Ever since the first lawful wireless stumble the food market , Sony has been one of the top marque pushing on-key wireless excellence further with each effort . TheWF-1000XM5have been one of our favourite honest wireless earbuds since they launched back in 2023 .
But in the years since , they ’ve been up against increasingly tough competition . TheTechnics EAH - AZ100are one of the best true radio we ’ve tested recently , mark five stars with an excellent all - round performance .
Is it enough to unseat the WF-1000XM5 as one of thebest wireless earbudsyou can purchase ? permit ’s come up out .
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Price
The Technics EAH - AZ100 is the newer model of the two , launching in 2025 compared to the Sony WF-1000XM5 which launch in 2023 .
So while the Sony was usable at £ 259 / $ 299 / € 320 , you could find them for around £ 199 to £ 219 .
The Technis AZ100 give out on sale for £ 259 / $ 299 , match the Sony ’s original RRP . That does think that currently , they ’re the more expensive twosome in 2025 .
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Design
The WF-1000XM5 are thick in size of it and luminance in terms of weight ( 5.9 g ) , and nestle securely into the ear . The range of ear - tips box cover extra little to big , so there should be a sizing that correspond everyone ’s ears . We ’ve set up them to be the most well-situated iteration of Sony ’s honest wireless so far .
The WF-1000XM5 admit onboard book control along with play / pause , track skipping and switching through interference - cancellation modes . shit atIPX4 , they ’re good enough to protest spattering of urine and sweat . The charging case is another compact endeavour , saving on space , while colours number in black , platinum Ag and a new smoky pink variance .
The Technics AZ100 are almost exactly the same . They ’re compact in size , weigh the same ( 5.9 g ) and fit into the ear without causing oru ear any soreness . Five ear - tips are cater , from superfluous modest to large which more or less covers the same bases as Sony .
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They ’re also rated to IPX4 water resistance , and the charging case is around the same size of it as the Sony . Controls cover the same aspect as the Sony in playback , go after skipping , intensity and noise - cancellation musical mode . The only real period of difference are the colour options . The Technics come in black and silver variants .
There ’s not much to pick out between either . We bump both well-off to fag out which is the most important aspect about the design . We ’d call this mates - up a draw .
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App support
Both the Technics and Sony extend a raft of customisation options in their apps , so much that it ’d take too longsighted to go through each one on its own .
In both apps you customise the sound balance to adapt the audio performance , monitor battery life , customise theBluetooth connexion , noise - cancellation , and controls . The Sony Sound Connect supports service such as Spotify Tap and Endel Quick Access , which allows you to climb up in relaxing soundscape . The Technics Audio link up app lacks the same level of service funding .
For us though , the Technics Audio Connect offer great control overmoreaspects of the AZ100 ’s performance , whether it ’s what the earbuds do when connected to multiple machine at the same time , changing the call quality performance , or reducing lag with television .
Both earbuds offer a riches of customisation options , but we find the Technics slightly more utilitarian .
That said , we have n’t used the Sony WF-1000XM5 with the newer Sound Connect app as our original review was when the app was in its Headphones Connect iteration so change could have been made . Despite that , we ’re going to give the profits to the Technics . Just .
Technics AZ100 wins
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Features
We ’re not go to through every feature individually as that would take forever with these earpiece , so we ’ll just peg down down on the most important areas .
The chief one is that the WF-1000XM5 natively supportsAmazon Alexaand Google Assistant whereas the Technics does not have any built - in supporting for vocalism assistants . If your mobile twist corroborate it , it can happily link to it , but only through your gimmick .
Battery life on the Sony is up to 8 minute with noise - cancellation on while the Technics brag up to 10 hours per direction . These design can change when LDAC is enabled . Our tests would put them around the same figure ( 10 hr ) , but we ’d require to do more battery examination with the WF-1000XM5 to be sure .
In term of Bluetooth support , both cover SBC , AAC , andLDAC , though the Technics also coversLE Audio , which is a more power efficient method of transmitting audio that maintains eminent lineament sound while using less battery . In footing of the Bluetooth public presentation , the earbuds are around the same in term of signaling stability but when both are in their LDAC mode the connection can drop .
Call quality is an area where the Technics is better than the Sony . We found that the Sony always allow in outside noises whenever we talked , get it firmly for the person on the other end to see us ; but the Technics ’ Voice Focus AI is much full at hone on your voice without letting extraneous sound interrupt what you ’re saying .
Again , the feature set is an expanse where the Sony and Technics are moderately close , but the boost in call timbre with the Technics is enough for us to give it the profits in this category .
Noise Cancellation
Both earbuds boast impressive haphazardness - cancellation , concentrate the impact of outside sounds for a nearly silent performance whether you ’re on public transport , in open place or with citizenry nearby address . Neither one is affected by wind disturbance and both feature transparency modes that are clear , detailed , and natural - sound enough that you could pick up sounds from across a room .
But we ’d rate the Technics AZ100 as the more or less good alternative . Their randomness - cancellation is very impressive , bat aside most noise that come its way . The Sony is like , and we ’d say it ’s slightly more consistent in how it applies its Adaptive ANC public presentation , but to our ears the AZ100 add up across as more precise and just a minuscule turn stronger in removing phone .
Sound Quality
Sound tone is dependent on your preference . If you like a balanced , elaborate and fairly electroneutral sound ; you may prefer the Sony . The Technics has a stronger , richer bass performance and sounds slightly well with treble in term of light and pellucidity .
The midrange is moderately even as both offer a suave caliber with vocals and high levels of contingent and clarity , though we ’d argue that the Sony offers a small more sixth sense . Rhythmically we ’d say the Technics is more than a match for the Sony , and dynamically we ’d say they offer a little more impact too .
The soundstage is wide on both , and both earbuds carry more Energy Department and rhythmic impetus once the volume has been raised . The warmth of the Technics contrast with the proportionality of the Sony , but both the WF-1000XM5 and EAH - AZ100 offer a fine listen .
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For us , it comes down to which earphone we find more entertaining to take heed to , and we ’d give that to the Technics . Its sound just grabs out attention a little bit more .
Verdict
This has been a very tight competition between two high quality reliable wireless earbuds . Either one would be an splendid selection , but we ’d give it to the Technics based on slender margins .
It sounds fantabulous , scratch noises better than the Sony , pop the question well level of comfort , better call quality and a huge range of lineament and customisation . It in full deserve its five star recommendation .
But so does the Sony WF-1000XM5 . Even in 2023 it still offer wet competition to newer earbuds . It ’s somewhat thrum for noise - cancellation and call caliber , but in all other areas they remain an first-class pair of headphones .
you’re able to be satisified with either , but overall , the Technics nicks it from the Sony .
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