Technics AZ100 evaluate: Supreme sound high quality and a singular Bluetooth software

I wasn’t impressed by the final pair of Technics earbuds I reviewed. The AZ70W was the primary set to hold the enduring turntable model’s emblem after Panasonic relaunched it in 2014. The 2020 mannequin did some issues properly for $250, however inconsistent audio efficiency saved them from being a serious contender. The corporate adopted up in 2021 with two more wireless earbud options, and 2023’s AZ80 was well-regarded by many reviewers for its sound high quality.

For its 2025 mannequin, Technics dug into its bag of tricks to enhance the already mighty AZ80, leading to the AZ100 ($300). These flagship earbuds provide all-new drivers, adaptive lively noise cancellation (ANC), AI-tinged voice instruments, Dolby Atmos spatial sound and one neat software not one of the competitors does. And fortunately, the AZ100 makes good on the promise of “epic, reference-quality high-resolution audio.”

Sound high quality

I’m properly conscious that I’m skipping a number of generations of Technics earbuds for the reason that AZ70W, however that additionally means I’ve a a lot clearer image of how a lot the corporate has improved for the reason that starting. The AZ100 is a sonic marvel in comparison with that first mannequin, providing a few of the finest sound high quality in any of the tons of of earbuds I’ve examined over time.

The know-how behind the audio increase is new magnetic fluid drivers. Technics says they provide “low distortion, correct bass and excessive decision.” These components had been developed with the corporate’s know-how from its $1,200 EAH-TZ700 in-ear monitors (IEMs), which additionally pack in 10mm magnetic fluid drivers. The fluid is built-in into the voice coil of the motive force to make sure exact motion of the diaphragm, resulting in minimal distortion and glorious readability throughout the soundstage.

Technics additionally took care to enhance bass efficiency on the AZ100. These drivers assist with that, however the earbuds even have a brand new acoustic management chamber and harmonizer to broaden the low-end capabilities. It additionally doesn’t harm that the AZ100 helps each Dolby Atmos for spatial audio and Sony’s LDAC high-res wi-fi audio codec. Whereas the previous is widespread on flagship units, the latter is uncommon exterior of Sony’s personal earbuds and headphones.

The AZ100 is at its finest with high-res tunes like Apple Music’s Dolby Atmos catalog. With L.S. Dunes’ alt-rock/post-hardcore Violet, the earbuds ship massive, punchy bass that continues to be tight and detailed. The kick drum, for instance, has a thunderous cadence and serves as a primary canvas for the refinements Technics made to the audio platform on the AZ100. Even older albums from the early aughts, like The Appleseed Solid’s Mare Vitalis, envelop you with drums, dueling guitars and the ambiance of a stay efficiency fairly than a recorded album. That’s spectacular when you think about that is streaming lossless on Apple Music, not Dolby Atmos.

Talking of spatial audio, that’s the one space the place the AZ100 stumbles by way of sound high quality. That immersive mode is offered with or with out Dolby dynamic head monitoring, and when it’s toggled on, the sound will get too skinny for my liking. The power that the improved bass brings to the inventory tuning is gone, leaving a extra sterile audio profile that’s a bit boring.

ANC efficiency

Billy Steele for Engadget

Regardless of Technics’ use of its “most superior” noise-canceling tech, the AZ100 lags behind the most effective in that regard. These earbuds do make use of adaptive ANC that mechanically adjusts to your surroundings, but it surely’s not so good as what Bose provides on the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. The AZ100 will serve you properly in some conditions, however like a lot of the competitors, they don’t deal with chatty neighbors within the workplace properly and don’t silence fixed noise sources like followers and white noise machines.

App and options

Each earbud firm provides a companion app these days, though their utility can range drastically. Technics has packed so much into its software program, and most of what you want regularly is true on the house display screen. As soon as the AZ100 is paired along with your cellphone, the app reveals battery life for the earbuds individually and the case up prime. You then get a utilization information, noise cancelling controls, EQ presets and a Voice Focus AI Check. Alongside the underside, there’s fast entry to ambient sound, EQ and the extra detailed settings menu.

That settings menu is the place issues begin to get complicated. Merely put, there are such a lot of choices right here that it may all be overwhelming. And in some circumstances, gadgets that ought to be increased up are nearer to the underside — like customizing the contact controls. Spatial audio can solely be activated from this menu, which I’d argue ought to be an merchandise on the house display screen. There’s so much right here that will help you configure the AZ100 to your liking, however it can take a while to seek out the whole lot you want.

One distinctive characteristic that Technics provides is multipoint Bluetooth connectivity for as much as three units. I haven’t skilled this on every other earbuds, however the characteristic isn’t with out caveats. First, LDAC audio can’t be used when three units are related, almost definitely as a result of constraints of Bluetooth. The truth is, Technics recommends disabling multipoint if you wish to hearken to LDAC-quality tunes. With the app, the corporate means that you can choose whether or not multipoint will swap units throughout media playback or when a name is available in. I principally used multipoint with simply my cellphone and laptop computer, but when a pill can also be a part of your day by day workflow, or you might have a devoted work cellphone, I can see the utility of a triple risk.

Name high quality

The outside panels of the AZ100 reliably accept tap commands.

The Voice Focus AI Check is a software that means that you can hear what you’ll sound like on calls utilizing the AZ100. It’s a pleasant characteristic to have so you may decide if the earbuds are ok for vital calls or digital displays. And to that finish, the AZ100 sounds clear and considerably pure whenever you’re in a quiet spot. If you transfer to a louder location and the Voice Focus AI kicks in, you’re going to sound extra robotic and processed. The oldsters on the opposite facet will hear you and not one of the background noise, however voice high quality noticeably suffers.

There are two choices for ambient sound — Clear and Consideration — however neither help a lot with voice and video calls. The AZ100 doesn’t pipe your voice again via the earbuds, so that you do have to talk as much as hear your self. When in ambient mode, Clear permits all sound via the earbuds with no adjustments whereas Consideration focuses extra on voices. I truly discovered Clear to be the higher of the 2 in all situations, even once I was making an attempt to hearken to somebody speaking.

Battery life

Technics guarantees as much as 10 hours of battery life with ANC enabled, plus one other 18 hours whenever you issue within the wi-fi charging case. For those who go for LDAC audio, these figures drop to seven hours and 11 hours respectively. After 10 hours of use with noise cancellation turned on, the AZ100 nonetheless had 20 p.c battery left. Based mostly on the speed of depletion I skilled, that will be sufficient for about two extra hours. And when you end up in a pinch, a 15-minute cost provides you with as much as 90 minutes of use.

Design updates

Those magnetic fluid drivers give the AZ100 improved bass performance.

You must get fairly far down the spec sheet on the AZ100 for a dialogue of the design updates. That’s as a result of the sound and tech upgrades are the true story right here. However, Technics did make some adjustments to the look of those earbuds in comparison with the AZ80, together with lowering the scale and weight. The corporate says a revised form permits the IPX4-rated AZ100 to higher hug the curves of your ears for elevated consolation and stability. That holds true because the earbuds all the time stayed in place and I by no means felt any irritation, even after hours of use.

Each the earbuds’ contact panel and the lid of the case are emblazoned with the enduring Technics emblem in gold on textured metallic (on each the black and silver shade choices). This positively offers the entire set a premium look, though I’m certain not everybody will probably be thrilled with the gold. Not one of the design adjustments are an enormous departure from the AZ100’s predecessor, however the considerate refinements, particularly to the form and match, are notable.

The competitors

Earlier than the AZ100 arrived, Bowers & Wilkins stood atop Engadget’s best wireless earbuds list in the most effective sound class for a very long time. Lately, the corporate was relegated to quantity two by the hands of the unbelievable however expensive FoKus Rex5 from Noble Audio. Neither Bowers & Wilkins nor Technics can compete with the five-driver setup that Noble provides, however the two firms provide glorious audio high quality for lower than the $449 price ticket on the FoKus Rex5.

Because the competitors is now for second place, I give the sting to the AZ100. There’s so much to love about Bowers & Wilkins’ Pi8, and when you desire a extra pure sound with much less boomy low-end tone, they’re in all probability the decide for you. For me, I just like the added bass the brand new Technics drivers present and there’s an extended record of options for the AZ100. By way of ANC efficiency, I additionally give the nod to Technics, plus the AZ100 is $100 lower than the Pi8.

Wrap-up

It’s arduous to observe a extremely regarded product with one other nice one. Maybe that’s why a variety of audio firms not often make large adjustments to earbuds and headphones for brand spanking new fashions, selecting as an alternative to maintain sound high quality and ANC efficiency constant. “If it ain’t broke…” and all that.

Technics thought it might make its well-reviewed AZ80 even higher by borrowing tech from one other entry in its portfolio and the gamble has definitively paid off. Positive, yow will discover higher noise-canceling efficiency with Bose and extra trendy options with Sony, however Technics has formulated glorious sound high quality that few can problem. I’d say that Best of CES award was well-earned.

This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/technics-az100-review-supreme-sound-quality-and-a-unique-bluetooth-tool-150038587.html?src=rss

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