EAH-AZ100 True Wireless Earbuds

I’ve spent the last few days putting the new **Sony WF-1000XM6** up against my **Technics EAH-AZ100** to see how they actually compare in daily use. Having used the previous generations (the AZ80 and XM5), along with a variety of other flagships and mid-tier buds, I have a pretty clear idea of what I’m looking for in terms of sound, fit, and ANC. While these are just my personal findings, I thought it would be worth sharing a direct breakdown for anyone currently trying to decide between them. I'll keep this straight to the point and rank them based on the categories that matter to me. # ANC & Transparency **Sony XM6** * **ANC:** 9/10 * **Transparency:** 8/10 **Technics AZ100** * **ANC:** 8.5/10 * **Transparency:** 7.5/10 **ANC:** I can’t give Sony a 10 here. To get that "market-leading" silence, you're still forced to use their proprietary foam tips, which I find uncomfortable. I can get the Technics to nearly 95% of Sony’s performance by swapping to **Foamax** or **Comply** tips while maintaining much better comfort. The XM6 fits me better than the XM5, but they are still big and ugly IMO. **Transparency:** The Technics is technically more "transparent," but the **white noise** is just too much. Sony handles the noise floor much better and feels more refined. That said, both are still a step down from the natural feel of **AirPods**, **Galaxy Buds**, or **Pixel Buds**. # Sound Quality **Sound Quality** **Sony XM6** * **Score:** 8.5/10 **Technics AZ100** * **Score:** 9/10 Sony has definitely moved toward a more natural tuning compared to the XM5. They sound great out of the box, but the **Technics still takes the win for me due to the wider soundstage**. I just feel more "space" in the music with the AZ100 which i personally prefer * *Note:* The Sony "Find My EQ" feature was a total letdown for me—it just didn't work well at all. (could be a firmware bug and not something i would take a mark away from sony for given that the default eq is great - with technics i have to switch eq) # Call Quality **Technics AZ100** * **Score:** 9/10 **Sony XM6** * **Score:** 8/10 The Technics win here, especially after the most recent update. * **Quiet Rooms:** Sony actually sounds better/more natural when it's quiet. * **Noisy Environments:** Once you add background noise, Technics' new **Voice AI** is amazing. It makes your voice sound slightly less natural, but it almost entirely deletes the background noise. * **Customization Win:** On the Technics, you can actually toggle that voice suppression via the touch controls—perfect for switching it off in quiet rooms. I expect Sony to improve via firmware, but right now, they aren't there yet. # Controls **Technics AZ100** * **Score:** 9.5/10 **Sony XM6** * **Score:** 8.5/10 Huge props to Sony for finally allowing custom controls—it’s a massive improvement. However, **Technics is still the king of customization**. * Technics gives you way more utility during actual calls and allows you to toggle specific features (like the Voice AI) directly from the buds. Sony is catching up, but Technics still offers more "pro" depth. Given the current discounts, the **Technics are much better value**. Sony has built a bud that *almost* matches Technics on sound and calls while leading on ANC, but the price tag is steep. If you only care about top-tier ANC, you might as well grab the **Bose QC Ultra Gen 2** or the **AirPods Pro** . (the xm6 anc is still not as good as the bose or apple IMHO) The XM6 isn't a big enough leap over the XM5 to justify the launch price right now. Once the price drops and the firmware matures, they’ll be worth a look—provided you can get past the design. (Seriously, they aren't lookers).

I received these yesterday and I will be selling them on. I have purchased a lot of earbuds and have tested nearly all of the major brands but have struggled to find a perfect pair for me. I'm an android user and have a Samsung galaxy phone which does really preclude me from using airpods pro. I did buy a pair of Airpods pro 2 which I liked but the battery wasn't great and the feature that make it great for apple users are not existent on android. I like the Transparency mode and ANC but ultimately moved them on. I tried the APP3 which for me had better battery life but I found them too uncomfortable and ANC was not 2x better, I also noticed a hiss when transparency mode was on and as I like to sleep with earbuds I found they stick out a bit more that the APP2 so had to sell them on. I have tried the AZ100 which I liked very much but they are too big for my very small ears So yesterday I tried the Nothing ear 3 for the first time... Garbage, that's all I can say about them. The ANC does practically nothing but change the sound signature, the battery is very short and the transparency is just ok. The only thing I did like is the super mic, but this is 2025 and I make about 5 calls a year. I like the design but sadly I had to send them back.

After buying and trying a few different earbuds, like the Technics AZ100, Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5, Pixel Buds Pro 2, SoundPeats H3, AirPods Pro 3, Bose QC Ultra Gen 2, Sony XM5... I can say that i finally found the best earbuds for me... I'm just a regular guy, who likes earbuds, use it in the gym, outside sports, and commuting, I'm no audiophile. i like to see YouTubers earbuds reviews from El Jefe Reviews, Picky Audio, Aaron Loud....etc Things that i prioritize: ANC, Multipoint with automatic Takeover, Transparency and Sound Quality... The XM6 ticks all the boxes for me, i bought them for 190€, used ones, but in excellent condition... I use a Pixel 8 Pro, LDAC on, and i like to listen with volume around 68%... ANC is God Tier, together with the Airpods pro 3 and Bose QC gen 2... only headphones like the WH-1000 XM6 and the Bose are better... I use the stock eartips, L size, perfect fit for me, they are very comfortable, can use them for hours, new design and weight helps a lot... if you need or prefer silicone eartips I recommend the Azla Sednaearfit Max Standard, for a little more comfort, but it comes with a 10% +- worse ANC... Transparency is very good, especially if you are comparing it with XM5, it is almost at the airpods pro 3 level, but the Airpods are still number 1.... The sound is brilliant, in love Japanese sound quality, they are the top notch... They are the best sounding earbuds i have, under 300€, together with the Technics AZ100 and SoundPeats H3. The default sound is good, but with a good EQ you can improve it and luckily there is a 10 band EQ... Ldac On i recommend this EQ: \+1, +2, +2, +2, +3, +3, +3, +3, +2, +2 Microphone for phone calls is really good, under all conditions, wind, street noise... etc the people can understand my voice very clearly and they don't listen to noise or wind, great call quality... Multipoint with automatic takeover works perfectly Battery life around 8h with ANC and LDAC, volume between 60% to 68% Phone app is very good, full of extras, IPX4, ambient sound, quick attention, battery care...etc Hope you enjoy this small review... Any doubts, just let me know in the comments....

I’ve spent the past week testing the Technics AZ100, and more recently started trying out the Buds Pro 4. I really wanted to love the Buds Pro 4, and I do think they’ll be great for a lot of people, just unfortunately not for me. My biggest issue is the fit. This style of earbud just doesn’t stay secure in my ears. The left one keeps falling out no matter which eartip I try, or it sits loosely enough that I’m constantly adjusting it. I was especially looking forward to the Buds because I have a Samsung Z Fold 7, so they would integrate nicely into my ecosystem. At this point, I think I’ll be sticking with the Technics. They have a couple of advantages that matter more to me: 1. Multipoint connectivity – I can stay connected to both my work laptop and my phone at the same time without constantly switching or reconnecting during Teams calls or when moving between podcasts and music. 2. Fit and comfort – The stock eartips were a little uncomfortable at first, but I swapped them for Comply memory foam tips and now they feel amazing. They stay secure and don’t move at all, and I can wear them for long periods without any ear pain. Let me know if you have any questions—happy to answer!

I came from the Jabra Elite Active 7. I didn’t plan to upgrade, but a warranty repair turned into a refund because Jabra no longer had stock and has exited the consumer earbud market. That forced me to look elsewhere. I use earbuds for everything: running, gym, walking, desk work, and calls. Phone is an Android OnePlus 8 Pro. I’ve been using the Technics AZ100 for about 6 weeks. ⸻ Sound quality Straight out of the box the sound genuinely made me say “what the f\*\*k”. I didn’t think earbuds could sound this good. • Bass: noticeably cleaner and tighter than the Jabra. Very defined, not muffled or cushioned. Actually enjoyable rather than just boosted. • Mids/vocals: clear. • Treble: sharp. Not a dealbreaker for me, but worth noting. • Volume: louder than the Jabra. • EQ: I mostly use the Dynamic EQ. Jabra had more granular EQ control, but the Technics tuning is excellent out of the gate. Sound is the standout reason to buy these. No contest. ⸻ ANC & transparency • ANC: clearly better than the Jabra if you get the fit right. With the correct tips it blocks out pretty much everything. • Real world: traffic, gym noise, general chaos – all handled very well. • Transparency mode: great in an office environment. Natural and usable. Fit matters a lot here. More on that below. ⸻ Fit, comfort & stability This was my main concern at first. My Jabras sat into the ear cavity more naturally. Initially I had some fatigue, but the Technics app made me realise I likely have different sized ear canals. Once I switched to mixed stock tips (1 large, 1 small) everything clicked: • Almost no fatigue • Perfect ANC seal • Rock solid fit They stay put on long runs and during workouts without needing adjustment. ⸻ Controls & app • Touch controls: generally good and responsive. • Big downside: capacitive controls + gym use. A wet towel wiping sweat can trigger play/pause. My Jabras had physical buttons and I strongly preferred that. • Accidental touches: no issues outside of the gym towel scenario. • App: good overall, but Jabra’s EQ customisation was better. ⸻ Call quality • Indoors: high quality. • Outdoors / wind: also high quality. • Compared to Jabra: better overall. No complaints so far. ⸻ Battery & charging • About 6 hours nonstop at max volume, real-world use. • Wireless charging works perfectly. I even use my old Jabra wireless charging pad. • No charging quirks. ⸻ Case & build This is one area where Jabra still wins. • The Jabra charging case felt better manufactured. • The Technics case is fine, just not as premium-feeling. ⸻ Biggest surprise The sound quality. I honestly didn’t think true wireless earbuds could sound this good. Biggest disappointment None really. Just a preference for: • Jabra’s ergonomics • Physical buttons over capacitive touch (especially for gym use) ⸻ Would I buy them again? Yes. I’d also recommend them. I bought these mainly for running and they stay in place without fatigue, while sounding absurdly good. ⸻ Who shouldn’t buy these People who assume they have identical-sized ear canals and refuse to experiment with different tip sizes. Fit is critical for comfort and ANC on these. ⸻ TL;DR If sound quality is your priority and you’re willing to dial in the fit properly, the Technics AZ100 are outstanding. If you hate touch controls or want physical buttons for gym use, you might miss Jabra.