The $249.99 Technics EAH-AZ60M2 noise-cancelling true wireless earphones deliver an experience largely in line with their more expensive sibling, the $299.99 EAH-AZ80, just with marginally less impressive sound due to their smaller driver size. They still offer above-average active noise cancellation (ANC) though, and the same range of connectivity options including LDAC and multipoint support. The main problem they face is that the second-generation Apple AirPods Pro ($249) cost the same and deliver higher-quality ANC performance, earning them our Editors' Choice award. Just keep in mind that AirPods work best with an iPhone, so you might prefer the LDAC support of the EAH-AZ60M2 if you use an Android phone.
A Classy and Compact Design
Available in black, blue, or silver, the EAH-AZ60M2 earbuds have the same matte finish and circular outer panel design with the Technics logo as their pricier stablemate, but are a bit smaller. They feel comfortable and secure over long listening periods and you get to choose between seven total pairs of silicone eartips (ranging from extra-small to extra-large).
Internally, 8mm drivers deliver a frequency range of 20Hz to 40kHz. Those are smaller than the 10mm drivers in the EAH-AZ80 model, but the frequency range is the same. I discuss the difference in audio quality in a later section.
The pair is compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and supports the AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs. With LDAC, you get hi-res playback at up to 96kHz and 990kbps on most Android devices. Multipoint connectivity gives you the option to connect with up to three devices simultaneously.
Each earpiece has a capacitive touch panel that enables on-ear controls. A single tap on either handles playback and answers calls (a long press ends them). A double tap respectively lowers the volume and skips forward a track on the left and right earbud. A triple tap on the left and right earpiece respectively increases the volume and takes you to the previous track. Long presses on the left summon your voice assistant and, on the right, cycle between the ANC and Ambient Sound modes. I didn't have issues with reliability, but the default layout isn't intuitive. I would much prefer to control volume and track navigation with the same gesture (such as double or triple taps). Thankfully, you can overhaul the control scheme for each earbud in the app, as well as add an Off option to the noise cancellation and ambient mode selection cycle.
The IPX4 rating here is underwhelming but fairly standard for noise-cancelling models. It means the earpieces can handle light splashes from any direction, so neither minor amounts of rain nor sweat should cause an issue. Just avoid submerging them for cleaning or getting the non-protected case wet at all. If you need more durable earbuds for exercise, check out the IP68-rated JBL Reflect Aero.
The all-plastic case is a little taller and narrower than the metallic one for the EAH-AZ80 model but otherwise looks similar. It has a flip-top lid and sports a status LED on the front. The back houses a USB-C port for the included USB-C-to-USB-C charging cable. Thankfully, this one also works with Qi wireless chargers.
With ANC and the LDAC codec active, Technics estimates that the buds can last roughly 4.5 hours and that the case holds an additional 11.5 hours of battery life. Turning off ANC increases those ranges for the earphones and case to 5 and 12 hours, respectively. Switch to AAC for better performance: 7 and 17 hours, respectively, for the earbuds and case with ANC active, or 7.5 and 18 hours without it. Of course, your results will vary depending on your typical listening volume. The company claims that it takes between 2.5 and 3.5 hours to fully charge the earphones from empty (depending on whether you use wired or wireless charging). Charging for 15 minutes with a wire should get you roughly 70 minutes of AAC playback.
Technics EAH-AZ60M2 App Experience
To customize the earphones, you need to download the Technics Audio Connect app (available for Android and iOS). The app design is somewhat overwhelming and would benefit from a more streamlined approach, but I like the level of adjustment it offers.
The main screen shows the remaining battery life for each earpiece and the case, along with the active Bluetooth codec in the upper left. Further below, there are four sections: Noise Canceling, Direct, Find Headphones, and JustMyVoice. Tap the first to switch between the Noise Cancelling, Off, and Ambient Sound modes; a fader lets you adjust these levels. The Direct section includes several sound presets, as well as a custom five-band EQ. The names of these first two tiles change on the main screen based on your selection.
The Find Headphones section helps you locate a lost pair via audio tones (not GPS). And the JustMyVoice test lets you hear how you sound on calls. You can toggle the background noise-reducing effect for the mics here.
The app’s bottom panel has mostly redundant features. For instance, the Ambient and Sound icons take you to the same sections I described above. The settings menu offers lots of customization options, including for adjusting the auto power-off behavior and the on-ear control scheme. Otherwise, you can fine-tune the ANC experience based on your environment and choose to prioritize sound quality (either with AAC or LDAC) or connection stability (SBC is the default).
Additionally, you can select a voice assistant in the app. Alexa is available for hands-free voice commands, and you can assign a different one to a long press on the left earpiece.
Above-Average Noise Cancellation
The EAH-AZ60M2 earphones performed well in my noise cancellation tests. They dramatically dialed back powerful, low-frequency rumble like from large appliances or vehicles, and reduced the volume of lows and mids from a recording of a busy restaurant. A thin band of highs passed by the ANC’s circuitry in the second test, however. They worked just as competently as the EAH-AZ80, but the AirPods Pro cut back all frequencies slightly more effectively. Still, it's a respectable showing for the Technics models.
The Ambient Sound mode reliably provides a natural presentation of your surroundings. You can adjust just how much noise comes through, but the default setting of around 80% seems ideal.
Balanced, Adjustable Sound
For testing the audio performance, I stuck with the default Direct audio profile, but am happy to report that the in-app EQ is very effective if you do want to tweak the sound signature.
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the earbuds deliver plenty of low-frequency depth. The bass sounds full overall and remains clean and robust at high volumes.
They didn't have any issue reproducing the sub-bass at the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” I hear every note of the descending sub-bass line—a feat that not all drivers can claim. The various vocals on the track sound crisp, especially because the bass doesn't disrupt the mix's balance.
Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with less deep bass, better reveals the pair's sound signature. The drums on this track sound full, natural, and balanced with the rest of the mix. Callahan’s baritone vocals receive plenty of low-mid richness and high-mid definition, while the acoustic parts and percussive hits are bright.
Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, come across as rich and bright—the higher-register brass, strings, and vocals get plenty of high-mid detail, while the robust low-end response provides balance.
Overall, the more expensive EAH-AZ80 earphones produce a slightly more compelling blend of full-bodied lows and clear highs, while also retaining more details in the mids. However, you might not think the difference is worth an extra $50, especially because the in-app EQ works so well.
The mic array offers solid intelligibility and I could understand every word of a test recording from my iPhone without issue. The mic signal sounds slightly more distant and less focused on voices than the one from the AirPods Pro, but that's not likely to make much of a difference on calls over a reliable signal.
Competitive, But Not Class-Leading
The Technics EAH-AZ60M2 earphones produce enjoyable audio and cancel noise effectively for their price, as well as offer all the high-end features, including LDAC and multipoint support, as the slightly livelier, pricier EAH-AZ80. Top-end competitors like the Apple AirPods Pro and the $299 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II still have the edge in noise cancellation performance, but the EAH-AZ60M2 might appeal more to Android users who care about getting the best Bluetooth streaming quality possible.