Is the Technics EAH-AZ40 worth the upgrade from the Technics EAH-AZ80?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Technics EAH-AZ40 actually scores 16.0 points below the Technics EAH-AZ80, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. The gains are concentrated in battery (6.0 to 7.0). You do give up ground on sound (8.0 to 7.0). On paper: full charge time 180 min to 120 min, drivers per side 1 to 2 and case weight 50 g to 30 g. Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes Yes to No and codecs goes SBC, AAC, LDAC to SBC, AAC. It is at least $71 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.
- Sound8.07.0
- Battery6.07.0
- Calls7.07.0
- Value7.07.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | EAH-AZ80 | EAH-AZ40 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | No | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
| Full charge time | 180 min | 120 min | |
| Driver size | 10 mm | 6 mm | |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 | |
| Microphones | 6 | 1 | |
| Case weight | 50 g | 30 g | |
| Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
| Companion app | Yes | No | |
| Custom EQ | Yes | No | |
| Wear detection | Yes | No | |
| ANC type | feedforward | none | |
| Quick charge | 15 min = 70 min | 10 min = 90 min | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "EAH-AZ80 to EAH-AZ40". 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.