Technics/Engadget

Technics’ magnetic fluid drivers deliver significant upgrades to sonic performance, and you won’t find three-device multipoint connectivity anywhere else.

Pros

• Excellent sound quality
• Tons of options in the app
• Small size means comfy fit
• Three-device multipoint Bluetooth

Cons

• ANC lags behind the best
• None of today’s “smart” features
• Spatial audio doesn’t improve default tuning

$284 at Amazon

Sound quality

I am aware that I skipped a few generations of Technics earbuds since the AZ70W, but this also means I have a clearer picture of how much the company has improved since its inception. The AZ100 is a sonic marvel compared to the first model, offering some of the best sound quality in any of the hundreds of earbuds I’ve tested over the years.

The technology behind the audio boost is the new magnetic fluid drivers, which Technics claims offer “low distortion, accurate bass, and high resolution.” These drivers were developed using the company’s expertise from its $1,200 EAH-TZ700 in-ear monitors (IEMs), which also feature 10mm magnetic fluid drivers. The fluid is integrated into the voice coil of the driver to ensure precise movement of the diaphragm, resulting in minimal distortion and excellent clarity across the soundstage.

Technics also improved the bass performance on the AZ100, thanks to the new drivers, as well as a new acoustic control chamber and harmonizer that expand the low-end capabilities. The AZ100 supports both Dolby Atmos for spatial audio and Sony’s LDAC high-res wireless audio codec, making it an excellent choice for music enthusiasts. While Dolby Atmos is common on flagship sets, LDAC is rare outside of Sony’s own earbuds and headphones.

The AZ100 excels with high-res tunes like Apple Music’s Dolby Atmos catalog, delivering big, punchy bass that remains tight and detailed. Even older albums, such as The Appleseed Cast’s Mare Vitalis, envelop you with drums, dueling guitars, and the atmosphere of a live performance rather than a recorded album. However, the spatial audio mode is the one area where the AZ100 stumbles in terms of sound quality, as the sound becomes too thin and loses the energy that the improved bass brings to the default tuning.

ANC performance

Despite using its “most advanced” noise-canceling tech, the AZ100 lags behind the best in this regard. These earbuds employ adaptive ANC that automatically adjusts to your environment, but it’s not as effective as what Bose offers on the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. The AZ100 will serve you well in some situations, but like much of the competition, they don’t handle chatty neighbors in the office and don’t silence constant noise sources like fans and white noise machines.

App and features

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-canceling controls, EQ presets, and a Voice Focus AI Test. Along the bottom, there’s quick access to ambient sound, EQ, and the more detailed settings menu.

That settings menu is where things start to get confusing, as there are so many options that it can be overwhelming. Some items that should be higher up are closer to the bottom, like customizing the touch controls. Spatial audio can only be activated from this menu, which should be an item on the home screen. There’s a lot to help you configure the AZ100 to your liking, but it will take some time to find everything you need.

One unique feature that Technics offers is multipoint Bluetooth connectivity for up to three devices. I haven’t experienced this on any other earbuds, but the feature isn’t without caveats. LDAC audio can’t be used when three devices are connected, likely due to Bluetooth constraints. The company recommends disabling multipoint if you want to listen to LDAC-quality tunes. With the app, you can 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.

Call quality

The Voice Focus AI Test is a tool that allows you to hear what you’ll sound like on calls using the AZ100. It’s a nice feature to have so you can determine if the earbuds are good enough for important calls or virtual presentations. The AZ100 sounds clear and somewhat natural when you’re in a quiet spot. However, when you move to a louder location and the Voice Focus AI kicks in, you’re 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.

There are two options for ambient sound: Transparent and Attention. Neither assists much with voice and video calls. The AZ100 doesn’t 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 found Transparent to be the better of the two in all instances, even when trying to listen to someone talking.

Battery life

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% battery left. Based on the rate of depletion I experienced, that would be enough for about two more hours. A 15-minute charge will give you up to 90 minutes of use when you find yourself in a pinch.

Design updates

The design updates on the AZ100 are not a huge departure from its predecessor, but the thoughtful refinements, especially to the shape and fit, are notable. You have to get pretty far down the spec sheet on the AZ100 for a discussion of the design updates, as the sound and tech upgrades are the real story here. However, 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. Both the earbuds’ touch panel and the lid of the case are emblazoned with the iconic Technics logo in gold on textured metal, giving the whole set a premium look.

The competition

Before the AZ100 arrived, Bowers & Wilkins stood atop Engadget’s best wireless earbuds list 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 FoKus Rex5 from Noble Audio. Neither Bowers & 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.

Since the competition is now for second place, I give the edge to the AZ100. There’s a lot to like about Bowers & Wilkins’ Pi8, and if you prefer a more natural sound with less boomy low-end tone, they’re probably the pick for you. For me, I like the added bass the new Technics drivers provide, and there’s 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.

Wrap-up

It’s hard to follow a highly regarded product with another great one. Perhaps that’s why many audio companies rarely make huge changes to earbuds and headphones for new models, choosing instead to keep sound quality and ANC performance consistent. 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. While you can find better noise-canceling performance with Bose and more modern features with Sony, Technics has formulated excellent sound quality that few can challenge. The Best of CES award was well-earned.