Technics EAH-AZ100 Review — Audiophile Power in a Compact Package
These are the earbuds that made me pause my playlist and lean in. The Technics EAH-AZ100 promise flagship sound, effective ANC, and a few tricks your AirPods haven’t seen yet. I spent a week with them across ranked matches, editing sessions, commuting, and casual listening — here’s whether they live up to the hype (spoiler: mostly yes, with caveats).
Design & Comfort: Style Meets Bulk
Right off the bat, the AZ100 are more compact than their predecessor, the AZ80, but they’re still chunkier than ultra-stealthy buds. The nozzle is weirdly contoured to nestle in your ear’s shape, and with the right tip (out of five sizes) the fit is solid. (SoundGuys) I could wear them for multi-hour sessions without significant fatigue, but if your ears veer toward “delicate,” the deeper-insert style might take a minute to get used to. (Technics)
That build also gives a premium feel: metallic accents, clean surfaces, and a compact case with wireless charging. (SoundGuys) The case is pocketable, though it isn’t ultra-slim.
Active Noise Cancellation & Ambient Modes
The AZ100’s ANC works impressively in everyday settings — city hum, HVAC drones, engine noise — it cuts a surprising amount of background buzz. (RTINGS.com) It’s not “magic silence” in extreme environments, but it’s definitely good enough for most commutes and cafés. (WIRED) The built-in Voice Focus AI also helps in calls, isolating your voice while suppressing ambient noise — though it introduces a slightly robotic tonality in very loud surroundings. (What Hi-Fi?)
Transparency / passthrough modes are solid. The “Attention” mode (boosting voices around you) is a nice touch — it pauses music and lets speech through moderately cleanly. (SoundGuys) In bright, windy conditions, though, the ambient sound sometimes gets exaggerated high frequencies. (WIRED)
Sound Quality & Codec Support
Here’s where the AZ100s really shine for me. They feature Magnetic Fluid Drivers (10 mm) that suppress distortion in theory — and in practice, they deliver a warm, engaging sound with detail. (popsci.com) With LDAC and Bluetooth LE / LC3 support (on compatible devices), high-res streaming is on the table. (The Verge)
In my tests:
- Bass has weight and punch. It leans toward “fun” rather than ultra-flat reference.
- Mids & vocals are mostly clean, though in denser mixes (or with less-than-perfect seal) the bass can bleed slightly into the mids.
- Treble & detail: With ANC engaged, the highs pop and micro-details emerge. Without ANC, they lose a bit of clarity and richness. (TechRadar)
What Hi-Fi called them “expressive, spacious, and engaging” — I’d agree. (What Hi-Fi?) LoudnWireless praised them for clean track separation and layering. But some users note vocal fullness is less forward than in earlier models. (Aaron x Loud and Wireless)
One caveat: when you use three-device multipoint (3-way), you lose LDAC. That’s a trade to watch. (The Verge)
Battery Life & Connectivity
Technics advertises up to 10 hours of playback with ANC on (AAC mode), and with the case, up to 28 additional hours. (popsci.com) In real use, I got about 9–10 hours in moderate volume, ANC enabled — consistent with those claims. (HomeTheaterReview) Bluetooth 5.3 works smoothly, and multipoint switching works — though the switch can show a small lag. (Aaron x Loud and Wireless) Stability was rock solid in my daily routine (gaming + video + podcast). (head-fi.org)
Mic, Calls & Controls
Mic clarity is usable — your voice comes through, background suppressed, but don’t expect studio-grade voice tones. (RTINGS.com) The Voice Focus AI helps but adds slight processing artifacts. (What Hi-Fi?) Controls are via capacitive touch surfaces; you can remap gestures in the app (nice flexibility) (SoundGuys) but sometimes commands misfire if your touches aren’t precise. (head-fi.org)
What Could Be Better
- ANC, while very capable, doesn’t quite top Sony/Bose in extreme noise scenarios.
- Deeper insertion style may be uncomfortable or fatiguing for some.
- Using 3-way multipoint disables LDAC, limiting high-res audio in that mode.
- Voice Focus AI may sound a bit synthetic under loud ambient conditions.
- Touch control misfires occasionally require tuning/remapping.
Final Verdict (Riley’s Score)
The Technics EAH-AZ100 are among the most compelling true wireless earbuds I’ve tested lately. They balance audiophile-level sound, useful smart features, and real-world usability. They’re not flawless, but for listeners who want top-tier audio + flexibility + multipoint connectivity — these deserve serious attention.
Riley Vega’s score: 8.3 / 10
If I were you, I’d use them day to day, tweak the EQ, and live happily with just one trade-off: sometimes losing LDAC in multipoint mode.
