Bowers Wilkins Pl5 and Pl7 True Wireless Earbuds User Guide
- October 27, 2023
- Bowers Wilkins
Table of Contents
- Pl5 and Pl7 True Wireless Earbuds
- Download the app
- PI5 Carton Contents
- Getting to know your PI5
- Intelligent Features
- Stowing the Ear Buds
- Battery Charging
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- Wearing Your Headphones
- Reset/Troubleshooting
- Caring For Your Earphones
- Service / Support
- Specifications
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
Pl5 and Pl? Quickstart Guide
User Guide
Pl5 and Pl7 True Wireless Earbuds
Download the app
Bowers & Wilkins Headphones
Fast Pair
In one tap, Pl7 and Pl5 enables quick, effortless Bluetooth pairinwith your
Android’ devices.
*Android phones running Marshmallow and above/6.0+
PI5
Wireless
Headphones
Welcome to Bowers & Wilkins and PI5
Thank you for choosing Bowers & Wilkins. When John Bowers first established
our company, he did so in the belief that imaginative design, innovative
engineering and advanced technology were keys that could unlock the enjoyment
of audio in the home.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI5 are high performance in-ear headphones designed to
deliver the highest quality mobile personal audio experience combined with the
convenience of wireless operation and the serenity of noise-cancellation. This
manual will tell you everything you need to know to get the most from your PI5
headphones.
Your PI5 can play music streamed wirelessly from your mobile phone, tablet or
computer via Bluetooth. PI5 can also be used for wireless telephony.
PI5 Real World Listening features include our latest innovations in Adaptive
Noise Cancellation, Ambient Pass-Through and enhanced Wear Sensing
technologies.
Our latest generation noise cancellation feature was designed from the ground
up with intelligent environment sensing capabilities, automatically selecting
the appropriate type of noise cancellation best suited to your surrounding
environment, its only goal is to deliver an uncompromised listening
experience.
Ambient Pass-Through enables external sounds, such as conversation or safety
announcements, to be heard clearly without any need to remove the headphones.
The Wear Sensing feature enables PI5 to respond naturally, pausing and
resuming the music simply by lifting either earpiece on or off your ear. These
features can be enabled and further customised via the Bowers & Wilkins
Headphone App available for free on iOS and Android devices.
PI5 incorporates a rechargeable battery pack. When fully charged, depending on
the degree of Bluetooth, Adaptive Noise Cancellation and Ambient PassThrough
use, the battery pack can provide up to 12 hours of continuous wireless media
streaming with noise cancellation enabled at average playback volume levels.
PI5 Carton Contents
PI5 Headphones with ear tips (M)
Charge Case
USB-C Charging Cable
Ear Tips (S/L)
Literature Pack
Getting to know your PI5
2.1 Switching Headphones On and Off
Switching On/OFF
The PI5 does not have a power control and the power management is automatic.
Your PI5 ear buds will charge when placed into the charging case and will be
ready to use when they are removed from the charing case.
When your ear buds are removed from the charging case they will enter a power
saving mode after 5 minuets of not use. To exit this low power mode start
using the earbuds again, by connecting your paired device, streaming audio, or
placing the ear buds into your ears.
2.2 Headphone Controls
Each ear bud has a multi-function button located on the flat round section of
the ear bud. The multi-functionally button controls for:
Media Playback:
Function | Action |
---|---|
Play or pause | Press the Multi-function button once. |
Play to next track | Press the Multi-function button twice in quick succession. |
Play previous track | Press the Multi-function button three times in quick |
succession.
Phone call functionality:
Function | Action |
---|---|
Answer Call | Press the Multi-function button once with incoming call |
End Call | When incoming call occurs, press the Multi-function button twice in |
quick succession.
Decline an incoming call| Press the Multi-function button twice in quick
succession with incoming call.
(Please see Diagram 1)
Intelligent Features
3.1 Adaptive Noise Cancellation
Noise cancellation is a series of advanced technologies that aids in removing
undesired noise from the surrounding environment.
PI5 features our latest innovations in adaptive noise cancellation, this
includes noise cancellation and tuning best suited to your surrounding
environment. As your surroundings change, noise cancellation will auto adapt
to complement your new environment.
The Noise Cancellation can be toggle between On/Off by long pressing the left
earbud for 1 second. (Please see Diagram 2).
Mode | Application |
---|---|
On | Removes undesired noise from the surrounding environment. |
Off | Turns off the noise cancellation feature. |
3.2 Voice Assistance
Voice Assistance can be activated by long pressing the right earbud for 1
second.
3.3 Ambient Pass-Through
PI5 features ambient pass-through which lets some external noise from the
surrounding environment, such as safety announcements, conversations or the
ability to hear your
surroundings without taking the headphones off.
Ambient pass-through can be enabled/disabled through Bowers & Wilkins
headphone App. The level of ambient pass-through, High/Low/Off, can be
adjusted to suite your needs through the App.
3.4 Wear Sensors
PI5 incorporates our latest enhanced wear detection sensors in both earbuds,
which will automatically pause the music when you remove one ear bud from your
ear and resuming the audio when you replace it.
The wear sensors also help battery conservation by entering standby when
removed from the ears. When worn again, PI5 automatically wakes and connects
to the last connected Bluetooth device.
Wear sensor can be turned ON/Off in the Bowers & Wilkins Headphone App.
Note: Take care when wearing your headphones; hair or accessories trapped
between your ears and the earpieces, or wearing glasses that distort the
profile of your ears, may
interfere with the performance of the proximity sensors.
Stowing the Ear Buds
When not being worn in the ear, the PI5 ear buds can be stored and charged
inside the charge case. The ear buds will be magnetically held in the charge
case. The ear buds can only be stowed in one orientation.
Note: Take special care when wearing your earphones, hair or accessories
trapped between your ears and the ear buds may interfere with proximity
sensing.
Battery Charging
Your Bowers & Wilkins PI5 ships with the battery partially charged & may be
used immediately. For best practice we recommend to fully charge the earphones
before first use. Please allow up to 3 hours for full charge.
To charge the PI5 ear buds:
Place the PI5 ear buds int the charge case
Close the charge case lid
To charge the PI5 charge case with cable:
- Please use the supplied USB charging cable and connect the USB plug to a USB wall charger or a powered computer USB socket.
- Then connect the USB-C end to the charge case USB-C socket
Note: During charging, the charge case indicator will blink green. When fully charged, the indicator will remain solid green. The charge case can be charge with or without the ear buds being housed inside the charge case
To charge the PI5 charge case with a wireless charging station:
- Place the carging case onto a wireless charging station
- Ensure that the rear of the charging case is on the charging station (with the case indicator facing up)
Note: During charging, the charge case indicator will blink green. When fully charged, the indicator will remain solid green.
5.1 Status Indicator
The status indicator is located on the charge case provide information on the
ear buds when they are located in the case and provide information on the
charging case when the ear buds are removed.
With the Ear buds in the charging case. (Please see Diagram 3).
With the Ear buds in the charging case
Illumination | Operational state |
---|---|
Green (case lid open) | Ear bud battery charge > 40% |
Yellow (after power on) | Ear bud battery charge >20%, <40% |
Red (after power on) | Ear bud battery charge <20% |
Red (blinking) | Ear bud factory Reset |
Red (Solid) | Hardware Reset/ System Crash |
Blue blinking | Pairing Mode Enabled |
Blue (3 sec solid) | Pairing successful |
Diagram 3
Status indicator illuminations
With the earbuds removed from the charging case
Illumination | Operational state |
---|---|
Green (case lid open) | Ear bud battery charge > 40% |
Yellow (after power on) | Ear bud battery charge >20%, <40% |
Red (after power on) | Ear bud battery charge <20% |
Red (blinking) | Factory Reset |
Red (Solid) | Hardware Reset/ System Crash |
Diagram 3
Status indicator illuminations
Bluetooth Connectivity
6.1 Pairing
Your Bowers & Wilkins PI5 earphones are designed to stream music wirelessly
from Bluetooth audio devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or computers. To
do so, the earphones & device must first be paired.
When you receive your PI5 earphones they will be ready to pair to any
Bluetooth audio device.
6.1.1 iOS System/ Android System without GFP feature Paring
- Download the Bowers & Wilkins Headphone App
- Open the charge case lid
- The charge case indicator will flash blue
- Go to the Bluetooth pairing menu of your device
- Select the “Bowers & Wilkins PI5” from the device list
- The charge case indicator will change to solid blue to indicate pairing is successful
- Open the Bowers & Wilkins Home and add the headphones into the devices in the app
Note: Your earphones will automatically exit Bluetooth pairing mode if no
device is paired within 5 minutes. If pairing fails, the indicator will rapid
flash blue, please try pairing again.
To pair to a subsequent device. (Please see Diagram 4)
- Open the charge case lid with the ear buds places inside the charge case
- Press and hold the button inside the charge case for between 1 and 5 seconds
- The charge case indicator will flash blue
- Go to the Bluetooth pairing menu of your new device
- Select the “Bowers & Wilkins PI5” from the device list
- The charge case indicator will change to solid blue to indicate pairing is sucessful
Your headphones can remember up to four paired Bluetooth Devices. Repeat the
above steps to pair more devices.
Note: Your earbuds will automatically exit Bluetooth pairing mode if no
device is paired within 2 minutes. If pairing fails, the indicator will rapid
flash blue, please try pairing again.
6.1.2 GFP Pairing (For Android System integrated with GFP Feature)
To add your headphones:
- Place the Case no further than 10 cm (4 inches) away from Android system cellphone (BT enabled) and Open the Case Lid.
- A GFP (Google Fast Pair) notification window would pop up showing “Bowers & Wilkins PI5” detected” and request to start the pairing process”
- Press “Notification” button on the window to enable the pairing.
- Success connection will be shown in GFP window.
- Once paired
o GFP window would lead user to Google
Play to download/Install B&W
Headphone App.
o L/R Earbud & Case Battery Level can be seen on the GFP window
6.2 Disconnect from a device
You can quickly disconnect PI5 from a device by putting the earbuds back to
the case.
Alternatively, you can manage connection in further detail using the Bowers &
Wilkins Headphones app under Connections.
6.3 Setting Up Headphones with the App
The Bowers & Wilkins Headphones app provides extended setup and adjustments to
features such as Adaptive Noise Cancellation, Ambient Pass-Through, and Wear
Sensors. The app also provides further customisations such as voice prompt,
level of ambient pass-through, connection management and headphone software
updates. The app is available as a free download on iOS and Android devices.
To add your headphones:
- From your mobile device, download and install the Bowers & Wilkins Headphones app.
- Launch the app, then read and follow the instructions pertaining app notification and permissions.
- After reaching the main screen, simply tap + and following the in-app instructions.
6.4 Headphone Software Update
Bowers & Wilkins will occasionally make available software updates that refine
and optimise the performance of your headphones or add new features.
The Bowers & Wilkins Headphones app will notify you when a software update is
available. Tap on the notification and the follow in-app instructions.
Wearing Your Headphones
Wearing your headphones correctly will help ensure you get the best possible
experience, see Diagram 5.
Like many in-ear earphones, the PI5 earpieces are designed to seal the ear
canal in order to perform optimally.
Ear tips come in three sizes (small, medium and large). Finding the proper
size for your ear is critical to obtaining a good seal and ensure PI5 and the
advanced features such as Adaptive
Noise Cancellation performs optimally.
- Identify the left and right earbud by finding the identification legends located on the inner side on each earbud.
- Place the earbuds in your ear so that the tips sit comfortably at the opening of the ear canal.
- Ensure the earbuds are sitting comfortably in the ear. Try another size if they do not fit. Different sized ear tips can be used to ensure the best possible fit.
Note: To optimize call quality, please ensure the microphone located underneath the earbud is facing outward, see diagram 5
Reset/Troubleshooting
8.1 Factory Reset
You can clear the paired devise history and restore all setting to their
defaults.
To factory reset the earbuds, open the charge case with the ear buds placed
inside. Press and hold the button on the inside of the charge case for 5
seconds and release. The indicator on the charge case will turn red to
indicate the reset.
TroubleshootingIn the case of earbuds are not functioning properly, please
perform a factory reset to resolve the issue.
8.2 Hardware Reset
To hardware reset the earbuds, open the charge case with the earbuds placed
inside. Press and hold the button inside the case for 15 seconds until LED
indicator goes off and illuminates in green to indicate completion of hardware
reset process.
TroubleshootingFor a serious system crash (Solid LED Red Light), please
perform a Hardware Reset to resume the earbuds.
Caring For Your Earphones
Your earphones can be cleaned by a damp cloth and gently dabbing until clean. Do not use cleaning detergents, rubbing alcohol, or chemical cleaners/polish, doing so may damage your earphones.
Service / Support
If you need help troubleshooting a specific problem, or simply have a question you would like answered, please initially consult the Headphone support section of the Bowers & Wilkins website: www.bowerswilkins.com.
Specifications
Technical Features| True Wireless techonlogy
Bluetooth 5.0 with AptX technology
ANC
Wireless and USB-C charging
Fast charging support
---|---
Bluetooth Codec| AptX
AAC
SBC
Bluetooth Profiles| A2DP v1.3.1
AVRCP v1.6.1
HFP v1.7.1
HSP v1.2
BLE GATT (Generic Attribute
Profile)
Frequency Band| Tx mode: 2402MHz to 2480MHZ, ISM Band, Rx mode: 2402MHz
to 2480MHz, ISM Band
RF output power| <10.0 dBm
Bluetooth Codec| AptX
AAC
SBC
Drive Units| 9.2mm Dynamic Drive
Frequency Range| 10Hz to 20kHz
Input Impedance| –
Distortion (THD)| <0.3% (1kHz/10mW)
Battery Life| Up to 4 hours Bluetooth
Charging| 15 minute charge = 2 hrs Bluetooth
Inputs| Bluetooth
Boxed Accessories| 20cm USB-C to USB-C cable
Weight| 8g for earbuds, 47g for charge case
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>