Kenwood's new Glass Core earbuds use a glass diaphragm — but you can't buy them outside Japan
Kenwood has launched two premium earbuds — the Glass Core and Glass Core Pro — featuring what the company claims is a world first: a glass diaphragm inside a wireless earbud. Priced at $170 and $300 respectively, both models support LDAC Hi-Res Audio and ship from the Kenwood Japan website starting late June 2026. There's no US or UK release date announced.
The glass angle
The glass diaphragm is the headline claim. Kenwood, a subsidiary of JVCKenwood, says it's the first time the material has been used in a true wireless earbud — and it's worth noting the announcement coincides with the brand's 80th anniversary. Glass has been tried in wired headphones before (Harman Kardon experimented with it) without ever reaching mainstream adoption, so the real-world sonic benefit remains unproven until independent reviews arrive.
Both models carry a 10mm glass driver and liquid silicone ear tips designed to improve passive noise isolation. They also share standard SBC and AAC codec support alongside LDAC.
Kenwood Glass Core and Glass Core Pro — the glass panels reveal internal components.
Core vs. Pro
The $170 Glass Core (KH-CRZ90T) offers active noise cancellation with wind-noise reduction and an AI-based call noise suppression system. Battery life runs to 44 hours total with the charging case.
The $300 Glass Core Pro (KH-CRZ100T) adds a MEMS driver for high-frequency detail, bumps battery life to 49 hours, and includes two Pro-exclusive software features: Exofield, a spatial audio system that simulates the sound of speakers in a room, and K2 Technology, an upscaling algorithm that reconstructs high-frequency content lost in compressed audio files. The Pro also swaps the standard flip-open case for a sliding design.
The Glass Core Pro adds a MEMS driver and a sliding charging case.
Japan only — for now
This is where things get complicated for anyone outside Japan. As Notebookcheck confirms, both models are exclusive to the Kenwood Japan website, with no indication of a Western rollout. Stuff South Africa flags the distribution risk plainly: actually getting hold of a pair outside Japan "might be difficult."
Liquid silicone ear tips are included with both models for improved passive isolation.
That's a real obstacle in a crowded segment. The $300 Pro goes up against the Sony WF-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra — both widely available in the US and UK, both backed by established service networks. Kenwood's brand recognition here is a fraction of what it is in Japan, which makes the Japan-only strategy a curious choice for a product positioned to compete at this price point.
Both models support LDAC Hi-Res Audio over Bluetooth.
If an international launch does materialize, the glass diaphragm and LDAC support give the Glass Core Pro a credible pitch to audiophile buyers. Until then, it's a striking product that most people won't be able to buy.
Source: Kenwood
