The Marshall Mode II compact wireless in-ears are the first choice, especially for sports, with good sound and a secure hold. However, the adjustable transparency mode is sensitive to wind, and compromises regarding battery life, operation, and functionality have to be made.
 The Technics EAH-AZ70W are premium wireless headphones. With an outstandingly good, neutral sound and intense noise-canceling, they are among the top products on the market. The design is a matter of taste; the price is around 280 USD in the upper range of in-ear headphones.
Pros and Cons
| Marshall Mode II | Technics EAH-AZ70W |
| Voice assistant integration | First class, neutral sound |
| Good, dynamic sound | Strong bass response |
| Customizable transparency mode | Amazing noise cancellation |
| IPX5 certification | Versatile setting options |
| Short wireless range | Some digital interference |
| No volume control via the earphones | Poor battery life |
Specification
| Marshall Mode II | Technics EAH-AZ70W | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Model | Mode ll | EAH-AZ70W |
| Brand | Marshall | Technics |
| Released | March 08, 2021 | July 10, 2020 |
| Dimension | 70 x 35 x 35 cm | 172 x 124 x 66 mm |
| Weight | 35 g (case) | 7 g (each) |
| Earpiece Connection | Wireless | Wireless |
| Type | Over-Ear | In-Ear |
| Foldable | Yes | No |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz to 20 kHz | 20 Hz to 20 kHz |
| OS Support | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
| Colours | Black | Black, Silver |
| Driver | 6 mm | 10 mm |
| ANC | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Connector | Wireless | Wireless |
| Bluetooth Profiles | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Charging Port | Pins | Pins |
| Battery Life | 5 hrs | 7 hrs |
| Charging Time | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 v | 5.0 v |
Design
Marshall’s first wireless in-ear headphones, Mode II, rely on a particularly compact design, Bluetooth 5.1, wireless charging, and an optional app. The distinctive M on the small earphones and a compact leather-look charging case ensure the brand’s typical design. The model is called Mode II because four years ago, there was an intellectual predecessor, the Marshall Mode, which, as in-ear headphones, still relied on a cable connection.
One of the reasons for the great success of true wireless headphones, in general, is the style aspect. The Technics EAH-AZ70W makes a mediocre impression. The quality is solid and stable, but the charging case and plugs are a bit clunky. The latter is still very noticeable when they sit in the ear. Whether that bothers is, of course, very subjective. However, other models find more elegant solutions here.
Sound
Marshall’s first wireless in-ear headphones don’t disappoint in terms of sound. Mode II is powerful, dynamic, and well-differentiated. The highs, mids, and lows are well separated so that both individual instruments, for example, in Jack of Speed ​​by Steely Dan and vocals, can be heard and are not covered by bass thumping. The bass-heavy sound is more precise than with the AirPods Pro or the Jabra Elite 75t.
Overall, the Marshall Mode II tuning is very pleasing, which makes listening to music pleasant. At maximum volume, highs in One Way Or Another by Blondie tend to hiss slightly and are just starting to get a little too hard. Since you cannot hear at this volume in everyday life, this should not be relevant for most users.
The transparency mode of Marshall Mode II converts ambient noise too harshly at a maximum intensity of 100 percent. Keystrokes and the rustling of plastic bags near the wearer are then annoying, for example. The more distant surroundings, on the other hand, are easily perceptible and the sound is also not falsified. As with almost all implementations, the transparency mode of Mode II increases the background noise audibly, which only has a negative impact in the case of silence without music playback or podcasts.
If the transparency mode is reduced to 50 percent, the background noise disappears almost completely, but the surroundings also clearly take a back seat. It can only be perceived in this way when no music is being played. Reducing the intensity does not change the harsh sound of the environment.
The premium headphones from Technics do an excellent job in terms of sound. They represent the musical content very neutrally and true to the original. The headphones only let the dominant bass come to the fore when it is supposed to be dominant. With some other in-ear headphones, a constant bass thump can be heard here. Technics confidently avoids such a thing.
The Technics’ microphone technology is also perfect. The same technology that ANC headphones use to filter out continuous noises during phone calls. Of course, this doesn’t work 100 percent, but even amid car noise, you can still have understandable conversations with the Technics. If you use the phone continuously, the battery life of the headphones is reduced to around 4.5 hours. The headphones are protected against splash water by the IPX4 standard and can therefore also be used as sports headphones without any worries.
Controls
The 4.75 g lightweight earphones are adorned with the manufacturer’s large M logo on the outside in the design of the compact earbuds that barely protrudes from the ear. The sensor for touch operation is also located here on each earphone, but Marshall uses capacitive detection and installs a pressure sensor. While simply laying on the finger does not immediately lead to action, minimal pressure is enough to trigger the movement. In this way, incorrect entries cannot be completely ruled out, but very seldom if you touch the earphones from the side. The resistance is so low that you can operate mode II without pushing the small earphones deep into your ear every time. A short beep also confirms every action.
You have to tap the left earbud once to switch back and forth between the transparency mode and its deactivation. A double-tap, however, activates the voice assistant of the connected smartphone. Tapping the right earbud once starts or pauses playback. Tapping twice jumps forward one track, tapping three times backward one way. Calls can be answered and ended with a single press on both earbuds. The volume can therefore not be adjusted via earphones.
Auto pause, but no autoplay
If one of the earphones is removed from the ear, playback pauses. If this is used again, this is indicated by a signal tone. Still, the playback does not automatically start but has to be triggered manually – either via the right earphone or the connected device.
App for updates and equalizers
The Marshall Mode II can be connected to the Marshall Bluetooth app, which is also used for the company’s Bluetooth speakers. This can adjust the sound using the equalizer, set the transparency mode, and install firmware updates. It is also possible to deactivate touch operation in the settings.
A corresponding app for the Technics EAH-AZ70W is available for Android and IOS. This offers a lot of setting options. Several adjusting screws can be individually adjusted to the sound using the equalizer. The strength of the noise suppression, as well as the permeability for ambient noise in the transparency mode, can be precisely adjusted.
In addition, the key commands can be changed, the devices managed, and the battery level checked. The app is very versatile, and the setting options make the headphones the right choice for anyone who would like to adjust the sound and Co. to their preferences.
Speaking of key commands: The Technics EAH-AZ70W are operated via a touch field on the side of the plug. This already reacts to light touch. This has the advantage of not having to press the headphones uncomfortably into your ear when stopping a song. The disadvantage is that you accidentally come to the fields and unintentionally move something around when you insert and remove the headphones.
Unfortunately, you can hear strong typing on the touch-field quite loudly in your ear. It is, therefore, necessary to operate the buttons a little more carefully. But once you have found out, the operation on the ear works reliably and quickly.
Battery
Since the headphones are True Wireless, i.e., completely wireless, they need their battery. This maintains the Technics EAH AZ70W when switched on Active Noise Canceling up to 6.5 hours. Compared to other true wireless headphones, this is an excellent value! So you can quickly get through half a day on one battery charge.
Most competitors offer three additional full battery charges with the charging case and a slightly longer listening time. The construction of the charging case is not overly large but a bit clunky, so it is not necessarily suitable for tight trouser pockets.
The battery capacity of the charging case is 500 mAh. This allows the two earbuds to be fully charged four times, which, according to Marshall, results in a battery life of up to 25 hours because the earbuds alone last up to 5 hours, according to the manufacturer. In the test, the battery life at medium volume is 5:05 hours, precisely what Marshall said. Because of the wireless in-ear headphones that last more than 10 hours on a single charge, the 5 hours of Mode II can still only be regarded as average, especially since no ANC is offered – the earphones are smaller and lighter than many competitors.
Conclusion!
With Mode II, Marshall is doing a lot right for the debut on the wireless in-ear market. The in-ears score above all with a dynamic, powerful sound that is convincing and enthralling in everyday mobile use. More negligible weaknesses at maximum volume are just as forgiving as the somewhat exaggerated highs. However, in everyday life, it is above all the compact shape that makes them preferable to other in-ear headphones.
If you are looking for light, slight, wireless in-ear headphones without a lot of frills for everyday use, the Marshall Mode II is the best choice, even if you would be better off at around 50 euros cheaper.
Perhaps the most neutral sound on the true wireless market currently comes from the Technics EAH-AZ70W. In terms of sound, the headphones come close to HiFi quality and also convince in terms of ANC and battery life, even if the case could offer a little more power here. The connectivity is excellent, and the setting options are versatile. The design of the headphones, on the other hand, is undoubtedly a matter of taste. At 280 USD, the EAH-AZ70W is also in the upper class in terms of price.
