRM among the costlier platforms available. Sugar Sell, for example, only provides you with basic account and lead management tools, unless you stump up for Sugar Sell Advanced or Sugar Sell Premium. These tiers provide added functionality, like guided selling tools, mail and calendar integration, and geo-mapping, but will alienate smaller firms that may not have access to larger IT budgets.
If you’re comparing purely on price, it’s undeniable that SugarCRM has some work to do in order to match its competitors. Zoho CRM, for example, will only set businesses back $14 per user, per month for its cheapest plan. Of course, SugarCRM does have some pretty nifty functionality - so you might decide that it's worth the price tag.
(Image credit: Sugarcrm)
SugarCRM Review: Features
The features on offer with SugarCRM depend heavily on the exact plan that individuals sign up for. For instance, Sugar Market is an all-in-one marketing automation solution that ensures your employees have access to the most relevant leads. There is an option to engage with prospects across different channels - email, ads, social media, and more - as well as the ability for enhanced collaboration and tighter integration with sales tools.
Sugar Serve, meanwhile, streamlines your customer service operations by providing omnichannel engagement and self-service functionality. Real-time sentiment analysis is another hugely helpful feature, serving as a great way of collecting customer feedback, sharing it with your relevant personnel and, as a result, improving your customer retention rates. With the sometimes advanced nature of many of the features included in SugarCRM, the way the platform makes use of clear reports and dashboards is helpful for identifying the metrics that really matter to your teams.
Moving on to Sugar Sell, the solution provides organizations with a much clearer overview of how their sales teams are performing. Sales reps can quickly identify customers and find out all the relevant information they need - stretching back to their first interaction with the company. Proactive alerts, root cause analysis, intelligent lead prioritization, and pipeline management are also all to be found here.
And although cloud computing may be all the rage these days, there is still sometimes a need for on-premise solutions. SugarCRM meets this need through Sugar Enterprise. This version of Sugar CRM enables businesses to retain full control of their technology stack, without missing out on many important CRM features.
SugarCRM Review: Ease of use
One of the only real drawbacks of SugarCRM is that it is not especially user-friendly - especially if you are fairly inexperienced with using these sorts of platforms. The number of features on offer here can be a little intimidating, so if you don’t have a great deal of in-house IT expertise, making the best use of SugarCRM could be a struggle.
As with other CRM tools, like Sage CRM, there is a fairly substantial amount of help on offer. The similarly named Sugar University, for example, provides seminars and workshops to help users find their way around. It’s also true that setting up dashboards on the platform isn’t too tricky - although things can get more complicated if you want them to.
Overall, SugarCRM seems like it has been designed for larger enterprises - the kind that has dedicated tech teams ready to train up its staff on the intricacies of using the platform. If you’re a smaller firm that doesn’t have these kinds of resources, a more user-friendly CRM might be a better option.
SugarCRM Review: Final Verdict
In some ways, SugarCRM may be the best CRM tool we’ve reviewed. There’s simpy not enough space in this review to list all the features on offer here - particularly if businesses look across the various different platforms that come under the SugarCRM umbrella.
That being said, this is a CRM solution that is geared towards larger enterprises - and, at times, it shows. The complexity on offer here may scare off smaller teams, but if they can get to grips with the functionality on offer, they will be richly rewarded.
The Cyrusher Ranger is a full-package, premium electric bike that’s shares genes with a mountain bike about as much as it does with a dual-purpose motorcycle. It’s not a cheap e-bike, but it’s making sure you get a lot for your money.
Many of the best electric bikes simply embed a little bit of motor power in an otherwise standard bicycle, like the Ribble Hyrbid AL e or Marin Sausalito E1. Some take a different tack. With front and rear suspension and fat tires, the Cyrusher ranger provides a supremely smooth ride, which is great given the 28mph top speed you can find yourself cruising along at with ease using the 750W motor. Even when you’re flying, the bike offers plenty of range from its 52V20Ah battery. With a half-twist throttle that can pull the bike along at 20mph, it really is much like a motorcycle.
The Cyrusher Ranger might be a bit over-the-top for some. If you live somewhere that doesn’t allow Class 2 or Class 3 ebikes, you’d be spending a lot for tech you can’t tap into. If you just want a casual commuter and are largely riding on smooth pavement, the Ranger suspension and big tires will be less useful while playing a large part in the pricing.
But, if you want an e-bike that’s happy to zoom down city streets, hop up and down curbs, and then hit trails all while enjoying plenty of motor assistance and range, the Cyrusher Ranger makes a competent option that’s not a bad value.
Cyrusher Ranger: Specifications
(Image credit: Mark Knapp)
Cyrusher Ranger: Price and availability
$2,799 in US
£2,799 in UK
Unavailable in AU
The Cyrusher Ranger is available now directly from Cyrusher for $2,799 in the continental United States or Alaska and Hawaii with extra shipping charges. It is also available in the UK for £2,799. Discounts are often available on the site, and it’s as-yet-unavailable in Australia.
Cyrusher Ranger: Design
Big, bulky and robust
Heavy-duty off-roading wheels
Removable battery
Electric bikes come in all shapes and sizes, but the Cyrusher Ranger’s shape and size are both decidedly big. From its monstrous wheels and motorcycle-esque dual-crown fork to its giant battery compartment and expanded bottom bracket, everything goes big on this bike. That goes especially for the weight. While Cyrusher rates the bike as weighing 66 pounds before jumping to 74 pounds with its battery installed, we weighed our test unit at 78.2 pounds before finally hitting a total of 90.4 pounds with the battery installed and all included accessories accounted for — a confusing discrepancy.
The Cyrusher Ranger makes sense of all that size with the gear it’s packing on. It squeezes in supple, grippy 26” x 4” offroading wheels, which are held on with a curious axle that connects with a bolt threaded onto each side — not your typical thru-axle or skewer. It has a deep Cyrusher-branded spring suspension fork in front (we’re told it’s a YISHUO Kunshan Yishuo Strong-DH/P171-26 suspension fork, but can find no details on this model online) with preload and compression adjustment dials, and a comfy soft tail with air suspension in the back that can also lock out.
The rear suspension is also Cyrusher branded but we’re told shares much in common with this DNM shock system. The bike uses Logan dual-caliper hydraulic disc brakes and includes motor cut-off circuitry with the brake levers. It’s even tacked on a 9-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain It fits a large LCD display with a USB port for charging extra gadgets onto the handlebars, though sadly most of the screen is taken up by a large green and gray arc that doesn’t actually indicate anything.
Even the controls are stacked. There’s a two-button controller for the headlight-horn combo unit, which has a decent headlight but seriously lackluster beeping noise that’s neither loud nor attention-getting. Next to that is the control unit for the bike’s assist modes and power. Meanwhile, the right handle has a half-twist throttle. This does result in quite a bit of cable mess at the front end of the bike, but it’s well-grouped with cable ties.
(Image credit: Mark Knapp)
The beefy downtube is housing the bike’s 52V 20Ah battery, which is about as large as you’ll find on standard e-bikes before breaking into the sort that is really not even pretending they're not motorcycles anymore. The battery has a latch to keep it from falling out and has a keyed locking pin.
Unfortunately, the battery comes out the bottom of the frame, which can see make it tricky to remove around the front tire, and it doesn’t provide any easy spots to get a grip and pull it out. Still, it’s good the battery is removable because the bike is incredibly unwieldy to carry as large as it is and at XX pounds, so anyone who can’t plug it in to charge in a garage will desperately want to just take the battery alone in for charging.
The Ranger comes in a few different colors, all of which use a different color for the rear triangle. Cyrusher goes a little overboard with accents on the bike, giving a bit of a gaudy appearance to a bike that already has a loud presence due to its size.
Despite all that the bike has going on, it’s fairly easy to put together. The handlebar needs attaching, and the front wheel needs to be seated in the fork (a job best for two people), the pedals need attaching, and then a few accessories need to be connected. But it’s a quick job and Cyrusher includes the necessary tools.
One problem with the bike’s size that we don’t want to overlook is how hard this can make it to safely lock up. A U-lock can really only effectively go around the top tube, and it will take a long tether to get around both wheels. Locking through the fork is possible, but less secure. You’ll likely want a long, robust chain lock for this bike, which is going to add considerably to the amount of weight you’re already dealing with.
Design score: 4/5
Cyrusher Ranger: Performance
Frame and seat awkwardly sized
Powerful motor and throttle
Holds charge well
As a bike that’s tuned for offroad riding, the Cyrusher Ranger is supremely comfortable on pavement. There’s a major confluence of comfort from the bikes various components. The front and rear air suspension combine to soak up substantial amounts of shock. That’s on top of the exceptional absorption offered by the bike’s enormous tires.
In comparison, the saddle and handlebars feel like weak links. Part of this comes from the available riding positions. The Ranger comes with an exceedingly short seatpost, so even though the bike is advertised as fitting riders up to 6’6”, taller riders will be stuck with a very low seated position that puts more weight into the saddle and will have to stand to pedal comfortably. The handlebars have basic, cylindrical grips that feel surprisingly comfortable, but that may simply be because we don’t get to put a lot of weight into our hands given the riding position.
For those who want a more natural riding experience, a new seatpost is an inexpensive upgrade. Though Ranger is styled like a mountain bike, it’s more of an urban all-terrain vehicle, so the out-of-saddle riding that’s common for mountain biking doesn’t seem all that appropriate for the Ranger. No less because the Ranger’s hub motor doesn’t have the same smooth response of a mid-drive, which would be preferable for trail riding where a jerky motor could be hazardous.
That’s not to discount the motor on the Cyrusher Ranger. The 750W Bafang hub drive is a blast. On throttle alone, it takes little time to cruise up to the bike’s 20mph cap. Even at that speed, the motor hums along quietly while the large wheels are responsible for the bulk of the noise coming from the bike. Even more speed is available by pedaling. The bike will zoom up to 28mph with ease. The system uses a torque sensor, responding to the force we put into the pedals to ramp up the motor.
The result is far more natural than a cadence sensor, which just measures how fast the pedals are spinning. The sensor may be a little oversensitive, though, as we often find it kicking in when we’re making small maneuvers at stoplights. That can be a concern since there’s a lot of motor power to wrangle after it unexpectedly kicks on.
(Image credit: Mark Knapp)
Thankfully, the bike has motor cut-offs built into the brake levers. The 180mm hydraulic disc brakes are also predictably effective. Our ability to come to a quick stop has never been a concern even with a payload of around 330 pounds between our weight and the bike’s.
Between its speed and super-smooth ride, the Cyrusher Ranger has more appeal as a low-cost motorcycle alternative. While the Super73-R Brooklyn was more overt in its attempt to make a “bike” that was as close to a motorcycle as possible, the Cyrusher Ranger stays closer to a true pedal bicycle while still being able to bleed over into that motorcycle-like category. Part of that comes from the 9-speed gearing, which makes it possible to easily find a gear where pedaling is actually useful, unlike the aforementioned single-speed Super73.
For those looking to tool around on a motorcycle, the roughly 1kWh battery provides plenty of juice for doing just that. Cruising around on the Ranger largely using the throttle and set to its highest assist level, we’re able to go over 33 miles before the battery is on its last legs and giving too little support to continue providing an enjoyable, electrified ride. As fun as e-bikes are to ride while they’re powered, they’re nearly equally un-fun to ride when that power runs out because of all their added weight.
Gearing on the Ranger makes it fairly easy to continue riding at low speeds, getting up to 12mph casually even when the battery gives up. It’s worth noting that we tested the Cyrusher Ranger in winter conditions, including some freezing days, which negatively impacts the battery performance. The 33.8-mile range we got is all the more impressive as it's effectively a worst-case range. Lighter riders, better weather conditions, and less stop-go city traffic should all make for an even longer range.
Bowers & Wilkins is a UK audio specialist that's not noted for its cheap and cheerful pricing strategies, and that certainly hasn't changed with the Pi7 S2 earbuds. Nevertheless, audiophiles will be aware of the inaugural earbuds this second iteration (note the 'S2' suffix, above) are based on. Why? Because to paraphrase Rhianna, they shine bright like a diamond, sonically speaking – and that has also not changed in this updated set.
If you came here to discover whether the Pi7 S2 are as detailed, crisp, insightful, weighty and immersive as the original Bowers & Wilkins PI7 – and whether Bowers & Wilkins has once again bettered other best-in-class buds for sound – take it as read. Yes, these earbuds offer a better-quality listen than any other similarly wireless design on the market.
If you're waiting for the 'but' though, it's coming. Usually, when a fresh iteration rolls off the production line, you can expect some big upgrades over the previous model. And here, the Pi7 S2 boasts… an extra 30 minutes of stamina, plus a more reliable Bluetooth connection. The battery life in the buds has been improved from 4.5 hours to five hours in the new version – hardly a headline grabber. Most of the competing options in our best noise-cancelling earbuds guide can beat even that upgraded figure quite comfortably.
And while you do get a more reliable connection overall now (including a longer Bluetooth range of up to 25m), thanks to a re-engineered antenna design, plus hi-res audio from compatible sources with aptX Adaptive, the two-way audio setup of a 9.2mm driver with a balanced armature treble unit in each bud here is largely the same as in the previous generation.
And the noise-cancelling, which wasn't much to write home about in the original, is now supposedly smarter about noise-nixing with Adaptive Noise Cancellation. Only, I initially struggled to select the in-app 'auto' option – the indicator light simply danced between 'on' or 'off' under my gaze. The passthrough function also refused to comply to the taps on my iPhone once or twice – and it's important to note that this is the only way to access passthrough, since on-ear controls are limited to playback functions, scrolling through the ANC profiles (via a long hold of the left earbud, choosing between 'on', 'adaptive' or 'off') and accessing your voice assistant.
Although noise was noticeably quashed when using the 'on' mode for ANC, it was still far from perfect. While tapping on my keyboard at work, I once heard tinny, unusually high-pitched sonic articles from the movement of my fingers filtering through into my earbuds – yes, using ANC rather than passthrough. Odd.
The Bowers & Wilkins Music app is otherwise an excellent companion, however, rounding all of my streaming services and playlists into one place and showing me B&W's curated options, as well as the usual battery life information and status of the buds – including wear sensor and streaming quality (which I set to 'highest').
Fans of the unusual feature will be happy to note that the nifty audio retransmission perk is still on board. Fans of on-ear volume tweaks from their earbuds, though, will be sad to see it still doesn't feature.
Oh, and you do get new colors – mine are a lovely midnight blue with gold-tone accents.
What you really need to know is that sound is still the star. And what a bright, shining star it is against this new midnight blue colorway. But given that the originals were sonically stellar already, whether or not you should buy this new proposition is a question you need to answer for yourself.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 review: Price & release date
B&W Pi7 S2 on the left; S1 on the right… so, not a huge shift visually (Image credit: Future)
$399 / £349 / AU$700
Released on Januarya 25, 2023
These second-gen Bowers and Wilkins’ Pi true wireless earbuds retail for $399 / £349 / AU$700. The keen-eyed will note that this pricing is practically identical (depending on where you live) to that of the original Pi7, which retailed for $399 / £350 / AU$599 when they launched in 2021.
And even if you're not keen-eyed, you'll have spotted that these numbers are not small – those prices dwarf even Apple's. The inaugural buds went beyond any other earbuds in terms of sound quality – but they also cost about 50% more than the likes of the AirPods Pro 2, so you'd hope for a lot more again here.
Bowers & Wilkins has recently launched a step-down option, the Pi5 S2, which retail for a slightly more palatable $299 / £249 / €299 / AU$450.
What do those buds offer? Well, this might not be the place, but okay: a 9.2mm driver, but not the extra balanced armature – so the dynamic range may be affected. They have the same battery life and do support aptX, but not aptX Adaptive, plus you lose the audio retransmission feature in the case. They also have active noise cancellation, but not the adaptive tech used in the PI7 S2 (though you can adjust the level of cancellation). Good? Good. On with the Pi7 S2 review…
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 review: Specs
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 review: Features
Spot the subtle (very subtle) differences between the S1 and S2 earbuds (Image credit: Future)
Hi-Res with aptX Adaptive support is a triumph
Audio retransmission from charging case
Adaptive ANC is just so-so
B&W's nifty audio transmission feature – whereby you can connect the case's USB-C port to a computer or analog audio source, and sound would broadcast in aptX quality to the buds – is a cool addition. It's not entirely unique – LG's T90Q buds offer a similar feature – but it's still nice to have. Let’s say you’re on an aeroplane and don’t want to use the free wired headphones. No problem! Connect the case and listen with your B&Ws instead.
Unlike earbuds at (and let's face it, slightly beneath) this level, B&W has shied away from ear-fit tests, EQ presets and hearing profiles here – and when they sound this good, we couldn't care less. Nevertheless, if you're someone who likes to crank up the bass in your earbuds, you cannot do that here. Also, you can't alter the volume on the earbuds. This may seem a minor gripe, but I'd much rather touch an earbud to lower my music and thus hear a train announcement than go foraging in my bag for my safely-stored phone – particularly when traveling alone.
I'll get more granular regarding sound quality later (there's so much to celebrate!), but B&W's Music app makes it very clear that multipoint connectivity is not an issue for the Pi7 S2, giving you options for managing your current connections, and whether you're happy to auto-connect to the last-paired device. I found chopping and changing between my laptop and phone without lifting a finger was easy-breezy.
Musically, it's all very slick too, linking your streaming services including Deezer, Tidal and Qobuz (although Apple Music seems to be an omission here, which is a shame given its hi-res content) and playlists on your device. The app makes your music collection the star, rather than the buds themselves – which feels like the right direction for B&W to be heading. Very quickly, the app becomes something I wonder how I lived without, rather than surplus to requirements.
What I did need more of was ANC, and, for that matter, passthrough. I truly wish I could report on the efficacy of these options, but all I can say is that with 'auto' or 'on' deployed, the sonic isolation was slightlybetter. Essentially, not all regular low-level thrums were nixed. It's not exactly bad, it's just not great – and for this top-tier money, I'd hoped for a little more. Passthrough was a similar story; despite turning it on and taking the slider up to the max, I heard very little of my surroundings. Other options (such as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II) are winning, here.
Call-handling was a pleasurable experience though, with the Pi7 S2's three mics per earbud giving me subtle access to my own voice, as well as the caller's, thus making conversations feel supremely natural. This feature – often called sidetone, and very well implemented in the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless earbuds – is one I wish more companies would include.
Features score: 4/5
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 review: Sound quality
B&W's Pi7 S2 earbuds are unobtrustive and relatively comfortable (also, my other earring reads 'The sisterhood') (Image credit: Future)
No head-tracked spatial audio or Dolby Atmos support
Get ready for the praise. Switching all ANC profiles off, you're in for a sonic masterclass and then some. The 2001 remaster of XTC's Wake Up on Tidal is crisp and frankly joyous, as jagged guitars attack each ear in a cohesive and well-balanced mix.
In fact, so analytical is the presentation of the Pi7 S2s, I actually hear elements within tracks that artists might wish I hadn't. In Rod Stewart's This, for example, (recorded in 1995), I clearly hear the strain in Rod the Mod's voice. I know and love the track, but here I'm granted access to his struggles at the time. There's a slight wavering through the upper registers that other earphones have failed to divulge, on all but one other occasion – and those were not wireless earbuds.
Dynamically, these earbuds are incredibly immersive and agile, despite the lack of support for head-tracked spatial audio. FKA twigs' Two Weeks celebrates every drop of bass and thud in the backing track, but never at the expense of Tahliah Debrett Barnett's ethereal and breathy vocal. Allow your playlist to continue to Cellophane and there's an injection of volume, of fullness, half-way through the track which is delivered with more zeal and energy than I've heard from any set of true wireless earbuds to date – including the first-gen model.
Sonically, these earbuds are a delight. And that's not a statement I make lightly.
Sound quality score: 5/5
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 review: Design
The case is smooth and feels premium. Oh, and did I mention that midnight blue colorway? (Image credit: Future)
Re-engineered driver housing caps
Classy build and finish
Smaller ears may struggle with fit
The Pi7 S2 look very similar to B&W’s previous generation, including the jewel-like rounded sides, and a raised circular outer case housing the buds' capacitive touch controls.
Fresh colorways aside (the Pi7 S2 is available in Satin Black, Canvas White and Midnight Blue), Bowers and Wilkins claims it has well and truly fixed the biggest issue users encountered with the older Pi7 – connectivity. The original Pi7 had a tendency to drop out, especially in busy signal areas such as crowded airports. The good news is that the company has re-engineered parts of the buds to fix the issue. The caps at the end of the earbuds have been made from a new material that's more transparent to Bluetooth signals, and the antenna is redesigned and repositioned within the earbud endcap to improve antenna performance.
And it worked. I experienced no dropouts during testing, and the claimed 25 metre range (double what it was before) also proved true – and I tested them through a thick stone wall.
This is Bowers & Wilkins, and the finish here is classy. In my palm, the buds look glorious, with the perimeter of the endcap shining as if glowing under the right lighting, and the gold accents reminding me of Swiss watch-style craftsmanship. The case too is pocketable, and feels every millimeter a premium product.
My only issue with the design (aside from the still slightly anaemic battery life) is the size. At 7g per bud, they're a fair bit heavier than the Sony LinkBuds S at 4.8g. Want a little more comparison? It's not that heavy – each Sony WF-1000XM4 earpiece weighs 7.3g, although reports suggest Sony may be shaving a fair bit off this for the Sony WH-1000XM5.
Here's the thing: the shape of the Pi7 S2 is not especially small or ergonomically shaped, to the point that I have to actually stretch my right ear around the main body of the unit and sort of push the earpiece down, wedging it in place. Now, I have a slightly smaller and more particular right ear (a discovery made while trying UE's novel heat to fit earbuds), but nevertheless, it's worth noting that if your ears are small, you may struggle here. It's not a question of the neck or size of the eartips (two alternate options are given, although more would be welcome); no, the actual earpieces are just on the large size.
Design score: 4/5
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 review: Value
Outstanding audio quality – and that's hard to put a price on
A little low on additional features
No on-ear volume control
Buy the Pi7 S2 and you're paying top dollar for top-quality audio. It isn't a particularly tailored experience (forget fit tests and personal sound profiles), but if the best-sounding music in a pocketable design is a must in a pocketable, you should look to this product. In fact you must look to this product. And it's hard to put a price on that.
Other options – Apple's AirPods Pro 2, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, Sony WF-1000XM4, Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and even Honor Earbuds 3 Pro – offer better and more reliable noise cancellation, but if you're someone who can take or leave ANC tech, that won't be a deal-breaker.
Call-handling is also good, but you don't get on-ear volume control, and the battery-life is far from class-leading. Add to this the fact that smaller-eared users may struggle to get them to stay put and you'll see where the extra star went.
As always, whether this proposition represents value to you is a delicate and deeply personal matter. But know this: in the sound-per-pound stakes, they're unbeatable.
Value score: 4/5
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Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 review: Also consider
How I tested the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2
Tested for two weeks, listened against the Pi7
Used at work (in the office; walking through London; on a train) and at home
Listened to Qobuz, Tidal Masters and Apple Music Lossless tracks on an iPhone XR and Nothing Phone 1
When testing the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2, they became my musical wing-men for a fortnight – after a thorough 48-hour run-in period. They came with me to work on weekdays (walking brusquely to the station; boarding a train and the London Underground; at the office while call-handling) and on a long weekend walk.
To better test the comfort levels (and battery life claims, modest though they are), I wore them throughout the working day. I put some distance between my source device and the Pi7 S2 earphones to check the Bluetooth range (it is much better with this iteration) and whether the drop-out issues have been resolved (they have).
To check the audio quality across the frequencies, I listened to various playlists (spanning everything from grime to classical) on Apple Music, Qobuz and Tidal, but also to podcasts and TV shows on Netflix.
I’ve been testing audio products for five years now. As a dancer, aerialist and musical theater performer in another life, sound quality, fit and the user experience have always taken priority for me personally – but having heard how wonderful ANC can be when done well, I know what to look for.
