Effective noise cancelling ; Superb vocal clarity ; Three device Multipoint Connection ; Stylish design

Sluggish bass ; Could be more dynamic ; Premium price

Reassuringly refined, with a helpful feature set, these flagship wireless earbuds from Technics offer a compelling alternative to best-sellers from Bose and Sony . Noise cancelling is excellent, but some may find them just a little too reserved…

Poised, revealing sound ; Triple-point connectivity ; Outstanding comms and comfort

Noise-cancelling and battery life are nothing special ; Could conceivably sound more animated

Technics has got an awful lot right with the EAH-AZ80, which is just as well, given the asking price. Functionality, usability and an all-around feeling of proudful ownership all hit the mark – but a few minor shortcomings can’t help but add up…

Open, spacious sound presentation ; Well-made and comfortable ; Three-way multipoint

Huge competition at this level ; Average ANC

The EAH-AZ80’s balanced sound and strong feature list reveal a worthy pair of earbuds, although it may not be quite enough to compete with some of the biggest names in the game

Balanced, detailed and naturalistic sound ; Triple-point wireless connectivity and good comms abilities ; Very comfortable ergonomic design

Ordinary battery life ; Ordinary noise-cancellation ; Not the most energetic listen around

The Technics EAH-AZ80 have some real areas of expertise, not least where connectivity, comfort and communication are concerned. They’re a convincingly life-like and uncoloured listen, too. But that quite doesn’t mean they’re the complete package…

Confident, detailed sound ; Decent noise cancelling ; Nice design ; LDAC support

Treble lacks some sparkle

A confident and assured performance from these Technics buds, alongside decent noise cancelling makes them a real contender at this price.

Punchy yet balanced audio ; Effective noise cancelling ; Comfy and secure fit

ANC on battery life not the greatest ; LDAC and multipoint don’t play nicely together ; Custom EQ options could be more expansive

Excellent all-rounder wireless in-ears that balance clean sound with convincing ANC. A secure yet comfortable fit mean the AZ80s are impressively versatile ‘buds too.

Dropping $300 on a pair of earbuds is no small investment. But if you’re looking for something off the beaten path and aren’t feeling enticed by the big-name brands, Technics has produced a worthy set of flagship buds with the EAH-AZ80. They sound...

High-end design throughout ; Powerful thumpy bass ; High-quality audio ; Fantastic ANC ; Good battery life ; Excellent free app

Pricey at $299

The Technics EAH-AZ80 wireless earbuds produce a stunning audio experience featuring fantastic ANC, the ability to connect to three devices and a great app.