Technics EAH-AZ70W

After owning multiple True Wireless IEM's I think I have finally found my end game model for the time being, stick around and find out why. But before I get going let me give a bit of a brief history of my TWS experience. I have been trying various models from Sony with the WF-XB700 being the latest. I always have enjoyed the Sony sound even when it dips into the DARK zone for signature, but I also always have issues with something with each model. The latest model being the lack of ambient mode and an underwhelming talking experience. Plus I almost always find the treble to be easy on the ears but lacking detail and sparkle. I also have tried the original Sennheiser True Momentum True Wireless (MTW) and really enjoyed the warm spacious signature of the IEM. But alas Sennheiser took a bogey on that initial offering having serious battery drain issues, poor case design that resulted in hinge issues, and for me ultimately a failed unit that had minimal use after 2 years of use. My confidence in Sennheiser was shaken by this experience and I am unwilling to spend another $350CAD+ to try their new model. I also have tried the original Galaxy Buds and enjoyed them but found their signature lacking the excitement and detail I craved. I then bought the Anker Liberty 2 Pro and found a great IEM that had very good voice abilities for calls, amazing battery life, and good fit. But I found the bass a bit over the top and the treble a bit hot at times and I missed having ambient mode. But it was my best TWS at the time.

Queue the usual itch to try something new and hopefully find something more to my signature preference...

When I started seeing the Panasonic and Technics IEM's at Vision Electronics I was intrigued but put off by the high price tag so I started to wait to see when they would go on sale. Come Black Friday when they all went on sale I decided to just go for the flagship and bought the AZ70 for $198CAD. Not chump change but more reasonable than the WF-1000XM3 and Sennheiser MTW2, so while there were not many reviews of the AZ70 the few I read or watched (gotta love Flossy Carter) suggested I might like their sound and features even if they only had 6hrs of power per charge.

So I cancelled an order I had for the new Status Between Pro and went all in on the AZ70.

Upon first listen I knew I was going to like the AZ70 as it just had so much more detail and balanced sound than any TWS I had tried to date. But I also found myself wishing they had a bit more bass and were a bit more secure in my ears as the default tips were a bit to easy to move when walking or jogging. Queue the head-fi tip roll... After playing around I found myself settling on good old Sony Hybrid large tips. They added more security in ear for me and the narrower stem opening added a smidge more bass while dampening the treble ever so slightly inching the already great signature ever so closer to my perfect signature. So anyone contemplating buying these be aware you might end up using other tips, in case that is something your against doing.

Physical Kit -3.5/5
I find the kit of the AZ70 good but not great. They come with all the obligatory pieces such as USB cable, tips and charging case. But the tips are only 3 sizes and are all shallow in design. The case feels pretty premium but has a slightly flimsy feel to it making me worry a bit about durability (not interested in another Sennheiser type experience with hinges!). I also notice the IEMs don't snap into place in the case as easily as I would like. Battery life of the IEM is at a fairly decent between point for me. I find it last just about as long as I need at any given time during the day but just hits that point. At 6 hours I could wish it has a couple more hours to be safe. The case then has 2 more charges and can do a quick charge when needed. Over all it not underwhelming but not best in class either.

TWS Controls - 3.5/5
In this area I have to start off by saying I am not a fan of touch panel controls! So my score is skewed by my bias. Having said that these IEM's have all the controls needed to operate them, they have stop start, volume up and down, assistant ability, and the ability to switch between ABC, Ambient, and Off. But I find the double/tripple tap for volume tricky forcing me to grip the IEM with my fingers so I can comfortably tap the center properly (not a very good lefty) and of course it makes noise and presses into my ear. I also wish I could switch the controls around but this currently is no an option. I would have preferred a simple button on the side of each IEM but am OK with what is available. At least the touch panels seem to work correctly and don't miss taps.

Special Sound Abilities 4/5
I quickly fell in love with the ANC ability of the AZ70, I find it very effective, being almost as good as my full size WH-1000XM3 and slightly better than the WH-H910N. Its not perfect as I still hear stuff around me, but on the train once music is playing I am in my own little bubble. Similarly the Ambient mode allows me to break the bubble and works as good as my old Sennheiser MTW in this regard. Turning off both modes turns these into a traditional TWS. I find the signature is minimally impacted by each mode but there are small differences.

Note the accompanying APP for the AZ70 does allow for modifying the signature via some preset and a basic 5 band EQ but using these settings does not make serious changes to the signature. I find they are OK but if you want major changes to the signature it will not meet your needs. I also find the ANC adjuster seems to always go back to about 75% no matter what I do. This may be just something to do with my phone but but I can only report what I see happening.

Bass - 4/5
Bass on these is deep and supremely controlled offering plenty of detail but is more neutral than any TWS I have owned or heard. It certainly can go very low into the sub-bass but it is never intrusive with zero mid bass hump.

Midrange 4.5/5
As a lover of the midrange I really appreciate a clear and detailed midrange that can convey the emotion of singers and grit. In this regard the AZ70 out of the box is exceptional and very neutral verging on being on the cold side.

Treble - 4.5/5
Treble is a tricky beast to get right, to much and it causes fatigue and sibilance, to little and detail is lost and airiness is destroyed. In this regard the AZ70 pushes the envelope right up to the edge superbly balancing that fine line.

Soundstage 4/5
The sound stage on the AZ70 is above average but is a bit more intimate than the best such as MTW due to the level of detail offered by the midrange and treble as they are more in your face than more consumer oriented signatures.

Final thoughts
I have to say more than any TWS I have tried this IEM manages to capture the essence of my music better than anything else I have owned or tried. Its not perfect but its darn close at least for my ears. It works great with Jazz, classical, older rock, psychedelic rock, Celtic, and pretty much anything else I have thrown at it. Think I might be able to take a break from the upgradeitis train for a while now...

Technics is back in the audio game! Known mostly for their amplifiers and turntables in recent years, Technics spared no expense on the AZ70 to offer an almost complete set of true-wireless features that out-match the incumbents Sony and Sennheiser. Thanks to Panasonic Singapore for sending over this complimentary unit for my unaudited review.

Here is the list of what it offers:

• Active Noise Cancelling with adjustable levels
• Ambient Sound with adjustable levels
• EQ that can be adjusted directly in the earbuds
• Manage earbuds with Smartphone App
• 10mm Graphene-coated PEEK diaphragm drivers
• Left-Right Independent Signalling System
• MEMS mic for clarity and labyrinth cabinet structure to suppress wind noise
• IPX4 water rating
• 6.5 hours (ANC on), 19.5 hours with case (ANC on)

Hybrid Noise Cancelling
Technics AZ70 implements dual hybrid noise cancelling, using feedforward and feedback system. The ANC can be customised by selecting the desired level on the app which instantly updates the earbuds, but the maximum level does not equate to highest cancellation. Interestingly, setting the middle level is the best for me. At the lower level, the ANC removes low frequencies while revealing more ambient air. At the max level, I could hear more high-frequency ambient hisses. The best is to try yourself and adjust the level to suit your preference, as some people might not like the stuffed-up feeling.



Compared to Sony WF-1000XM3, the Technics AZ70 is pretty much on par, although the WF-1000XM3 seems to still take the lead in dulling the upper frequencies just a teeny bit more. What I do not like with the WF-1000XM3 is the earbud design, as it protrudes out of the ears and I need to really push it deep into the ear canals to get a better ANC. AZ70 has the advantage of allowing adjustments, so for consumers with air-pressure discomfort, the AZ70 offers the best solution.

Ambient Sound Mode
While consumers may be focused on ANC quality, to me the more important feature is the ambient sound. This is because it allows me to stay in touch with my surroundings, and at the same time makes music sound open.

Just like the ANC controls, I could finetune the Ambient Sound to mix with my audio. Even at max level, it does not sound over-amplified. The tuning is quite natural and provides a full spectrum of sound, including the lower frequency, just like when you are not wearing the earbuds. Comparatively, the Sony WF-1000XM3 thins out the lower frequency so it does not sound that natural. On the Sennheiser MTW2, the amplification is stronger so you hear more ambience.

Technics AZ70 compares with Sennheiser MTW2, Audio-Technica ATH-ANC300TW and Sony WF-1000XM3.

Another good thing about the AZ70 is that the frequency response between the ANC and Ambient Sound is quite similar. When the ANC is turned off, there is just a slight loss in sub-bass intensity.

Audio Quality
The Technics AZ70 is tuned differently from the rest of the true-wireless pack, which can be a good thing. What AZ70 delivers is a lot of the mid-treble vocal presence and clear highs without overcooking the sibilance. The tame bass with subtle sub-bass oomph also gives space for instrument texture to express themselves better. The AZ70 works great when listening to instrumental tracks: like Robert Len “Brasilia”, the solo is more forward and full while the bass and accompaniment, including percussion, are slightly recessed, though still achieving clarity. Acoustic piano tracks from Yiruma “Sunset Bird” sounds clean without the excessive overtones and harmonics. For vocal genres, the AZ70 sounds detailed as long as you do not expect strong bass performance.

When doing A/B comparison, the AZ70 might sound not as exciting as Sennheiser MTW2 due to the lean bass. Turning on the Bass Enhancer in the “Sound Enhancement” bumps the sub-bass slightly but still could not give the elevated impact. The 5-band EQ does not also dramatically alter the frequency response, which I suspect is purposely designed to prevent any unwarranted distortion. But if you yearn for a more bodied solo expression, the AZ70 offers that presentation a lot better, while the other MTW2 has more bass-bodied, sparkly-highs and thinner mids.

Comparing to Audio-Technica ATH-ANC300TW, the Technics AZ70 sounds clearer without too pushy at the treble while the lower bass gets a little more rumble. The former has a little more energy at the upper midrange, so instrumental tracks offer more body comparatively.



Verdict
Technics has offered their first true-wireless earbuds complete with adjustable ANC, Ambient Sound levels as well as EQ customisation. The AZ70 sound tuning highlights the treble favourably without harshness and sibilance, keeping it clean yet not too thin nor too muddy, supported by natural bass with a little rumble at the lower end. The AZ70 differentiates its sound from the rest of the true-wireless ANCs in the market, delivering a relaxed sound with spotlight on the solo performer.