tozo headphones

TOZO – The King Of Budget Earbuds?

The internet has revolutionized how we shop, making it much easier for small businesses to get their products into customers’ hands. Having options is essential for any shopper, but with so many small brands now available through leading online retailers, knowing what products are worth buying has become more challenging. TOZO is an example of a relatively small company that has taken the consumer audio space by storm with its affordable headphones and earbuds. But is Tozo as good as customers online say?

Before we dig into the history of TOZO, how the company evolved, and how they approach their products, let’s get down to brass tax. You probably want to know whether or not it’s worth buying a pair of Tozo headphones or speakers.

As with all manufacturers, there are products from TOZO that I’d feel comfortable recommending and those that I wouldn’t. If you’re on the fence about TOZO, here are some great options to consider, with most products having thousands of reviews on Amazon and scoring an aggregate of 4 stars or higher.

Wireless Earbuds

Wireless earbuds are what put TOZO on the map, and to this day, their earbuds are being used worldwide. There are some hits and some misses in their catalog, but these are a few of their best models.

TOZO T10

TOZO T10 Earbuds

The TOZO T10 offers great value for money. They have an RRSP of $39.99 but are regularly available for under $30. Despite their forgiving price point, these earbuds perform well in all areas. They have IPX8 water resistance, which is rarely found outside of mobile phones, protecting them from submergence in water for over 30 minutes. They are easy to use, with automatic pairing between each earbud and a charging dock that provides the user with up to 45 hours of playtime. They feature a bright sound with pronounced high frequencies and deep bass, a classic V-shape sound that will bring your tunes to life.

TOZO T6

TOZO T6 Earbuds

The TOZO T6 is another top choice, with their latest upgraded iteration having just been released. The T6 boasts the same industry-leading waterproofing and excels in battery performance, with up to 50 hours of playtime between the earbuds and the charging dock. The T6’s new upgrade focused primarily on feedback from users struggling with stability while being active and discomfort with some ear shapes. The new T6 has a better design for a more comfortable fit that retains its position in the ear better. The sound is also improved, with OrigX adding more width, creating deeper and more powerful bass. You’ll also get the benefit of having app EQ support.

Noise-Canceling Earbuds

TOZO has a range of trendy noise-canceling earbuds that can frequently be purchased at a discount for under $50. Active noise-canceling earbuds can reduce the intrusion of external noise, allowing you to enjoy all the nuance in your tunes uninterrupted.

TOZO NC7

The NC7 noise-canceling earbuds feature hybrid 3-layer ANC. The earbuds capture the sound of your environment and then reverse the polarity of the sound waves to cancel it out. All this happens while you’re listening to your favorite music or podcasts. The result is sound that is more immersive and richer. The NC7 reduces the amount of environmental noise significantly, but not completely (depending on the volume and frequency). The earbuds feature a 70mAh battery lasting up to 18 hours or a whopping 72 hours when using the wireless charging case. They come with IPX6 water resistance and are available in three colors.

Over-ear Headphones

While TOZO began its audio journey with in-ear headphones, its evolution has seen several new speaker styles, including the HT2, a wireless over-ear headphone with noise-canceling.

TOZO HT2 Hybrid Noise-Canceling Headphones

TOZO HT2 Headphones

The HT2 is one of TOZO’s newer releases, having hit the market in late 2023. Despite it being the company’s first over-ear headphones, it has quickly become a popular choice for budget-conscious shoppers. The HT2 offers the same features and functionality found in flagship models, boasting hybrid noise-cancellation, app support (so you can adjust how they sound via EQ), and an outstanding battery life of up to 60 hours. Comfortable, stylish, and affordable – the TOZO HT2 has a retail price of just $79.99 and is regularly available through Amazon at discounted prices. I’ve seen them go for as long as $39.99.

Portable Bluetooth Speakers

TOZO has released two different Bluetooth speakers in the last few years: the PA1 and the PA2. The PA1 was released in late 2022, while the PA2 was released in late 2023.

TOZO PA1

TOZO PA1 Bluetooth Speaker

Visually, TOZO’s PA1 is similar to Bose’s SoundLink Flex and is aimed towards a similar demographic. It’s a ‘do everything’ speaker that can be used indoors and outdoors. The easy-to-use controls ensure you and your grandmother find it simple to use, while the waterproof design protects the speaker from submergence (IPX7). Its sound is clear, and while it’s not the best-sounding speaker you’ll find in its form factor, for its price, it plays with the best of them. If you’re not a fan of how the PA1 sounds out of the box, you can always use the EQ to adjust the tonal qualities. Available at a retail price of $49, the PA1 is worth considering.

TOZO PA2

TOZO PA2 Speaker

The PA2 is TOZO’s latest portable Bluetooth speaker release and one of the first I’ve seen to provide an IPX8 water-resistance rating. IPX8 further builds on the protective measures of IPX7, giving the user submergence protection for longer than the 30-minute limit. The PA2’s design is classic, most famously incorporated by JBL on the Flip and Charge series. It has two passive bass radiators on either end, with the controls conveniently located on the speaker’s top. These indented controls are easy to use but comprehensive, covering everything from volume and track skipping to EQ and call functions. It has a substantial volume for a speaker of its size and doesn’t slack on audio quality, giving a fairly balanced yet lively sound. Expect around 25 hours of battery life with the PA2. Available in three colors for a retail price of $39, the PA2 offers outstanding value.

The History of TOZO

TOZO was founded in Seattle, Washington, in 2015, and for the first few years, they weren’t manufacturing headphones but producing iPhone covers, RC cars, and drone accessories. By early 2018, they had released their first set of wireless earbuds, the T8. While reviews for the T8 were mixed, it catalyzed what was to come, and Tozo, later that year, introduced the T10 wireless earbuds.

The T10 saw marked improvements over the T8 and would become one of Amazon’s most popular budget earbuds, with over 360,000 reviews. Since these early releases, TOZO has continued improving existing models, adjusting the audio and designs based on customer feedback. The result is a constantly evolving product model that sees older releases improved while the company works on R&D for new releases.

Today, TOZO’s catalog includes over-ear headphones, Bluetooth speakers, in-ear headphones, smartwatches, and more.

Manufacturing

While TOZO is based in America, the products are manufactured in China, in much the same way as with companies like Bose, JBL, and Sony, to name a few. This has become a standard practice for most tech companies, allowing them to provide their products to customers at much more affordable prices. 

It’s useful to make the distinction that it’s not the locality that ultimately affects the product quality. It’s typically the quality control process. Many customers associate Chinese manufacturing with low quality because China is usually the first option for small companies with low-quality control to enter the market. What you get isn’t necessarily a reflection of Chinese production but rather the unlikeliness of a small company starting its journey with high-cost, first-world tech production.

In addition, being based in America, TOZO is able to provide effective quality control that ensures the products being released align not only with international customers’ expectations but also with American customers.

Customer Support

TOZO provides a 12-month warranty on all of their products, as long as they’ve been purchased from TOZO themselves or a verified reseller. They can be contacted in the United States via email or telephone (+1 800 282 9088). They have a relatively high customer service satisfaction rating, with countless positive experiences expressed via Amazon and a Trustpilot rating of 3.7.

So Is It Worth Buying TOZO Over Other Brands?

In summary, TOZO has been around for nearly a decade and, in that time, has shown itself dedicated to the innovation and improvement of audio technology. They’ve offered features that haven’t yet made it into production from larger companies and have continued to show dedicated customer service. 

Suppose you’re a budget shopper who doesn’t want to fork out large amounts of money on earbuds or headphones. In that case, TOZO sits alongside brands like Tribit, Trebleb, and Soundcore as reliable yet affordable manufacturers.

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Written by
Bryn De Kocks

Bryn De Kocks is the lead editor for Audiostance, as well as one of our trusted reviewers. He has more than 15 years of experience in online publication and stands firm in being transparent with both the benefits and drawbacks of the products he reviews. Outside of editorial work, Bryn has been an avid online gamer and casual digital music producer since his teenage years, bringing his understanding of audio and especially headphones to the table. His daily driver is a humble pair of Fidelio X2HRs powered by a Fiio E10K. In his spare time he enjoys nature photography.

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