When you spend as much time reviewing wireless headphones and earphones as I do, you quickly find that numerous options do most things well, but that true all-rounder options are rare.
For example, I love the AirPods range for how seamlessly they work with Apple devices, but when I stray from those, they’re less compatible. Samsung’s buds are my go-to when using the brand’s phones, but you run into the same issues when you use something else. And while some earphones are good at noise-cancelling, sound quality, control and comfort, it can be unusual to find ones that are good at everything.
What do you pick to get the best wireless buds with top-tier noise-cancelling, transparency, sound quality, multi-device connectivity, app control, extra features and exceptional customisation? I’d suggest going with the Technics EAH-AZ80 (referred to as AZ80 from here onwards).
Pros
- Three-device Bluetooth multipoint
- Ergonomic and comfortable earbud design
- Excellent sound quality
- Reliable noise-cancellation and awareness modes
- Great microphone for calls
- Numerous app-based extra features
- Loads of battery life
Cons
- Not cheap
- Some competitor buds are smaller and lighter
- Rivals can cancel more noise
Key specifications
| Noise-cancelling | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery life | 24 hours (7 hours on a single charge) |
| Charging | USB-C and wireless charging |
| Weight | 5g per earbud (43g with the case) |
What makes them the best all-rounders is that they are buds that deliver in all the key areas without major sacrifices. But, unsurprisingly, you’ll notice this kind of performance comes at a cost. At the full price of £259, these buds aren’t cheap.
You might not realise you know the name, but Technics has a history in hi-fi dating back to the 1960s. You probably once owned a record player, CD player or tape recorder from Technics. While the brand was discontinued at one point, Panasonic relaunched it in 2014 and it’s been delivering impressive audio products since. In recent years, that’s included high-quality wireless headphones.
The flagship Technics pair is a real standout, beating big players from Bose and Sony as an all-around package.
With these, I love that you get class-leading three-device multipoint connectivity, excellent dynamic sound worthy of the Technics name, top microphone performance, solid active noise-cancelling (ANC), and an effective ambient awareness mode. This all comes in a pair with loads of battery life and a compact charging case.
The AZ80 has an ergonomic shape and comes with loads of ear tips for a secure and reliable fit. I also like the brushed metal look, it’s both refined and reminiscent of old-school hi-fi systems.
Comparatively, the companion app also offers more additional features than most of the competition, including equaliser sound modes and customisations, noise-cancelling levels and noise-reduction while you take a call.
The triple-device multipoint connectivity is a great benefit for remote workers. I love that I can keep them connected to my laptop, tablet and phone simultaneously. They’ll switch to the device playing audio or receiving a call without me needing to disconnect and reconnect. It’s seamless.
They’re also brilliant for control, offering full customisation of the touch sensors, including the ability to turn ANC off entirely to preserve battery and a one-tap option to pause and switch on the awareness mode, which is super helpful.
The level of detail, precision and dynamism in the sound is up there with the absolute best models, and I don’t think anyone’s going to feel like the seven hours of playback with ANC on isn’t enough.
The list of downsides is short, but it is worth saying that some buds are lighter and more weather-resistant and that while these are decent for hybrid noise-cancelling, they’re beaten on that front by pairs from Bose, Sony and Apple.
While you might also consider the personalisations available from the Denon PerL Pro, or better noise-cancelling from the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM5, these Technics buds tick most of my boxes when it comes to features, customisations and sound performance. It’s also worth noting that you can get the handy three-device multipoint feature from the Technics AZ60M2 and AZ40M2, but the AZ80 has a slightly better fit, ANC and sound.
On test, they sounded terrific; they cancelled enough background noise while having a capable awareness mode, and they switched between devices without issue, all while delivering a customisable audio and control experience and comfortable wear for hours at a time. I think they’re an ideal all-in-one pair for frequent on-the-go use.
Simon Cocks is Good Housekeeping UK’s Technology Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy for the title. He previously also worked across other titles including Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, e-book readers and smartphones. He's reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and money-saving advice guides and edited thousands of in-depth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.
You can follow Simon on Instagram, on Bluesky, on LinkedIn and on Threads.
