The EPOS another Sennheiser fusion product, the ADAPT 460T, which is also primarily optimized for work, is very similar in design to the Sennheiser CX 7.00 BT Bluetooth headset. As for the significant difference, it was added by EPOS engineers, optimized for everyday work. The neck strap design itself is less popular, although it is arguably one of the most convenient solutions for long-term use.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI3 was one of the best neckband Bluetooth earphones we’ve come across so far, so we welcomed its bigger brother, the B&W PI4, which has been supplemented with active noise cancellation and optimized for longer trips, with undisguised curiosity.
General
| EPOS ADAPT 460T | Bowers & Wilkins PI4 | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | EPOS | BOWERS |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Colors | Black | Black, Gold, Sliver |
| Battery life | 15 Hours | 12 Hours |
| Weight | 50 g | 40 g |
| Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless |
EPOS ADAPT 460T
On the right side of the neck strap are the general controls. On the inside, the power button, which can be used to access multiple functions, can pair Bluetooth devices, access voice assists, and turn active noise cancellation on and off. The control LED next to it informs you about the current functions with red/blue lights. Also on the right leg is a group of volume and multimedia control buttons; their layout is classic, with a volume control button between the volume +/- buttons. At the front of the right stem are the large microphone and the micro USB charging socket.
On the left leg is the microphone mute and the call handling button (in the ADAPT 460T model variation, the call handling button launches Teams and accesses the Cortana Voice Assistant). A vibrating motor for call alerts has also been installed on the left. The small ear capsules are attached to the strap with a thin, fairly short cord and are designed to fit in-ear. For convenience, 4 pairs of silicone fittings are included in the package. Behind the outer, chrome-plated decor panel with the EPOS logo, the capsules housed the active noise-canceling measuring microphones, 4 in number.
Bowers & Wilkins PI4
The Bowers & Wilkins PI4 is a neckband earphone and travel-optimized, so-called Try to blur the line between travel headphones. This gives the compactness of the in-ear systems with the sophistication of the travel earphones. The latter is mostly for services: the PI4 offers better-than-expected comfort, active noise cancellation, and a noise-canceling telephone headset module while also supporting Bluetooth 5.0 and aptX Adaptive profiles and codecs. While the B&W PI3 used two speakers in a hybrid layout, the big brother only sounds with one, but unusually large, 14mm dynamic type. All this is approx.
The design of the earphones still deserves praise. Its simple, clean design is accompanied by pleasant use of materials. Its flexible cable and neck strap suggests that it will withstand the strain in the long run. Its packaging includes a protective case, a charging cable, and three pairs of earbuds of different sizes. In addition to the latter, you can also choose from different, protruding stabilizing tires that help you “stick to the ear.”
Design
| EPOS ADAPT 460T | Bowers & Wilkins PI4 | |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Wearing Style | Neckband | Neckband |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions earphone | 410 x 245 x 246 mm | 236 x 185 x 53 mm |
| Foldable Design | No | No |
Features
| EPOS ADAPT 460T | Bowers & Wilkins PI4 | |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Music Controls | Yes | Yes |
| Quick Charge | No | No |
| Speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Drive | – | 14.2 mm |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz to 20 kHz | 10 Hz to 30 kHz |
| Impedance | 290 Ohms | 16 Ohms |
EPOS ADAPT 460T
In our daily work, we mainly used ADAPT 460 with a Teams application in a desktop environment. We made countless phone calls while connected to an android mobile phone. During the daily discussions and lectures, the speech intelligibility was free from interferences and interruptions.
The connection with the USB stick connected to the computer was quickly established; we did not experience any disconnection or signal loss during the whole day’s use. Since we used Teams, the ADAPT 460T would have been more practical to choose a model in which Microsoft Teams is integrated at the factory. With a well-placed, large microphone, the speech intelligibility of the calls was above average, and the speech sounds were heard clearly and intelligibly by the called party. Unfortunately, the built-in active noise filtering solution is not adjustable in strength, so you can only choose to turn it on and off. When turned on, it gently reduced ambient noise but did not drastically eliminate it.
Used for listening to music, the speaking sound brought the quality expected of Sennheiser. It was characterized by adequate dynamics, tight bass, and a fun character. Nonetheless, the midrange and treble were a bit subdued, but listening to electronic music is not in the least disturbing. Anyone looking for the character of wired Sennheiser headphones in the sound of the EPOS ADAPT 460 is faced primarily with the shortcomings of Bluetooth.
Bowers & Wilkins PI4
The PI4 is one of them, with a pleasant voice, rich detail. What’s more, even though PI3 has already set the bar high, it is already noticeably overbidding, so for a larger amount, the buyer gets ANC and a better sound. But how is PI4 better than PI3? It goes both lower and higher in ordinary language, meaning it can also represent slightly deeper bass and finer high frequencies while providing a calmer, more balanced character overall.
In several of our favorite songs, we’ve come across details in several cases that most Bluetooth headsets ignored in the past. For example, the soundtracks of George Baker Selection – Little Green Bag are surrounded by a kind of compressor tension, and the vocals are slightly echoed. In addition, the dynamics of the instruments appear in a modest yet very catchy way. Again, PI4 very cleverly communicates this pleasantly tight atmosphere.
And it can deliver the heartbeat and exploding synthesizer with fast, elegant, and definite bass. It doesn’t push the bass into the eardrum unreasonably but in subtle steps. Meanwhile, he separates the instruments a bit, creates the atmosphere, and plays with space. His character slightly fuses light music and lively savagery. As a result, acoustic pieces and more dynamic numbers based on electronic foundations are surprisingly good for him.
Battery
| EPOS ADAPT 460T | Bowers & Wilkins PI4 | |
| Battery Type | Li-Po | Li-Po |
| Battery Life | Up to 15 hours | Up to 12 hours |
| Charging Time | 2 hours | 15 Minutes for 3 Hours |
| Charging Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Qi Wireless Charging | No | No |
Connectivity
| EPOS ADAPT 460T | Bowers & Wilkins PI4 | |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Multi-Device Connection | No | No |
| Connection | Wireless | Wireless |
| Range | 20 cm | 20 cm |
Conclusion!
EPOS Sennheiser ADAPT 460 the 14-hour operating time can be extended by 2-3 hours in a quiet environment at home to operate for up to two working days without noise filtering. Aside from its small flaws – a cable that is too short for some and a microphone that sometimes gets covered – the construction, material usage, and sound quality make the ADAPT 460 a good investment. The Sennheiser headphone technology and EPOS during the hearing research developed solutions currently represent a very high technological level. For those who primarily use Microsoft Teams for workplace communication, the ADAPT 460T is worth choosing a type with Teams certification and integration. During work-time relaxation, you brought the usual Sennheiser sound quality while listening to music or watching a movie.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI4 is a good choice for those who oppose headphones due to their large/dominant size and appearance. They prefer wireless Bluetooth earphones but are looking for premium quality, specifically in a neck strap design. It gives the plus that is approx. It is comfortable, has a good range and battery capacity, is also suitable for telephony, and provides a pleasant, detailed, long-lasting sound. By the way, in addition to boring black, they are also offered in “girly” color options. So it very much seems that PI4 represents a separate (and not incidentally well thought out) category at this price in terms of design, function, and sound.
