TOZO Golden X1 Review – Quiet Is The New Loud
I haven’t previously heard TOZO’s products, but they purport to move millions of units and certainly know how to market the $149 Golden X1, which are nicely packaged and accessorized and sport an appropriate array of features for the price, including ANC, LDAC, multipoint and a customizable, well-conceived app with some useful EQ settings.
Build feels premium (the flashing battery level indicator in the case is a nice touch) and comfort and seal are good, although a fair amount of wind noise intrudes even with the ANC engaged. Battery life is advertised as 8 hours, although I got closer to 4 with ANC/LDAC. Connection was instantaneous and stable and touch controls responsive.
In their default state the hybrid Golden X1 presents a gentle V-shape with modest bass depth and limited high end extension, but a very wide soundstage with good imaging and accurate instrument placement. Tonality is fairly neutral and performers are well-separated; there’s no low end boominess and drums retain some snap.
Unfortunately, the Golden X1 fall into the too-common trap of inadequate output—even with volume maxed out they sound soft, slightly veiled and seriously lacking in high-level detail and dynamic slam. I surmise that the dense gold mesh screen covering the ear tubes acts to muffle some of the higher frequencies and reduce gain; I was tempted to remove it and replace it with a more sonically permeable filter but ultimately felt one shouldn’t have to mod a product at this price level.
All evidence to the contrary, I don’t particularly relish trashing products, and the Golden X1 do nail the ergonomics and UI. However, I can’t rave about what I can’t hear, and louder (and cheaper) TWS like the Tin Buds 3 or Lypertek Z3 are better choices.
Disclaimer: these were sent for review purposes by TOZO (TOZO | Wireless Earbuds, Headphones, Chargers, Watches & More Electronics (tozostore.com). They are very nice folks and I hope they try us again in the future.
Priced at $189 at time of publishing.
SPECIFICATIONS TOZO Golden X1
| DRIVERS: 12mm Dynamic Driver + Knowles Balanced Armature FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 12Hz-44.1KHz BLUETOOTH VERSION: 5.3 EARBUDS BATTERY CAPACITY: 55mAh x 2 TRAMSMISSION DISTANCE: Up to 8 meters CHARGING BOX: 500mAh Battery Capacity Type-C Charging Port Charging time of the box: Less than 2 Hours |
