Just over two months after Apple released AirPods Pro with active noise cancellation, several brands are introducing competitors at CES 2020.

Panasonic, Technics, and 1MORE are among the brands that have announced truly wireless earphones with active noise cancellation in Las Vegas this week, and more will likely follow as the show floor opens Tuesday.

panasonic wireless earphones anc

Panasonic

Panasonic says its new RZ-S500W earphones feature "industry-leading noise cancellation," achieved through a combination of feedforward noise cancellation, feedback noise cancellation, and digital and analog processing. These technologies work together to minimize noise generated both inside and outside the ear buds.

A touch sensor on the earphones enables users to switch between Ambient Sound mode, Noise Cancelling mode, and Off with the tap of a finger. Ambient Sound mode sounds like Transparency mode on the ‌AirPods Pro‌, which allows you to simultaneously listen to music while still hearing the environment around you.

Panasonic has also unveiled a pair of truly wireless earphones under its Technics brand. The EAH-AZ70W earphones feature the same noise cancellation technology and Ambient Sound mode as the RZ-S500W, plus IPX4-rated splash resistance and a new, graphene-coated dynamic driver unit for improved sound.

technics wireless earphones anc

Technics

Both the RZ-S500W and EAH-AZ70W earphones will be available in June, according to Panasonic, but pricing has yet to be disclosed.

1MORE's truly wireless earphones feature two levels of active noise cancelation, utilizing the same hybrid technology as the Panasonic and Technics earphones. They are also the first truly wireless earphones with pending THX certification, meaning their sound quality has passed a variety of tests by THX.

1more wireless earphones anc

1MORE

1MORE's earphones also have an optional pass-through mode that lets in ambient noise while listening to music.

Top Rated Comments

OzyOly Avatar
67 months ago

I mean, look at these other brands, I’ve never heard of any them before (Yes, I pay attention to all tech competitors), what marketing do they have consumers would know about?
You have not heard of Panasonic? One of the largest Japanese multinationals which, along with Sony, rules the consumer electronics world in the 80s. Absolutely staggering.

Either you are jesting or you have no idea what you’re talking about...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sinsin07 Avatar
67 months ago
snip...
I mean, look at these other brands, I’ve never heard of any them before (Yes, I pay attention to all tech competitors), what marketing do they have consumers would know about? There’s a lot of options out there for Bluetooth earbuds, but consumers will likely purchase what they see/hear about.
Two of the brands mentioned in this article have bee around a h!$% of a lot longer than Apple.
Panasonic since 1918.
Technics since 1965.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ChrisMoBro Avatar
67 months ago
the sound of Airpod Pros are great but it’s the integration with iOS that makes them the perfect headphones
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Abazigal Avatar
67 months ago
sorry Microsoft - in terms of functionality has Apple beat there already. In ear language translation, oh doesn’t Google do this also? Habrá as vo2 max detection with heart rate in their headphones for 3yrs now.
Noise cancelling is not new and Apple is getting better yet slow to release new tech.

you’ll see more synergies between the Watch being the mobile computer, glasses being the display and headphones being mic and listening.
Microsoft and Google largely face the same issues - nobody wants to be seen wearing their products. Meanwhile, the AirPods are still out of stock, and people are actually complaining online about how they were gifted “fake” AirPods.

When it comes to wearables, you need the sort of design-led corporate culture that Apple is renowned for, and which many companies lack. You have to make your customers want to be seen in public wearing your wearable products.

And in this regard, Apple has already won the (more) important half of the battle.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
67 months ago
There’s always will be competition to the AirPod Pros, and that includes a variety of ‘pricing segments’, but what Apple has going for them, is the marketing is really strong for the AirPods. I mean, look at these other brands, I’ve never heard of any them before (Yes, I pay attention to all tech competitors), what marketing do they have consumers would know about? There’s a lot of options out there for Bluetooth earbuds, but consumers will likely purchase what they see/hear about.

Not to mention, I think the first GEN AirPods were so successful, they really initiated something into what the Pros developed into, which I think helps the success of the current AirPods.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SDJim Avatar
67 months ago

You have not heard of Panasonic? One of the largest Japanese multinationals which, along with Sony, rules the consumer electronics world in the 80s. Absolutely staggering.

Either you are jesting or you have no idea what you’re talking about...
I assumed he meant the other two, neither of which I had heard of before...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

What to Expect From the 'Apple Launch' Next Week

Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week. Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro With All-New Camera Bar Design Allegedly Revealed

Thursday February 13, 2025 5:49 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro will feature three rear cameras arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but the cameras will be housed in an all-new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, according to YouTube channel Front Page Tech. iPhone 17 Pro camera design render created by Asher for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser said the camera ...
iphone air concept weis

iPhone 17 Air Could Look Like This in Real Life

Friday February 14, 2025 3:41 am PST by
There have been several alleged leaked details of the iPhone 17 Air, Apple's rumored new slim iPhone, but images have been limited to grainy shots taken in component factories. However, this hyper-realistic concept created by WEIS Studio gives us the best idea yet of what Apple's thin device might actually look like. The concept design is inspired by recent leaks indicating that the device...
Apple Maps 2024

Apple Maps Might Start Showing Ads

Sunday February 16, 2025 7:22 am PST by
Apple is "exploring" the idea of showing search ads in the Apple Maps app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Back in 2022, Gurman said software engineering was "already underway" to display ads in the Apple Maps app, but Apple did not move forward with the idea at the time. Today, he said Apple is "giving this notion more thought" again. This time around, he said Apple has yet to...
m2 pro mac mini

Apple is Now Selling a Refurbished Mac Mini for Just $319 (!)

Saturday February 15, 2025 9:58 am PST by
A few days ago, we reported that Apple's refurbished Mac mini pricing had a problem, and it appears that Apple has taken note. Apple was offering a refurbished Mac mini with the M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $559, which was $50 more than a refurbished Mac mini with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. All other key specifications were equal. That's no longer...
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
Tim Cook Apple Park

10+ Announcements Apple Could Have Rolled Into a February Event

Saturday February 15, 2025 8:00 am PST by
Apple appears to have enough upcoming product announcements to justify a full event this month, yet all signs indicate these reveals will be handled through a series of press releases instead. There are a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about specific announcements in the coming weeks, so here's everything that Apple could have feasibly included in a hypothetical February event: ...