Short answer: the Technics EAH-AZ100, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1115 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.4/5, at $297.99. The Sony MDR-EX800ST ranks #1149, rated 2.1/5, at $253.87, $44.12 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones; for better sound, the Truthear Nova ranks #2 at $169.99.
What the Technics EAH-AZ100 does well: These true wireless earbuds offer active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC and AAC, a claimed 10 hours of battery per charge and IPX4 splash resistance. Watch for: In two hobbyist measurements on squig.link it scores only 53.6 for Harman preference with a 3.2 dB deviation.
Why pick the Sony MDR-EX800ST: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. Watch for: Presence sits about 7.9 dB low with an 11.8 dB dip near 3.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the Technics EAH-AZ100. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $44.12 saving on the Sony MDR-EX800ST is not enough to make up the difference.
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These true wireless earbuds offer active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC and AAC, a claimed 10 hours of battery per charge and IPX4 splash resistance.
Amazon $297.99 eBay
Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural.
Amazon $253.87 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Technics EAH-AZ100 | Sony MDR-EX800ST | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $297.99 | $253.87 |
| Ranked | #1115 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1149 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 54 (median of 2 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 50 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.20 dB standard deviation | 4.07 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.30 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-8.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | True wireless | Wired |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm | 1 x 16mm dynamic |
| Weight | 0 lbs (5.9 g) per earbud | 0 lbs (7 g) |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 3Hz - 28kHz |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | - |
| Driver Type | - | Dynamic |
| Impedance | - | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 108 dB/mW |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the Technics EAH-AZ100 from aden, dhrme and elrics; the Sony MDR-EX800ST from aden, dchpgall, mmagtech, precog, rg, silicagel, therollo9 and yoshiultra, all via squig.link.
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