If you’ve ever spent time in clubs or around DJs from the 1970s to the 2000s, the Technics brand is synonymous with its iconic SL-1200 line of pitch-shifting turntables. Following a brief hiatus that ended with the revival of vinyl, the legacy of robust direct-drive decks continues with the recently launched SL-1300G—a turntable designed more for audiophiles than festival headliners. In 2023, Technics introduced premium Bluetooth earbuds to extend its legacy from LP bins into the streaming era. Now, a year-and-a-half later, the company unveils the flagship EAH-AZ100 (available for $299), a significant upgrade both internally and externally. The earbuds are unveiled today at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but PopSci has had the opportunity to test them for nearly a month under embargo, and our experience has left us impressed.
Disclosure: Our review sample was provided during a press trip to Kyoto, Japan, sponsored by Technics parent company Panasonic.
The build
One of the noticeable changes Technics made to these earbuds is their size. Unlike the somewhat teardrop-shaped EAH-AZ80, the AZH-100’s housing is more compact and cylindrical, trimming a gram off the weight (down to 6g per earbud). These stemless earbuds are much smaller than the typical Bluetooth earbuds we’ve tested, providing a significant advantage in comfort. Once we wore them, we could listen for hours without feeling any pressure or fatigue. Technics includes multiple sizes of eartips in the box—we stuck with the standard medium, which comes pre-installed, and we suggest trying out different tip sets to find the most comfortable fit.
Our evaluation is entirely subjective, and if you’re not a fan of stemless True Wireless (TWS) earbuds, the EAH-AZ100s might not be suitable for you. We didn’t experience any issues with them falling out during activities like jumping jacks, but your experience may vary depending on the shape of your ear. Initially, we thought that the smaller size would result in shorter battery life, but that’s not the case. Technics claims these earbuds can provide up to 10 hours of use with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) enabled using the AAC codec, an improvement from seven hours on the EAH-AZ80.
By enabling LDAC (Lossless Digital Audio Codec) streaming on a compatible device (such as select Android smartphones or a dedicated digital audio player), the EAH-AZ100s offer the same battery life as their predecessor while delivering better audio quality—up to 20 Hz – 40 kHz using a 96kHz/990kbps connection. Technics also reduced the size of the EAH-AZ100s case while increasing battery life (18 hours up from 14 hours) with AAC enabled, or an additional 11 hours when LDAC is enabled.
Technics’ major technical addition to these earbuds is the “Magnetic Fluid Driver,” first introduced in the Technics EAH-TZ700—a set of $1,199 wired earphones. Typically, when reproducing sound, the driver (the part of a speaker responsible for producing sound) moves in slightly random directions, leading to distortion. Technics took a 10mm ultra-thin free-edge aluminum diaphragm and backed it with an infrastructure that injects oil-type liquid filled with magnetic particles between the driver magnet and voice coil, resulting in more consistent movement.
It’s challenging to articulate the difference this makes, but once you experience the low-distortion playback, it’s hard to go back to other high-end earbuds. You can see an enlarged example of this accurate, linear assembly below.
To enhance ANC performance, Technics relocated one of the EAH-AZ100s’ microphones inside the bud, which made a more significant difference than expected. With ANC activated and music at 60 percent, typical low-level noises like fans, footsteps, keyboard typing, or even a microwave were entirely eliminated. Louder sounds such as car honks could still be heard, but the ANC performance of the EAH-AZ100s surpassed average standards, giving a tough competition to noise-cancellation earbud leaders like Bose and the outstanding
