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Technics EAH-AZ70W review: How good are the brand’s first noise-cancelling wireless earbuds?

These sophisticated earphones prove the audio brand isn’t just for turntables

David RS Taylor
Thursday 20 May 2021 17:25 BST
The sleek earbuds offer impressive sound quality, with bass that wouldn’t sound out of place in the over-ear market
The sleek earbuds offer impressive sound quality, with bass that wouldn’t sound out of place in the over-ear market (iStock/The Independent )

There’s nothing quite like a good comeback story. A Michael-Jordan-inspired Tune Squad overcoming all the odds in Space Jam; Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid hopping his way to victory; the new Nokia 3310; the SodaStream.

Japanese audio brand Technics is a case of someone knowing a good thing when they have it. Originally founded in 1955 as a brand for premium loudspeakers, Technics made its name as the producer of some of the music industry’s favourite turntables, especially the SL-1200, the industry-standard turntable – and a permanent resident at London’s Science Museum.

After being discontinued in 2010, Panasonic brought Technics back from purgatory in 2014, and has aimed it firmly at the audiophile end of the market: after all, a brand with the audio history of Technics deserves to step back into its natural position.

Technics has a large and loyal following, dating back to its inception, and Panasonic knows this. Finally entering the wireless headphone market with the EAH range, the brand reckons listeners will get to enjoy a signature Technics sound wrapped up in a classic Technics design.

In the EAH-AZ70W earphones, active noise cancellation (ANC) is also included, technology that aims to block out the world while letting you enjoy your music uninterrupted. There’s plenty of tech crammed into the AZ70W, rivalling other premium earphones on the market. Has Technics flourished in its comeback? Read on to find out.

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Technics EAH-AZ70W

Technics EAH-AZ70W indybest.jpeg

Buy now £150, Hificorner.co.uk

Type: In-ear

Noise cancellation: Yes, including dual hybrid ANC and transparency mode

Weight: 7g per earphone

Battery life: 6.5 hours, 19.5 hours with the wireless charging case

Voice control: Yes

Design

These aren’t any old pair of earbuds. There’s an authentically premium feel to them: enough weight to feel sturdy without being noticeable in the ear, and a design simplicity that will appeal to many, us included. It’s nice to see Technics stick to its guns with design, offering prospective listeners a pair of sleek earphones in a charging case that wouldn’t look out of place in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

On taking the AZ70W out of that charging case, you’re struck by their size: they’re a bit on the wide side. However, this mainly works in their favour: their chromatic design is shown off amply by the large surface area, and when comfortably sat in your ear, the earphones somehow shrink, and while they do stick out slightly, they look subtle and feel lightweight.

Although they’re not the tightest fit on the market, they’re snug enough, important for any passive noise cancellation (the design of the buds creating a physical barrier) and for keeping the things in place and not down a drain. Their IPX4 water resistance also means that exercising in them wouldn’t be an issue, although take care not to wipe sweat away from the sides of your head, as a slight brush on the earphones can result in pausing your music or accidentally putting on a “Best of the 1990s” supermix (it wasn’t an accident, was it?).

Battery life comes in at around 6.5 hours for the headphones with noise cancellation on, pushed up to 19.5 hours when you include the charging case. For a full charge, you’ll need two-and-a-half hours, but Technics has wisely included a quick charge option, giving you 70 minutes of listening (noise cancellation on) from 15 minutes of charging. Pairing with a device is as simple as waving the earphones nearby, or holding the right earphone pad for three seconds to see the tell-tale red and blue flashing lights.

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Sound

The reason the AZ70W stick out slightly is the sheer amount of audio tech that engineers have slipped inside the earphones. Alongside the diaphragm and expansive 10mm dynamic driver, there’s also the acoustic control chamber just behind the driver to produce a consistent acoustic environment, and space for the all-important ANC microphones that listen out for ambient sound to mask.

The ANC is good, especially for in-ear headphones, cutting out pretty much everything on the lower register and dampening mids and higher registers ably. We couldn’t hear anyone, even if they were speaking directly in our faces, until we tapped the right ear to change to the earphones’ transparent mode, which alters the ANC technology to allow some ambient noise in. You can also tweak the extent of this transparency on the corresponding Technics app, an added bonus to the three regular modes (you can also switch off all noise cancellation).

The most important aspect is, of course, the sound that comes out. Here, the AZ70W bring the goods. They’re up there with the best you can buy. The sound is seriously rich, with booming bass and playful treble. The bass is particularly impressive, creating a much fuller sound than you would expect from any earphone. Vocals are also super clear, unaffected in the AZ70W by any busy instrumentals.

The verdict: Technics EAH-AZ70W

You’d expect a company with the reputation of Technics to produce a considered pair of earphones, and the AZ70W don’t disappoint. The look is sophisticated and sleek without veering into “try hard”, and the case is sturdy, with no need to worry about the earphones being chucked about in your hand luggage. The most impressive element is the sound: it’s formidable, especially that barnstorming bass, and wouldn’t sound out of place in the over-ear market.

There are slight wrinkles that stop this from being a clean sweep: the fit could be snugger, there’s a slight hiss when ANC is switched on without music, and their size might not be for everyone. However, these are minor issues as soon as you put the earphones in and press play. Technics isn’t just turntables, it seems: these earphones prove that the brand is much more.

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