Technics EAH-AZ100 vs Sony WF-1000XM5
Quick take: The Sony WF-1000XM5 costs $2 less; the Technics EAH-AZ100 lasts longer per charge (10 hrs).
Which one to buy
Both are LDAC-capable Android flagships at nearly identical list prices ($250 vs $248), both weigh 5.9g per bud, and both are only IPX4. The question is whether the Technics' better sound and calls justify paying more than the Sony's steadily falling street price.
Sound is where the Technics pull ahead. Its 10mm magnetic-fluid driver comes from the company's expensive wired IEMs, and owners who also own $300-plus headphones say they would rather listen to the AZ100. The Sony's 8.4mm driver is warm and rich, and plenty of owners rank it near the top of true wireless too, but next to the AZ100 the difference is detail and separation. Multipoint widens the gap. The AZ100 can stream LDAC while connected to three devices at once, but the XM5 drops LDAC as soon as you turn multipoint on. If you move between a laptop and a phone all day and care about codec quality, that alone decides it.
ANC goes the other way, at least out of the box. The Sony's foam-style tips seal so well that isolation feels stronger than the ANC measures, while the Technics' stock tips are the most-cited reason owners can't get a seal. The usual fix is about $20 of aftermarket tips, which improves bass and effective ANC at once. Calls are the other big split. AZ100 owners praise the mics almost unanimously, even on a bike in wind, while wind-garbled calls are the single most repeated complaint about the XM5.
The Technics also run longer on paper, 10 hours with ANC (about 7 on LDAC) against 8, with a 28-hour total against 24. The Sony charges faster, getting an hour from 3 minutes in the case. Long-term reports favour the Technics as well: AZ100 owners a year in report essentially no failures, while a minority of XM5 owners describe battery fade after a year, sometimes with one bud draining faster than the other.
Technics EAH-AZ100
Best if sound quality and call clarity come first and you want LDAC to keep working across several connected devices. Budget for aftermarket tips.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Worth it when you can get it well under the Technics now that the XM6 is out, and you want a strong seal and warm sound straight out of the box without swapping tips.
| Spec | Technics EAH-AZ100 | Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$250 | ~$248 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC | ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 10 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 28 hrs | 24 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 15 min = 90 min | 3 min = 1 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 10 mm | 8.4 mm |
| Weight | 5.9 g | 5.9 g |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Technics EAH-AZ100
- ✓Magnetic-fluid driver from Technics' $1,200 wired IEMs
- ✓Detail and separation owners call best in true wireless
- ✓10-hour ANC battery leads the flagship class
- ✓Three-device multipoint with LDAC — nobody else matches it
- ✓Dolby Atmos head tracking aboard
- ✓15-minute charge returns 90 minutes
- ✗Adaptive ANC clearly behind Bose and AirPods Pro 3
- ✗Shallow fit — some owners never get a reliable seal
- ✗Minimal IPX4 splash rating
- ✗Average call quality in noise
- ✗Functional but clunky Audio Connect companion app
Sony WF-1000XM5
- ✓LDAC delivers genuine hi-res from any Android phone
- ✓Rich warm 8.4mm Dynamic Driver X sound out of box
- ✓8 hours with ANC on beats Bose Ultra by two
- ✓Foam tips seal so well ANC feels stronger than measured
- ✓3-minute quick charge buys an hour
- ✓XM6 launch keeps pushing street prices down
- ✗Call quality falls apart in wind
- ✗Polished case scratches almost immediately
- ✗Some owners report uneven bud drain after a year
- ✗Enabling multipoint silently disables LDAC hi-res
- ✗App buries EQ settings three menus deep
Technics EAH-AZ100 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: common questions
Does the Sony XM5 lose LDAC in multipoint like people say?▾
Yes, turning multipoint on disables LDAC on the XM5, so you choose between hi-res audio and two-device convenience. The AZ100 keeps LDAC running while connected to up to three devices, which is the main practical difference for people who switch between a laptop and a phone.
Which has better ANC, the AZ100 or the XM5?▾
Out of the box owners give the XM5 the edge, largely because its foam-style tips seal better. The AZ100's stock tips often leave a gap. Owners who fit third-party tips say much of that difference closes.
Are the AZ100's mics better than the XM5's for calls outside?▾
The Technics. Owners consistently praise the AZ100's mics, even when cycling in wind. Garbled or robotic call audio outdoors is the most common complaint about the XM5.
Is the Sony worth it now that it has been discounted?▾
At $200 or less, owners call the XM5 one of the best-value flagships around, and it still sounds excellent. The Technics justify paying more only if you will use the extra detail, the three-device LDAC or the better mics.