True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM5
88Outstanding
$249
Full review dataSony WF-1000XM5 vs Technics EAH-AZ80: 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-AZ80
72Good
$200
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-AZ80
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling7.0
Battery6.0
Calls7.0
Value7.0
Specifications
| Spec | Sony WF-1000XM5 | Technics EAH-AZ80 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $249 | $200 |
| HearWiki score | 88 / 100 · Outstanding | 72 / 100 · Good |
| Released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 0.33" | dynamic |
| Driver size | 8.4 mm | 10 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz | 20Hz-40kHz |
| Impedance | 32 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 | - |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | 90 min | 180 min |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1 h | 15 min = 70 min |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| ANC type | hybrid | feedforward |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Wear detection | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | Yes | yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 11.8 g | 14 g |
| Case weight | 39 g | 50 g |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | 6 |
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-AZ80
The Technics EAH-AZ80 are premium true wireless earbuds that deliver detailed, high-fidelity audio with support for LDAC, along with effective active noise cancellation and seamless multipoint pairing for up to three devices. They offer a comfortable, secure fit, a solid battery life of 7.5 hours per charge (24 hours with the case), and useful extras like wear detection and a quick-charge feature. While the sound quality and build are impressive, the price point is steep and the touch controls can be finicky for some users.
- Pro:Excellent sound quality with LDAC support
- Pro:Strong active noise cancellation
- Pro:Multipoint connects to three devices at once
- Con:Premium price tag
- Con:Battery life is average for the class
- Con:Touch controls may require adjustment
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.