As of my writing of this review, Sony is preparing to launch their highly-anticipated WF-1000XM5 earbuds, which are expected to be the front runner for top earbuds of 2023 after the success of the XM4s that received a CNET Editors’ Choice award in 2021. However, there’s a new surprise contender from Panasonic, under its flagship Technics brand – the EAH-AZ80. These next-generation earbuds not only have impressive sound quality, but also feature excellent noise-cancelling capabilities in a more ergonomic design. Available in black or silver, they have a suggested retail price of $300.
With Bluetooth 5.3, the EAH-AZ80s are well-equipped with almost everything that one could desire in a pair of earbuds. They come with wireless charging, support for Sony’s higher-resolution LDAC audio codec for Android and other compatible devices, and the unique feature of pairing with up to three devices at once, which according to Panasonic, is an industry first for multipoint pairing. However, I have a minor complaint that may not affect everyone’s experience but could impact certain individuals.
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Better fit (mostly)
Panasonic has taken a cue from its earlier iterations, such as the EAH-AZ70W, which I previously endorsed in 2020. The previous model lacked proper grip, resulting in the earbuds not fitting snugly in my ears and some users experiencing discomfort after prolonged usage. With the latest model, Panasonic has revamped the design to better adapt to the natural shape of the ear, particularly the concha section, resulting in a more secure fit.
The EAH-AZ80s now fit snugly and securely in my ears, providing a more comfortable listening experience. However, I faced a minor challenge as I was in between the large and extra-large ear tip sizes provided with the product. Additionally, the ear tip design didn’t perfectly suit my ears, which was a recurring problem with Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds. Despite this, I was able to achieve a tight seal. Although the AirPods Pro 2 and new Beats Studio Buds Plus are more compact, they’re slightly more comfortable to wear.
The EAH-AZ80s have a better fit in the ears when compared to their predecessors. David Carnoy/CNET. As someone who reviews numerous earbuds, I have a surplus of extra ear tips, which led me to search for a more suitable fit. With persistence, I found a set of ear tips in my collection that worked better than the original ones. While most people won’t experience this problem, some may face difficulty finding the right fit for bulkier earbuds such as Sony’s WF-1000XM4 and Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3. The EAH-AZ80 doesn’t have excessive weight for high-performance earbuds, but the buds weigh 7 grams per bud, which is only 0.3 grams lesser than the Sony WF-1000XM4s. They are relatively sturdy, and I accidentally dropped a bud while walking my dog, but it didn’t break. Additionally, they are splash-proof with an IPX4 rating, making them suitable for running although they may not stay in everyone’s ears during exercise.
I found the touch controls to be highly responsive and functioning effectively. The Technics Audio Connect app offers a plethora of setting options, much like Sony’s Headphones app, allowing users to personalize the functions of their taps or taps and holds on both iOS and Android operating systems.
The sound quality of Technics’ earlier earbuds was impressive, but the EAH-AZ80s have taken it to another level and are on par with the best-sounding earbuds available, like the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 S2. While these earbuds do not have dual drivers like the Bowers & Wilkins’ buds, Panasonic claims that they feature a new 10mm driver with a “free-edge aluminum diaphragm” that offers exceptional sound quality for Technics’ true wireless earbuds. This new driver also extends the high and low frequency response while minimizing unwanted resonance and distortion.
The appearance of both the earbuds and the charging case is high-end and impressive, as observed by David Carnoy from CNET. In terms of sound quality, the earbuds deliver remarkable clarity and depth. Pairing them with a Pixel 7 Pro that supports LDAC and a high-resolution audio streaming service like Qobuz gives a slight boost in sound quality. They also work excellently with an iPhone 14 Pro which uses the AAC audio codec, but Qobuz provides better sound quality than Spotify. It’s worth noting that LDAC needs to be activated through the Technics Audio Connect app for Android and other compatible devices.
While they do not provide the same level of bass extension as high-end wired earbuds, such as Panasonic’s Technics EAH-TZ700 in-ear monitors ($1,200), these wireless earbuds deliver a superior audio experience that is comparable to, if not better than, other options in their price range and even beyond. Many compact earbuds, like the AirPods Pro 2, sound great but fail to offer the same precision and three-dimensional clarity that come with more expensive headphones.
These earbuds belong to the type that enables the user to distinguish individual instruments, even within intricate tracks where instruments tend to get jumbled together when using inferior Bluetooth headphones. The singing voice of the singers exudes a natural quality, the trebles possess a good sparkle (and no hissing), and the bass is taut. Although they do not feature a level of bass energy comparable to the Bowers & Wilkins PI7, you can increase the bass a bit using the bass or superbass enhancement settings within the Technics Audio Connect app – especially if bass is your preference. (To test the bass, I usually listen to tracks such as Spoon’s “Knock Knock Knock,” Athletes of God’s “Don’t Want To Be Normal,” Orbital’s “Dirty Rat,” and occasionally Taylor Swift’s “Vigilante Shit,” just to be thorough, seeing as my kids tell me she’s quite popular.)
In addition to the limited number of preset EQ modes available in the app, you have the option to create a personalized equalizer setting. However, I found that the default signature sound setting was sufficient and didn’t feel the need to use a custom setting.
It’s worth noting that Panasonic has recently introduced a less expensive model called the EAH-AX60M2, which features the same functionalities as the EAH-AZ80 but has smaller 8mm drivers and does not have the ergonomic design upgrade present in the higher-end model. While I haven’t tried them myself yet, they are priced $50 lower and may eventually be discounted to less than $200. However, I would recommend investing in the EAH-AZ80 earbuds for a better overall experience.
The new design of the earbuds follows the contours of your ear, as reported by David Carnoy of CNET. The EAH-AZ80 boasts enhanced noise-canceling capabilities, with Bose and Sony leading the pack, and Apple not far behind. It is difficult to determine who among them has the best noise-canceling, but the EAH-AZ80 has impressive noise-canceling abilities, and it also has a transparency mode that allows ambient sounds to filter through, enabling you to stay aware of your surroundings.
After spending a few days walking in New York City, I found that the earbuds significantly reduced approximately 85% of the ambient noise. Although some high-pitched sounds, such as muffled voices, were still audible, the traffic noise and subway rumble were nicely muted. While not comparable to the top-of-the-line Bose QuietComfort 2 earbuds, these earbuds performed similarly to the Sony WF-1000XM4 and AirPods Pro 2 in terms of their noise-canceling abilities. (Assuming that Sony will improve its noise-canceling technology with the release of the XM5s.)
You can activate the noise-canceling optimizer option in the iOS and Android app (I personally set it to the Max level when outside). The app also offers a feature to perform a background noise reduction test during a call. Additionally, you can choose between a “normal” and “strong” noise reduction setting (although the latter may slightly affect voice quality).
The black Technics EAH-AZ80 is pictured in a screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET. Panasonic has announced that it has improved its JustMyVoice technology by integrating eight high-sensitivity MEMS microphones, a sensitive voice detection signal, and noise reduction designed to capture and clearly transmit the user’s voice. In my experience, callers were able to hear my voice clearly when the noise reduction was set to “normal,” but there was still some background noise that could be heard when I spoke. When I set the noise reduction to “strong,” the background noise decreased significantly, but callers told me that I sounded like I was in a tunnel (though I was able to hear them fine). Two people told me that they thought the call quality was decent, but not as good as what you get with the new Beats Studio Buds Plus and AirPods Pro 2. (I have already completed one firmware upgrade, but we may get more as Panasonic continues to refine the features and performance of the device).
The AirPods Pro 2 offer Apple’s transparency mode, which can be turned on or off and automatically adapts to the surroundings. In addition, you can manually adjust the transparency levels in the app, and I discovered that the mode sounded most natural (similar to not having earbuds in the ears) when I set it to approximately 50%. Furthermore, there’s an Attention mode that highlights voices, allowing you to hear people speaking more clearly in noisy surroundings.
As previously mentioned, the standout feature is the improved multipoint pairing which enables you to connect three devices at the same time, such as a computer, smartphone, and tablet. However, if you opt for the LDAC audio codec, you’ll only be able to link two devices simultaneously, and for an optimal bandwidth, it’s recommended to have the earbuds connected to a single device when using LDAC codec (the app lets you choose between multipoint and LDAC mode).
Although the battery life is advertised as 7 hours of playback with ANC turned on (at 50% volume), I experienced approximately 6 hours of playback due to my preference for higher volume levels, around 70%. With the wireless or USB-C charging case, you can recharge the earbuds for an additional three times. Furthermore, you can quickly charge the earbuds for 10 minutes to get 70 minutes of playback with the quick charge feature.
Final Impressions on the Technics EAH-AZ80
It’s reasonable to hold high expectations for earbuds that come with a $300 price tag–and let’s face it, that’s still a considerable amount to spend on headphones, despite many individuals being willing to pay over $450 for Apple’s AirPods Max headphones. In general, Panasonic has excelled in crafting a top-performing pair of earbuds that deliver exceptional sound quality along with improved fit, very effective noise-cancellation, and a plethora of features.
The voice-calling features of the Technics EAH-AZ80 are satisfactory, but not quite as impressive as advertised (at the moment). It is hoped that firmware updates will enhance the voice-calling performance in louder surroundings. Nevertheless, assuming they are a good fit, these earbuds are among the finest available wireless options presently.
