Technics AZ100 earbuds assessment: audiophiles and multitaskers unite

It might be surprisingly formidable to comply with up on an important pair of earbuds. The goal is to make enhancements wherever attainable with out sacrificing something that individuals cherished in regards to the earlier set. That’s the place Technics discovered itself with the $299.99 EAH-AZ100 earbuds, which it introduced at CES 2025. I used to be slightly taken with the corporate’s final flagship set, the AZ80, due to their wealthy sound and distinctive capability to pair with three units on the similar time. The new buds look to reinforce these strengths with much more dynamic audio, longer battery life, and extra succesful energetic noise cancellation.

Technics even rethought the core sound. Inside the A100s are new “magnetic fluid” drivers — and sure, there’s really liquid in there. Technics places an oily substance (combined with magnetic particles) between the driving force magnet and voice coil and says this strategy, derived from its $1,200 in-ear displays, helps decrease distortion and improve readability past what the AZ80s had been able to. The similar goes for bass response, with the AZ100s in a position to dig down even deeper for a extra impactful thump. Despite the brand new strategy, there’s not a world of distinction between the AZ80s and AZ100s: each supply incredible element and presence throughout music genres, although the newer buds have extra depth and bass to my ears. I wouldn’t improve only for that, although.

Thankfully the refinements additionally lengthen to the outward design. The AZ100s aren’t fairly as bulbous as their predecessors. You lose the seen mic inlet that added a contact of Technics fashion, which implies these come off a bit extra uninteresting and nondescript. But I’ll take the smaller enclosure each time. These sit extra comfortably in my ears than the AZ80s. The very pocketable carrying case is barely smaller than earlier than, nevertheless it’s solely noticeable in the event you eyeball them facet by facet. As for sturdiness, the earbuds’ water resistance stays unchanged at IPX4.

Should something in regards to the sound signature show underwhelming, you’ll be able to select between a number of completely different EQ presets or save three customized modes. I’m not somebody who consults frequency charts when reviewing earbuds, however I’ve listened to sufficient pairs to separate the wheat from the chaff. These rank up there with my sound high quality favorites just like the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. And I feel they surpass the AirPods Pro 2 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, that are lots good in their very own proper. Supported Bluetooth codecs embody LDAC and the newer LC3 / LE Audio protocol, so AZ100s ought to finally work with Auracast.

Technics can be hopping aboard the spatial audio practice. The earbuds’ companion app now has a Dolby Vision toggle (with optionally available head monitoring) that may make your tunes sound extra expansive and immersive in the event you choose it. I’ve discovered that some folks actually get pleasure from the sort of impact on sure songs — even when it’s faked/virtualized — whereas others like myself are glad to disregard it. But in the event you’re a fan, it’s there now on the AZ100s and you should utilize it with any type of media in your telephone.

That Technics app stays crammed to the brim with different settings, and so they go far past customizing the controls or adjusting how a lot noise comes by way of within the (very crisp and pure) transparency mode. You can optimize the noise cancellation to your particular atmosphere with a slider within the app. Want the multipoint connection to change mechanically everytime you play music on any of your units? That’s in there. You may take a look at how the mic sounds by recording snippets of your personal voice. It’s loads and might be overwhelming for non-techies, however I admire simply how a lot Technics crams in.

ANC efficiency is respectable — selecting the best ear ideas for the very best seal is paramount right here — although it doesn’t strategy the reigning champion, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Those have superior ANC and value much less, however can’t match up on sound. Call high quality can be very strong; Technics’ Voice Focus AI does an admirable job isolating your voice from any background ruckus. Callers advised me I sounded a tad robotic within the loudest out of doors exams, however they may nonetheless make out what I used to be saying.

Technics’ three-way multipoint stays a standout trick of the AZ100s. I’m not a wizard multitasker and barely discover myself juggling greater than two units. But in the event you’ve typically bought a 3rd at hand, it really works as marketed. (Just remember you’ll be able to’t use LDAC when on this mode, presumably because you’re pushing up towards the bounds of Bluetooth.) And you’ll be listening for longer: the AZ100s can preserve enjoying for as much as 10 hours on a single cost with ANC enabled. The case supplies one other 28 hours.

Just like their predecessors, Technics’ AZ100 earbuds prioritize audio efficiency whereas additionally managing to supply one distinctive functionality that AirPods and Galaxy Buds lack — regardless of the respective ecosystem benefits of these two rivals. But now they’re smaller, extra snug, and last more. If you don’t want the unconventional three-way multipoint, that $300 sticker value might sound awfully steep. But it’s more and more uncommon to have the ability to say “these earbuds do one thing most can’t,” and at the least for now, that’s nonetheless true of Technics’ flagship buds.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge