Technics true wireless earbuds are the underdogs for all these years. When the market is debating whether the Sony or Bose has the best ANC, Technics continue to forge ahead in its own pace and maintains its competitive edge. The newest flagship, AZ100, was launched in Jan 2025 and they recently added a new champagne gold colour to the model in celebration of the 60th anniversary. The recommended retail price in Singapore is S$469 but the market price is below S$400.
I am very familiar with the Technics true wireless earbuds. In 2020, Panasonic Marketing approached me to review their first model, the AZ70. Since then, they have released many models to cater to different budget needs. During the past years of reviewing so many earbuds, Technics work well for me as a whole. Their ANC quality are very competitive against the incumbents, but as a whole package, the Technics have better offering. With the AZ80 launch in Oct 2023, it has become my daily driver.
Compare AZ100 vs. AZ80
Let’s start with comparing the specs
| AZ100 | AZ80 | |
| Driver | 10mm magnetic fluid aluminium diaphragm | 10mm dynamic aluminium diaphragm |
| ANC | Full Adaptive Digital Hybrid Noise Cancelling | Dual Hybrid Noise Cancelling |
| Audio Processing | Spatial Audio for Dolby Atmos, Head Tracking, LE Audio | – |
| Voice Call Technology | 3 mics, Voice Focus AI | 4 mics, JustMyVoice |
| Audio Codec | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (LDAC + ANC), 18 hours (with charging case) | 4.5 hours (LDAC + ANC), 16 hours (with charging case) |
| Ear tips | 5 sets | 7 sets |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 (earbuds only) | IPX4 (earbuds only) |
| Earbud Weight (each) | 5.9 g | 7 g |
In terms of design, the AZ100 is slightly smaller, both the charging case and the earbuds. It’s a good evolution, just like how the AZ80 is smaller than the AZ70. That brings me to another thing: it seems Technics is happy to assign new model numbers for their new flagships, but they reuse the numbers for the lower-end models, AZ40 to AZ40M2, and AZ60 to AZ60M2.
AZ100 Unique Features
The AZ100 inherits many unique features from its predecessors, many of which are not available to the average wireless earbuds.
Adjust ANC and Transparency Levels – while AZ100 now features adaptive ANC, you can choose to adjust your own ANC levels with high granularity. Like previous models, there is a pre-adjustment page where you can further optimise the ANC.
Ambient Mode options – there are 2 options: transparency or attention. Transparency mode has a more natural open sound, while Attention is ideal for boosting human voices. If Attention mode is selected, then music will stop when you toggle.
Sound Enhancement – you can select one of the preset audio tunings (like Bass, Vocal, Dynamic), or you can manually adjust the 8-band EQ. For the purest tuning, select “DIRECT” which bypasses the audio processor.
Headphones Fitting sensor – the AZ100 can detect whether the earbuds are in-ears or removed. This feature can be disabled or you can personalise the actions.
Touch Sensor Customisation – you can choose the action for each touch gesture on both earbuds.
Multi-point Connections – you can choose one, two, or three devices that can simultaneously connect to the AZ100. This is probably essential for the busy execs who carry a personal phone, a work phone, and a laptop/tablet.
Connection Mode – Technics is serious in ensuring you can control the connection quality of the wireless earbuds. Again, this feature exists in previous models too. To achieve best audio quality using LDAC, you would want to enable “Prioritise Sound Quality” and change to single point connection.
Spatial Audio – on the AZ100, you can enable this audio mode which changes the sound staging to be more spacious and forward. You can also turn on head tracking where the audio direction remains fixed even when you turn your head. I tried this HRTF effects first on the Audeze Mobius in 2018, and after half a decade, they managed to fit this technology into tiny earbuds. What I’d wish is that there is a touch gesture to enable-disable Spatial Audio. This mode is only available when LDAC is disabled.
LE Audio – this is a new Bluetooth audio standard as opposed to the “Classic Bluetooth” which LDAC, SBC and AAC is based on. Creative is one of the pioneers in putting LE Audio into true wireless earbuds commercially. LC3 is the audio codec for LE Audio, and if you switch to LC3, the benefit is that you have lower latency, supports simultaneous audio broadcast (managed by the source). The drawback is that it does not support Spatial Audio, multi-point, voice assistant. Nevertheless, it is an option to use if someone is broadcasting in LE Audio, for instance, airports, museums, private events.
One minor drawback on the AZ100 is that the eartips are proprietary in oval shape with notches and cannot use generic ones. It appears Technics have put in some R&D to design the acoustic chamber, and I think the result justifies this design. Just try not lose your eartips!
Audio Quality
Suffice to say, the AZ100 sounds noticeably different from the AZ80. The most prominent difference is the bass. On the AZ100, the low frequencies are more pronounced and intense, while not stiff or pushy. The bass line is so distinct, the notation is so deep and clear, they are musical. The texture is thick and takes up almost half of the sound space, leaving the rest to the midrange and treble to compete for audibility. Thankfully, the treble remains engaged and invested through well-tuned stereo imaging that offers clarity and crisp, instrumental separation and layered tonal expressions.
When the bass mix is not too loud, the AZ100 achieves good musical weight. For instance, Daft Punk “Get Lucky” plays with overpowering bass, while Earth Wind and Fire “Let’s Groove” bass is still alright because its highs are quite strong, and Whitney Houston “I Have Nothing” plays great with clean balanced bass. Listening to Imagine Dragons “Bad Liar” is so gratifying with its immense bass note rumbles balanced with bright arrangements and over-the-top vocals, but switching to Kenny G’s tracks turn out less bright with a warmer saxophone sound.
The AZ80 will still be your preferred model if you like a more engaging top-end. I love how the AZ80 pushes the sparkle and sizzle to my ears, the imaging is more wide, the instrumental mix is more blended and cohesive. I have to admit that the AZ100 is more enjoyable to listen on the go because of its more intentional bass without bleeding into the highs. It somewhat keeps the bass separate from the treble, as if there are two drivers in each ear.
The AZ100 offers better stereo imaging and warmer signature. A less aggressive treble compared to AZ80 makes me enjoy the nuances better. While the AZ80 delivers a more impactful sound, the AZ100 is smoother and more dimensional.
ANC Comparison
Suffice to say, the newer AZ100 surpasses the AZ80 in the noise-cancelling algorithm, further reducing the midrange and treble ambiant noise. The upper frequency is still softly audible but if you are playing music, the ambiant noise would be covered. Travelling on trains remain a challenge for the AZ100 to eliminate the screeching train tracks, but the AZ100 remains a formidable earbuds that achieve excellent noise cancellation that beats most products except for the Sony and Bose.
For Transparency mode, the AZ100 sounds natural with no hint of unnatural amplification. Afte wearing for a few seconds, you can hear normally as if you are not wearing the earbuds.
Voice Focus AI
Technics earlier mic technology, JustMyVoice, is replaced with Voice Focus AI, which to me performs just as well. I remain amazed at the ability to remove background noises when I take a call. It is unavoidable that my voice sound less clear, and I rarely use earbuds to take calls. But if I have to use wireless headphones for important calls, it would be a Technics – be it the A800 headphones or the AZ80 and now AZ100 earbuds.
Verdict
The AZ100 has added a lot of features to keep abreast of the latest wireless audio technologies and offered a new immersive tuning experience with astoundingly articulated deep bass that will win fans. I am not a basshead but the AZ100 bass is powerful yet musical that I could not resist. The bass is a frequency range that is hard to make it sound loud and proper at the same time, as most average speakers just generate huge air pressure with no musical substance. Hearing one that delivers proper bass tone loudly adds a new element to my listening study.
With a new champagne gold colour option to commemorate Technics 60th anniversary, the AZ100 is now my daily buds for music, for work, for travel. Retails in Singapore at S$469.
