Technics - EAH-AZ100

Great review! I recently got and tested both. Although I am a biased B&W fan due to their loudspeakers and prefer the brightness of their overall sound, I wanted them to win. I take business calls and would need to use the earbuds from time to time. Calls in a noisy place with the MyVoice AI, and transparency mode unfortunately beat out the sound quality as the deal breaker. I'll sadly return the Pi8s and happily roll with the AZ100s.

Hehe az100 is far superior, but i like ear 2024

Yes i agree 👍 bose 2024 is my top choice when I am outside, but az100 is better product overall 

Ok that's your opinion 👍, 2024 is good with sound personalization, but az100 secret: you need to set 250 band to -2, az 100 is then miles better.. i am currently using az 100 as i am writing , will now switch to 2024 to check it again.

I'm currently listening to 2024, they're phenomenal, I must say. The sound is very sharp, but the AZ100 gives me a fuller and more rounded sound.

Current opinion on az100 vs m4? 

Thank you very much! just ordered az100

Yeah.. they kind of hurt my ear 2- whats up with that ? :( I have to think very hard if i can justify to keep them. Just going back to the az 80s that fit perfect in my ear. Am i using them wrong?

I'm TOTALLY with you. Like, exactly. The left feels fine, the right hurts my ear canal. I've played with changing the tips and still, ouch. I own many earbuds (I've got a bit of a problem) and these hurt the worst. Just this morning I tried changing the tips again because I WANT to love these. But right now, my Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra, Bose Quiet Comfort 2, JBL Tour Pro 3, OnePlus, Sony, Google, Nothing... ALL feel so much better. I'm going to start googling third party tips now, if I find a winner, I'll let you know and I'd appreciate it if you did the same. I really want these to work as they are supposed to be my best "sounding" earbuds.

So of the higher end earbuds I’ve personally used there seem to be 3 differentiating factors: new technology, increased playback adjustments/options, better/more codec support. For instance the B&W Pi8s allow you to send the signal through a special chip in the case that lets you use aptX, 24 bit at 96kHz; whereas the Technics EAH Az100s have tons of adjustability; and the one Auravana Ace2 with BT W5 adapter uses the new xMems tech with aptX codec. I’d say best all around is the Technics, but best bang for your buck is Auravana even without the adapter if you’re okay with AAC or mp3. Either way with both you’ll immediately hear improvement in sound quality (with all) over say iPod Pro or Sony WF1000XM5s. With iPod Pro and the Sony though you get better peripheral stuff, like ANC and call quality until you get to the Technics and the Pi8 where the Technics exceeds and the Pi8 matches with better sound quality. For pure balanced sound though with some real stage to the instruments I think the Auravana is probably the sweet spot on price, but it’s App is lacklustre compared to the Technics especially if you’re looking at a wide variety of genres

I say if budget is not a problem then b&o eleven. I got the AZ-100, Pi8, and the elevens. If you want bass then i say eleven is the best out of them. When AZ-100 sounds better with lower bass and the same with Pi8s. Elevens has the best sound quality with the bass boosted in my opinion. Just make sure the ear tips fits your ear well

Opposite for me. I literally can't hear shit when playing music. Best ANC I've heard.

Technics az100 blew me away and I came from Beoplay h9 and jabra elite active 8 gen 2.

And don't forget Technics az100 😁

There's a lot more to sound quality than just number of drivers. The quality of the driver, the quality of the DAC, the fit of the earphone can all make a huge difference. I'm a very seasoned audiophile and find the AZ100 phenomenal, especially for the price. Very even frequency response, not overly bright, and good bass reproduction.

I’ve tried prestige’s, B&o ex’s, B&W Pi8’s in extensive listening sessions. After a few songs the Az100’s have handily outclassed them. I’ve been an advocate for the AZ-80’s for as long as they’ve been out and now I’m in it for the long haul. Such crazy separation from these. IMO the prestige’s mid’s were muddled and bass was uncontrolled and overpowering. Vocals lacked the snap of technics. The pi8’s are impressive in their tuning but the driver in them have a hard time keeping up with the sheer speed of the AZ-100’s and even the AZ-80’s. I tell everyone the Pi8’s out of the box beat everyone, but a parametric eq’d AZ-80 ascend above all. I’m convinced the technics are so natural sounding for their high frequency ceiling. That is, until the AZ-100 pops into the mix. Just plain better in literally every regard. Such impressive texturing that matches the Pi8 and the full bodied sound of the AZ-80’s. I believe the Pi8’s lack deep bass notes entirely and for that reason their driver isn’t busy enough to distort mids or highs. I think that’s far easier than what technics have achieved. I couldn’t encourage a trial run with a pair enough. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the very worst.

Just used Az100 at the gym for the first time and they were amazing, definitely a step up in ANC from Az80 and blow buds2 pro out of the water (which I had prviously to az80)

No problems yet but only had them a week. Really enjoying the sound and bass, haven't used for calls yet.

I bought AZ80 because of all these \*REVIEWS\*. Sound quality is not better than EarFun Air Pro 4, it is a slightly different (little less bass, so little more voice). Of course, I have used LDAC 900kbps profile with both models. Sound quality can't be physically better, both models has single dynamic driver. I was hugely disappointed and returned AZ80 back to Amazon. AZ100 still have single dynamic driver, sound quality could not be better than AZ80. It is an limit of the technology.

Your words are not supported by theory or practice. It's just your words. Theory: show me at least few loudspeakers with SINGLE driver, lol. Quick example, my loudspeakers Wharfedale Jade 7 has 4 drivers for different frequencies. Practice: single driver Technics AZ80 sound quality similar to single driver EarFuns Air Pro 4. New AZ100 still have single driver, so there won't be any changes.

I just bought a pair. Have gone from Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds to the AZ100's and the sound quality knocks them out of the park. ANC Bose has a slight edge, testing stood next to my air fryer on full whack, but then their sound quality is trash in comparison, so I'm happy overall. I'd say they're worth the hype and can understand the marketing push at this price. Completely honest review and not paid for 😂

Tbh, this is a very fair and accurate assessment of both as I’ve tried them as well. Nice job!

I have a pair. They sound pretty good, but the volume is way too restricted for my "blow my ears out" listening habits.

I will say that my AZ100s arrived today, and man I am in love. I’ve used AirPod Pro 2s, Sennheisers, Bose Soundsport Frees (my previous favorite), Moondrop 1979s, Sony XM5s. These Technics have such a gorgeous warm sound without sacrificing clarity. Very very comfortable, too. If you have the means, I highly recommend giving them a whirl.

I don't rate Airpods particularly highly. They are effecient, easy to use, and easy to find a good enough fit that stays put. To me their sound is somewhat narrow and a little thinner than the Sony or Senns. Mind you, they're still very good compared to the majority of TWS options, but I'd put them around a 6 or 7. My initial impression of the 100s is rather glowing. Broader sound, much more warmth and depth of sound without turning into some Beats-like muddled bass monster. They're like a 9 to me. These opinions may very well change once I can sit down and spend some time A-B'ing them against the Airpods and others. It could just be a case of "ooooh, new shiny stuff is always better" and I'll come to rate them lower. But right now, I'm just a big fan.

And now the Technics AZ100 for android...upping the game

Currently experiencing this now. This month, I’ve tried - EAH-AZ100, Sony XM5, Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2, Jabra Elite 8 Gen 2, Pixel Buds Pro 2, OnePlus Buds Pro 3, Nothing Buds. I could not agree more. I’m currently testing the EAH-AZ100s against the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 and Nothing Buds, and was going to make a post about it myself. I’m not sure what to think. The hype and price almost ‘ruin’ the AZ100’s. They’re just nowhere near as mind blowing as people make out, especially when you compare them to buds 1/2 or 1/3 of the price. As you said, If you put a gun to my head and asked me to pick, yes, I’d probably say the EAH-AZ100s are probably ‘best’ for the average person, but do I think they’re always the most enjoyable or best, absolutely not. I’d honestly say if I listened to 10 songs, maybe 4 of them sound best on the EAZ-AZ100s, 4 on the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, and 2 on the Nothings, and the difference between the Nothing Buds having 2 points and 4, is as you said, literally, literally like 5%. I found it very hard to decide between buds, it was one of the reasons I ended up testing so many. Similarly, I thought the XM5’s were literally the worst of all the ones I mentioned above, despite being near the top in their perceived premium’ness’. I genuinely would pick the Nothing Buds 10/10 times over them. That said, I am hoping to learn how to get more out of these EAZ-AZ100’s with the EQ, I’ve tried playing around with them but not really hearing this ‘mind blowing’ ‘blow your head off’ ‘rip your head in half’ quality tbh.

Yeah sorry man! They are comfy, and they are relatively secure, but I definitely dont think they compare to the Googles, if you had problems with the pixel buds pro 2 (bearing in mind all our ears are different so take this with a grain of salt) then I dont think the AZ100's could be better. They definitely sound more clear than the GPBP2 though! They're pretty close to the Jabra Elite 10 gen 2 or the Jabra Elite 8s I'd say, like very close in terms of comfort/security.

It’s funny you compared these two because I bought both to do the same lol Mostly interested in the 1mm bigger driver for the Nothing Ear. For me: Technics AZ100 -Pros •Longer Battery •Better Latency for gaming •The soundstage is wider and more immersive to me. •The bass feels more buttery/smooth than Nothing ear •Dolby Atmos setting is great for tv shows and movies. It also makes the soundstage for music wider and deeper. Sounds cool. •Better ANC •Better ease of use for touch controls than Nothing Ear’s weird grip controls •The clarity of the highs are so crisp and clean -Cons •Cheap looking case that also feels cheap. I expected more for the $300 price •App is ok but not as good as Nothing Ear •Dolby Atmos for music is cool, but drowns out the mids and highs a bit. Seems to lower the volume •Dolby Atmos head tracking is pointless. Yeah it’s cool but I don’t ever see myself using it •The db volume is much lower than Nothing Ear Nothing Ear -Pros •Cool aesthetically pleasing case that doesn’t feel cheap •Really awesome app with very detailed EQ options •The bass boost option is so awesome for a bass head like me •The personalized sound EQ feature amplifies frequencies that my ears couldn’t pick up as well before •More affordable price •Db volume is much louder than Technics. I have sensitive ears so I have to lower the volume quite a bit •The mids and highs do seem to be a bit cleaner and louder when having the right EQ setting •I would say the 1mm bigger driver does win against the Technics since the volume and bass are louder -Cons •ANC is not that good compared to Technics •Weird grip controls on earbuds •Soundstage does sound less open and wide to me. This sounds more “together center forward” for me •The bass is great but not as smooth satisfying as the Technics •The square case is an odd design choice •Less battery •No 3 point connection like Technics •There’s an option in the settings to help with game latency but when I switch it on it doesn’t really help and it causes the sound to skip every now and then

To me at least, over ear are a waste of money. I would only have 2 or 3 of them. And then never use

Over ears make your ears sweat. They cover your ears and wrap around your head. So they are not better for everything. Plus, these az100 will sound better than most kf not all popular over ear headphones.

I totally second the Geminis. I listen to edm, trancy daily and out of your list, the Geminis would be the ideal choice followed by the AZ100. Both have excellent bass responses and lively mids, with good imaging and separation.

You should find a store to demo all the ones or buy and return the ones you don't like. I think the best way to choose a bud is to listen to it using your phone or music source to music you normally listen to. Depending on review don't always work because everyone uses different sources be it a dap, a dongle, naked phone etc and musical tastes vary. Some buds like the AZ100 sound great on edm and hiphop but may not live up to your expectations in jazz or classical. If budget isn't an issue, the Gemini 2 is your best choice as all types of music sounds good, its small and comfortable for all day wear especially if you add an aftermarket foam tip. Some features aren't as good as others but totally excels st sound quality. The Rex5 is good too but requires a lot of time to tweak the eq to fit your musical tastes.

Well I now have them and what do I think, well colour me impressed, using bass+ they have a nice rich tonality very relaxing to listen to Bass is good, enough thump to have fun with, and the treble is quite resolving If I didn't have oracles, I'd be quite happy to settle for these they have such a pleasing sound, and they'll hit sub bass levels though unlike the oracles it doesn't have the same punch One thing I will say, though they're not quiet, equally you do need to turn up the volume a bit, I ended up switching on dolby atmos and that improved things for me Only trouble is, my xm4's have now been demoted to tv watching duties Much like the song I'm listening to 'there's a new kid in town' 😄

I will have my AZ 100s tomorrow. This is the first even SEMI- not amazing review/writeup I have seen of them. I like comparisons. I hope they are my perfect earbuds, as I have been searching for over 3 years now. The 100s SEEM to be top class in everything I have heard/seen/read so far. My main concern is mic quality, transparency then battery life. Audio quality then ANC would not be next. I have had the Huawei Freebuds Pro 3 and they blow everything else out of the water for call quality but the battery life is weak at best at 4-5 hours MAYBE. I hope the mics on the AZ 100s are as good as I have seen on reviews but I will have to wait another day or so to test for myself. If these aren't "the ones" for me then the Huawei Freebuds Pro 4 just came out but they aren't exactly easy to get in the states. And after Monday it will be even harder.

First impressions...similar to what u/sayingTigg33 has said. The best. I am actually mind-blown. Best call quality. Best controls. Best sound. I have only been using them for about 8ish hours at this point, so I will have more later...but...a couple issues I have seen.... For me the left earbud has drained a bit more than the right. Not sure why...I believe past Technics have done the same. If I have triple multipoint on, there seems to be a delay in audio sync when watching videos. I use XPlayer. Not sure about other sources. No delay when not using triple multipoint. I haven't yet actually connected to three devices at once, but only having it turned on there is a delay. I may just need to factory reset the earbuds to fix it. I also haven't even tried LDAC or LC3. I never really use them...this is just with AAC. They sound amazing without the higher end codecs, which I never use anyway. I listen to podcasts mostly. Also...and this is a big one with a lot of people...I slept with these in last night...I had no issues as them being "sleeper" earbuds. LOL. They are significantly smaller than the AZ80s, and so is the case. Calls, battery. transparency, ANC, so far everything is amazing. Initial impression is that, barring any firmware or strange issues...these are the best of the best RIGHT NOW. As in...I am sure something will beat them in a few months, which is what happens in technology-land. But you can't go wrong with them, I would say!!

They actually also have a "super-power" as well. I had both the AZ60s and AZ80s in the past, and I have a few tests that earbuds must pass for me to give them a "go." Both the 60s and 80s had mediocre transparency in my opinion. While the AZ80s did have better transparency, they still had a major issue. One of my tests is the "doing dishes" test for transparency. I do dishes in my household, along with the wife...but there is obviously a lot of clanking going on when doing dishes. The AZ60s and AZ80s would both AMPLIFY the clanking so much is was actually deafening!! It was HORRIBLE. I had them both for a couple weeks, so I am not sure if Technics ever had a firmware update to fix that. HOWEVER!! The AZ100s have a superpower that will actually turn on ANC for a SPLIT SECOND (like a tenth of a second!!) when they detect a loud sound like a clanking, or even my kids screeching and screaming...it is AMAZING!! I don't recall any other earbuds that have done this, and I have tried most major brands in the past 3+ years. While I wouldn't suggest it...I actually wonder if they would work on a shooting range?!!?

Yes but I am specifically talking about transparency mode! It is always on in transparency, a secret "hearing saving " mode. It also has an adaptive ANC as well, which I haven't even really tried yet. I have read that works well as well though.

I ended up returning the AZ100Ss because my wife said the calls had "too much AI" basically. But other than THAT...I loved EVERYTHING about them. The transparency is second only to the Airpod Pro 2. Maybe the Pixel Buds 2 Pro and Samsung Buds 3 Pro are better as well, but not by much. The AZ100s are the overall best earbuds you can get. The battery life is nuts, too. Like 10+ hours with ANC on. I don't use LDAC though. I don't think it is necessary.

I had the blues as well, returned for the black 100s

I had it at like 70% volume and that was more than enough, can’t imagine it being louder but I did actually end up buying the az100

In that case I would be worrying about hearing damage or levels of tinnitus but I’m also very anal about those things. I bring custom molded earbuds to concerts, double up when drumming, as well as when shooting guns indoors. I’m excited for the az100. The brief time I had with the az80 was very enjoyable.

I see a lot of good advice here. I find they get more comfortable as you wear the ear tips in. Give them more time.

I use AZ100 for a similar use case. I replaced AirPods Pro with them.

Move from AirPods Pro to AZ100. Crazy difference. Even €20 Moondrop Space travel sound better then AirPods though.

The sound definition is levels above due to the ldac codec. You can change settings in Apple music for High def audio. The only W for apple in the comparison it the transparency more is better on the airpods.

The Az100 has awful ANC. It does sound pretty good though.

Idk what you’ve used before but their ANC is worse than APP, Gemini II, Jabra 85, and Pi8. I’ve used them all in the same setting and it’s terrible in comparison.

I’m probably keeping them because they’re extremely comfortable and have a really good mic. I like them a lot overall and don’t really need ANC as I work from home, but I’ve worn them all in the same environments (supermarket, gym, etc.) and they’re the worst performing of them all for ANC.

I found ANC on this earbuds really bad, they cant cancel outside noise like car traffic sucessfully, they even amplify that same high pitch noise for some reason, really strange but a lot of AZ100 users from r/Earbuds can confirm that, but they sound amazing when there is no noise around and spatial audio is next level.

I got this 2 weeks ago. Love these so muchhh

Im a producer and a lover of sound and TWS buds I have to say that FINALLY!!! some decent TWS, I have to say that they are the first TWS that you could produce whenever you travel without taking the card and the 660s or the Clear MG, top sound quality in AAC, you do not even need to use the LDAC, they last me with ANC 10h:30 with 64% of volume, are 3 charges and charge the headphones in 1 hour. I have had the xm4, the xm5 and I returned them, not only because of fatigue but because when you equalize with SoundIDReference it eats frequencies when you increase the 200hz, I also had the Pixel pro 2, and they have a sound of 80 euros, the Nothing have almost the same sound worth 200e less, but it gave me fatigue and fatigue is the worst thing that can happen using headphones. Also the Jabra Elite 10 but it gives fatigue and eats frequencies, also the Samsung buds 3 pro, the stick ones give me fatigue. We are getting closer and closer to the Shure SE846G2CL at a more affordable price and without cables, the Technics not only give a spectacular sound but you can spend 10 hours with them 'working'. If you are an editor it is the most recommended for work and more than enough to listen to everything in detail. They are the best TWS that exist today 2025 of the entire market. Sony, Nothing, Samsung, you better get your act together and the stick TWS is a mistake, if you generate fatigue the TWS are useless.

this seems the best middle ground of everything... love mine so far!!!

There’s a huge difference. The stock seem to be harder and less flexible. The spinfit are much softer and makes the earbud feel lighter. At least for me it’s a night and day difference. Was thinking of returning the az100 cause it doesnt matter how good the sound quality is if you can’t stand wearing them. I’m pretty sure I’m keeping them.

I was in the same boat. Fit was uncomfortable, played with the stock tips didn't work. Got Spinfit Neo and fixed it.

The only ones available for the az100 are the Neo. You can check their website. I totally agree with you that AirPods Pro 2 are the most comfortable. And they will still be. But at least to me the az100 with the spin fit Neo are very comfortable, not as the AirPods but close enough.

They actually are returnable. Sizes have big variations on the spin fits unlike the stock ones. Keep the ones that fit return the rest. I’m pretty sure it’s good business for them at almost 20 USD a pair.

I had the same problem with the bass, that’s why I stayed with size M; little tighter but full sound spectrum. Regarding fit; try twisting the earbud a little to the front instead of to the back. That helped me get a comfortable fit. It’s not there with the AirPod pro 2 but it doesn’t bother me at all And the sound is well worth it.

Great comparison, of note I see you mention call quality on the AZ100s but not the Pi8s. How do the Pi8s stack up in call quality?

Some of the videos I've watched have really highlighted those same points. I need these for work and conference calls as well as general listening so I will likely be going for the AZ100s as more of an all-purpose tool. Thanks for putting in the work! I'm really just torn between the black and silver

https://preview.redd.it/8tgl24cb71qe1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a61a6c6f1d0cd4a8efefdef20d349583d99cc7c9 # Introduction So, first, I am not an audiophile, but I do like audio. As much as an audiophile would, I'll get directly to the point: **do not trust any review**—Technics is better than Nothing Ear, brah, bah. Clearer sound, more detail, bra bra, and ignore those who defend; I will give my direct opinion. And no defending any, so since music and sound preference are subjective, I will compare based on **instrument separation** and **who has the clearer sound—not muddy**. **Hell fking no**, I am very, very disappointed at this point. The Technics bass is **boomy** even when I set the treble **+ which no bass**. # Initial Impressions I got the Technics **10 days ago** after seeing that both reviewer and user reviews were very hyped about it, so I ordered and tried it out. The first balance is **very boomy** with bass that sounds **warm and a little muddy**. The **soundstage** is the same as Nothing Ear—not wider or anything. # Part 1: Battery Life # Technics * **Battery Performance:** Technics is the clear winner in this category due to its **10-hour ANC on + LDAC capability**. This is great for people who wear them for a long time and do not take them off. # Nothing Ear * **Battery Performance:** For Nothing Ear, it's not bad and not great either, with **5-hour ANC on + LDAC**. This isn’t ideal for long-term use—if you use it for over 6 months, the performance will surely degrade. Personally, I don’t use ANC much because I listen in my room. # Part 2: Secure, Fit, and Daily Use # Technics * **Fit & Case:** My ears are small. Technics wins for daily use. The case of the Technics earbuds is really good—small, easy to fit in my pocket, and quick to use. Even when I walk in the park, I can easily pick them up from my pocket, open the case, and get them out to my ear. # Nothing Ear * **Fit & Case:** For Nothing Ear, the case is luxurious for sure, but it’s hard to get the earbuds out. The case is big, and I don’t know why I can’t get them out when I try to pull the earbuds from the case; the earbuds slip from my hand and fall every time 😅. So for daily use, it may be a draw, I think—Nothing Ear wins for me when it comes to fit in my ear and security, but Technics wins for easy retrieval of earbuds and a smaller case. # Part 3: Software, EQ, and Control # Nothing Ear * **Software & App:** In software, Nothing shines so hard, I can’t believe it. The Nothing app is a clear win in this regard due to its ease of use. It is a rich application—what I like the most is the EQ sharing and equalizer, which is the best I’ve ever tried. I even had fun going to Discord and finding somebody’s EQ to import for 10 EQ presets; it was very fun, easy to import, and easy to share. It even has a hearing test and fit test. * **Controls:** But! For control, the **pinch control is stupid and hard to use**. I don’t like it—I even hate it. I don’t use it at all, so most of the time I spend time in the app to change ANC, LDAC, LDHC, and volume control on the phone rather than using pinch control. # Technics * **Software & App:** Now, for Technics, the app seems okay—not bad and even good too—but for some reason, I find that the app looks very cheap for an expensive product like this. The settings are only in text—no signs or emojis to indicate if this is spatial audio or which setting to use—so it feels a little cheap in terms of, say, the app’s 8-band EQ. * **Controls & Functionality:** I guess I will cover sound quality for EQ in another part, but it has many functions like spatial audio, low latency mode, etc. Touch control is very fking good. One thing I don’t like about the app is that when selecting spatial audio or a different EQ, **why the fk do the earbuds need to self-restart every time?** When I set the EQ, I want to hear the difference fast—Nothing Ear has no issue with this. For me, I like the Nothing app better, but Technics is okay and very good. # Part 4: How the Earbuds and Case Look # Technics * **Case Appearance & Build:** Despite being expensive, one thing I don’t like about the Technics case is that it looks cheap—like cheap plastic. For those who think the lid is aluminum because it looks that way, no—it’s plastic, and the joint of the lid wobbles a little. When you shake it a little, you can hear the plastic sound. That is so cheap, bruhhh, omg. The magnet is also not strong; you can shake it and the earbuds fall out, even if the lid is still off. I use very low force to shake it, and since the case is small and the earbuds are easy to pull out, I’ll skip all my blame here. # Nothing Ear * **Case Appearance & Build:** Nothing Ear has a rich, translucent case with a strong magnet that looks like better quality plastic, even though it shakes. However, the case is square, and when you pull the earbuds out, it is so hard. The positioning of the earbuds in the case is weird—as heck. Nothing Ear users will know what I mean since it sometimes gets confusing when placing the earbuds back in the case. * **Earbuds:** For the earbuds themselves, I kind of give it a draw, but I like Nothing Ear better due to the shape and its transparent design. # Part 5: ANC and Transparency Mode # Technics * **ANC & Transparency:** In short, Technics is far better in this area—Nothing Ear has no chance to win this part. If you ask me, compared to Bose QC Ultra (Bose ANC is so good I will not talk about it—it is the best): * **ANC:** 8.5/10 * **Transparency:** 8/10 # Nothing Ear * **ANC & Transparency:** * **ANC:** 5/10 * **Transparency:** Useless/10 # Part 6: Sound Quality # Technics (Treble+ and Dynamic) * **General Sound Quality:** The sound quality of Technics is on the warmer side while the bass is bloated and the overall sound is muffled. This comes down to the 8-band EQ , which is not that great because the earbuds respond to EQ adjustments (like + or -) with only small changes. * EQ Settings & Presets: However, when using app presets like Treble+ and Dynamic, the sound improves. Even with good tuning, the presets still work best with Treble+ since it boosts mid and high frequencies to counteract the overwhelming bass. Note: Other presets are not good, but Treble+ and Dynamic are the only ones that sound good, even though EQ tuning still doesn't work as well as Treble+ and Dynamic. * The best preset for Technics is **treble+** because all other presets in the app are too bass-heavy except for vocal and treble+, which seem okay to me. * **Song Testing:** I mostly listen to J-pop and regular popular songs (Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Taylor, etc.). I started with "Sunny" from Yorushika, "Perfect" (Ed Sheeran guitar version), Bocchi the rock song "Guitar, Loneliness and Blue Planet," and Bruno Mars’ "Just the Way You Are" using LDAC on a good streaming music app. * **Detailed Observations:** * The Technics sound is somewhat blurry—guitar is very hard to hear; you need to focus to catch it. * The bass comes too much from the left and right, making the vocals (especially female vocals) seem behind the lead instruments, causing muddiness. * The kick and snare sound very lifeless and do not feel as clean as on Nothing Ear (using a reference EQ like the Sennheiser HX EQ—I copy from somebody, ignore the name as it’s not the real Sennheiser). * Overall, the instrument separation is about 15% worse than Nothing Ear (EQ), and the sound quality is 18% worse than Nothing Ear overall. * The app also looks cheap. # Nothing Ear (EQ) * **General Sound Quality & EQ:** Nothing Ear has an EQ that is extremely responsive—you can adjust Q, factor, Hz, etc., and see changes directly. Even though the stock EQ on Nothing Ear is very bad, when you fine-tune it (using EQ presets from Reddit or Discord), it can become top-market quality—potentially even better than MTW4 or Technics when adjusted properly. * **Treble, Mid, and Instrument Impact:** * The treble in Nothing Ear is good but not the best—it doesn't sparkle as much as I want. * The mid is the best—the guitar and snare drum sound right, and I can feel the impact of strumming, bass, and kick after EQ. * After EQ adjustment, the instrument separation is excellent, and the soundstage is clearer than Technics or even better than Technics' best preset. * What I really like about Nothing Ear is that I can boost my bass to make it bloated like Technics—or even turn off the bass EQ entirely for clarity. I can also tune it like Harman, which is very amazing and fun when sharing EQ settings. * **Comparison Summary:** * **EQ:** Nothing Ear’s EQ is extremely responsive; no other wireless earbuds offer such detailed adjustments. * **EQ Sharing:** The ability to share and import EQ presets is among the best—finding EQ settings via Discord or Reddit is very fun. * **Treble:** The treble is about 10% less sparkling than Technics. * **Sound Stage** * These two earbuds have the same soundstage, and it's quite wide. From my point of view, the soundstage of these two earbuds feels like a triangular cut of cheese. While they both have a 3D image, your head is positioned in the middle of the "cheese." The bass and low-frequency instruments stay in the left and right ears, while in the front, you have some kick and snare drums. The vocals are positioned in front of the drums. * For those wondering, I feel that the vocals in the Nothing Ear are closer compared to the Technics. In the Technics, the vocals seem to blend with the drums, whereas in the Nothing Ear, the vocals are positioned in front, with the drums and snare behind them. This results in the Nothing Ear having clearer vocal and mid sound. # Conclusion !!!!So if you have Nothing Ear, DO NOT switch to this product. Your product is already better.!!!!! Technics Summary: * EQ does not respond much—useless for me. * ANC and Transparency mode are better. * QOL (Quality of Life) is better. * Cheaper look. * Touch control is better. * Only the dynamic preset and treble+ are better than the other EQ options. * The sound of the electric guitar, drums, guitar is not as good as on Nothing Ear, even with Technics’ EQ. * Instrument separation is about 15% worse than Nothing Ear. * Overall sound quality is 18% worse than Nothing Ear. * The app looks cheap. Nothing Ear Summary: * Worse control. * Bad ANC, USELESS Transparency mode. * Richer look. * Case is big. * EQ is extremely responsive and adjustable in detail (Q, Hz, etc.). * EQ sharing and import features are among the best, allowing you to achieve top-market sound quality, even better than the MTW4 or Technics. I would confidently say this after listening to the Nothing Ear myself. After tuning and with the help of the Discord and Reddit communities, which themselves are like monsters when it comes to fine-tuning EQ settings for these earbuds, the Nothing Ear has become a true powerhouse in terms of sound quality. * The treble is good but not as sparkling as Technics; however, the overall after EQ impact—especially for guitar and drums—is clearer and more detailed than Technics all EQ. * Nothing Ear lets you boost or turn off bass EQ for clarity, offering amazing tuning flexibility. Disclaimer: I talk about what I experience. I don’t care who will blame me or anything. I only compare earbuds from my experience. I have also listened to Sennheiser Momentum 4 and Technics. For Bose, I already talked about ANC, not sound quality. I am not an audiophile. Any audiophile who shows me a curve to defend Technics—I don’t care. I already talked in all 6 parts about why I think like that. Also, since I'm still at a B2 level in English, I use ChatGPT to help review and improve my writing.

I am very sad that the Technics AZ100's bass tuning is bloated compared to the AZ80; it sounds worse than the AZ80, in my opinion. Yes, I mostly listen to J-Pop, which mainly requires clear and energetic guitar, midrange, and drum sounds. The AZ100's bass-heavy tuning makes my music sound muddy. I also didn't return the AZ100 because I mainly use it outside, but I listen to Nothing ear at home.

Should i get these az100’s or should i just buy over ear headphones like the bose QCs?

Should i get these AZ100 over Bose QC over ear Headphones or other headphones? I haven’t had much experience with headphones but the wholeness of sound with over ears, bass, fit at the gym, anc. With earbuds i’ve been accustomed to them and i like them because they’re very versatile, easy to wear.

Hi thanks for the response, yes ive tried them both and the earbuds were great but i really dont like how they look 😆, and yea it is pretty hard to choose id buy both options if i really could. Among all the reviews the AZ100 is just being recognized as the possible best for this year ( though there might be a real game changer) i just wish i could test out the fit for the gym because i get into high movement activities ( and yes i need an all arounder not just sport earbuds) if someone does know how the AZ80 fits for gym it’d be great.

I just got a pair of technics az100s they’re pretty amazing so far.

Just bought Az100. Sound quality is great, build is great, app is great. ANC sucks ass.

Here's another: \> This is one of the bigger generational leaps I've experienced while testing earbuds or headphones – the AZ100 are tangibly better than the AZ80 in every way. They sound excellent, look much better, solve the battery life issue and upgrade active noise-cancelling (ANC) to make for a pretty complete package. An easy 5-star recommendation that's outside the normal headline-hitters from Sony, Bose, et al. [https://www.t3.com/tech/headphones/technics-az100-review](https://www.t3.com/tech/headphones/technics-az100-review) I have plenty of earbuds, but it's sure going to be hard to resist an early purchase.

Direct from Technics. [**https://us.technics.com/products/premium-hi-fi-true-wireless-earbuds-with-dolby-atmos-and-noise-cancelling-eah-az100**](https://us.technics.com/products/premium-hi-fi-true-wireless-earbuds-with-dolby-atmos-and-noise-cancelling-eah-az100)

Yes. Sounds like the az's are equal to or better than the Sonys.

I also got az100 and think bass is a bit uplifted. I own a custom JH16v2 and if you compare them to BAs, the stage is wider but the bass is kinda overwhelmed for me. I'm not a basshead but listen to dnb, I prefer balanced bassline. Maybe because I was spoiled by more expensive iems. For $300 they are great, details are really good btw!

Their reference level is already with lifted bass. They do that to decoy more people. I put everything on 0, so no EQ and bass is more noticeable than mids and kinda boomy. I know you can't compare it, but I also own close and open back (Clear MG and Celestee) Focals and full size headphones have less amount of bass.

I'm not saying they can't reach as low as 3hz or bass is not detailed but whatever is in the bass range is kinda lifted. I've tried many great IEMs in the price range up to $5k and trust me, they are not as bassy at all. I think that's why those are not for everyone.

I'd do -3db to 100hz and down by default.

I'm not sure what city you're from but I'd really recommend you to go to CanJam and listen to some good iems including Sony Hong Kong. 18 - 19 January 2025 New York. 22 - 23 February 2025 Singapore. 5 - 6 April 2025 Shanghai. 14 - 15 June 2025 London. 19 - 20 July 2025 SoCal. 13 - 14 September 2025 Dallas. 8 - 9 NOVEMBER 2025

Lmao, dude, I am a Sony fanboy. You have no idea what it means when a Sony fanboy raves about Technics' new flagship!!

I tried this with default AAC code with spatial audio(even in apple music), spatial audio is as good as airpods pro 2, but the sound quality difference was night and day on AAC codec (which is default, since spatial audio doesn't work on LDAC), that would carry over to iphones, even if I use Pixel 9 pro xl.

True! I also took them to the gym and they were amazing in Noise cancellation, compared to my Sony flagships!!

Just try it once with the largest ear tips. It's insanely better.

Lmao, if you think airpods sound good compared to any other brands, you're way wrong. They don't have bass, their highs are so boosted. The open soundstage is the only good thing about them. And the transparency mode.

I chose this over pi8, since these recently came out and reviewers said pi8 had no good anc compared to Sony or Bose, and these Technics top them all (with the correct and largest eartips)

Noise cancelling is the best in class, compared to Sony xm5 (with largest ear tips), sony couldnt cancel 100% noise for me, these do. You need to try these to believe me. I tried these yesterday in an Uber for the first time, it was mind blowingly silent, like I was deaf.

No sound leakage in az100 (that anybody complained of)

I use these more than my sony flagship headphones now, they're that enjoyable. Try them once and if you don't like these return them.

With ANC and biggest ear tips, no wind noise for me. I used to have a lot of wind noise issue with XM5 earbuds and Airpods pro 2, but this is way better than those with biggest ear tips seal for me. (For mic: no wind noise, I tested mic recording and asked my friend to use it and call me)

No white noise, its as silent as all my other noise cancelling devices.

I talked to my mom just now with AZ100, and asked her if she could hear tap water while I was doing dishes, she said she thought I'm lying on my bed, doing nothing, its that good!! I had this happen to me on my XM5 HEADPHONE (not earphones), people couldn't hear me properly on xm5 earbuds to the point I had to speak louder. And for airpods pro 2, they have a very good mic quality on iphone, a little worse on Androids. (Quality very bad when you're on public transit, they can't cancel noises)

Same here my right ear hurts

This is exactly my experience, with my high end headphones only slightly beating the 100s. Also, the EQ settings actually affect things quite significantly.

Id go one plus buds pro 3 or nothing ear 2024, for clean bass, momentum tw4 or technics az-100

Bass is cleaner imo

I got mine for 269 + Tax from Technics website. They have a 10% off coupon. I ordered late Monday night and they will be here Friday.

Yeah I just put im am Amazon return for my Momentum 4s I got Monday...LOL I didn't like the fit. I saw the AZ100s came out after I ordered the M4. I was deciding between those and the AZ80s and when I saw rhe 100s came out, it was a no brainer.

I’ll admit that I bought into the hype since I know that there were likely a lot of paid advertisers pushing the AZ100s but I’m not disappointed. I was previously using the Jabra elite 7s that I owned for 2 years. If you’re looking for a cheaper option for the gym these have great bass and sound quality with okay ANC. I switched because I just wanted something new and the call quality was dogshit. If you wanna splurge a little though, the AZ100s blows everything I’ve used in the past out the water, from sound quality, bass, ANC, and call quality. I highly recommend.

I just the technics az100. They are absolutely amazing. Definitely best ambient mode. Amazing mic and sound quality. Also very good ANC with both adaptive and manual NC. They just came out in January !

Seems very suspicious to me that also the ear with which I'm struggling to wear them for more than 30 minutes is the right one. To me it creates a feeling of soreness that ruins a bit the whole experience, I'm just hoping this wears in a bit with use since other than that I really am in love with this earphones. I don't think this discomfort is caused by the ear tips since I would say I feel it slightly outer where those are supposed to be placed it, but I might be wrong.

Yup. These 3 are in a class of their own and which u pick is just based on budget. Cant go wrong with any

I believe they have a street date of the 21st. Ordered mine the moment they were announced and that’s the estimated shipping date and also what showed up on Amazon as well.

Interesting, still showing the 21st for me on Amazon. Might be based on location. Just confirmed with Technics the embargo date was actually the 7th. So they’re probably just preparing to ship to consumers.

I picked up the white/silver model. Will report back when they arrive.

Mine come in early next week! Glad yours arrived. My shipping date jumped up to the 13th.

Miles away from being the best. 

Huge sound leakage on the AZ100.

Not every and not the best. Be realistic. 

You misunderstood me...I'm not saying the AZ100s don't sound good. They do. All I was trying to point out there is no best.

Over the past month, I’ve tested several earbuds across multiple work trips to evaluate ANC, transparency, voice quality, and music performance. Since trying the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, everything else has struggled to dethrone them as my #1 choice. They deliver the best sound quality, especially when paired with high-res audio from Qobuz, Tidal, and Deezer (24-bit or higher). At the same time, Apple Music and Spotify were great for casual listening during workouts or flights. One uniquely cool feature of the Pi8 is its transmitting case, which allows you to extract audio from non-Bluetooth sources without sacrificing fidelity—a fantastic option for home Hi-Fi setups or in-flight entertainment systems. **Earbuds Tested:** • **Bowers & Wilkins Pi8** • **Technics AZ100** **(**Tested and liked, but not worth a longer write-up, but happy to address deeper in comments)• **AirPods Pro 2** • **Nothing Ear (2024)** • **OnePlus Buds Pro 3** • **Technics AZ80** • **Technics AZ100** • **Sennheiser Momentum 4** After extensive testing, I’ve narrowed it down to the **Pi8** and **Technics AZ100**, as both are exceptional. Here’s how they compare: **Where the Technics AZ100 Excel:** • **Transparency Mode:** Outstanding for all-day wear. With eight+ microphones and ‘MyVoice AI,’ voices come through with crystal clarity. They even offer a priority mode to amplify voices while drowning out background noise • **All-Day Listening:** While not as comfortable as the Pi8, I never need to remove the AZ100 to hear clearly. This could make them a top choice for people who prioritize transparency over ANC and total disconnect • **Microphone Quality:** Calls sound super clean, even in noisy environments. • **Design Note:** Unfortunately, the AZ100 only comes in silver/white, which feels less premium than the midnight blue AZ80 or the Pi8.(personal preference) **Where the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Shine:** • **Sound Quality:** Simply unmatched, no question. Ridiculously good. My wife doesn't care about any of this crap, and she was also blown away, lol. The exceptional audio performance has set a new bar for wireless earbuds • **Comfort:** Perfect for extended listening sessions without fatigue. For me\* these were the most comfortable by far! • **Case Features:** The re-transmission case is a game-changer, allowing high-fidelity audio extraction from any source. Also, not boxy and comfortable in a front pocket. • **Design:** Sleek and premium, outshining most competitors in aesthetics. While the AZ100 has the best transparency and strong all-day usability, the Pi8 dominates in sound quality, comfort, design, and versatility. Unless I find significant value in the transparency features of the AZ100, I’ll most likely finalize my earbud journey with the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. Here's where Earbud reviews don't apply to everyone. We all have different ears and preferences, and your priorities may differ, but for me, the Pi8s are the pinnacle of wireless earbuds. I snagged mine for $319 during the recent holidays, while the AZ100s were $299—both well worth their price for what they offer. Hope that helps ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯ Also, I found a great comparison document online that helped me begin this project to categorize and narrow down what worked best for me. Like my review, the rankings and numbers reflect my own, and this doc demonstrates his perspective. This document was linked in the comments of a YouTube post from creator PickyAudio on YouTube. If you've read this far, give him a follow. His content is top-tier in this tech [category.YouTube](http://category.YouTube) Video - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtit0nKrvfs&t=627s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtit0nKrvfs&t=627s&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0q7ubaiZtTS-i0g5iwun7DYMUaSTg0plcHQcI2qUOS694mFTN9I3zObt0_aem_C1BWWLUPUZFUBhSlryqAgg)Spreadsheet Link: [https://ko-fi.com/s/9dccc9b9c9](https://ko-fi.com/s/9dccc9b9c9)

Damn I just bought my AZ80s last month. If I'd known this I would've held out a bit longer for the AZ100. What a shame.

I'm exactly the same? Has yours improved? Did changing bud size change anything? For me it's the casing too... In that recess of the ear

That’s surprising I’ve only heard the opposite (az100s better than az80s in every way) I have the az100s and they’re by far the best earbuds I’ve ever used, top of the line in every category, besides anc which is probably the last thing I look for in earbuds

Can't find any retailers that have them up for sale yet. These are an insta buy for me. I love my AZ80 but call/mic quality sucks.

They just popped up on Amazon, too. https://a.co/d/2nys1q5

Nice! 10% off my first order too. I'm going in.

I ordered from Amazon with a January 14th delivery date.

Silver is available too. Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi Wireless Earbuds, Dolby Atmos with Head Tracking, Adaptive Noise Cancelling, 3 Device Multipoint, 10-hr Battery, Wireless Charging, Improved Fit - EAH-AZ100-S (Silver) https://a.co/d/2VThtPI

Hope you get it sooner. I ordered black and they're scheduled for delivery on the 14th as of just now.

Mine got delivered today!

Honestly, I've resorted to using Shokz OpenComm2 with a boom mic for phone calls set to "calls" only in BT settings and using my preferred earbuds set to "media" only in BT settings. Not ideal but guarantees good audio quality for people on the other end of the phone call/meeting. But to answer your question more directly, the JBL Tour Pro 3 have been the best for phone calls followed by the Technics AZ100.

I can answer that question accurately. What I believe is this is a product of newness. I have both and there is no way you can objectively walk away and hear better frequency responses from the Az100. It's hyped up product that punches above its predecessor weight in almost every way but what it isn't, is better the rhe Gemini 2 sound quality. Now if you want to buy something that has better battery life and great sound that gets you on the dance floor with the Pi8s and Gemini 2's sound quality and you don't want to spend the $400-$500 to get on the floor ...then this is the earphone. I'm impressed with the Technics az100 and if I got them and heard the difference between them and the $500 devialet geminis 2 before I got them ...I might have found it harder to ever pull the trigger but what I wouldn't do is walk away thinking it was tied or better in sound quality. As a note though. I personally would  take them over the pi8s and their issues with drainage of battery life though. Because the Az100 has better battery life, quicker charging , better touch controls, better ANC, cost less, sound quality that is just under it, and better Hear though. So to me they check more boxes against the pi8 even if they don't tie or beat them in sound quality. 

For me, this is the big 5 in endgame audio TWS earbuds. 1. ($449) Noble FoKus Rex5 2. ($499) Devialet Gemini 2 3. ($399) Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 4. ($249) Hifiman Svanar Wireless 5. ($299) Technics AZ100

I gifted my father the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC and he loves them. My daily earbuds right now are the Nothing Ear (2024) & Technics AZ100.

Person who actually listens to music here, and cares about headphones. Technics AZ100s are absolutely stellar - get them. Oppo Enco X3s (when you are able to buy them in the UK) are cheaper, but absolutely superb. The X2s are some of my favourite ever earbuds. Sennheiser momentums are also very good. Bose quiet comforts are decent but quality wise don't keep up with the above three. Airpods are overpriced and are whitegirl apple product bait. The Sony earbuds noise cancelling is weak and the case battery fails after 12 months for a lot of people.

I love these! Mine just arrived today and in the first couple of hours they’ve been fantastic. I’ll likely be reaching for these over my other buds/phones all the time.

I listen to 99% EDM, mostly uplifting trance and progressive trance, followed by melodic techno and hard techno. I went with AZ100 and couldnt be happier.

I couldn't find an earbud that was number one in all categories. If I wanted the best ANC, I would have looked more towards the Sony and Bose earbuds. But the sound for them was not as good as the az100. I decided that a little less ANC but way better sound quality was more important to me

Prior to my Sony MX5, used Apple AirPods Pro - still use them. Their ANC is good, however the Sony beats them by far. One thing though, the Airpods switching between Tablet and phone is superior - butter smooth. Whereas the Sony set, struggles somewhat.

They're better sounding than AZ80s, pretty much across the freq spectrum, more controlled and precise sounding.

LMAO, wait you really think single dynamic drivers all sound the same. The AZ100 sound very different to the 80s, but you go on using that trash. Hahaha, ahahaha, ahahahhahahhahahhahahhahaa. Wow. Just...wow.