The Technics AZ-100 true wireless earbuds impressed me from the moment I started using them. For anyone who prioritizes sound quality, these deliver rich, detailed audio that makes both music and podcasts a real pleasure to listen to. The noise cancellation is also excellent, handling everything from background chatter, the drone of a bus or train, or a car as you’re walking down the road very well. Paired with Technics sound tuning, the overall listening experience feels premium and nuanced without being overwhelming.

One of the strongest aspects of the AZ-100 is how good the controls are. Everything feels intuitive and responsive, and it is easy to customise the touch actions to suit your preferences. The companion app is well designed and lets you tweak settings like EQ, noise cancellation levels, and control assignments so the earbuds behave exactly the way you want them to. For people who like a sense of control and personalisation in their audio gear, Technics has done a great job here.

Battery life and portability are also strong suits. The compact case slips easily into a pocket or bag, and you get plenty of hours of listening per charge before needing to top up. Considering the combination of high quality sound, effective noise cancellation, and smart controls, the price feels reasonable for what you get. It is clear that Technics has aimed these earbuds at someone who wants flagship features without an equally flagship price tag.

That said, the physical fit was a real problem for me. The AZ-100 earbuds have a relatively large diameter and a barrel style that pushes on the outer ear – the “concha” I discovered it is called. In the recommended position I could not keep them in my ears more than about 30 minutes before they became uncomfortable. By rotating them slightly I could get closer to an hour of wear, but even then they were never truly comfortable for long sessions. For people like me with smaller sensitive ears or who prefer a sleeker ergonomic shape, this design could be a deal breaker.

Technics / Panasonic offer a 30 day try it policy which is excellent and encourages you to test whether the fit works for you before fully committing. I loved everything about the AZ-100 except for the comfort issue, so if they were to release a smaller, comfort optimised version or a shape that did not rely on a larger barrel form it would definitely be worth another look. For anyone who can wear them comfortably they are a strong contender in the crowded true wireless market.

I purchased these headphones, intending to keep them, but ended up returning them due to comfort issues.