Technics is no slouch in the feature department, and the latest pair offers just about every modern feature you could want. You’ll find all the basics like auto-pause sensors, a multiband EQ, Google Fast Pair, and an Earbuds Finder, with customization available in the Technics app. In fact, virtually everything is customizable for an almost dizzying array of options. If there’s something you don’t like, from how the buds relay video sync to how your voice sounds on calls, there’s likely an adjustment available.

Not everything feels as polished as Apple’s AirPods Pro, the software leader in the space. The AZ100’s call suppression feature, for instance, does a great job killing ambient noise around your voice (or even the voice on the other end), but it makes you sound a bit sterile and robotic in the process. The app itself sometimes refused to load, forcing me to refresh it, though it was otherwise stable.

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

Multitaskers will be pleased to see the return of three-device multipoint pairing, letting you easily swap between your computer, tablet, and phone over Bluetooth, with no brand loyalty required. Speaking of Bluetooth, you’ll not only get support for regular codecs like AAC and LDAC over Bluetooth 5.3, but also Bluetooth LE Audio, which should futureproof the buds for next-gen wireless streaming.

The AZ100’s touch controls are responsive, customizable, and comprehensive, with default options for playback, calling, volume, and ambient audio at the ready. The layout is a tad confusing at first, but I appreciate the ability to accomplish just about any task without grabbing your phone.

Velvet Sparkle

I often save the sound performance for last, but the AZ100’s sound is too good to hold off any longer. Like most hi-fi buds, they provide a slow and steady revelation of their skills. The further you drill down, the better they sound.

When I first fired them up, I was surprised by the sound signature’s warm and almost thick flavor, seeming more reliant on the bass and lower mids than expected. That said, I generally prefer a smoother touch in my hi-fi over sharp and zingy, and it didn’t take long to find that the AZ100’s warm entrance acts almost like a velvet backdrop on which instrumental textures and effects glitter like jewels in the light.