Technics EAH-AZ100

Back Story: I’m still going through my headphones, IEM, TWS phase and one TWS earbud that caught my attention, was the Technics EAH AZ100. They come in a variety of colours, black, silver, metallic blue and champagne gold. For me, blue is the colour, with the gold Technics logo. I have never owned a Technics device but know their direct drive turntables amongst their hi-fi offerings are said to be one of the best, especially the Mark 2’s.

Over more recent years Technics have revived their turntable offerings with higher-end models costing many thousands of dollars.

So, I bit the bullet and went to JB Hi-Fi in Ringwood and cracked a good deal via a price match with another Australian Retailer (often it can be Amazon AU).

They didn’t have the blue colour in stock and I had to wait most of a week for delivery.

Unboxing:

The AZ100’s come in a relatively small box, with a white coloured outer cover, with a picture of one blue earbud.

Once the outer cover is undone, it reveals a matt blue cardboard box, with a large finger tab at the bottom.

Once you remove this out cover insert, the earbuds case is revealed, wrapped in a black paper cover, with quick instructions relating to loading the Technics app on your smart phone.

There is also a visual 3-part guide above the case relating to removing the earbuds from the case and inserting them in the right ear (as an example of how you insert them) The charging case is quite beautiful, with a textured body and brushed lid. It appears all metal, metallic blue with the gold Technics lettering on top of the lid.

Opening the lid causes the small round LED light on the front of the base of the case to illuminate.

The case is quite small, a long oval shape, with a flat bottom and top. The USB C port is on the rear of the base of the case.

It’s a very pocket-friendly case.

What’s in the box?:

• Manual.

• Quick start guide.

• Warranty card and information.

• USB A to USB C charging cable.

• Oblong cardboard box-shaped holder for 4 extra pairs of earbud tips: silicon.

Look / Design of AZ100 earbuds:

I find these particular earbuds an interesting shape, with the flattened domed ends, down to the larger, bean-shaped body and down to the large earbud tip. It looks and feels well-designed, with an array of sensors and contacts.

• The circular metal top plate of the earbuds is nicely machined flat, with circular grooves.

• Body is plastic and is same blue colour, but matt, with each bud labelled L and R.

• Nice gold Technics logo on the end plate, that you touch.

• Sensor on each bud, that can stop the sound when you remove them from your ears.

• Each earbud is labelled L and R.

One thing that seems to be bucking the trend of current IEMs and earbuds, is that the Technics AZ100 are very easy to take out of the charging case.

The metal ends are quite small, and the charging case has been engineered so you can get your index finger and thumb around the end of each earbud and lift them away from their magnetic charging contact and out of the case.

The earbuds feel very light.

Some General Information and Specifications:

5-driver configuration (one 10mm dynamic, one 6mm planar, and three balanced armature drivers per bud) for advanced audio performance. They support LDAC, aptX Adaptive, SBC, and AAC codecs, alongside Bluetooth 5.4, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and Audiodo sound personalization.

Key Specifications

• Driver Unit (mm): 10 mm (3/8 in)

• Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 40 kHz (LDAC 96 kHz/990 kbps

• Mic: Monaural, MEMS Mic

• Playback Time with Battery (LDAC): Earbuds: Approx. 7.0 hours (NC ON), Approx. 8.0 hours (NC OFF)

• Playback Time with Battery (LDAC): Earbuds with Charging case: Approx. 18 hours (NC ON), Approx. 19 hours (NC OFF)

• Playback Time with Battery (AAC): Earbuds: Approx. 10.0 hours (NC ON), Approx. 12.0 hours (NC OFF)

• Playback Time with Battery (AAC): Approx. 28 hours (NC ON), Approx. 29 hours (NC OFF)

• Charging Time (25°C/ 77°F) Earbuds: Approx. 2.0 hours

• Charging Time (25°C/ 77°F) Charging Case / USB: Approx. 2.5 hours

• Charging Time (25°C/ 77°F) Charging case / Qi *With certified Qi charger: Approx. 3.5 hours

• Charging Time (25°C/ 77°F) Earbuds with Charging case: Approx. 3.0 hours

• Charging Time (25°C/ 77°F) Earbuds with Charging case / Qi *With certified Qi charger: Approx. 4.0 hours

• Quick Charge (15 minutes, AAC) Earbuds: Approx. 90 minutes (NC ON)

• Standby Time Earbuds: Approx. 8 hours (NC ON), Approx. 15 hours (NC OFF, Auto power off does not work)

• Dimensions (W x H x D) Earbuds *with Earpiece M size: Approx. 21 mm x 26 mm x 25 mm, Approx. 7/8 inch x 1-1/16 inch x 15/16 inch

• Dimensions (W x H x D) Charging case: Approx. 69 mm x 36 mm x 27 mm Approx. 2-11/16 inch x 1-7/16 inch x 1-1/8 inch

• Weight Earbuds (one side only: L and R are the same): Approx. 5.9 g (0.21 oz)

• Weight case: Approx. 42 g (1.5 oz)

Advanced Functions:

• Bluetooth® Wireless Technology Version: 5.3

• Supported Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP, TMAP, PBP

• Codec: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3

• Operating Distance: Up to 10 m (33 ft)

• Multi-point: Yes (Connect up to 3 devices at a time.)

• Multi-pairing: Yes (Connect up to 10 devices.)

• Water Resistance: IPX4 Equivalent (Earphones only)

• Dual Hybrid Noise Cancelling: Yes (Full Adaptive Digital Hybrid)

Ear Tips and Getting the Right Fit for the Ear:

I tried out the earbud tips that they came with and found them too small. I swapped them for the largest set.

A Word on ANC:

I realised during a walk with the dogs that the ANC was letting in too much street / traffic sound and knew from reports that the ANC was top tier. About two minutes into the walk, I removed each earbud and reseated them in each ear canal, screwing them a little deeper and realising that they could go further in. It was a ‘lightbulb’ moment, as I realised these earbuds could fit that much deeper into the ear, to gain that all important seal.

Once I had done this, it was night and day. The ANC really kicked in and they worked tremendously well.

The other thing that happened, was the sound quality absolutely came alive. Everything was so much clearer, cleaner, fuller and so much more expansive.

It was one of those moments where the music expands out of the ear and head, outside of the earbuds, as though you are in a room, listening to speakers, precisely rendering the track.

Lessons learnt, and I am learning a lot through these processes, of understanding the look, feel, design and combined with the right amount of research, instinctively knowing the device has more to offer and that I have not found the right way to give me that yet.

The space between tracks became black. One of my go-to playlists, when I was teaching myself about jazz music, is called ‘Jazz Journey 1’ was playing. I know these old tracks so well and have a lot of the albums on vinyl. I know how they should sound like and the AZ100 now was delivering.

These are a ‘sleeper’ pair of earbuds, in that they look small and diminutive, but they deliver a hi-fi experience where others so often fail.

Setting up the AZ100:

All I had to do was find the AZ100 in the Bluetooth connections of my Samsung Galaxy S25 Android phone and the pairing was quick and easy.

I loaded the Technics app on my phone and added the AZ100.

There is a choice of preset EQ:

• Direct

• Bass+

• SUPER BASS

• Vocal

• Treble+

• Dynamic

You can also set three custom EQ’s with an 8-band equaliser. This is not enough and should be unlimited.

I found the preset ‘Dynamic’ to be the best setting. First Soundcheck:

First test was at home in my office. I ran my Spotify lossless playlist with Dynamic EQ and with Ambient Sound Control – Adaptive / Auto-optimization, Noise Cancelling on. Volume was set on half or 50%, one notch below red on my phone.

I have been playing around with Dolby Atmos tracks on Spotify and found a playlist with some really good test tracks.

The thing that hits you first is the full soundstage, underpinned by a clean, crisp and punchy bass. Tweaked just right, the bass gives you the foundation you look for in any hi-fi system; not too loud and boomy, overcoming the mids and highs, but enough to compliment these other frequencies, so it feels full and complete.

In the office, with little external noise, you realise how low the noise floor is of these earbuds and with a better ear seal, the music just pops.

Summer in E Major – Extended Mix by is a great test track with the swelling bass at the start. It tests is the bass can come up from the bottom, filling the sound stage

I am into James Bond movie tracks from some of the films and the shimmering guitars on the track called ‘Blunt Instrument’ from Casino Royale is a great test (where Bond arrives off the plane in the Caribbean).

Chris Cornell, ‘You Know My Name’ from the same movie is also a good test track for his beautiful vocals against the punchy music. You really get a good feel for Chris’ gift as a singer, where the tones of his voice are just amazing.

‘The Name’s Bond … James Bond’ from the same movie is also a great cinematic track, testing the dark black spaces on the track as well as the rendering of each of the orchestra’s instruments.

‘A View to a Kill’ by Duran Duran has always been a favourite of mine from the 80’s and is another great test track for punchy bass, guitars and vocals.

Default Touch Controls

The out-of-the-box controls on the Technics EAH AZ100 are as follows:

• Default Touch Control Mapping

• Single Tap (Either Earbud): Play / Pause audio

• Double Tap (Left Earbud): Decrease volume

• Double Tap (Right Earbud): Skip to next track

• Triple Tap (Left Earbud): Increase volume

• Triple Tap (Right Earbud): Previous track

• Tap and Hold (Left Earbud): Activate Voice Assistant

• Tap and Hold (Right Earbud): Switch Ambient Sound modes (Noise Cancelling/Ambient/Off)

• Call Control: Single tap to answer; double tap to mute/unmute

Key Notes & Customization:

• Customisation: All touch functions can be extensively customized via the Technics Audio Connect app

• Responsiveness: The entire outer surface is a touch sensor with audio feedback, which some users may find prone to accidental touches

• Wear Sensors: Auto-pause/play is enabled by default when removing or inserting earbuds.

• Reset: You can revert to default settings in the app under Settings > Customizing the touch sensor > Return to default values.

Sound Profile & Performance:

• Sound Signature: The overall signature is described as warm and engaging, leaning slightly towards an analogue feel, which lends a smooth quality to the audio

• Bass: The bass is very present, offering a deep, full, and textured rumble without being overly boomy or distorting, even at high volumes. The proprietary Magnetic Fluid Driver technology ensures an accurate and low-distortion bass response

• Midrange: Vocals are a strong point, sounding natural, clear, and intimate, with excellent instrument separation that makes it feel like you are in the studio

• Treble: The high frequencies are detailed, crisp, and bright, but well-controlled to avoid harshness or sibilance, setting a new benchmark for some reviewers in terms of softness and naturalness

• Soundstage & Detail: Reviewers consistently praise the wide soundstage and superb detail retrieval, with clear layering that allows minor background elements to be distinctly audible.

Customisation:

The sound can be customized extensively using the Technics Audio Connect companion app, which features a comprehensive 8-band equalizer. This allows users to adjust the sound profile to their personal preference, for example, by boosting the treble or bass further, or choosing from several presets.

Noise Cancelling Ability:

Key Noise Cancelling & Audio Features:

The Technics EAH-AZ100 provides robust noise cancellation and awareness features, including:

• Adaptive ANC (Active Noise Cancelling): The earbuds use dual hybrid feedforward and feedback noise cancellation with analogue and digital processing. This technology continuously adjusts in real-time to the surrounding environment and ear shape to maintain optimal noise cancellation performance, closely rivalling top competitors.

• Voice Focus AI Technology: This feature uses an AI noise-reduction chip and three microphones in each earbud to ensure crystal-clear call quality by actively filtering out background noise and enhancing voice clarity for both the speaker and the listener.

• Ambient Sound Modes: Users can switch between a natural ambient mode that captures a wide range of external sounds or an "Attention Mode" which specifically reduces background noise to focus on nearby voices, such as for announcements or quick conversations.

Key Audio Features:

• Magnetic Fluid Driver: The EAH-AZ100 features a proprietary 10mm magnetic fluid driver, a miniaturized technology derived from reference-class wired in-ear monitors. This design ensures ultra-low distortion through precise stroke control and delivers rich bass via an ultra-thin free-edge aluminium diaphragm.

• High-Resolution Audio Support: The earbuds support the LDAC and LC3 codecs, allowing for high-resolution wireless audio playback with a frequency response range of 20 Hz - 40 kHz

• Spatial Audio with Head Tracking: They are optimized for Dolby Atmos and include Dolby Head Tracking technology, which creates a more lifelike and immersive sound experience by adapting the soundscape as you move your head

• Customizable EQ: The Technics Audio Connect companion app allows users to customize the sound signature and adjust EQ settings to their personal preference

I found the ANC to be excellent, with the ear tip seal doing their part and in turn, the ANC doing the rest. It is debatable if they are same level as the Sony version 4 and Bose QC Ultra Gen 2 but the combination of this and the stellar audio reproduction make these earbuds absolutely one of the best.

Call Volume and Sound:

• Caller Vocal Sound

o Quite clear but a bit processed, electronic sounding

• Indoors

o Excellent. No room noise, again the caller’s voice sounds a bit processed and electronic but very clearly audible

• On the Street

o Excellent: no outside noise at all (the best I have tested to date)

• Windy Fan

o Nil fan noise. Voice is fairly clear, sounds a bit processed, a very black background

• Plane engine sound

o Excellent: No plane sound at all

• Restaurant Ambient Sound

o A very tiny whoosh and odd pitch noise, not loud basically silent.

Battery / Case:

The Noble FoKus Rex5 earbuds provide approximately 7 hours of playtime with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) off and 5 hours with ANC on. The included charging case offers an additional 35 to 40 hours of battery life, supporting quick charging (15 minutes for 2 hours of playback) and wireless charging.

Key Battery Details for the Technics EAH AZ100:

The Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds provide up to 10 hours of playback with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on, with an additional 18-28 hours available from the charging case, depending on the audio codec used. The case supports both USB-C and Qi wireless charging.

Earbuds Battery Details:

The earbuds contain a built-in 3.7V, 85 mAh Lithium polymer battery. The playback time varies based on feature usage and the audio codec selected.

Codec, ANC/Features and how they relate to playback time (Approx):

• AAC – NC ON: 10 hours

• AAC – NC OFF: 12 hours

• LDAC – NC ON: 7 hours

• LDAC – NC OFF: 8 hours

• Dolby Atmos – NC ON: 10 hours Charging Case Details The charging case is equipped with a 3.7V, 550 mAh Lithium polymer battery, which provides approximately an additional 18 to 28 hours of use, depending on the codec and ANC settings.

• Total Playback Time (with case): Up to 28 hours (with ANC on/AAC) or 18 hours (with ANC on/LDAC)

• Charging Interface: The case can be charged via USB-C (cable included) or a Qi-certified wireless charger (sold separately)

• Charging Times:

o Earbuds only (full charge): Approx. 2 hours.

o Case via USB (full charge): Approx. 2.5 hours.

o Case via Qi Wireless (full charge): Approx. 3.5 hours.

• Quick Charge: A 15-minute quick charge provides approximately 90 minutes of playback (with ANC on, using AAC codec).

However, for real world use I would only use the following settings for maximum sound quality:

• Noise cancelling

Adaptive ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) • LDAC

In my book, the battery life is acceptable and in real-case usage most people would listen for 1-4 hours, for the train journey, to/from work or a bit of extended play for chores around the house or exercising in the gym, etc.

5 hours or more would be my target figure, to define good battery life on a wireless earbud or IEM. Anything less is not really good enough or just adequate.

Final Thoughts:

The Technics EAH AZ100 TWS earbuds are beautiful inside and outside. They deliver on ergonomics, from the easy handling of the earbuds, into and out of the case, to fitting in your ears. The charging case is perfect for use and storage in the pocket, backpack or holding in the hand.

To be honest, I think it is a bit of a master class of how to do a TWS earbud right, top to bottom.

Sonically, these earbuds deliver where is counts and then keep on delivering. EQ is easy and the sound and clarity you are left with is just a gift.

I am continually surprised by these earbuds, in how they render different tracks and how they provide such a beautiful expansive soundstage on some tracks.

If I were to score the Technics EAH AZ100, I would give them a 98 out of 100, which is the best rating I have given any earbud.

The ANC is not completely silent and the call quality is not perfect, but these earbuds are closer to perfect than any other. (let’s see how the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds rate in my future review, when they come in!)

Last Word:

Wow! And OMG!

These earbuds are the full package, make no mistake!

The sound quality is more like a set of wired headphones.

These earbuds are perfect for travel, work, casual and serious listening.

You can pick these earbuds up for around the $400.00 AUD mark at the moment, but shop around, you may find an even better price. For the money proposition, in value for money; you are getting one of the best. My Sony Mark 3’s were my go-to’s for three years, these can easily do the same.

This has been another Ant review, the fourth for 2026.

I hope you have enjoyed reading it, as much as I have had in compiling it.

21-Feb-2026 Update:

So, this week I have been using the AZ100’s as my train home earbuds and in doing so I made a few notes as follows:

• I found the earbuds go a lot further into the ears by rotating them a lot further than I first thought. This provides a proper, fuller ear seal and makes the ANC work incredibly well.

• The sound is absolutely amazing, as good as any over-the-ear headphones. This took me by surprise, especially with regards to soundstage.

• The soundstage is so good, that you can hear often hear instruments separated on the side and to the back of you, on each side.

• The rendering of music is full bodied, with the frequencies providing punch in the lower end and so much clarity in the upper.

• The sound is so beautiful and feels effortless.

• Sound goes low but very clear.

• You get a real good hi-fi sound not only in your ears but in your body as well.

• You find these earbuds often catching you off guard, with tracks you know so well, playing the high hat and instruments with such clarity and separation that you find yourself turning, to look where that sound was coming from.

• I found the ANC blocks everything out on the train. This is especially needed, as I use them going home, when the train cars are full and the train noise and the throng of the passengers is so much louder and more intense than in the mornings.

I have realised that the AZ100’s are a unique experience, where everything not only works as it should (as you expect from a top tier device) but seem to operate several levels above other earbuds and headphones.

I thought my Sony WF-1000XM4’s were good, after being my daily drivers for 3 years but the AZ 100’s have a quality that far exceeds them.

It will be interesting to see how the new Sony WF-1000XM6’s coming this week compare with the AZ 100’s.