Technics EAH-A1000 review: over-ear headphones with class, detail and comfort that err just slightly on the side of caution

Technics EAH-A1000: Two-minute review If you were expecting a minor update over Technics' previous over-ears in the EAH-A1000, you're in for a surprise.

Because in the four-years-and-loose-change since its last over-ear offering, Technics' various audio departments have been very, very busy — and I'm referring to the design team as well as the sonic engineering squad.

Here's a novel idea to kick things off: these headphones have Technics' own proprietary, top-secret metallic juice concoction oiling the drivers.

Those familiar with the company's hugely successful earbuds (and if you read this publication regularly, you will be) will remember the firm's Magnetic Fluid Driver technology.

Technics pioneered it to aid the pistonic motion of those tiny drivers.

As they busily move back and forth to create physical sound waves from electrical signals, said fluid helps the units stay extra-true in their work and free from variance.

But it's no small feat to scale up from 10mm mechanisms within concha-fit earpieces to 40mm drivers that cover the whole ear, and that is what has been achieved, all without adding any weight to the headset.

So are the new, far more attractive EAH-A1000 (all vegan leather, svelte arms, and brushed metallic top plates) ready to assume a spot in our best noise-cancelling headphones guide then? Yes, depending on your listening tastes.

There's detail, width, a lovely circumaural presentation and musical timing in droves.

However, depending on the kind of music you regularly listen to, or the sonic tuning you prefer, they'll either be just what you need or fall just slightly short in terms of oomph, bass clout and zeal.

And as much as I adore them, I have to confirm that my heart and ears belong in the latter group. (Image credit: Future) If triple-device connectivity seems like something you'd really like from your headphones, these are an excellent buy — and believe me when I tell you it's hard to return to a state of only being connected to two source devices at once (rather than seamless sonic switching between your tablet, phone and laptop at will) when you've become used to three.

And in terms of features elsewhere, the Technics score highly for ANC, which is robust and effective but never sweetens or hollows out your music unnecessarily.

I do find the Ambient profiles (there are two; 'Transparent' for sounds around you, or 'Attention' which aims to hone in on voices and announcements specifically) a little light touch, though.

If you value Sony's Quick Attention feature to actively pipe in sounds when you cover an ear cup, you'll be disappointed here.