{"id":1237136,"date":"2025-03-05T10:00:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T15:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1237136"},"modified":"2025-03-05T10:00:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T15:00:38","slug":"technics-az100-review-supreme-sound-quality-and-a-unique-bluetooth-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1237136","title":{"rendered":"Technics AZ100 review: Supreme sound quality and a unique Bluetooth tool"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>I wasn\u2019t impressed by the last pair of Technics earbuds I reviewed. The <a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/technics-eah-az70w-review-true-wireless-earbuds-130046061.html\">AZ70W<\/a> was the first set to carry the iconic turntable brand\u2019s logo after Panasonic relaunched it in 2014. The 2020 model did some things well for $250, but inconsistent audio performance kept them from being <a data-i13n=\"cpos:2;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/audio\/headphones\/best-wireless-earbuds-120058222.html\">a serious contender<\/a>. The company followed up in 2021 with <a data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/technics-eah-az60-and-eah-az40-true-wireless-earbuds-140003867.html\">two more wireless earbud options<\/a>, and 2023\u2019s <a data-i13n=\"cpos:4;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/technics-new-flagship-earbuds-have-larger-drivers-for-improved-sound-quality-130002534.html\">AZ80<\/a> was well-regarded by many reviewers for its sound quality.<\/p>\n<p>For its 2025 model, Technics <a data-i13n=\"cpos:5;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/audio\/headphones\/technics-az100-earbuds-hands-on-ces-2025-173004465.html\">dug into its bag of tricks<\/a> to improve the already mighty AZ80, resulting in <a data-i13n=\"elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:6;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/shopping.yahoo.com\/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&amp;siteId=us-engadget&amp;pageId=1p-autolink&amp;contentUuid=14616fdb-e1c9-42d4-a1a4-eb59bded2ee2&amp;featureId=text-link&amp;merchantName=Amazon&amp;custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL1RlY2huaWNzLVJlZmVyZW5jZS1XaXJlbGVzcy1DYW5jZWxsaW5nLU11bHRpcG9pbnQvZHAvQjBEU0NOMktQUj90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiIxNDYxNmZkYi1lMWM5LTQyZDQtYTFhNC1lYjU5YmRlZDJlZTIiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jb20vVGVjaG5pY3MtUmVmZXJlbmNlLVdpcmVsZXNzLUNhbmNlbGxpbmctTXVsdGlwb2ludC9kcC9CMERTQ04yS1BSIiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&amp;signature=AQAAAU3h72H1B0qFbbbJIRY0jv6-QYJ-rNXsBd5PvlPHuILM&amp;gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTechnics-Reference-Wireless-Cancelling-Multipoint%2Fdp%2FB0DSCN2KPR\" class=\"rapid-with-clickid\" data-original-link=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Technics-Reference-Wireless-Cancelling-Multipoint\/dp\/B0DSCN2KPR\">the AZ100 ($300)<\/a>. These flagship earbuds offer all-new drivers, adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC), AI-tinged voice tools, Dolby Atmos spatial sound and one neat tool none of the competition does. And thankfully, the AZ100 makes good on the promise of \u201cepic, reference-quality high-resolution audio.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"end-legacy-contents\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\n <core-commerce id=\"7873efa9cf7049d292e36b0f81df92cf\" data-type=\"product-list\" data-original-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Technics-Reference-Wireless-Cancelling-Multipoint\/dp\/B0DSCN2KPR\"><\/core-commerce><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jump-link-sound-quality\">Sound quality<\/h2>\n<p>I\u2019m well aware that I\u2019m skipping a few generations of Technics earbuds since the AZ70W, but that also means I have a much clearer picture of how much the company has improved since the beginning. The AZ100 is a sonic marvel compared to that first model, offering some of the best sound quality in any of the hundreds of earbuds I\u2019ve tested over the years.<\/p>\n<p>The technology behind the audio boost is new magnetic fluid drivers. Technics says they offer \u201clow distortion, accurate bass and high resolution.\u201d These parts were developed with the company\u2019s know-how from its <a data-i13n=\"elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:;elmt:;cpos:7;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/shopping.yahoo.com\/rdlw?siteId=us-engadget&amp;pageId=1p-autolink&amp;contentUuid=14616fdb-e1c9-42d4-a1a4-eb59bded2ee2&amp;featureId=text-link&amp;custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3VzLnRlY2huaWNzLmNvbS9wcm9kdWN0cy9wcmVtaXVtLXN0ZXJlby1lYXJwaG9uZXMtZWFoLXR6NzAwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiIxNDYxNmZkYi1lMWM5LTQyZDQtYTFhNC1lYjU5YmRlZDJlZTIiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vdXMudGVjaG5pY3MuY29tL3Byb2R1Y3RzL3ByZW1pdW0tc3RlcmVvLWVhcnBob25lcy1lYWgtdHo3MDAifQ&amp;signature=AQAAAeDm18OcQ7jir_tjYz1k8qFZh5GxqqZAXl8WxZte6Paz&amp;gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fus.technics.com%2Fproducts%2Fpremium-stereo-earphones-eah-tz700\" class=\"rapid-with-clickid\" data-original-link=\"https:\/\/us.technics.com\/products\/premium-stereo-earphones-eah-tz700\">$1,200 EAH-TZ700 in-ear monitors<\/a> (IEMs), which also pack in 10mm magnetic fluid drivers. The fluid is integrated into the voice coil of the driver to ensure precise movement of the diaphragm, leading to minimal distortion and excellent clarity across the soundstage.<\/p>\n<p>Technics also took care to improve bass performance on the AZ100. Those drivers help with that, but the earbuds also have a new acoustic control chamber and harmonizer to expand the low-end capabilities. It also doesn\u2019t hurt that the AZ100 supports both Dolby Atmos for spatial audio and Sony\u2019s LDAC high-res wireless audio codec. While the former is common on flagship sets, the latter is rare outside of Sony\u2019s own earbuds and headphones.<\/p>\n<p>The AZ100 is at its best with high-res tunes like Apple Music\u2019s Dolby Atmos catalog. With L.S. Dunes\u2019 alt-rock\/post-hardcore <em>Violet, <\/em>the earbuds deliver big, punchy bass that remains tight and detailed. The kick drum, for example, has a thunderous cadence and serves as a prime canvas for the refinements Technics made to the audio platform on the AZ100. Even older albums from the early aughts, like The Appleseed Cast\u2019s <em>Mare Vitalis, <\/em>envelop you with drums, dueling guitars and the atmosphere of a live performance rather than a recorded album. That\u2019s impressive when you consider this is streaming lossless on Apple Music, not Dolby Atmos.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of spatial audio, that\u2019s the one area where the AZ100 stumbles in terms of sound quality. That immersive mode is available with or without Dolby dynamic head tracking, and when it\u2019s toggled on, the sound gets too thin for my liking. The energy that the improved bass brings to the stock tuning is gone, leaving a more sterile audio profile that\u2019s a bit boring.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jump-link-anc-performance\">ANC performance<\/h2>\n<figure>\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2025-03\/24175f81-f931-11ef-be25-8ed1dda3023a\" data-crop-orig-src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2025-03\/24175f81-f931-11ef-be25-8ed1dda3023a\" style=\"height:1707px;width:2560px;\" alt=\"The star of the show is the new magnetic fluid drivers inside the AZ100.\" data-uuid=\"deddb813-9a2c-349e-8d3b-2b8796aaae21\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><div class=\"photo-credit\">\n  Billy Steele for Engadget\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Despite Technics\u2019 use of its \u201cmost advanced\u201d noise-canceling tech, the AZ100 lags behind the best in that regard. These earbuds do employ adaptive ANC that automatically adjusts to your environment, but it\u2019s not as good as what Bose offers on the <a data-i13n=\"cpos:8;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-review-spatial-audio-makes-all-the-difference-140057701.html\">QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds<\/a>. The AZ100 will serve you well in some situations, but like much of the competition, they don\u2019t handle chatty neighbors in the office well and don\u2019t silence constant noise sources like fans and white noise machines.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jump-link-app-and-features\">App and features<\/h2>\n<p>Every earbud company offers a companion app nowadays, although their utility can vary greatly. Technics has packed a lot into its software, and most of what you need frequently is right on the home screen. Once the AZ100 is paired with your phone, the app shows battery life for the earbuds individually and the case up top. You then get a usage guide, noise cancelling controls, EQ presets and a Voice Focus AI Test. Along the bottom, there\u2019s quick access to ambient sound, EQ and the more detailed settings menu.<\/p>\n<p>That settings menu is where things start to get confusing. Simply put, there are so many options here that it can all be overwhelming. And in some cases, items that should be higher up are closer to the bottom \u2014 like customizing the touch controls. Spatial audio can only be activated from this menu, which I\u2019d argue should be an item on the home screen. There\u2019s a lot here to help you configure the AZ100 to your liking, but it will take some time to find everything you need.<\/p>\n<p>One unique feature that Technics offers is multipoint Bluetooth connectivity for up to three devices. I haven\u2019t experienced this on any other earbuds, but the feature isn\u2019t without caveats. First, LDAC audio can\u2019t be used when three devices are connected, most likely due to the constraints of Bluetooth. In fact, Technics recommends disabling multipoint if you want to listen to LDAC-quality tunes. With the app, the company allows you to select whether multipoint will switch devices during media playback or when a call comes in. I mostly used multipoint with just my phone and laptop, but if a tablet is also part of your daily workflow, or you have a dedicated work phone, I can see the utility of a triple threat.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jump-link-call-quality\">Call quality<\/h2>\n<figure>\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2025-03\/2417ada2-f931-11ef-b2ee-cc837d273a09\" data-crop-orig-src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2025-03\/2417ada2-f931-11ef-b2ee-cc837d273a09\" style=\"height:1707px;width:2560px;\" alt=\"The outside panels of the AZ100 reliably accept tap commands. \" data-uuid=\"64d31607-b8ef-36a1-bba2-f19a9edcd27e\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><div class=\"photo-credit\">\n  Billy Steele for Engadget\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The Voice Focus AI Test is a tool that allows you to hear what you\u2019ll sound like on calls using the AZ100. It\u2019s a nice feature to have so you can determine if the earbuds are good enough for important calls or virtual presentations. And to that end, the AZ100 sounds clear and somewhat natural when you\u2019re in a quiet spot. When you move to a louder location and the Voice Focus AI kicks in, you\u2019re going to sound more robotic and processed. The folks on the other side will hear you and none of the background noise, but voice quality noticeably suffers.<\/p>\n<p>There are two options for ambient sound \u2014 Transparent and Attention \u2014 but neither assist much with voice and video calls. The AZ100 doesn\u2019t pipe your voice back through the earbuds, so you do have to speak up to hear yourself. When in ambient mode, Transparent allows all sound through the earbuds with no changes while Attention focuses more on voices. I actually found Transparent to be the better of the two in all instances, even when I was trying to listen to someone talking.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jump-link-battery-life\">Battery life<\/h2>\n<p>Technics promises up to 10 hours of battery life with ANC enabled, plus another 18 hours when you factor in the wireless charging case. If you opt for LDAC audio, those figures drop to seven hours and 11 hours respectively. After 10 hours of use with noise cancellation turned on, the AZ100 still had 20 percent battery left. Based on the rate of depletion I experienced, that would be enough for about two more hours. And when you find yourself in a pinch, a 15-minute charge will give you up to 90 minutes of use.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jump-link-design-updates\">Design updates<\/h2>\n<figure>\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2025-03\/24175f82-f931-11ef-9cfb-6e3015418354\" data-crop-orig-src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2025-03\/24175f82-f931-11ef-9cfb-6e3015418354\" style=\"height:1707px;width:2560px;\" alt=\"Those magnetic fluid drivers give the AZ100 improved bass performance.\" data-uuid=\"9e7a9251-179c-3891-8248-b5e89ff6d2da\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><div class=\"photo-credit\">\n  Billy Steele for Engadget\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>You have to get pretty far down the spec sheet on the AZ100 for a discussion of the design updates. That\u2019s because the sound and tech upgrades are the real story here. But, Technics did make some changes to the look of these earbuds compared to the AZ80, including reducing the size and weight. The company says a revised shape allows the IPX4-rated AZ100 to better hug the curves of your ears for increased comfort and stability. That holds true as the earbuds always stayed in place and I never felt any irritation, even after hours of use.<\/p>\n<p>Both the earbuds\u2019 touch panel and the lid of the case are emblazoned with the iconic Technics logo in gold on textured metal (on both the black and silver color options). This definitely gives the whole set a premium look, although I\u2019m sure not everyone will be thrilled with the gold. None of the design changes are a huge departure from the AZ100\u2019s predecessor, but the thoughtful refinements, especially to the shape and fit, are notable.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jump-link-the-competition\">The competition<\/h2>\n<p>Before the AZ100 arrived, Bowers &amp; Wilkins stood atop Engadget\u2019s <a data-i13n=\"cpos:9;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/audio\/headphones\/best-wireless-earbuds-120058222.html\">best wireless earbuds list<\/a> in the best sound category for a long time. Recently, the company was relegated to number two at the hands of the incredible but pricey <a data-i13n=\"cpos:10;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/audio\/headphones\/noble-fokus-rex5-review-incredible-sound-if-youre-willing-to-pay-for-it-130043824.html\">FoKus Rex5<\/a> from Noble Audio. Neither Bowers &amp; Wilkins nor Technics can compete with the five-driver setup that Noble offers, but the two companies offer excellent audio quality for less than the $449 price tag on the FoKus Rex5.<\/p>\n<p>Since the competition is now for second place, I give the edge to the AZ100. There\u2019s a lot to like about <a data-i13n=\"cpos:11;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/audio\/headphones\/bowers--wilkins-pi8-review-excellent-sound-comes-at-a-high-price-160032718.html\">Bowers &amp; Wilkins\u2019 Pi8<\/a>, and if you prefer a more natural sound with less boomy low-end tone, they\u2019re probably the pick for you. For me, I like the added bass the new Technics drivers provide and there\u2019s a longer list of features for the AZ100. In terms of ANC performance, I also give the nod to Technics, plus the AZ100 is $100 less than the Pi8.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jump-link-wrap-up\">Wrap-up<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to follow a highly regarded product with another great one. Perhaps that\u2019s why a lot of audio companies rarely make huge changes to earbuds and headphones for new models, choosing instead to keep sound quality and ANC performance consistent. \u201cIf it ain\u2019t broke\u2026\u201d and all that.<\/p>\n<p>Technics thought it could make its well-reviewed AZ80 even better by borrowing tech from another entry in its portfolio and the gamble has definitively paid off. Sure, you can find better noise-canceling performance with Bose and more modern features with Sony, but Technics has formulated excellent sound quality that few can challenge. I\u2019d say that <a data-i13n=\"cpos:12;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/ces-2025-the-best-tech-and-gadgets-we-saw-in-las-vegas-211535722.html\">Best of CES award<\/a> was well-earned.<\/p>\n<p> <core-slideshow data-slideshowid=\"937a9cd8-e4cd-4ca9-abc2-35866d1e920c\"><\/core-slideshow> <\/p>\n<p>This article originally 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<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I wasn\u2019t impressed by the last pair of Technics earbuds I reviewed. The AZ70W was the first set to carry the iconic turntable brand\u2019s logo after Panasonic relaunched it in 2014. The 2020 model did some things well for $250, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/?p=1237136\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99,44,110],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1237136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-engadget","category-technology","category-unfiltered-rss"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1237136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1237136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1237136\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1237136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1237136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prime-wow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1237136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}