Since true wireless earbuds came on the scene, I have reviewed plenty of them. Over the last several years, I’ve consistently reviewed a different pair every month. From sports earbuds to HIFI buds, solar-powered buds, bone conduction, wraparound, and clip-style, they have all made their way to my ears as I listen at home and on the go.
Some buds excel in sound quality; others at noise-cancelling. A few of them boast incredible battery life, offer tons of sound and touch-control personalization features in a companion app, or employ design or technical enhancements that set them apart from the pack. But for me, there’s one pair I go back to again and again when I’m not actively reviewing something else: the Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100s.
The standout features of the Technics EAH-AZ100s
Sound quality is downright superb
There are a few reasons I am returning to these buds without fail, chief among them being the sound quality, which is downright fantastic. Whether I’m listening to soft rock or pop, loud or quiet, podcasts or music, audio shines through in a way that’s noticeably richer, crisper, with more depth and clarity than even with some over-ear headphones that cost much more.
Audibly, this is largely thanks to magnetic fluid driver technology, which uses a magnetic liquid injected between the driver magnet and voice coil to create a more detailed listening experience. Even when engaging in phone calls, Voice Focus AI, which consists of three mics in each bud and an AI noise reduction chip, allows both people to hear each other clearly, even in noisy environments.
As icing on the cake, you get enhanced, immersive audio with Dolby Atmos content, including Dolby Head Tracking. That keeps the audio front and center, no matter which way you’re facing.
Noise cancellation rivals over-ears
Yes, they’re even good enough for a plane ride
I have typically never used earbuds while flying, opting for over-ear noise-cancelling headphones instead, but these have been an exception. The noise-cancelling is fabulous, beautifully reducing even the hum of an airplane engine. They’re as good as some over-ears with active noise-cancelling (ANC), though they don’t rival the cream of the crop in this area from brands like Bose and Sennheiser.
With adaptive noise-cancelling, you can adjust on the fly to cancel out as much or as little noise as you want. It also adjusts intelligently based on your ear’s shape and the situation, including ambient noise levels. I have leveraged the noise-cancelling in these buds in other settings beyond travel, too, like on daily outdoor walks and at a local coffee shop, and it’s just as impressive. They easily rank among the best noise-cancelling earbuds.
If you need to speak to someone, like a flight attendant, use one-touch conversation mode to switch to transparent mode: you don’t need to remove a bud to hear what they’re saying. If you prefer to remove them, audio is paused as soon as a bud is removed, while touch sensors are also disabled, so you won’t inadvertently trigger an action with the bud in your hand. They’re also comfortable enough to wear for long flights or work sessions, smaller than the previous generation EAH-AZ80 earbuds but with the same concha fit and shape.
Unique features make them stand out
Multi-point connects to up to three devices and auto-switches to whatever’s playing
The Technics EAH-AZ100 goes above and beyond superb sound quality and noise cancellation with unique usability features that catapult it to the top of my list. Multi-point connectivity is common among premium and even some entry-level buds, though it’s a feature many cheap earbuds also leave out. This allows you to seamlessly switch from one previously paired Bluetooth device to another. But with these, you can connect up to three devices simultaneously. This might include your smartphone, laptop, and tablet, for example, or your work phone, personal phone, and computer.
Not only that, but they intelligently switch to whichever source is your primary one at the time. For example, I might be watching a press briefing on my laptop and, once it’s done, switch streaming music back on from my phone. The buds will seamlessly switch to whatever device is playing audio, not just the last one connected, and can go back and forth with ease.
Why I always choose the Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds
They check every box and more, in any setting
I have the pleasure of testing all types of earbuds at varying price points and brands. Since I have been using the Technics EAH-AZ100s since late December 2024, just before their official January 2025 launch, I have yet to find a pair that rivals them in sound quality. Even ones with better battery life, faster charging, or more app personalization still haven’t convinced me to switch.
With earbuds, you don’t know what you’re missing regarding audio quality until you try something better. I have been spoiled with this pair and being able to A-B test them against every other pair I review. They sound better than any other earbuds I have tested in the price range over the last year, even more expensive over-ears. A close second are the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, which launched in August 2024. They are custom-engineered with Dynaudio, a company known for producing professional studio monitors for use in recording studios, and sound almost as good. Almost.
For the price, the Panasonic Technica EAH-AZ100 true wireless earbuds are worth every penny. If you care about sound quality and don’t like over-ears while traveling, you won’t be disappointed with these earbuds. But they’re also secure enough to wear while exercising, walking, commuting, or relaxing or working at home. They’re the best pair I’ve tried in a very long time, and the ones I use as benchmark buds to which all others are compared.
