Technics EAH-AZ60M2

Comparing the EAH-AZ models

Technics have nailed the upper premium market with the EAH-AZ80, priced at 299 euros. Our test rightly named these Japanese mini-earphones the best True Wireless in-ear of the month in May.

For around 70 euros less, Technics place the EAH-AZ60M2, tested here, directly beneath them, offering almost the same feature set as the large model. The only difference is that the drivers on the EAH-AZ60M2 are slightly smaller (8mm – AZ80 10mm), the in-ears themselves come with a different housing shape and the charging case weighs fractionally less.

In contrast to the Technics EAH-AZ60, which first saw the light of day two years ago, the new M2 rely on Bluetooth version 5.3 and have thus expanded their multipoint functionality from two to three simultaneously connected players. In addition, there is now a choice of three models, as they are now available in midnight blue – alongside black and silver. The case can now also be charged wirelessly on Qi-compatible charging pads.

Design and wearing comfort

With seven grams per earphone, the Technics EAH-AZ60M2 are middleweights. Thanks to the slightly teardrop-shaped design and a gentle twist when inserting the ears, they enable a secure fit. In a direct comparison, we found that the EAH-AZ80 fitted better and were more secure due to their special design.

Technics have found a great solution to fitting problems: with seven pairs of silicone ear moulds from XS to XL (some with different heights), the manufacturer covers a wide range of ear sizes. This means that there should be a suitable EarTip for everyone. A fit test via the app also helps you to get this just right.

The EAH-AZ60 earphones are splash-proof according to IPX4 and can therefore withstand use during light sporting activities. The charging case, on the other hand, does not have this certification, so you always need to check that the in-ears are dry and clean when inserted into the ears. The charging case weighs approx. 45 grams on its own and is resistant to fingerprints.

The battery life of the Technics EAH-AZ60M2

The Technics EAH-AZ60M2 offer a runtime of approximately 7.5 hrs of music playback without noise cancellation (25 hrs with the case) and seven hours of playtime with active noise cancellation (24 hrs with the case). If the high-res codec LDAC is used, the playing time is reduced to about 4.5 hours (with ANC on).

These theoretical values come from the manufacturer’s specifications; in practice, you make do with slightly less time, depending on volume, temperature and use. The earphones can be charged in approx. 2 hours, and the case is charged via USB in approx. 2.5 hours, both can be charged together wirelessly via the charging pad in approx. 3.5 hours. Of course, it is also possible to fast charge the earphones, and this provides approx. 70 minutes (NC ON) of playing time after 15 minutes.

Bluetooth

The Technics EAH-AZ60M2 use Bluetooth version 5.3 and relies on the codecs SBC, AAC as well as LDAC, which support up to 24 bit/96 kHz. However, for technical reasons, the latter can only be used with some restrictions: Since this true-wireless model also allows up to three multipoint connections (Multipoint), you have to decide whether you want to lower the multipoint capability. With a multipoint connection up to a maximum of two devices, you can use LDAC, while an increase to three devices simultaneously deactivates LDAC. In this case, the Technics EAH-AZ60M2 automatically reverts to the lower codec AAC.

In practice, the range in open space was optimal at more than 30 metres, and in closed rooms, there were no drop-outs, even when changing floors and through several walls. During our test, we experienced (unfortunately not reproducible) sporadic drop-outs of the right in-ear for a few milliseconds. This occurred four times during our tests over several weeks.

Technics Audio Connect

The Technics EAH-AZ60M2 have one big advantage over the true-wireless models from Apple or Samsung: This was an absolute level playing field because they offer the same full range of functions on both systems.

Thanks to the “Audio Connect” app, the EAH-AZ60M2 can therefore be customised in just as much detail on iOS as on Android.

On the app’s start page, you can check the battery level and constantly refine the noise cancelling. You can also switch between ANC, “all off” and ambient noise. The latter transparency mode provides you with two modes: “Transparent” allows the environment to pass through unfiltered and does not pause the playback. “Attention” stops playback and raises the frequency range of voices and announcements so that conversations or train announcements can be followed more easily.

In the “Sound” tab, there are five equaliser pre-sets (Bass+, Super Bass+, Vocal, Treble+, Dynamic) as well as a 5-band EQ that allows you to create a custom sound profile. This can be saved, but multiple user pre-sets are not available.

A headphone finding function is also available, as is the option to change the control of the touch surfaces in detail. You can even define the noise suppression of the caller on the other end of the line during phone calls here. In addition, the app offers you the option of outputting voice announcements in nine different languages, and you can even choose what is to be said. Other possibilities: You can set up the automatic switch-off in 5 to 30-minute steps, as well as decide what should happen when the headphones are taken off (pause playback, lock control panels, etc.).

You can also test the JustMyVoice technology (see below) by recording your voice and playing it back with a time delay, cleansed of background noise.

With the update to version 3.1.0, the manufacturer has also added the “best earpiece function” mentioned above. Here you can select which EarTip size is fitted and then test the fit.

JustMyVoice technology

Good speech intelligibility during video conferences and telephone calls is essential in this day and age.

The Technics EAH-AZ60M2 rely on “JustMyVoice technology”, which was first used in the previous model, the Technics EAH-AZ60. In combination with voice recognition microphones, this ensures very good speech intelligibility.

Two built-in MEMS microphones (MEMS = Micro Electro Mechanical System) actively detect the user’s voice with the help of beamforming technology, which is directed at the user’s mouth. This is where the JustMyVoice technology comes in, as it attempts to isolate and amplify words and minimise ambient noise. The voice recognition signal and adaptive noise cancellation – which automatically adjust to the noise level – thus ensure clearer speech transmission in windy or noisy environments and attempt to prevent ‘muffled’ speech. So in environments with loud background noise, it fades heavily into the background, making it far less difficult for the person you are calling to understand you.

In practice, this means: My counterpart heard my voice with a delay of a few seconds because the algorithms need time to process the useful as well as the interfering signal. For instance, my conversation partner was not able to recognise construction site noise. Other street noise was also very well reduced and could no longer be recognised. Admittedly, this technology does not perform miracles, and you could not claim that all background noise was completely eliminated. Nevertheless, the revised JustMyVoice did a very good job here.

This works very well even in windy conditions, e.g. when cycling.

The sound of the Technics EAH-AZ60M2

While Technics EAH-AZ60M2’s drivers are slightly smaller than those of the top-of-the-range EAH-AZ80, we again found an acoustic chamber, which the manufacturer claims optimises airflow and ensures natural-sounding vocals and other midrange signals. A harmoniser is also said to serve to smooth out the highs to create a dynamic sound with less distortion.

However, in practice, a distinction must be made depending on whether or not noise cancelling is activated. If neither ANC nor ambient noise is switched on, the overall sound image was somewhat narrower, bass-poorer and a touch more midrange-heavy.

Therefore, we always conducted our sound tests with noise cancellation or transparency mode activated. This was also because, in practice, most people have one of these two functions permanently activated.

And what was true of the Technics EAH-AZ80 is also true here: The bass sounded defined, pleasantly punchy and clean. (Low) basses were reproduced in a tonally comprehensible manner and did not mask the mid-range. Even at high volumes, the bass remained distortion-free, and the Technics EAH-AZ60M2 had no trouble implementing a high sound pressure level.

Sound-wise, the two headphone models do differ, but not nearly as much as one would expect. The two-millimetre larger drivers of the EAH-AZ80 are more detailed and sound more powerful in modern bass-heavy productions. However, we found nothing to complain about across all genres: Neither electric guitars nor lead synths cut into the ears, nor did spiky mixed tracks sound too sharp. Technics has also succeeded with stereo width and depth.

Noise cancelling and ambient noise (transparency mode)

When it comes to noise cancelling (ANC), Technics rely on dual hybrid noise cancelling technology – as with their top model EAH-AZ80. Here, feedforward microphones on the outside suppress ambient noise, and this is processed in real time by a digital software filter. Inside the in-ear headphones, feedback microphones pick up noise and process it with an analogue hardware filter.

Both technologies together provide an effective suppression effect. A relatively wide range of noises were cancelled out or pushed strongly into the background. The technology absorbed low and medium frequencies quite strongly, and this provided successful noise relief during monotonous train and air travel. High-frequency sound was significantly attenuated, but – like with all the other competitors – it still reached the ears.

In a direct comparison with the Apple AirPods Pro as well as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, something became apparent: In the case of white noise, the Apple headphones cancel out low frequencies more effectively, and so do their counterpart from Bose.

Fortunately, the transparency mode did not distort the useful signal, but it did not sound quite as natural as that of the Apple AirPods Pro. The background noise was also noticeably more audible than with the Apple in-ears when paused, but in my opinion, it was still far from being too distracting.

Conclusion

The Technics EAH-AZ60M2 are not only convincing in terms of sound but also their noise-cancelling and JustMyVoice technology leave hardly anything to be desired. Thanks to multipoint with up to three devices and the extensive configuration options available via the Technics Audio Connect app, these are ultra-modern True Wireless in-ears. If you want to save 70 euros, you can actually leave the equally good Technics EAH-AZ80 “on the shelf” – the Technics EAH-AZ60M2 are not just a slimmed-down version.