It’s been a while since I checked out anything from Tozo. You might have seen this brand on Amazon’s true wireless marketplace and been impressed with its affordable selection. The NC9 in particular is a surprisingly good budget wireless earbud, but now Tozo is looking to branch out their technology for better quality products. The Golden X1 seems to be quite the departure from their usual output, costing a more competitive $149 price point. Let’s see how much Tozo has changed and if it warrants this jump.

What You Get

• TOZO Golden X1 Wireless Earbuds
• Wireless Charging Case
• 6 pairs of ear tips (XS/S/M/L/XL/XXL)
• USB-C Charging Cable
• Quick Guide & User Manual

Look & Feel

Tozo’s earbuds usually have a sleek design and the X1 is one of their best builds yet. It takes the best of a stemmed design and an ear pod and combines them into one elegant pair of earbuds. There’s a great presentation to the X1, and they fit great for any size of ears. The X1 is perfectly comfortable, fitting like a glove in your concha.

Design & Functionality

It’s surprising to hear that the X1 features a hybrid driver system. It’s great that more companies are implementing balanced armature drivers into true wireless. Tozo offering this type of configuration is surprising, but I welcome it in more products that will come after. This gives the output a lot more drive compared to most true wireless earbuds. You’ll get a good amount of volume from the X1, with plenty of headroom to spare. A companion app is offered here that houses most of the features that have become commonplace with most Bluetooth products. They have a few different levels of ANC that are marginally effective. Of course, you won’t find Sony-level noise-cancellation, but the X1 does a good enough job for what it is, isolating your surroundings at an average degree. I found leisure mode to do the trick just fine throughout my testing. The app also includes an EQ but takes a step above. With EarPrint technology you can take a sound test in the app, and it will tune the sound to your ears.

Bluetooth

With Bluetooth 5.3, the X1 keeps a stable connection with fast pairing and can transmit data at high rates. You’ll be able to listen to your audio through LDAC as long as your device supports it.

Battery Life

Off of a single charge, you’ll be able to get eight hours of consistent playback depending on the amount of noise-canceling you’re using. With the charging case, you should get a total of 32 hours of charge, which is okay for the price.

Soundstage

This soundstage doesn’t expand too far in terms of width, but it still keeps the imaging organized. It seems like the stereo field is blocked halfway to shoulder length, keeping most of the stage inside your head. The individual sound elements stay out of the middle though, so you don’t have to worry about the imaging congealing and getting messy. It’s a linear response that doesn’t showcase a ton of depth, but the instruments and vocals are all placed accordingly in the mix. Spatial positioning is maintained in a traditional stereo display. There’s a flat plain of sound on the X1, and it works for communicating the essential scope of your tracks.

Low End

Using the EQ will really determine what you get out of the X1’s bass response. In its standard state, the lows offer a surface-level clarity to its timbre. Notes can be heard in a well-balanced manner, but there is a bit of a lacking punch. The mid-bass feels like it’s lacking a bit of gain, but EQ can bring it up to a suitable level. Even then the tone will sound pretty tight, but the frequency range will definitely feel more full. Sub-bass frequencies actually show themselves even more, and boosting their range only helps give the X1 a stronger body. I don’t think I ever got the bass to really pop out the way I wanted it to, but I still got it to an engaging place.

Mids

The X1 has a good presence in the midrange. I never felt like anything was getting lost or too relegated to the background. Their timbre is clean, and enough room is made to compensate for busier tracks. However, instruments and effects lack meat and end up coming out a bit thin. You can try using EQ to boost some of the note distinction, but I never got it to a place that felt natural, With that being said, vocals tended to have a more dominant position in the mix, and their response had a more consistent command to them.

Highs

In the highs, the X1 exhibits some surprisingly crisp qualities. There’s an underlining texture to the upper mids that results in some enjoyable vocal bliss. It’s a coating of treble shine that is very enjoyable and easy to adjust if it’s not your thing. Like the mids, the tone is a bit thin, but the emphasis is there, and it makes for a more engrossing sound. Upper highs have a noticeable roll-off, but the sound signature still feels complete, and the missing parts don’t destruct the frequency range overall.

Summary

It’s impressive how far Tozo has come with its latest product. The Golden X1 brings forth a great design, and it’s supported by a clean and adjustable sound signature. Its EQ is very responsive, and can really make a difference, even if it still doesn’t quite get to the place you want it to. You’ll get a sound that is as elegant as its build, and it’s full of other features that also make it a great companion to your phone.