Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi Wireless Earbuds, Dolby Atmos with Head Tracking, Adaptive Noise Cancelling, 3 Device Multipoint, 10-hr Battery, Wireless Charging, Improved Fit - EAH-AZ100-K (Black)

For me, earbuds ultimately come down to one thing: how they sound with music. I've got a top-tier audio system at home, and what I want is to get as close to that as I can when I'm at the gym or traveling. That's the bar. Before landing on the AZ100s I tried the Denon PerL Pro, the Soundpeats H3 and the Sony XM5. All decent in their own way, but each one left me disappointed somewhere in the sound. Once I tested them side by side with the Technics, it wasn't even close, it was a no-brainer. Fit and size The first thing I noticed (and appreciated) is how small and unassuming they are. There are no big chunky shells sticking out of your ears like with the Perl Pros. They fit me well and I can get a good seal easily, but that's with Comply foam tips. None of the included tips really worked for me. To be fair, I have that problem with almost every pair of earbuds I try, so I don't hold it against them. If you struggle with tips too, budget for some Comply foams. Sound This is where they really shine. The listening experience is immersive, with incredible separation between instruments and a soundstage that defies physics. You can pick everything out without it ever sounding clinical. You did need to dial them in, EQ wise though. There was a firmware update recently, and I believe they made updates to the sound profiles. Unlike the Perl Pro that basically stink out of the box, even the "Direct" (flat) option is quite impressive on the Technics. But using the "Dynamic" profile is where they really shine, and if this doesn;t suit your personal tastes, the app has a 7 band equalizer (250-12k) and a bass slider, and you can save 3 different custom profiles. Dynamic is perfect to me. And the bass. It's honestly among the best bass response I've ever heard from earbuds. I'm not talking about volume, because plenty of buds can do loud. I mean that enveloping, heart-pounding low end that makes you wonder how they got it out of something this small. They really come into their own with electronic music like EDM, house, and artists like Rui Da Silva. They handle sub-bass, spacious pianos and vocals with real precision, and they keep everything in its place even when a track has a lot going on. Even when using with my iPhone (which caps out at 256k AAC via Bluetooth), streaming songs from Apple Music or YouTube music results in a very accomplished and full sound. The App I really like the recent update to the app. You can customize the home screen with the features you use most often, it shows battery life for each bud and the case, you have a tab for noise canceling and ambient options, a sound tab for EQ and a settings tab for all sorts of other stuff, like multi point connections (it support 3, which is great), and configuring the touch sensors on the buds to features of your liking. Verdict Compared to everything else I tried, the AZ100s are a more accomplished, more immersive musical experience. I love them, and can barely take them out of my ears.