Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi Wireless Earbuds, Dolby Atmos with Head Tracking, Adaptive Noise Cancelling, 3 Device Multipoint, 10-hr Battery, Wireless Charging, Improved Fit - EAH-AZ100-K (Black)

I am an avid follower of the bluetooth earbud market and have tested out a variety of different earbuds to find the pair that I truly felt was best. I previously owned the Technics AZ80, so I was very excited when the AZ100 was announced. I've spent a week with these earbuds, and I'm happy to share that they solved all of the primary issues with the AZ80s.**Sound:** I should name that it took me a bit to get to my desired tuning level. Out of the box, I felt that these buds were a bit too bassy and the vocal were veiled (kind of felt like they were in the back of the room). However, the EQ in the app is SUPER responsive and now these sound incredible and have really opened up (my EQ is +0, +0, +2, +5, +5, +5, +3, +3). Now these are the best sounding earbuds I've heard. The soundstage is wide, the bass has a great thump, and the details on these is incredible. You can clearly hear every instrument and pick up on new nuance from songs you've heard hundreds of times.**ANC + Transparency:** The ANC on these is excellent. It completely blocks out the busy streets of Manhattan. I didn't find the Adaptive mode to work great, so I just have ANC set to max in the app. It's probably only second to Bose now. I thought the AZ80 had a great transparency mode, but the AZ100 is much more natural sounding and gives that feeling of not wearing earbuds. Of course, fit is important here.**Calls:** The Voice AI works great (but you have to turn this on). You can make calls from anywhere with these, the call quality is second to only Huawei (who lags Technics in every other regard)Other aspects of these buds I love is the fit is snug but comfortable, I've worn these for 7 hours with no pain, the touch controls on the buds is entirely customizable, the battery life is market-leading, and the case is so small you can carry it anywhere.If you want the best buds on the market today, this is it!

I bought this because my over-the-ear cans were too bulky when I was out and about town, and my other set of earbuds did not cancel ambient noise on my side when I was on calls. The over-the-ears I will be comparing them to are my Sennheiser BT450s, and my Bose NC700, and the TWS in my comparison are my B&W Pi8's, though I will mention my experience with Sony WF1000M3 that I used to own and a recent LG TWS. What I discovered in half a week of using my Technics AZ100's is that they are surprisingly good earbuds for a reason I didn't consider previously.Drivers and EQI have experienced with a few headphones, TWS or otherwise, a hiss. The headphones would cancel noise well enough when there is noise, but when there isn't or during quiet moments in a video, there would be a hiss. The AZ100 doesn't have a hiss that I have been able to detect.Above that, the app offers the most precise EQ of all of my devices. Most just offer three frequency ranges, Bass, Mid, and Highs. This app offers seven, eight? The SoundGuys website commented the factory tuning is clumsy and bass heavy. If you take the time with these equalizers, you can get closer to the ideal EQ settings than if you only had three bars to adjust.I would say these drivers produce sound that is equal to any Sennheiser I have used. Out of the box, they sound like my Bose NC700 with punchier percussions -- which is really nice. These are more capable drivers than Sony's and LG's in-ears. I haven't gotten them to sound as good as my BW Pi8, but I'm being picky and the Pi8 are 33% more expensive.Call QualityThe only weakness of my Pi8 is that it lets in too much ambient noise when I'm on a call. One time, I was doing the dishes and the AC was blowing, and my mother, who is hard of hearing, was able to call out every one of my activities. I guess it is a way to make the other party feel like they're right there with you, but I don't think that's what most people mean when they say that.I repeated the same test with the AZ100 and my mother could not tell when I turned on the tap or stopped it, when the AC kicked in or stopped, or when I was next to my audible dishwasher. The complaint from mom was that my voice sounded robotic and occasionally I'd sound farther away.The other party on the other end was easy to hear for me. This was not anything that was a weakness of any of my earphones, but I believe with the AZ100, their voice is processed via the EQ.ANC.The Pi8's ANC design is quite nice in that, around the office or at a restaurant, it lets in some of the ambient sound but doesn't let it interfere with what I'm listening to. I hear my environment, so I don't miss my colleague asking for my attention or my server approaching. I hear things but I don't, if that makes sense.The reason I mention that is that the AZ100 doesn't seem to be so well tuned in that regard. At a restaurant playing loud music, it is fainter, but my podcast is still competing against it. At the same time, in the office, faint sounds drop off into near silence but louder sounds don't seem to be affected.At its best, the AZ100 perform as well as my Bose NC700 or the Sony WF1000M3, but I feel this isn't going to be one of its best traits. It's still very good, mind you -- I'm pitting it against class leading cans of the last few years after all -- but if this is something that is very important to you above all else, then it's probably not the best TWS for you.Portability and Touch ControlsThe case is tiny. I alternate between these and my Pi8 on the weekdays. I carry both in my pocket. This case is smaller, lighter.I did not perform a drop test, because they're new and they're expensive. I did perform drop tests by accident on my Pi8's. Both the case and buds were dropped from hip height and ear height onto tile with no apparent scuffs to the plastic shell or the internal electronics.The touch controls of the AZ100 are more responsive, it felt.The SurpriseThe AZ100 went in a different direction than the other buds in one major way. They are extremely light. They are lighter than any of the buds I have ever worn.This has a surprising effect. The buds stay very stable in the ear. I can turn my head quickly, and they won't go flying out. I can walk around, and there isn't even the slightest bit of movement. (In my review of the Sony WF1000M3, I commented that they were so heavy and jutted out so much that once, when I was crossing a street and hurried just a little at the end, the buds fell and I was lucky enough to catch them.) Something like that probably won't happen with these, though, once again, I won't be repeating that experiment.These are a compelling entry into the TWS field. If these were released the same time as the WF1000M3, these are probably better in every category except for the ANC tunings. These are better than the LGs, but the LG's offer a UV self-cleaning feature. And the AZ100 can compete directly against many of the higher-end over-the-ear headphones.

I’ve tried several high-end wireless earbuds, and the Technics EAH-AZ1000 have truly impressed me! The sound quality is absolutely phenomenal—deep bass, crystal-clear highs, and a well-balanced midrange that makes listening to any genre of music an absolute pleasure.Pros:✔️ Exceptional Sound Quality – The LDAC support really enhances the audio experience, giving a rich, detailed sound profile.✔️ Top-Tier Noise Cancellation – The ANC on these earbuds is super effective, blocking out background noise whether I’m commuting or working in a noisy environment.✔️ Comfortable & Secure Fit – They come with multiple ear tip sizes, and I found the perfect fit for all-day comfort.✔️ Great Call Quality – The six-mic setup ensures clear, natural-sounding calls even in windy conditions.✔️ Long Battery Life – I easily get around 7-8 hours on a single charge, and the case provides extra juice for on-the-go use.✔️ Premium Build & Design – Sleek, lightweight, and feel high-end.Cons:⚠️ App Could Be Better – While functional, the Technics app isn’t as intuitive as some competitors’ and could use a UI refresh.⚠️ Case is a Bit Bulky – Not a dealbreaker, but it’s slightly larger than other premium earbuds’ cases.Overall, if sound quality is your top priority, these are easily among the best wireless earbuds you can buy. They compete with and even surpass some of the big-name brands. Highly recommend!✅ Final Verdict: 9.5/10 – Audiophile-Grade Sound with Stellar ANCWould I buy them again? Absolutely!