Technics EAH-AZ100 vs Sony WF-1000XM4: Which to Buy?

These are two flagship noise-cancelling earbuds aimed squarely at the same buyer, but they earn their place in different ways. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is the current range-topper from an audiophile name, built around unusual driver technology and long battery life; the Sony WF-1000XM4 is the enduring benchmark that set the standard for in-ear noise cancellation and still holds up. This comparison draws only on the complete published reviews of each pair; Truthful Reviews has not independently tested either.

Sound

Both sound excellent, and both take an interesting technical route to get there. The Technics EAH-AZ100 use a 10 mm dynamic driver with an aluminium diaphragm paired to a novel magnetic-fluid transducer system, which the maker says sharpens precision; the result is a calm, detailed and energetic presentation with deep, controlled bass, and a generous equaliser that adjusts in fine ±10 dB steps from 40 Hz up to 12 kHz. The Sony WF-1000XM4 rely on a 6 mm Sony-designed driver — smaller, but a fresh design — and remain a reference for balanced, refined sound. Both are among the best-sounding earbuds around; the Technics leans slightly more analytical and customisable, the Sony more effortlessly polished. The Technics signature has an energetic W-shape with warm, characterful mids, and several preset equaliser profiles are on hand for those who would rather not tune it by hand. The WF-1000XM4, for their part, were the first Sony earbuds to gain LDAC — a Hi-Res codec that had until then been reserved for the company's over-ear headphones.

Noise Cancellation

This is the Sony's traditional strength and it shows. The WF-1000XM4 deliver high-level, reference-grade active noise cancellation that has been a class benchmark since launch. The Technics EAH-AZ100's cancellation is capable and does the job, but it is best described as merely decent rather than class-leading, and it sits a step behind the Sony here. If silencing a commute or an open-plan office is your first priority, the WF-1000XM4 remain the stronger pick.

Battery Life

Here the Technics turns the tables. The EAH-AZ100 are rated for around 10 h of playback with noise cancellation active — and in practice they meet or slightly beat that claim, at nearer 10 h 20 min, making them a genuine endurance champion for the class. The Sony WF-1000XM4 manage about 8 h with cancellation on and roughly 12 h with it off, which was excellent at launch but no longer leads. Both recharge over USB-C with a case that adds several more charges, but if you want the longest single-charge stamina, the Technics win it.

Fit and Comfort

Comfort is a real differentiator. Each Technics EAH-AZ100 earbud weighs just 5.9 g and the design leans hard on ergonomics, so it suits a wide range of ears. The Sony WF-1000XM4, by contrast, drew a consistent criticism for being bulky — too large for smaller ears in particular — even though Sony slimmed the case down from the previous generation. If fit has been a problem for you with big earbuds, the Technics are the safer choice. Both come with several sizes of ear tips to help each user find a secure seal, which in turn affects comfort and how much outside noise gets blocked.

Features and Connectivity

Both support the LDAC codec for Hi-Res audio alongside AAC and SBC, but the newer Technics pull ahead on connectivity. The EAH-AZ100 add LE Audio with the LC3 codec on Android, three-device multipoint that lets you stay connected to several sources at once, and a Dolby Atmos spatial-audio mode with head tracking that reviewers found genuinely worthwhile. The Sony WF-1000XM4 offer their own 360-degree spatial audio and a deep, feature-rich companion app, but multipoint only arrived later through a firmware update and is limited to two devices. Both carry an IPX4 splash rating for workouts and rain. Day-to-day control on the Technics is handled by taps on the earbud — one tap to play or pause, two to skip forward and three to skip back — while Sony slimmed the WF-1000XM4's charging case down considerably from the notably bulky WF-1000XM3 before it, making the whole package far easier to pocket. For the most modern wireless features, the Technics lead; for app depth and a proven ecosystem, the Sony hold their own.

Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Technics EAH-AZ100 if you want the longest battery life — around 10 h with noise cancellation — a detailed, highly adjustable sound from their 10 mm magnetic-fluid drivers, a light 5.9 g comfortable fit and the latest connectivity in LE Audio, three-way multipoint and head-tracked spatial audio — accepting noise cancellation that is good but not the best. Choose the Sony WF-1000XM4 if noise cancellation and a proven, polished all-round package come first: reference-grade ANC, refined sound from the 6 mm driver, LDAC and a rich app — accepting a bulkier fit that can trouble smaller ears and a shorter 8 h battery with cancellation on. The Technics are the endurance-and-features champion; the Sony remain the noise-cancelling benchmark.