The Technics EAH-AZ80 are mid-range wireless in-ears. These noise cancelling buds from this Japanese brand, who built their reputation on Hi-Fis and turntables, bring some distinctive features to the table, like LDAC support and the ability to connect to three devices simultaneously via Bluetooth. They have a low-profile and sleek design that won't look out of place, whether you're on the subway or running up a mountain trail. Plus, the manufacturer advertises a solid continuous battery life of seven hours with ANC enabled, though this will be reduced if you're using LDAC.
Our Verdict
The Technics AZ80 are impressive for sports and fitness use. They're exceptionally portable buds that have a comfortable fit and great stability. They're also well-built, and the buds themselves are certified IPX4 against water splash damage, so they won't be the reason you forego running in the rain. Their seven-hour battery life will be enough to get you through all but the most grueling endurance events without a recharge from the case. Plus, their three-way Bluetooth multi-point means you can connect to your phone and smartwatch simultaneously, with a device to spare.
- Great noise isolation performance across the frequency range.
- Well-built with an IPX4 rating for the buds themselves.
- Comfortable and stable in-ear fit.
- High latency with both SBC and LDAC.
The Technics AZ80 are great for travel use. Their lightweight, portable design is ideal for traveling, and their sturdy build quality and solid charging case mean you don't need to worry about damaging them in transit. They're comfortable enough for long plane and train journeys, too, and their impressive ANC system and passively isolating fit combine to block out most bothersome noises, from plane engine rumble to noisy passengers. Their three-way Bluetooth multipoint connectivity means you can stay connected to a whole suite of devices while on the move, though you may need to take advantage of the quick charge function in case the seven-hour battery life doesn't cut it for longer journeys.
- Can connect with up to three devices via Bluetooth.
- Great noise isolation performance across the frequency range.
- Well-built with an IPX4 rating for the buds themselves.
- Comfortable and stable in-ear fit.
- High latency with both SBC and LDAC.
The Technics AZ80 are good for office work. They have a comfortable, stable fit, and their seven-hour battery life can get you through most of the workday with the ANC enabled. The ANC will also ensure that background office distractions are minimal, effectively blocking out the sound of chatty coworkers and the collective squeals of delight when someone brings a box of doughnuts to share. They also don't leak very much audio, so you don't need to worry about disturbing anyone, even if you like to crank your tunes to the max. The integrated mic's recording quality is passable but makes your voice sound both thin and muffled.
- Can connect with up to three devices via Bluetooth.
- Great noise isolation performance across the frequency range.
- Very minimal audio leakage.
- Well-built with an IPX4 rating for the buds themselves.
- Comfortable and stable in-ear fit.
- Mediocre noise handling performance.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 aren't suitable for wireless gaming. While they can connect to your PC or console via Bluetooth, latency will likely be too high for a smooth gaming experience.
You can't use the Technics AZ80 wired, so they're not suitable for this use.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 are a great choice for audio reproduction accuracy. Their default sound profile is on the bassier side compared to our target, though the mid and treble ranges are well-balanced. The frequency response follows their warm sound profile very well, with very few deviations, and the L/R drivers are well-matched in terms of amplitude, frequency, and phase. There's no audible coloration of your audio from harmonic distortion either, both at both regular and elevated listening levels.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 offer an impressive noise isolation performance. The ANC system does some heavy lifting to help attenuate bass-range frequencies, while their in-ear seal helps tamp down on higher frequencies. The isolation performance shines in office environments, cutting out chit-chat and clacking keystrokes, though they do a serviceable job in environments like a busy street or airplane cabin.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 are passable for phone calls. Their integrated mic's recording quality isn't bad, and you'll be understandable on calls, but your voice will sound slightly thin and a little muffled. It does an okay job of separating your voice against moderately noisy backgrounds, like the hustle and bustle of a busy street, but it struggles with passing trains and other very loud sounds
The Technics EAH-AZ80 have outstanding frequency response consistency. As long as you take the time to ensure a solid fit, you'll be rewarded with extremely consistent audio delivery.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Apr 20, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.2, which removes the Cumulative Spectral Decay (CSD) test, retiring its waterfall plot visualization from our reviews. You can read more about this change in the changelog.
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Updated Mar 24, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
- Updated Mar 24, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.
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Updated Nov 04, 2025:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests and side-by-sides.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Technics EAH-AZ80 come in three color variants: 'Black', 'Silver,' and 'Midnight Blue.' You can see our unit's label here. If you encounter a different variant, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Technics AZ80 are premium wireless in-ears with ANC technology. The market for earbuds in this price range is very saturated. It puts them in direct competition with excellent in-ears, like the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless and the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4. The Sony can provide slightly more noise isolation across most of the frequency range, thanks to their excellent foam ear tips, though the Technics do a marginally better job of blocking out bass frequencies, like engine rumble. The Technics are also better built, and if Bluetooth multi-device connectivity is a deciding factor for you, their three-way multipoint helps them stand out from the crowd. The three-way multipoint might also give them the edge over the Sennheiser. However, the Sennheiser have a better overall noise isolation performance. That said, the Technics have a more comfortable fit and, like the Sony, feature LDAC support for high-resolution audio streaming.
Check out our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, the best noise cancelling earbuds, and the best wireless earbuds for Android.
The Technics EAH-AZ100 are the successor to the Technics EAH-AZ80. The AZ100 are better in most aspects; their ANC performs better across the board, especially when dealing with bass range noise like engine rumble, their battery life is significantly longer at 12.2 hours, and they support newer features like Bluetooth LE's LC3 codec and virtual surround for immersive listening. That said, the AZ80 are substantially cheaper and have most of the same features.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless are both premium in-ears with noise cancelling technology (ANC). They're both excellent all-around performers with similar feature sets and slight differences, so you could opt for one over the other depending on your preferences. They both have a similar warm sound profile that you can tweak via the in-app EQ and presets. They also have comparable battery life performance and feature LDAC support. While the Technics are better built, the Sony have a slight edge in the noise isolation department, thanks to their excellent passively isolating foam tips. Meanwhile, the Technics have three-way Bluetooth multi-point connectivity, which can be useful if you bounce between a work phone, personal phone, and laptop.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 and the Technics EAH-AZ80 are premium buds with premium feature sets. They both offer a comparable battery life performance and are similarly well-constructed. While both provide a great level of attenuation against ambient sound, the Sennheiser have the edge here, blocking out more external noise across the entire frequency range. They also support the aptX Adaptive suite and LE Audio. That said, the Technics have a more comfortable fit and LDAC support, and they feature three-way Bluetooth multi-device connectivity for staying connected to multiple devices on the go.
Both the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless and the Technics EAH-AZ80 require a serious outlay, but you'll be rewarded with a similarly excellent all-around performance. The Bose have a more comfortable fit, combined with a superior noise isolation performance that's great if you travel a lot and like to enjoy your peace. They also come with an Immersive Audio feature with head-tracking. Both boast a pretty balanced default sound that leans towards the warm side. The Bose include aptX Adaptive support, and the Technics have LDAC support. The Technics also include three-way Bluetooth multi-point connectivity, which will sway some users compared to the two-device multi-pairing on the Bose.
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