Is the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 worth the upgrade from the Technics EAH-AZ100?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 actually scores 7.0 points below the Technics EAH-AZ100, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on sound (9.2 to 8.1) and battery (8.7 to 7.8). On paper: battery life 12 h to 14 h, battery incl. case 28 h to 56 h and microphones 2 to 6. Worth checking: battery life (anc on) goes 10 h to 8 h and driver size goes 10 mm to 6 mm. It is at least $21 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound9.28.1
- Noise cancelling8.68.2
- Battery8.77.8
- Calls7.88.0
- Value8.17.2
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | EAH-AZ100 | Elite 8 Active Gen 2 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 12 h | 14 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC | AAC, aptX Voice, LDAC | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP68 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 10 h | 8 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 28 h | 56 h | |
| Driver size | 10 mm | 6 mm | |
| Microphones | 2 | 6 | |
| Case weight | 42 g | 47.5 g | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 15 min → 1.2 h | 10 min → 1.5 h | |
| Controls | touch | buttons | |
| Driver | 10 mm dynamic | 6 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "EAH-AZ100 to Elite 8 Active Gen 2". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across true wireless and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.