Music Lovers’ New Favorite Earbuds

Whereas the model would not get pleasure from the identical identify recognition as Bose or Sony in relation to wi-fi buds, Technics has been steadily catching its competitors. The Technics AZ100 is the corporate’s new set of flagship earbuds, and if you have not been paying consideration, it’s time to start out.

Technics AZ100

The Technics AZ100 sound very good because of 10mm magnetic fluid drivers, full with options like Dolby Atmos, efficient ANC, and three-device multipoint Bluetooth.

Professionals & Cons

• Sound high quality is implausible
• Efficient ANC
• Most individuals ought to discover an awesome match
• Comfy to put on for hours
• Software program affords loads of customization

• Controls could be sensitive
• Battery life is nothing particular

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Value and Availability

The Technics AZ100 is the highest of the corporate’s line of earbuds, and retails for $299. That places these into the identical value vary as top-tier competitors from Bose, Sony, Apple, and others. On the one hand, this exhibits Technics is severe, however on the opposite, it exhibits how powerful this class could be.

You’ve got two choices for the end of the AZ100: the usual black, and a silver choice, which is the mannequin I used to be despatched to check for this evaluate.

Modern Design and a Deal with Discovering the Proper Match

Whereas a gram right here or there could not sound like a lot, it provides up whenever you’re carrying that weight in your ears. That goes to say that the AZ100 weighing in at 5.9g per earbud in comparison with 7g on the AZ80, is extra substantial than it sounds. These earbuds are additionally smaller, making for a better time discovering the correct match.

Technics has made getting the match proper a serious a part of the design of the AZ100, as we’ll take a look at much more in a while. For now, the necessary half is the sheer variety of ear ideas: 5 completely different units starting from small to giant. That is really down from the seven units included with the earlier flagship, however nonetheless loads to go round.

Throughout testing, I ended up utilizing the AZ100 with a number of completely different units of ideas, and was equally comfy with all of them. I ended up swapping ideas for sound-related causes, so it was a nice shock to see the earbuds keep put regardless of altering sizes.

Excellent Sound and Name High quality

Like many earbuds, the motive force within the Technics AZ100 measures 10mm, however that is the place most similarities finish. These earbuds use a “Magnetic Fluid Driver,” which makes use of magnetic particles suspended in a liquid—a method borrowed from the corporate’s a lot higher-end in-ear displays.

The earbuds help the usual SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, however that is not all. Sony’s LDAC codec is supported as effectively, for higher-res wi-fi sound high quality. You additionally get the LC3 codec, which nonetheless is not a typical inclusion, whilst value tags begin pushing larger.

Whereas listening to Fleetwood Mac’s I Walk a Thin Line, I seen a shocking quantity of heft to the low finish that I do not usually count on from in-ears. This track particularly will use no matter house it may possibly within the stereo area, and it will get loads out of the Technics.

That weighty low finish returned within the refrain of Queens of the Stone Age’s The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret, nevertheless it did not get in the way in which of the multilayered guitars. Regardless of a number of layers of thick fuzz guitar, the tip of the track by no means will get overly busy by way of frequencies.

The Technics don’t at all times depend on sheer weight to ship their sonic potential, both. The explosive ending of Wilson Pickett’s model of Hey Jude sounded a little bit skinny right here, because it nearly at all times does, however that did not rob the track of its affect.

The AZ100 earbuds additionally help Dolby Atmos sound, and it is handled with an incredibly regular hand. Slightly than the full-on impact it typically comes throughout as, I discovered Atmos added a candy however refined stereo width to the correct tracks.

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Whereas you should still want to show to Sony or Bose for the last word in active noise cancellation (ANC), it is definitely not open-and-shut. Specifically, the noise-canceling is great, whether or not you crank it to full or enable the Adaptive mode to deal with it for you.

The Ambient mode, which is the Technics tackle the Clear mode, is efficient, however not notably clear sounding. You get the sensation that you just’re listening to all the things round you thru headphones, which you might be.

Name high quality is nice, and I had almost similar outcomes with check recordings from each indoors and outdoor.

AZ100 Microphone Pattern: Indoors

AZ100 Microphone Pattern: Open air

The Customizable Controls are Sensitive

Contact controls are roughly a reality of life in relation to earbuds. Whereas I am not a fan, personally, I notice the world has moved on. I could have to make use of contact controls, however I want once they’re simply customizable.

The Technics Audio Join App (out there for iPhone and iPad in addition to Android) affords loads of customization, however not all the things is ideal. You’ll be able to customise nearly all the things right down to what a double-tap on both sides does, however the earbuds themselves typically acknowledge single faucets as doubles, and so forth.

One different space the place the app was surprisingly finicky was the ear tip choice course of, which is why I attempted the AZ100 with so many tip sizes. I usually use the medium ideas that ship on most earbuds, however right here the Technics app finally settled on medium-large after making an attempt all the things from small to giant.

It was price it as soon as I heard the sound and the noise cancellation, nevertheless it was a little bit of a journey getting there. You can even use the app to tune the earbuds’ EQ, however I used to be so proud of the default sound of the AZ100 that I principally left this function alone.

Yet another notable function is Technics’ three-device multipoint Bluetooth help. This provides a tool to the everyday multipoint restrict, and whereas it is considerably of a novelty, it undoubtedly has its makes use of.

The battery life within the Technics AZ100 is improved over that of the AZ80, however the general life is not particularly spectacular. You’ll be able to count on as much as 10 hours on a single cost, assuming you are utilizing both ANC or the Ambient Mode, with the case including a number of extra expenses for a complete of 28 hours.

You get two strategies of charging the case right here: a USB-C port on the underside of the case, or Qi-certified wi-fi charging. This should not come as a lot of a shock in higher-end earbuds lately, however I am at all times nonetheless completely satisfied to see wi-fi charging supported.

A full recharge of the case takes round two hours, however for those who pop the earbuds within the case whereas it is charging, a 15-minute cost will get you roughly 90 minutes of playback time. For full stats, you should use the Technics Audio Join app, however there’s a small LED on the case to provide you a fast overview of cost standing.

Ought to You Purchase the Technics AZ100?

Over time, I’ve examined loads of headphones, IEMs, and earbuds, so I wasn’t anticipating to be totally blown away by the sound high quality of the Technics AZ100. Whereas I wasn’t jaw-on-the-floor astonished by the sound, I am undecided that I’ve heard many earbuds which are higher sounding in any goal method. Music playback is the strongest a part of an altogether excellent bundle.

Noise-canceling is the place Bose and Sony nonetheless pull the most important positive aspects over the Technics, however even there, the lead is shrinking. I solely emphasize this relying on how you utilize your earbuds: In case your essential use case isn’t any music, ANC-only, there is no level to the Technics. That mentioned, for those who’re enjoying music all day, the additional sonic oomph from the AZ100 is price a minor tradeoff in ANC efficiency.

With fantastic-sounding drivers, a stable number of wi-fi codecs, and surprisingly refined Dolby Atmos help, the Technics AZ100 earbuds are clearly aimed toward listeners who prioritize music. If that sounds such as you, then you definitely may need simply discovered your good earbuds.

Technics AZ100

The Technics AZ100 sound very good because of 10mm magnetic fluid drivers, full with options like Dolby Atmos, efficient ANC, and three-device multipoint Bluetooth.