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The launch of the brand new Technics EAH-AZ80 comes during a particularly competitive period in the market for wireless earbuds. The major competition for the AZ80s at this price point comes from the award-winning Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II buds, the (also) award-winning Sony WF-1000XM4, and the five-star Apple AirPods Pro 2 headphones. The AZ80s retail for a hefty £259, or $299, or AU$499, respectively.
The AZ80 are, in all intents and purposes, competing in a Battle of the Bands alongside Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Nirvana, who are also scheduled to perform. The question is not just whether or not the Technics AZ80 are a good pair of earbuds that will give you a decent listen and a variety of useful add-ons to boot, but also whether or not the AZ80 can justify their existence, and price, when competition at this level is so severe.
Technics EAH-AZ80 Specifications
Technics’s new flagship wireless earphones are a true technological marvel. These in-ear monitors use a novel driver and provide cutting-edge usability features that may sway listeners who want more than simply in-ear entertainment to purchase.
| Specification | Technics EAH-AZ80 |
|---|---|
| Driver Type | Dynamic Driver |
| Frequency Response | 4 Hz – 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 16 Ohms |
| Noise Cancelling | Yes, Hybrid |
| Battery Life | Up to 18 hours (with ANC) |
| Charging Time | Approximately 2 hours |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Weight | 7.5 grams (per earbud) |
Technics EAH-AZ80: Design
The AZ80 is well made all around, and although Technics hasn’t exactly pushed the design envelope, it gets the job done with its clean, uncluttered look. The spherical body of the buds protrudes at a right angle from the stem, making for a snug and secure fit in the ear canal. Meanwhile, the charging case seems like it could have been made by any number of competitors; it has a flat bottom and stores the earbuds without requiring any special handling.
We’re also glad to see that Technics isn’t being cheap by included seven different sets of ear tips with the AZ80, so there’s plenty of room for error if you don’t get a good fit right away. It’s nice to have such a wide selection of sizes available, as the now-standard three tip options have always seemed inadequate, especially considering that a single tip likely costs pennies to create. You can buy this earbuds from its official website
App and Interface
The Technics companion app is recommended since it allows for granular adjustment of noise cancellation, microphone sensitivity, and EQ settings in addition to the standard customization options and automatic firmware upgrades.
The most used functions can be accessed quickly and easily via tabs at the bottom of the main screen. If you want to adjust the volume of the ANC microphones or modify the number of active multipoint devices, you’ll have to dig around a bit.
Technics EAH-AZ80: Performance
The AZ80’s high price tag is a bold statement, so let’s evaluate whether or not their performance lives up to the hype. The buds’ distinct musical taste is readily apparent when playing Tom Petty’s bouncy, jangly classic The Waiting. The AZ80 earbuds deliver their tunes with a pleasant sense of neutral clarity, much like how a contemporary art gallery displays its exhibits in a bright, open space that doesn’t steal the spotlight.
In contrast to other wireless earbuds, the AZ80 do not overpower the music being played and instead provide it with a spacious, unobtrusive soundstage. However, there are times when the lack of weight and depth in this otherwise pleasant presentation makes you want to crank up the bass in the built-in equalizer, despite the fact that the bones here are still quite listenable.
Technics EAH-AZ80: Battery Life
Another one of this device’s many amazing strengths is its long battery life. According to the manufacturer’s specifications, the earbuds have a maximum continuous use time of seven hours and a total battery life of twenty-four hours when combined with the carrying case.
These estimates are derived from listening with noise cancellation turned on but with the more power-intensive LDAC codec turned off; consequently, they are subject to change depending on how you use the product.
Price and Availability
The Technics EAH-AZ80 headphones are not at all cheap, coming in at a price of $299 or £259 and being sold by Amazon and other retailers. Despite this, they provide outstanding value in the sense that they are just as good as anything else you could spend this much money on. The Sony WF-1000XM4, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, and, of course, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are some of the most obvious alternatives in this price range.
Final Words
With the finely tuned EAH-AZ80, Technics proves itself to be a formidable rival in this competitive market. While they still fall short of their leading competitors in terms of noise reduction, they shine in musical contexts thanks to their assuredness, detail, and expression.
Technics EAH-AZ80 review: The good and The bad
The release of the new Technics EAH-AZ80 wireless earphones comes at a challenging time for the industry.
The Good
- Well-made and comfortable
- Three-way multipoint
The Bad
- Average ANC
Questions and Answers
With the finely tuned EAH-AZ80, Technics proves itself to be a formidable rival in this competitive market. While they still fall short of their leading competitors in terms of noise reduction, they shine in musical contexts thanks to their assuredness, detail, and expression.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 has a wide frequency response range that results in excellent sound quality for a variety of musical genres.