TOZO NC2 Hybrid ANC Wireless Earbuds

The review of TOZO NC2 will be interesting for those who are looking for inexpensive headphones with a microphone, noise canceling, and other features besides good sound. Considering the price, let’s discuss the model’s weaknesses and figure out for whom it is designed.

With such characteristics yes a pleasant price, they are excellent for the role of everyday headphones for any task: listening to music at home, socializing on the street, or morning jogging to your favorite track – they are not perfect, but they will cope with a little noise and sweat, providing a good sound.

First Look

The model’s release date on popular marketplaces like Amazon is October 2020. However, the headphones have not lost their relevance – they are inexpensive, with good sound, water protection, and active noise cancellation.

A quite popular comparison is TOZO NC2 vs. NC9. Remember that we consider the basic, not “PRO” versions. The main differences that you should know: the cost of the devices is approximately the same, but the NC9 has a higher battery capacity, both in the headphones themselves and in the case, and the NC2 got USB Type-C support. Yes, the NC9 doesn’t have it. Otherwise, the differences are minimal – these are two affordable models with hybrid noise cancellation.

If these features are not that important to you, then focus on the visual qualities: the NC9s are traditional round earplugs that seem to fit in the ear, while the NC2s have a vertical oblong foot – which is better, the choice of each person’s taste, as they fit equally comfortably.

Design

Let’s start the TOZO NC2 Hybrid review with the appearance. The model can be presented in many different color variations, but the classic colors are common in stores: white, black, and blue. Finding red or beige is quite difficult, but you can try.

The first impression of the headphones – they look stylish, not aggressive, but not classic – more of a casual style. It stands out against its competitors with its comfortable form, vertical leg, ergonomic interior, and quality silicone earpieces. TOZO says they are made of a special material that reduces pressure on the ear canal. It’s hard to judge, but there is no discomfort.

Choose your earmold size. It affects comfort and noise reduction – minimizes extraneous sounds.

The outer side of the headphones is made of glossy plastic. A microphone is above the touch control panel at the very top of the leg. At the bottom, there is a vertical inscription from top to bottom, “TOZO”.

The inside of the TOZO NC2 is matte. Closer to the silicone earpiece, there is a microphone, and behind it, an optical sensor allows the device to detect when it is in your ear. Thanks to this, after pulling out the earpiece, the track will automatically pause and continue when you put it back in. There are no more interesting features, but the letters “R” and “L” are on the bottom of the foot to indicate the left and right earphones.

Charging Case

The case is compact and outwardly unremarkable – at the top, there is a visible brand name, “TOZO”. On the front, four LEDs indicate the approximate charge level – one division of 25%. Above, a small slot opens the lid of the case. At the bottom is a slot for charging, represented by the interface USB Type-C. Not everyone likes such a location, but if you use wireless charging, that location will be very convenient.

As a wireless docking station for earbuds, you can pick up a model from the catalog of the same brand as the W1 Matte Black Wireless Charger, but you can look at others. The main thing is that the charger should be suitable for the headphones, have good power, and, most importantly, be compatible with TOZO products. Even though the company has a wireless docking station designed exclusively for charging Apple devices, be careful because breakdowns in such cases are unlikely to fall under warranty.

Inside are marked for the left and right earpiece and slots for power. It is noteworthy that the technical information is placed in them and is less noticeable, although it used to be written on the case.

By the way, the shape of the head resembles the Apple AirPods Truly Wireless 2nd generation. So if you like this shape, the TOZO will not disappoint either.

Water Resistance

One of the most important points is that wireless headphones are undoubtedly comfortable but more vulnerable than their wired counterparts. Nothing stops them from falling in a puddle, so it is better to consider models with at least minimal protection against moisture. Yes, TOZO has made a small revolution by creating a whole line of affordable waterproof headphones, and this model has it too.

IPX6-rated earbuds can make life easier for the wearer: they can withstand weather-related testing. Rain, splashes, and moisture from all angles cannot harm the device. But, of course, this does not mean that you have to put it through special tests unless you set yourself the goal of testing its durability.

Bottom line: The TOZO NC2 Hybrid is great for everyday use, even when it is pouring rain outside. The model is not afraid of water, but salty human sweat can’t hurt them either. So if your goal is morning jogging regardless of the weather outside, the NC2 may be a good option.

Many users say that the model is good just for sports – with the right fit with matched silicone liners, they fit quite snugly, and the convenient touch control does not require you to reach for the phone: everything can be adjusted in a couple of taps.

Package Contents

Opening a beautiful box with friendly bonuses like stickers or a storage bag is always nice. But it is not about TOZO – the company takes quality and reasonable price, so the package contains nothing extra. Even TOZO G1 Wireless Gaming Earbuds have nothing different.

In NC2, all are modest:

• User manual.
• Charging case.
• Earbuds.
• Power cord USB Type-C.
• Plastic case with interchangeable silicone ear cushions.

Nothing extra, but everything you need is there. We recommend that you don’t throw away the manual. It has useful information on resetting if the headphones disconnect from the phone. The USB cable included is not too high quality but copes with its functions, although it is better to replace it if you want.

Ergonomics

Almost all modern models of TOZO headphones have good ergonomics. However, according to the company’s statements, they were not satisfied with the results and involved a group of engineers to create a new comfortable shape. As a result, the new models have an anatomical head, but one of the main achievements is considered to be the silicone ear mold with reduced pressure on the walls of the ear.

The TOZO NC2s fit well in your ears, will not fall out while running, and leave a pleasant impression as “earplugs” usually start to feel and get in the way quickly. People with small ears know it is difficult to find comfortable headphones, so you may want to look at the NC2.

The model has good air permeability and doesn’t warm up, so no skin, sweat, or discomfort.

Sound

It isn’t easy to evaluate the sound, but in the case of the NC2, it was easier than usual. The model expectedly does not pretend to have super detailed sound, but it does not spoil the impression if you do not set the bar too high. The sound is just average – you hear everything, but it is possible to hear too shrill or rumbling sounds. The vocals are a little better, but you can’t leave the feeling that they could be better.

A serious drawback is that the official TOZO app for Android and iOS doesn’t support the model, so you won’t be able to use the built-in equalizer for tuning and will have to look for third-party solutions.

The NC2 has Transparency Mode, allowing you to hear your surroundings while listening to music. It is convenient when you are in the street or doing some work – along with your favorite tracks, the headphone processor gives you the sound of the surrounding world, but crossing the road, it is better to take out at least one earphone, especially since they are equipped with optical sensors and will continue playing as soon as they come back.

Stereo sound, good bass, ample volume, and transparent mode – the sound is not perfect, but it is not so noticeable if you use headphones on the street.

Microphone

The NC2 has as many as six microphones, but this is a case where quantity does not mean quality. This number of recording devices is part of the hybrid noise cancellation system. Here it is presented in the form of three layers:

1. The external microphone picks up all the sounds from the street and counteracts them with equal anti-noise, reducing to 35 dB;
2. Inside, too, there is a microphone that catches the sounds that get inside the earbuds and tries to cut them off;
3. The last noise protection level is its notorious silicone caps. They are passive noise isolation and, if properly selected, block the access of sounds from the outside – effectiveness up to 90%.

But having noise cancellation doesn’t mean it’s effective. Unfortunately, in NC2, the ANC technology doesn’t work very effectively. Yes, the noise canceller drowns out ambient sound, and it’s generally a good thing it’s there. But talking on the phone near the road, where there are a lot of cars, would be uncomfortable. Engine sounds are damped particularly bad, but the wind can also be a serious problem.

During the conversation, the interlocutor can hear your voice distorted and interfere with you because of the imperfect ANC.

The model is generally suitable for work in the office – the battery reserve is enough for a working day, and the modulation can drown out small noises. Playing, however, is not too comfortable because of the long delay – if you are looking for a gaming headset, look closely at TOZO G1.

In short, the noise modulation will do for listening to music, but for talking on the phone, you’d better look for something else, the same NC7, designed for calls.

Connecting

How to connect TOZO NC2 earbuds to my phone? Using one-step pairing is simple:

1. Turn on Bluetooth;
2. Take the headphones out of the case;
3. Press “Connect”. The model name in the list is “TOZO-NC2”.

No problem should arise. The model uses the modern wireless interface Bluetooth 5.2 and is easy to pair with Android, iOS, and Windows devices.

Functionality

TOZO NC2 Hybrid Wireless Headphones with Active Noise Cancellation boast the following features:

• Support for fast and wireless charging;
• Touch control;
• Optical sensors;
• Hybrid, triple-layer noise cancellation;
• Assistant voice prompts.

Controls

Headphone controls are simple and easy to use, not much different from other manufacturers’ commands:

• 1 touch: start/pause, pick up, hang up (“L” and “R”), hold toggles noise reduction and transparent modes (L);
• 2 touches: “L” – previous track, “R” – next track;
• 3 taps: “L” activation of the voice assistant;
• Press and hold for 2 seconds: end call, “L” – turn down, “R” – add sound.

If TOZO NC2 does not charge the left earpiece, try doing a reset as described in the manual. If it does not work, return it to the store under warranty.

Battery

The TOZO NC2 has a battery life of 8 hours on a single charge, but in practice, they hold a charge for up to 10 hours. This pleasant surprise allows you to use the model at work and forget about the frequent need to charge the device.

In this case, the autonomy increases to 32 hours. In real tests, you can charge fully discharged earbuds three times, and the case will still have some charge left, but aim for 3 full charges.

The headphones and the case are enough for more than 40 hours of work – this is enough for any tasks and long trips.