Technics EAH-AZ60 review: high-end sound from a bargain bud
Our Verdict
Packing audiophile sound, ANC and plenty of useful features into a stylish package, this is an bonny earbud at a neat price.
For
- Clear, expansive sound
- Strong ANC
- Attractive app with numerous features
- Sharp-looking design
- Respectable battery life
Against
- Mediocre call quality
- No wireless charging
Tom's Guide Verdict
Packing audiophile sound, ANC and enough of useful features into a stylish package, this is an attractive earbud at a great toll.
Pros
- +
Articulate, expansive sound
- +
Potent ANC
- +
Bonny app with numerous features
- +
Sharp-looking blueprint
- +
Respectable battery life
Cons
- -
Mediocre phone call quality
- -
No wireless charging
- -
Technics EAH-AZ60 specs
Price:$229
Colors:Black, silverish
Battery life (rated): 7 hours (ANC on), vii.5 hours (ANC off), 24 hours (charging case with ANC on), 25 hours (charging case with ANC off)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
Processor: Non stated
Size: 1 x 0.87 x 0.87 inches (earbud)
Weight: 0.24 ounces (earbud)
The Technics EAH-AZ60 is the newest pair of flagship wireless earbuds from the hi-fi sound specialist. It comes equipped with an impressive spec sheet, highlighted by adjustable active racket cancellation (ANC), Alexa integration, Bluetooth 5.2, and acoustic architecture that creates exceptionally rich audio. Features are also abundant via the companion app.
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These buds are non without their flaws. Call quality is decent, only several notches beneath the market's top performers. Some of the unique features introduced by Technics are hit or miss. The lack of standard features like wireless charging, which is becoming more mutual on sub-$200 wireless earbuds, also acts as a blemish on the EAH-AZ60'due south resume.
Despite these shortcomings, Technics has an audio disruptor at their disposal that puts the competition on discover. Check out our total Technics EAH-AZ60 review to larn more about this sonic jewel.
Technics EAH-AZ60 review: Price and availability
The Technics EAH-AZ60 is sold for $229 at major online retailers, including Amazon and Adorama. Colour options are black and silverish. Inside the box is a charging case, USB-C charging case, and five sets of different sized tips.
By comparison, these buds are less expensive than category leaders like the AirPods Pro ($249) and Sony WF-1000XM4 ($248), only also carry a higher MSRP than sub-luxury models like the Beats Fit Pro ($199) and Samsung Milky way Buds 2 ($149).
For all of the latest wireless earbuds sales, bookmark our best headphones deals page.
Technics EAH-AZ60 review: Design and condolement
The EAH-AZ60 is a fine representation of Technics' luxury design full-blooded. Even if information technology's mostly made from plastic, aesthetically, the buds leave the impression that they were congenital from premium materials. There is also enough of particular to admire, from the discrete mic placement to the vinyl-like finish on the touch on panels. Construction feels nice also. An IPX4 rating also provides these buds sweat and water resistance.
It's a shame that Technics didn't put that same effort into designing the charging instance. The matte cease and debossed logo on top are eye-communicable, but the build quality isn't as durable as rival cases. Dropping information technology on any surface will scuff the outside easily. At least the slim, elongated shape makes it easy to slip into tight pockets for portable convenience.
I can say the EAH-AZ60 is a more comfortable wear than the EAH-AZ40. The plastic isn't as rough on the pare and the buds mold better to the ear. Wearing them for 2 to 3-hour stretches wasn't a problem.
Fit was besides secure. Having multiple tips to accommodate unlike ear sizes is a thoughtful gesture from the brand, and each of them form a tight seal. The angled sound port slides seamlessly into the canal.
Technics EAH-AZ60 review: Controls and digital assistant
A full suite of media controls is programmed into the EAH-AZ60. These include playback, call direction, volume, digital assistance, and listening mode activation. You can assign each of these to either bud in the companion app. On-ear detection to machine-intermission/play content when removing or placing the buds dorsum on your ears is unavailable.
The controls are responsive to input gestures. Rarely did the sensors misinterpret multi-tap commands, and it's swell having the total control scheme bachelor out of the box with commands split between the two buds.
Alexa integration comes part of the package, meaning you tin either burn off Alexa commands manually (long touch and hold for 3 seconds on the left bud) or through voice activation via wake discussion. Siri, Google Assistant and Bixby are also compatible with the buds. All four AI bots operate smoothly and render results as quickly as they receive them. Near chiefly, Technics' 8-mic array is highly intelligible and picks upward commands with precision.
Technics EAH-AZ60 review: Sound quality
The EAH-AZ60 is fantastic for casual listening. Technics combined their 8mm drivers with an acoustic chamber and harmonizer, creating detailed, spacious sound in the process. The inclusion of Sony's LDAC Bluetooth codec ups the ante to enjoy lossless audio tracks on compatible hello-res streaming services. About of my listening fourth dimension was spent with the AAC codec, besides as the default sound profile, which is flat and delivers exceptional frequency range.
Orchestral treasures like Yusef Lateef's "Love Theme From Spartacus" were well represented, thanks to some fantastic musical instrument separation. The double bass comes across equally musical and bass rich, hi-hats have a vibrancy to them, and every piano key exudes soulfulness. It all comes together beautifully for a serene listen. Rhythm & Blues-inspired tracks like the Rolling Stones' "But Your Fool" followed accommodate with a driving beat highlighted by energetic harmonica and honky-tonk piano play that sounded clean.
Bass lovers will be satisfied with the EAH-AZ60's depression-end functioning. The deafening 808s on Roddy Ricch'south "Thailand" are well balanced and knock hard without compromising other sonic elements. EDM bangers like Kaivon's "Reborn" besides sound lively; the monstrous bass drops send a rush of adrenaline through the torso.
If you lot feel the need to tweak sound, in that location is a customizable EQ to manually adjust frequencies. The other selection is selecting from a handful of well-engineered presets (Bass+, Dynamic, Treble+, Vocal) that cater to dissimilar music genres.
Those who choose to go the LDAC route will notice subtle improvements in detail, particularly with highs, which sound cleaner on lossless audio tracks. Enabling ANC will slightly bump upwards the depression end as well.
Technics EAH-AZ60 review: Active racket cancellation
According to Technics, these buds "feature industry-leading noise cancelling." Bose and Sony would say differently, as well as almost audio critics. The EAH-AZ60 has solid dissonance neutralization that outperforms the AirPods Pro and many mid-range models, but information technology isn't competing with current ANC kings similar the QuietComfort Earbuds or WF-1000XM4.
There is an adjustment dial to change the amount of ambient noise you lot desire to block out, though yous'll want to go on it at max level to get maximum results. Doing so immune me to block out the daily fracas that transpires in the house, be it loud family chatter in the living room or household appliances running at different times. Common distractions like doorbells and washing machine tumble didn't depict my attention. Using the feature outside was likewise pleasing. Landscaping tools and talkative pedestrians were silent for the most role.
The EAH-AZ60 put upwards a noble fight against high frequencies. Bird chirping and crying babies won't break your concentration, but sirens and whistles will. Wind resistance isn't the greatest either, but at to the lowest degree you won't have to exercise deal with the loud whisking effect that most inexpensive wireless ANC earbuds produce when worn in gusty atmospheric condition.
Ambient Sound Command is one of the better ambient listening modes bachelor and comes with 2 modes: Transparent for full ambient feedback and Attention to emphasize vocals. Transparent captured most external sounds and increased my awareness during nightly walks. However, Attending was great for communication. The mics picked upwards my wife's vocals clearly from across the room, which made it easier to hear and reply any questions she had.
Technics EAH-AZ60 review: App and special features
The Technics Audio Connect app is upwardly there with some of the category'southward all-time companion apps. This thing is loaded with features that heighten the user experience in numerous ways. I already touched on specialties like adaptable ANC, Alexa integration, command customization, LDAC, and the EQ with presets. It turns out in that location's a lot more to unravel on the back end.
The Settings page on the bottom right opens the door to more advanced audio perks. There is a racket suppression setting with three options, but each of them comes with a trade-off, resulting in either latency or frequent interruptions. The racket reduction feature comes with ii settings – Normal and Strong – to minimize background interference on the caller's end. It is a piece of work in progress that mildly improves telephone call quality and fifty-fifty has a disclaimer stating that Strong tin can affect vocalisation quality.
A noise cancelling optimizer is bachelor to better ANC performance. It works well for eliminating depression and mid frequencies, but you can feel the pressure level increase vastly when raised several notches.
JustMyVoice is the app's most advertised characteristic, which analyzes your voice and reduces surrounding noise with beamforming engineering for clearer calls. But no one I called noticed a huge difference when chatting over the phone or on Zoom.
Rounding out the app is an Auto Power setting, Connection Mode for prioritizing sound quality or connectivity, Discover Headphones characteristic, and firmware updates.
Technics EAH-AZ60 review: Battery life and charging instance
Technics rates battery life at 7 hours with ANC on. This is respectable when factoring in high book and other features, though 'hi-res' LDAC dramatically reduces playtime to iv.v hours. Turning off all major features extends battery life to 7.five hours.
The charging example holds a maximum of 25 hours, depending how you employ the buds. Do the math and you'll discover this is only one hour more than than the AirPods Pro case. Rapid charging is some other bummer with the buds generating 1 60 minutes of playback in xv minutes. Wireless charging did not make the cutting.
Technics EAH-AZ60 review: Phone call quality and connectivity
The EAH-AZ60 isn't a model y'all'll detect on our best headphones with a mic for voice and video calls list for several reasons. It's serviceable for chatting in tranquility settings, merely muffling is a serious consequence, along with the mics' weak air current resistance. Whether indoors or outdoors, my wife complained virtually not hearing sentences fully. The influx of groundwork racket that entered the mics when answering calls in rowdy environments also hindered the quality.
At least Bluetooth five.two was reliable. These buds instantly connected to my Android devices and MacBook Pro. Range extended upwardly to fifty feet, offer just enough flexibility to movement around the firm with very little dropout. Multipoint applied science also allowed me to pair the buds with two devices simultaneously.
Technics EAH-AZ60 review: Verdict
For $220, the Technics EAH-AZ60 is quite a bargain. Not only are yous getting high-finish audio that tin exist enhanced via EQ or LDAC support, only likewise dynamic noise neutralization and a wide feature set that not many luxury models offering. The add-on of Bluetooth 5.ii and intelligible controls for responsive operation add to the buds list of potent selling points.
Not all functions hit their marking. Call quality is surprisingly disappointing considering how well the mics and ANC perform, and the lack of wireless charging feels like a considerable oversight at the cost.
Nearly of these drawbacks are forgivable, particularly when considering Technics' audio specialty, which is where the EAH-AZ60 excels. This lonely makes it well worth the investment for music lovers, though spending a footling extra on the Sony WF-1000XM4 gets you more functionality.
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Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/technics-eah-az60
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