I'm not really someone who can speak to as new price since I tend to be happy with buds in Open Box, Used - Like New, or Refurb'd condition. I feel like I get a lot more for my sound dollar. That said, I am able to comment on sound and fit/comfort.
I find the Sony WF-1000XM5s to have excellent sound, but their fit and long-term comfort let me down. I find the WF-1000XM4s much more comfortable and their sound is very good in its own right.
I've owned many other Technics earbuds, but never the AZ100s. I recall their sound as being good to very good, with very good noise cancelling. Fit and long-term comfort were very good across the board. The controls were also solid. I moved on from them because I always thought the midrange was a touch veiled and they were not the last word in dynamics.
I only own the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, but I find their sound and noise cancellation excellent overall. Long-term comfort is good for me, but I feel the fit could be a touch more secure. The Ultras are less interesting to me because I don't really like earbuds in the mic boom form factor.
I've only owned the Sennheiser Accentum earbuds. They aren't bad, but I found the fit a bit odd. I feel like it's possible to get better sound for similar money. The Technics EAH-AZ40s would be a huge upgrade.
I should like the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro for their compact form factor, but I feel the fit and long-term comfort should be better than good or very good. Sound is good but nothing spectacular. The multipoint connectivity between my phone and laptop could also be more seamless. I feel like my Sony WF-C700Ns have flawless multipoint and at least 90% of the sound + noise-cancelling for a lot less money.
I've never owned the Liberty 4, but if you're on a tight budget the Anker Soundcore Space A40s are tough to beat. Very good sound, NC, fit, and long-term comfort. If you are on a super tight budget and can live with passive isolation the Soundcore Life A1s are worth a listen.
I own a ton of Jabra Elites over the years, including the 75ts, 4s in Black and Blue, 5s (currently missing), and 7s. I tend to find them cheap on eBay. I find their sound and NC good to very good. I like their tiny form factor, which makes the long-term fit and comfort excellent for me. This makes the Jabra Elites my favorite workout buds. My 75ts have held up to years of runs and workouts in all manner of conditions. Because of this, I'm bummed Jabra are leaving the earbud segment.
In conclusion, I need to declutter and sell off my ridiculously large collection of earbuds!
I returned these. My Samsung Galaxy Buds2 pros had better transparency mode for work, being that people came to my desk frequently, and me to theirs. Call quality wasn’t as good, and I found the bass to be lacking. My Jabra Elite Active 8 Gen 2’s are the only keepers. Apple, AZ100’s, Bose, JBL, Sony, and even Beats, I tried them all. Most kept falling out. I workout and play golf in the Jabra’s. They don’t move. Better call quality, bass, and fit. I’m trying a few more when they get here next week, too. Perl Pros, Accentums and the AZ80’s. I doubt I’ll like any of the, but who knows.
I can't speak much about the wider options, but I've recently bought the liberty 5 pros ($170 in case that's an issue), and I'm impressed. They're a distinct upgrade from my galaxy buds 2 pro in every regard except sound quality. Sounds quality is good, but the Galaxy buds were better even to my non-audiophile tastes.
The noise canceling is just as crazy as it looks on YouTube. I was running an impact driver and tapping metal hinges with a hammer and the guy I was on the phone with had no clue.
0rangeBMW
