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The worlds of autos and audio have always been closely entwined. The two hobbies bring out the kinds of people who like to geek out about specs, and of course, no joyride is complete without the right playlist.
That’s why boutique audio brand Bowers & Wilkins and luxury manufacturer McLaren’s collaboration has been so successful — and long-running. The two brands have worked together for a decade, with B&W outfitting commercial McLaren cars and McLaren lending its branding to B&W headphones and speakers. The latest addition is a McLaren-branded edition of the Pi8 earbuds, joining the McLaren versions of the Px8 headphones and Zeppelin speaker (two audio products that are longtime favorites of our editors).
B&W Pi8 McLaren Edition
$499
preoroder at B&W
The co-branded earbuds are available for $499. The first customers to buy the B&W McLaren earbuds also receive a team hat.
The Pi8 earbuds feature the McLaren “speedmark” logo and the automaker’s signature orange trim against a gray body. The case also features the Papaya orange colorway under the lid (or should we say, hood), plus a co-branded design featuring the McLaren wordmark.
The Pi8 earbuds feature ANC, plus Qualcomm’s aptX for reference-grade, lossless audio. And while the earbuds sound great out of the case, the B&W app features 5-band customisable EQ for an audio profile that’s all your own. The Pi8 earbuds were released in August 2024, succeeding the Pi7 models, with four original colorways. The new McLaren-branded edition is available for preorder today and is expected to ship on April 15.
Of the collaboration, Giles Pocock, B&W’s Vice President of Brand Marketing, said, “This reimagining of our award-winning earbuds elevates our long-term partnership even further by combining the unmistakable design DNA of McLaren with our industry-leading audio products to create an attention-grabbing version of our Pi8. We’re excited to see how it’s received by Bowers & Wilkins and McLaren fans alike.”
The latest collaboration comes as B&W expands its relationship with McLaren, becoming the audio partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team as of the 2025 season. Previously, B&W was the partner for McLaren’s automotive branch, outfitting the speaker system of McLaren’s commercially available supercars. Bowers & Wilkins says its “products will play a crucial role in both the team’s extensive travel from race-to-race, relaxation and recovery, as well as any pre-race preparation needs throughout the season.”
F1 fans can see Lando Norris and Team McLaren take on their next race this weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix, which is airing on ESPN.
preorder at b&W
