Technics EAH-AZ70W true wireless earbuds assessment

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Like most flagship wireless earbuds, the EAH-AZ70W connects to a companion app for added options. The software program shows the battery degree for every bud individually and presents  entry to Ambient Sound Management and Sound Enhancement — the EQ and audio profiles. With the previous, the app provides you sliders for each ANC and ambient sound, so you’ll be able to regulate the extent of every to fit your setting. After all, you’ll be able to flip them each off for those who like, however it’s good to have the flexibility to tweak issues right here, as an alternative of simply all or nothing. And, 

The one potential subject with ambient sound is there’s no fast consideration mode right here. Some earbuds and headphones have the flexibility to rapidly pause or scale back quantity so you’ll be able to have a quick dialog. Panasonic doesn’t. There’s additionally no automated pausing, so if you want to have a chat, you’ll need to manually pause the music (when you have ambient sound lively) or take away the earbuds completely. 

There are solely two Sound Enhancement presets: Bass Enhancer and Clear Voice. Panasonic does provide a handbook EQ the place you’ll be able to regulate the sliders as you see match. Throughout all of these choices, the adjustments are delicate. However the bass increase choice muddies the sound, particularly for those who’re listening to one thing with booming low finish like hip-hop. 

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General, the audio is a little bit of a blended bag. There’s some good readability and element within the mids and highs. Issues like hi-hats and synths are punchy and clear. The low-end is the place the EAH-AZ70W struggles. There may be very nice bass at instances. It thumps in a approach that quite a lot of true wireless earbuds wrestle. Nonetheless, that tone is just too boomy with some genres, and it cancels out that nice readability. It’s inconsistent although. Some tracks on Run the Jewels’ RTJ4 sound nice, with pulsing basslines that drone by the songs whereas particulars like snare drums and cymbals lower by. Vocals are additionally very distinguished, which may be good or unhealthy relying on the track. Tracks like “The Floor Beneath” sound extra like a mangled mess when others — like “Strolling within the Snow” and “JU$T” — are deep and clear.

I can’t fairly put my finger on the difficulty right here. The bass undoubtedly begins to crowd out the opposite parts, particularly the mids. I used to be in a position to right this to an extent with EQ, however the sound nonetheless feels compressed in comparison with the audio on Sony’s WF-1000XM3 and Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless. The EAH-AZ70W does significantly better with music that isn’t as bassy. Whether or not that’s  folky acoustic jams, indie rock or synth heavy digital tunes. However even with these types, the vocals are too distinguished for my style. So whereas the instrumentation does certainly sound higher on these buds with these genres, the general audio high quality remains to be hit and miss. The folksy rock of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s Reunions, for instance, is a carefully layered mixture of guitars, drums and bass — the fundamentals of southern rock and blues. However the EAH-AZ70W pulls all of the air out of that album, and leaves it feeling flat and the vocals overpower the remainder of the combination. 

Sadly, the battery life can also be disappointing. Panasonic guarantees 6.5 hours of listening time on the buds themselves. Positive, that is probably so long as you may want in a single shot, however the competitors is averaging round 10 hours these days. 5 or 6 isn’t nice, particularly on a set of premium earbuds. Throughout my exams, the EAH-AZ70W lasted 15 minutes lower than the acknowledged determine (6:15) earlier than I needed to return the EAH-AZ70W to their case. And that’s listening nearly completely at full quantity. The included case does provide two extra expenses for complete play time of 19.5 hours earlier than you’ll must plug in your entire package deal. And also you’ll have to succeed in for a USB-C cable, because the EAH-AZ70W doesn’t help wireless charging. 

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Panasonic can also be touting name high quality on the EAH-AZ70W. The corporate says the mix of “high-performance” MEMS (micro-electromechanical programs) mics and a singular cupboard design scale back noise and keep constant readability. The microphones are additionally beamforming, so in principle they need to focus in your voice as an alternative of choosing up the chaos round you. Throughout my exams this labored as promised: the earbuds picked up my voice extra prominently than the background noise for the individual on the opposite finish of the decision. The general audio high quality wasn’t noticeably higher than different earbuds, however there was extra consideration given to my voice. 

Even at $250, the EAH-AZ70W isn’t a brilliant enticing choice. Largely as a result of Sony’s WF-1000XM3, which stays our prime choose for true wireless earbuds, is often obtainable for below $200. Even at full value, that mannequin is $230. Sony additionally not too long ago debuted the WF-SP800N: a feature-packed set that provides quite a lot of what makes the 1000XM3 so nice for simply $200. It doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles, however Sony’s highly effective adaptive noise cancellation and the flexibility to make use of 360 Actuality Audio are each there. If value is not any concern and audio high quality is paramount, Sennheier’s Momentum True Wireless 2 ($300) is a stable different. They’re dear, however they sound superb. The draw back is the ANC isn’t practically pretty much as good as what Sony presents. 

Panasonic constructed a set of well-designed earbuds with the Technics EAH-AZ70W. They’re additionally straightforward to make use of, when you get used to the structure of the onboard controls. Bluetooth connectivity is rock stable and has stable vary so you’ll be able to transfer freely with out having to at all times deliver your device alongside for a visit throughout the home or to take your pup exterior. Nonetheless, the EAH-AZ70W doesn’t deal with all genres of music equally properly, and the outcomes can differ broadly primarily based on what you’re listening to. The earbuds cowl quite a lot of the fundamentals, however might significantly profit from some fine-tuning. 

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