Love is every wear

All-day comfort, gym-proof snugness, clean audio, solid ANC and unmuffled voice calls: can these wireless in-ears really do it all?

£259 / go.stuff.tv/az80

■ One pair of earphones for the gym, another for quiet commuting, and a third for kicking back at home – bit excessive, no? So the Technics AZ80S aim to do it all, promising a firm fit that isn’t exercise-averse; effective ANC for silencing your trip to work; clear mics for making voice calls; and, of course, excellent audio.

■ These bulbous buds are sculpted to sit inside the ears, and you get a generous seven pairs of eartips in the box help you find a secure fit. We wore them for hours at a time and they never fell out.

■ LDAC Bluetooth is on board for hi-res listening, but it can’t be used with these buds’ other party trick: three-device multipoint connectivity. If you’ve got a trio of source gadgets you regularly swap between, you’d best stick with a more mainstream codec.

■ Expect a good 6hrs of listening from the buds with ANC enabled. Add in LDAC, though, and you’ll be drained after about 4hrs. The case can supply three full top-ups.

■ The 10mm drivers produce satisfyingly detailed audio. Bass has plenty of impact yet doesn’t dominate, while top-end notes sound crisp but not harsh. While the soundstage isn’t as expansive as a pair of over-ears, it doesn’t feel enclosed; there’s a sense of dynamism that wasn’t present in Technics’ previous efforts, and they compare very favourably to similar-priced rivals.

Tech specs

Drivers 10mm dynamic ANC Yes Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 Codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC Durability IPX4 Battery life 6hrs + 18hrs case (ANC on) Weight 2x 7g, 50g case