New Products

Technics today introduced two noise-cancelling wireless earbuds that improve on the sound quality and comfort of its previous designs.

The flagship EAH-AZ80 ($300) and EAH-AZ60M2 ($250) earbuds feature Technics’ proprietary Dual Hybrid Noise Cancelling Technology, improved call quality, and the ability to connect with three source devices simultaneously in addition to a new ergonomic shape designed to ensure comfort, even when worn all day.

The main difference between the two models is the use of a new 0.4-inch (10mm), free-edge aluminium diaphragm in the EAH-AZ80 . The driver is said to extend high- and low-frequency response while reducing unwanted resonance and distortion to achieve the “best sound quality to date from Technics true wireless earbuds.”

Both models are water-resistant with a splash-safe IPX4 rating and employ a “unique acoustic box” with an control chamber that optimizes air flow for more natural sounding vocals and other midrange sounds and a “harmonizer” that smoothes out the treble.

Technologies shared in both models includes Technics’ active noise-cancellation system, which uses a digital filter and a feedforward mic to suppress noise outside of the earbud, while a feedback mic paired with an analog filter suppresses noise from inside the earbud. The two-pronged approach uses no-latency processing and is said to keep noise to a minimum.

Two ambient modes are provided. Natural Ambient captures all surrounding noise, allowing you to listen to music or talk on the phone while paying attention to your surroundings, while Attention captures only sounds in the human voice range while reducing unwanted external noise so you can better hear people speaking or public announcements. The Technics Audio Connect app has a slider that lets you adjust the amount of external sound you hear.

JustMyVoice technology is another key technology used both models. It uses advanced signal processing and eight microphones (four per ear) to analyze your voice and suppress ambient noise during calls. The suppression is adaptive, meaning it automaticallay adjusts to the noise level to ensure clear, unmuffled sound. Two of the mics are high-tech IC-based MEMS devices that actively isolate your voice and use beamforming technology to keep noise low.

Both models support resolutions up to 96 kHz/24 bits through the use of LDAC-enabled Bluetooth and are able to connect with three source devices simultaneously and switch seamlessly between them.

Battery life for the EAH-AZ80 and EAH-AZ60M2 is rated at 7.5 hours of music playback without noise cancellation or up to 25 hours with the charging case. Battery life drops to 7 / 24 hours when noise cancellation is engaged or 4 / 13.5 hours with active calling with noise cancellation engaged. To conserve battery life, a sensor pauses playback when the earbuds are removed and resumes playack when they are put back in. Both models also support Qi charging (charging begins automatically when the earbuds are placed in the charging case).

As with most earbuds, adjusting volume, skipping tracks, and turning noise cancellation on or off is done by tapping the earbuds. The sensitivity of touch-and-hold, single-, double-, and triple-tap actions can be adjusted in the Technics Audio Connect App; the app offers a number of other features including battery check, “super bass equalizer,” and other sound modes. The earbuds support voice assistants on smart devices with Android 6.0 or higher and iPhones iOS12 or higher.

To ensure comfort for long periods, the housing of both models is designed to align with your ear’s concha for improved stability without applying undue pressure and the contact area has been expanded for a better fit and added comfort. Technics provides seven different size earpieces to ensure a perfect fit with any ear.

The AZ80 features a spin-processed touch-sensor surface and is available in black or silver. The AZ60M2 is available in black, silver, or blue. For more information, visit us.technics.com