So overall, I really, really enjoyed my time with the Technics EZ80s and the Air Z60 Mark IIs. If you appreciate fine audio detail, you'll probably want to upgrade to the Air Z80s. Otherwise, the Z60s will suffice. They have pretty much the same feature set. However, if noise cancellation is your priority, you might want to consider options like the Sony's or the Bose instead.
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Design8
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Connect App8.5
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Audio9
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Active Noise Canceling8.5
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Mic7.5
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Battery8
So, Technics has just launched two new pairs of true wireless earbuds, very casually titled Is EAH AZ80 and Air Z60 M2. Now, I’ve been testing these for a couple of weeks ahead of the official launch. I don’t have the full UK pricing just yet, but these are premium earbuds through and through, going head-to-head with the likes of Sony’s and Bose’s. So, here’s my full Technics earbuds review
Design
So, both the EZ80s and the Air Z60 Mark II’s have a similar bullet-style design, without the stem. They appear chunky compared to typical earbuds, especially the EZ80s, which are slightly larger to fit bigger drivers. They’re a bit heavier than usual but still comfortable to wear, with seven sizes of silicone ear tips included in the boxes. This ensures a proper fit, which was confirmed during a mosh test—they’re rugged and survived being dropped on concrete without a scratch. Both are IPX4 splash-resistant, suitable for outdoor use. They’re available in various colors to match your preferences.
Audio Connect App
The earbud companion app is Technics Audio Connect, and it’s quite plush if you’re a fan. It helps manage multiple pairs of Technics earbuds, usually connecting them seamlessly when you put them on. Occasionally, there’s a brief hiccup where the app doesn’t recognize the earbuds, but it’s likely just a bug in this beta version, hopefully fixed before the official release.
The app layout isn’t the prettiest, but it’s loaded with features. The main page provides quick access to essential info and settings. You can check battery levels for the earbuds and case, adjust noise cancellation, and toggle ANC on/off. Ambient Sound mode lets you hear your surroundings, handy for interruptions. There are preset audio modes like Direct, Bass Plus, Super Bass Plus, Travel Plus, Dynamic, and Custom EQ. Unfortunately, there’s no personalized sound profile feature.
The app includes a Find Headphones function and an Adjust My Voice test. In the settings, there are many features, though the presentation is text-heavy and dense. For LDAC support, you’ll need to enable Connected Mode, which is disabled by default. Both earbuds support multipoint, connecting to three devices simultaneously, but with LDAC, it’s limited to two. However, two devices are usually enough for most users, like connecting to a smartphone and a laptop.
Touch Controls
The Technics app lets you customize touch controls for each earbud, assigning actions for single, double, triple taps, and touch-and-hold. For instance, I set double tap on the left bud to skip back and on the right bud to skip forward. You can also choose volume control options.
Touch-and-hold can activate the voice assistant or switch to ambient mode. Technics has built-in Alexa, but you can also use your phone’s assistant. The touch controls on both EZ80s and Air Z60 Mark II are intuitive, with accurate feedback. There’s even wear detection, pausing music when you remove a bud, which is handy during conversations.
Active Noise Canceling
When it comes to active noise cancellation (ANC), you can adjust it using a slider in the app. I tested it in a noisy place and found both the Is Edits and Air Z60 Mark II to have decent ANC. Walking down a busy street, they effectively reduced background noise, allowing me to enjoy podcasts or audiobooks without raising the volume much. However, they’re not as effective as Sony or Bose headphones in creating a completely quiet environment.
On noisy public transport like the London Tube’s Northern Line, ANC isn’t very helpful. But Technics’ ambient mode offers two options: transparent and attention. Attention mode emphasizes vocals, which is useful for hearing announcements on public transport.
Audio Quality
The Technic earbuds, especially the NZ80s, are large because they have an Ambience Control Chamber built-in for optimized airflow. Additionally, the Air Z80 has 10mm drivers, while the Air Z60 Mark 2s have slightly smaller 8mm drivers, which is their main difference. Otherwise, they offer similar audio support, including LDAC and high-resolution audio.
Though not an audiophile, I appreciate detailed tracks where each instrument is distinct. The EZ80s offer fuller audio compared to the Air Z60s. If you like deep bass, the Super Bass Plus setting emphasizes the low end. I prefer the Dynamic setting for balanced bass without compromising mids and highs, which I find enjoyable for various genres. In contrast, the Air Z60s’ audio sounds a bit flat.
One standout feature of these Technics earbuds is their ability to capture your voice clearly while blocking out surrounding noise, which is great for calls on the go. This is thanks to four microphones on each bud and an effective noise-canceling algorithm. While I’m recording this in my quiet studio, I’m testing it with a speaker blaring city sounds nearby, like honking horns and traffic noise. Despite the racket, the Technics earbuds capture my voice without distortion, which is impressive.
Battery life
And lastly, let’s talk about the battery life. Again, there’s no real difference between the EZ80s and the Air Z60 Mark IIs in this aspect. You can expect a playback time of approximately five and a half to seven hours from a full charge, depending on the codec you’re using. If you have LDAC and other features enabled, it’ll be closer to five or five and a half hours. If you’re using SBC or AAC, it’ll be closer to the seven-hour range.
Overall, it’s not bad at all. While it may not be the best battery life out there, it’s certainly sufficient for most journeys. However, for long-haul international flights, they may not quite last. But then again, very few buds can manage that.
When it comes to recharging, these earbuds, including the EZ80s, aren’t the fastest, but you can expect around two and a half full charges when you place them in the case. The app allows you to check the battery life of the case, and there’s a convenient LED indicator that gives you a rough idea of the remaining charge. It displays a big red glow when the battery is running low and needs to be recharged.
You have the choice of either using a Type-C USB cable or Qi wireless charging for recharging. As for the cases, there’s no real difference between them. I particularly like the slightly more premium vibe of the EZ80s case, with its brushed metal-like finish, even though both cases are constructed from plastic. They still look sleek. Though the EZ80s case is slightly chunkier, both cases have a nice rounded shape and slip easily into a pocket or bag.
Final Thought
So overall, I really, really enjoyed my time with the Technics EZ80s and the Air Z60 Mark IIs. If you appreciate fine audio detail, you’ll probably want to upgrade to the Air Z80s. Otherwise, the Z60s will suffice. They have pretty much the same feature set. However, if noise cancellation is your priority, you might want to consider options like the Sony’s or the Bose instead.
Also, keep in mind that there are truly wireless earbuds out there that only cost around £100 here in the UK, such as the Sound Cores. They offer solid audio output and a similar set of features.
