When Technics suddenly appeared in the True Wireless earbuds market a couple of years ago, it hit the ground running with some of the best examples of in-ear audio available to consumers at the time.
So it stands to reason the latest generation has taken Technics' proud history of audio excellence to a whole new level.
The AZ100 look very similar to the first few Technics buds I've tried. That is to say, not like any other earbuds out there. Well, I suppose there's an unavoidable resemblance to the previous generation AZ80 as Technics has kept the unusual "concha-fit" design which corkscrews its way into your ear canals to ensure a comfortable and secure fit.
But when compared side-by-side, it's easy to see how much more compact the new model is - especially on the outer-half of the earbuds. They're still a bit of a fashion statement - especially given the trademark Technics machined disc effect on the touch pads - but they no longer feel like they're sticking out awkwardly.
Even the charging case is smaller and lighter but not to worry, it still charges wirelessly as well as via USB-C.
The comfy, snug fit is further enhanced by the choice of ear tips; there are five sizes included in the box. This is great news for someone like me who has mismatching ear holes. It took me years of reviews before I realised I needed a smaller tip for my left ear, not a bigger one. The AZ100 buds are rock solid and with their IPX4 water-resistance they're the perfect option for exercise, being pretty much sweat-proof.
The Technics team seems pretty proud of what it's achieved with the Active Noise Cancelling on the AZ100s - and deservedly so. It might just be the best ANC I've experienced from in-ear devices. They've brought a similar level of expertise to what they're calling Voice Focus AI. Not only does this remove background noise from your voice as heard by others on your phone or video call, it will also tidy up their voice for you. Nothing artificial about that intelligence. It's just plain clever.
As is the new driver setup. Treat your ears to the magic of the Magnetic Fluid Driver. They've literally filled these things up with some kind of mystical oil that pretty much eliminates any distortion or vibration. Smooth.
Like any high-end piece of audio technology, I've discovered the trick to getting the most out of the EAH-AZ100 is tweaking the settings to your personal preference. This will take you a bit of time. There are a lot of settings in the Technics Audio Connect app.
A lot.
I'm not just talking about adjusting the EQ, choosing from a list of presets or custom-making your own.
Nor am I referring to the noise-cancelling settings, which should be tuned to your unique environment before you even begin listening.
No, you've got far more important decisions to make. Like exactly which connection protocol are you going to go for? LDAC for high resolution listening? Spatial Audio to enable authentic head-tracking (pretty fun when gaming or watching movies). Or are you really going to make the most of the latest lossless streaming apps and enable the relatively new LE Audio mode, the low-energy but super-stable bluetooth connection that takes mobile listening to another level?
The downside to having all these options - apart from the time it takes to choose the one that suits you best - is that some aren't compatible with others. For example, you can't use Spatial Audio in LE Audio mode. In fact, changing certain protocols will require you to re-pair the AZ100 completely.
But trust me, the end result is definitely worth it.
The bouncing bass-line on Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" proved to be the perfect track to demonstrate just how lusciously the AZ100 drivers handle the low end of the frequency spectrum. Somehow these bobbing, bass beats not only sound warm and cosy but everything stays accurate, right across the aural range. I'm not surprised; Technics prides itself on its studio-accurate sound reproduction. Still, this might be the best bass I've heard from a pair of earbuds.
Whether that can be directly attributed to the new magnetic fluid technology, I couldn't speculate. Maybe it's just a psychological thing but this really does feel like a warm bath for my ears - a bath set at just the right temperature; not too hot, no too cold.
Meanwhile, the opening acoustic guitar-versus-bass-drum verse of "Missing Piece" by Vance Joy is just as precise and using my preferred combination of settings, the stereo effects are really fun, creating more space than seems possible in such a little track - a bit like Dr Who's Tardis, bigger on the inside.
And Super Bowl half-timer, Kendrick Lamar's "squabble up" is just crazy, a riotous combination of monotone bass, guest vocals drifting in and out, sci-fi sound effects and every word of Lamar's confrontational rhymes punching through loud and clear.
If I had to single out a single feature that I appreciate more than any other it would be the touch sensor customisation. I'm often frustrated with other earbuds when it comes to operations like adjusting volume or turning ANC on and off. Sometimes you can assign certain things to certain controls but rarely can you literally set it up any old way you want. That's exactly what you can do on the AZ100s. For me, long pressing the right bud to wind up the volume and long pressing the left to turn it down just seems more instinctive. Now I can have it that way.
If these earbuds aren't perfect, they're pretty damn close. Plenty of options to ensure a rock-solid, comfy fit. Great battery life. Perhaps the best ANC I've heard (or not heard) and not just super-accurate, studio-quality sound reproduction but pretty much every bluetooth and hi-res connection option available.
Too many options. Too many ways to make these buds yours. So make them yours.
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