Technics AZ100 Complaints: The ANC and Mic Tradeoffs Behind the Sound Quality
The Technics AZ100 is the sound-quality pick among premium true-wireless earbuds, with owners choosing it over Sony specifically for audio. The complaints that recur are the flip side of that positioning. Drawing on owner discussion rather than spec claims, this guide examines where the AZ100 concedes: ANC that trails Sony in the direct comparisons buyers report, a mic one owner describes as robotic, and stock tips that need swapping. It's a guide for buyers deciding whether sound-first is the right trade.
Known Issues Before You Buy
A sound-quality-first true-wireless earbud with strong battery and feature set, whose main complaints center on ANC trailing Sony and a weak call mic.
The main complaint: ANC trails Sony
The most repeated complaint: in the direct comparisons buyers report, they rate the AZ100's ANC below Sony's (two such reports). One owner who holds both a Sony XM4 and the AZ100 draws the line explicitly. Sound quality goes to Technics, ANC goes to Sony. Buyers evaluating the AZ100 against the Sony WF-1000XM6 identify ANC as the deciding factor that points them to Sony.
This isn't a defect; it's a positioning reality. The AZ100 is tuned and marketed as a sound-first earbud, and the ANC complaints are buyers discovering that trade after the fact.
The mic: robotic on calls
Another complaint is call quality. An owner who bought the AZ100 and was disappointed specifically by the mic describes it as sounding robotic. Enough to consider switching to AirPods Pro for call-heavy use. For a flagship-priced earbud, this is a meaningful gap if calls are central to how you'll use them.
Like the ANC complaint, this reinforces that the AZ100 rewards listening over communication.
The fixable one: stock tips
The third complaint is the most easily addressed. Stock silicone tips don't seal well for some ear shapes, and owners specifically recommend swapping to foam tips on day one. Because the seal affects both sound and what ANC the AZ100 does have, this swap matters more than it would on a less sound-focused earbud.
Plan for:
- Foam tips as a day-one purchase if the stock seal feels loose
Who buys it knowing the tradeoffs
The complaints haven't dented the AZ100's core advocates, because they bought it for what it does best. Owners who chose it for audio describe it as balanced and great-sounding, one owner found its battery life better than rivals in direct comparison, and owners rate the LDAC and multipoint feature set highly for the price.
Buy if:
- Music quality and battery are your priorities
- You want LDAC and multi-device multipoint
- ANC and call mic are secondary
Look elsewhere if:
- ANC is your primary reason for buying wireless earbuds. Sony is the better pick
- You take frequent calls and need a strong mic
Evidence Highlights
Owners rate Sony's ANC higher in every direct comparison; ANC is the reason buyers pick Sony over AZ100
An owner describes the call mic as robotic, enough to consider AirPods for calls
Stock silicone tips seal poorly for some; foam tips recommended
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This guide is built from audited buyer discussion evidence — no paid placements, no sponsored rankings. Product inclusion and ranking are determined by evidence volume, sentiment balance, and recurring themes. Read our methodology →