True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM5
88Outstanding
$250
Full review dataSony WF-1000XM5 vs Technics EAH-AZ40M2: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM5 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM5 - Outstanding overall at around $249.
True Wireless
Technics EAH-AZ40M2
68Good
$170
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value7.0
Technics EAH-AZ40M2
Sound7.0
Noise cancelling6.0
Battery7.0
Calls6.0
Value7.0
Specifications
| Spec | Sony WF-1000XM5 | Technics EAH-AZ40M2 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $250 | $170 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 68 / 100 · Good |
| Released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 0.33" | 6 mm |
| Driver size | 8.4 mm | 6 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 20Hz-40kHz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 12 h | 7 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 5.5 h |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 18 h |
| Full charge time | 90 min | 120 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1 h | 15 min = 60 min playback |
| Wireless charging | Yes | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| ANC type | hybrid | - |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | Yes | - |
| Custom EQ | Yes | - |
| Wear detection | Yes | - |
| Controls | touch | - |
| Voice assistant | Yes | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 11.8 g | 5 g |
| Case weight | 39 g | 35 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | 1 |
What reviewers said
Sony WF-1000XM5
These are high-end true wireless earbuds that focus on adaptive noise cancellation and detailed audio, supporting LDAC for high-resolution streaming. They offer a solid battery life of up to 12 hours without ANC, plus a comfortable fit and IPX4 sweat resistance for daily use. The touch controls and companion app add convenience, though the price reflects their premium status.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Long battery life (12 hours without ANC)
- Pro:Supports LDAC and AAC codecs
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:No higher water resistance rating than IPX4
- Con:Touch controls may take time to master
Technics EAH-AZ40M2
The Technics EAH-AZ40M2 are a well-rounded pair of true wireless earbuds that offer a spacious soundstage, a solid feature set, and a sleek design for their price. They perform competently in most areas, though they lack the aggressive punch and drive of some rivals, and their noise cancelling and overall sound don't quite reach the top tier of their class. They're a stylish, comfortable option for midrange buyers, but they face stiff competition from more dynamic models.
- Pro:Spacious and open soundstage
- Pro:Attractive, compact design with comfortable fit
- Pro:Strong feature set including LDAC, multipoint, and quick charge
- Con:Lacks punch and drive in the bass
- Con:Noise cancelling is competent but not class-leading
- Con:Sound quality doesn't stand out against top competitors
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.