The Technics AZ100 launched earlier this year and serve as the successor to the AZ80 that I reviewed nearly two years ago. Considering how its predecessor wowed from the get-go, I actually started out this review with relatively high expectations.
And boy, these earbuds did not fail to impress.
What Am I Looking At?
Both the casing and earbuds are also physically longer , compared to the AZ80s slightly rounder Concha shape. My guess is that the charging cradle is elongated due to it supporting a larger battery inside, a point I will address in the next section.
Another reason why the AZ100 earbuds are bigger is that theyre packed with Technics Magnetic Fluid Drivers. These pack quite a punch and, as Ill explain in the following section as well, sound incredibly deep and full-bodied. Theres also support for Dolby Atmos and Head Tracking, although to be fair, this feature wasnt a priority.
At RM1,599, the AZ100 costs exactly the same as the AZ80 did when it first launched. Thats in the ballpark of other high-end, premium consumer audio accessories, so this is technically just an additional option to consider.
Whats Good About It?
The touch controls on the AZ100 are simple and fuss-free, and the large touch surface on the back of each earbud means that Im not fiddling to skip to the next track or repeat the same. The same goes for when I press and hold down my finger on one earbud to activate ANC or passthrough.
Performance-wise, the lows are much, much deeper than those presented by its predecessor. The rattle I get in the back of my head whenever Im La Venus de Milo by Stacey Kent or Flight of the Cosmic Hippo by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones is satisfying with each reverberating note.
The highs and mids of the AZ100 have a high threshold as well, with sound of breaking even with high notes. With these earbuds, I could listen to the harmonica solo in Digging My Potato by Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts several times over, without the feeling like my eardrums are going to shatter.
Vocals on the AZ100 can actually swing wildly. On one side, Old Tom Bombadil by Rufus Wainwright exhibits a warmth that one would usually feel directly inside a studio. On the other side, these earbuds carry the cold, haunting tones of Caislean Oir by Clannad or Strange Fruit by Nina Simone.
Sound staging is spot on. The guitars and percussions in The Eagles 1994 MTV Unplugged version of Hotel California is terribly well-balanced; Don Henleys voice is neither brought forward of drowned out by the instruments, and the AZ100 makes the track bright enough that you can hear the plucking happening in real time. This is also the case when listening to Take Five by Dave Brubeck and Eric Claptons Unplugged rendition of Tears in Heaven if I can hear the stomping of his foot at the start of the track, thats pretty damn accurate.
The AZ100 is also the longest lasting pair of earbuds I have ever used, to date. At 10 hours of continuous playback with ANC on, it currently dethrones Sonys WF-1000XM5, which lasts a total of eight hours with ANC on. That longevity also extends to the charging cradle, which carries an additional 28 hours battery life, bringing the total number to 38 hours.
Whats The Catch?
The AZ100 doesnt have a very high volume ceiling, a problem that existed even with the AZ80. More often than not, I find myself having to pump the volume up between 60% and 70%, depending on the track, just so I can properly hear the elements of each track.
On another note, theres still no support for any of Qualcomms AptX codecs. Granted, this really isnt such an issue, especially if the track youre listening to is of lossless quality I use Tidal more than Spotify but as I have always argued, better to have it than not at all.
The ANC or rather, the passthrough on the AZ100 is a little different and frankly, Im having a bit of trouble determining whether it is for better or for worse. With the AZ80, any excessive decibels, usually from excessive airflow towards my face, while passthrough is active, would result in the earbuds temporarily and automatically deafening themselves. With the AZ100, the deafening mechanism isnt brief. As in, it will block out anything it deems to be excessive for but a brief second before returning to normal.
Should I Buy It?
As an audiophile? Definitely. At the end of the day, the pros of these earbuds very clearly outweigh the cons, all of which barely affect my overall listening experience.
At RM1,599, though, the AZ100 does err towards the side of pricey but lets be real for a minute: this is a premium audio accessory and as we all know, premium costs money. That being said, if youre looking for something thats a little cheaper, you may be happy to know that the AZ80 is still on the market at a slightly lower price of RM1,299.
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