TOZO NC9 Hybrid ANC Wireless Earbuds

Let’s start the review of TOZO NC9 earbuds with the standard point – for whom this model is intended. We will pay special attention to the sound quality and microphones, of which there are 2, as well as to the main thing – noise cancellation. Considering the price, you should expect that the producer has saved some money, which is why we recommend you get acquainted with the article before you buy it.

First Look

Please note that the review looks at the upgraded basic Hybrid version, not the NC9 with prefix PRO, PRO MAX, or PLUS. This is the most affordable model among the “nines,” It can please you with noise cancellation and the headset—more of the positive moments of water protection and a transparent mode.

But the manufacturer has spared the important – the battery life, which does not reach the official values and sound quality. But the sound is not the weakest point here; the model has few competitors for this price.

Considering the characteristics, we recommend viewing this representative of the NC-series as earbuds for sports and walks in the street – they are not afraid of moisture and sweat and fit comfortably in your ears. The model is also suitable for work, but you must charge it often.

Design

Features are important, but let’s start with the appearance of TOZO NC9. The model is stylish and looks good in any coloring, of which there are many: red, classic black and white, blue, brown, and beige, which TOZO proudly calls Champagne. But they can afford it – there are no complaints about the appearance, all colors look harmonious and differ, you can choose something to your taste.

As in other brand models, the front side of the headphones is lighter, and the back is matte and not so smooth in appearance. The transition looks harmonious. TOZO’s caps are silicone ear pads that create minimal pressure on the ears and are practically weightless – less than a gram.

Important: Customizing silicone earmolds enhances the user experience regarding sound quality and noise isolation.

If you are familiar with TOZO vacuum earplugs, then the shape will seem familiar to you – similar solutions were already in NC7 and other models. But the NC9 has a unique feature – they’re not minimalist. Previously, the company limited itself to a minimum of elements on the case, but here there are more than in others.

The front side has a noticeable microphone hole at the very top, and under it is a pictogram – depending on whether the right or left earpiece in front of you is marked with the letters “L” and “R”, which is surrounded by an open circle.

To the right of the letters is a light blue LED status indicator for normal charge level and red for critical. And you have to admit. This uncomplicated combination looks stylish.

Inside, two gold-plated charging contacts are at the very top, underneath the contacts, the inscription “TOZO”.

Charge Case

The charger case is compact and neat. On the top of the inscription in big letters – “TOZO”. The bottom side has technical information and certification. On the front side are four LED charge indicators in white, and above them, a small groove for easy opening of the case. A small innovation – the cover of the case is made of matte material, but the trim in the center of the glossy adds to its attractiveness.

The USB Type-C charging port is on the back, in the center. On the inside, the surface is matte, but the charging slots are glossy. It is interesting that on the cover, the model’s technical specifications are written: resistance, frequency ranges, battery capacity, water protection standard, and even the ANC active noise cancellation technology mentioned.

There are no questions about the design of TOZO NC9 – the model turned out to be interesting and original. The only embarrassing thing is the charge indication – a digital indication would look more appropriate.

Protection

If before, protection against moisture was a luxury. Now it’s no surprise – even budget devices get a well-sealed case. This parameter is especially important for those who are going to use the headphones as a hiking gadget – for morning jogs and for trips to work. In the crowd, they can be dropped in a puddle or a downpour, and the sweat is not to be discounted.

That’s why having the NC9’s IPX6 water protection is so important: it keeps the device safe from water at all angles, and the headphones can survive a brief brief brief immersion. Of course, there are better standards, but if you’re not going to drown the headset specifically, IPX6 is enough for everyday use.

IPX6 protection allows you to use this model for sports and rain. Some users say it works even worse than washing, but it’s better not to check.

Ergonomics

TOZO say at every opportunity that they designed the headphones’ shape. And they have the right – all models received anatomical heads with slight modifications depending on the form factor of the headphones, which fit well in the auricle.

Separately, we should highlight the work on silicone earmolds. By matching your size, you can use the TOZO NC9 while running and jumping. They have a good fit and do not squeeze, prolonging the time of comfortable use without the feeling of a foreign body.

The brand is known for its earbud sets, but you can look out for a model originally designed for people with small ears. These are the super budget TOZO A1 Mini. Yes, they, too, have a comfortable fit due to the interchangeable caps, but the body is as small and lightweight as possible.

If you plan to play sports, the NC9 has a good heat sink, and the case doesn’t get warm. So there will be no additional discomfort or sweat from the headphones.

Package Contents

TOZO does not try to make the package unique or interesting: it is always, with rare exceptions, a compact package with pre-known content: manual, separate two headphones and charging case, a case with five pairs of removable ear cushions and charging cable. Even the gaming TOZO G1 earbuds come with the same package.

The compact has no wireless charging, and the USB Type-C cable is low-quality, although it performs its functions.

The manual may be useful if the TOZO NC9 doesn’t charge – before contacting a service center, try doing a reset as described in the manual.

Sound

You can assess the headphones’ sound only in person, preferably by listening to your favorite tracks of different genres. The impressions of TOZO NC9 are positive – the model demonstrates a good balance of the range of frequencies, as much as it is possible for budget headphones. Yes, there is a little emphasis on the bass, while the middle part is slightly sagging. Vocals sound clear, thanks to the quality stereo speakers. Their size is 9.2 mm, which is a good indicator – such a diameter allows you to cover the desired spectrum and output the desired power physically. As you increase the volume level, the sound of the tracks is not spoiled, and the sounds do not overlap – maybe some instruments are subsiding, but they still sound separate without mixing in a pile of incomprehensible noise.

The headphones support Transparency Mode, which is good because TOZO has models with active noise cancellation but without Transparency Mode. But NC9 has this mode, which means you can do any affairs that do not require increased concentration while listening to your favorite tracks and hearing the sounds of the world around you. Yes, one of the microphones picks up sound from outside and plays it along with the music. The mode is convenient, but it is better to take out the headphones when crossing the road or working.

Of the minuses – the official application does not support these headphones, so you will have to look for a third-party equalizer if the sound “out of the box” is not enough.

Microphone

The built-in microphones are a delight for their price. You can be sure if you’re working in the office or talking to a friend on a noisy street, the person you’re talking to will still hear you. The headphones are equipped with good microphones, which can filter out noise around and record only your voice. Of the minuses – sometimes the voice may sound muffled or a little off, as in life, because noise cancellation is not ideal for the input devices.

By the way, the hybrid triple-layer noise cancellation will allow you to hear the person you’re talking to clearly in almost any situation, and here’s why:

1. The first microphone is outside and “listens” to ambient sounds. After that, the processor processes the received data and gives out antijamming, allowing to reduce of unnecessary sounds substantially;
2. The second microphone is on the inside and picks up the sounds that have penetrated the space between the earbud and the head of the headphone, and the intelligent system also cuts them off;
3. The third degree of protection is trivial but no less effective – silicone ear cushions provide passive noise isolation. And despite the supposed simplicity of the technology, it produces results – up to 90% less sound enters the ear canal.

As with the NC7, this model is well suited for calling and working, thanks to ANC and high-quality microphones.

Connecting TOZO NC9 to Android or iOS

To connect, you need the following:

1. Turn on the pairing mode – Bluetooth on Android, iOS, and Windows devices;
2. Take the headphones out of the case;
3. Select “TOZO-NC9” on the device and connect it.

If the TOZO NC9 doesn’t work with the left or right earphone after pairing, don’t panic – in most cases, reconnecting can fix it. Instead, return the headphones to the case, disconnect the Bluetooth and try pairing again – the problem sometimes occurs if you do this procedure too quickly on all the headphones.

Functionality

The TOZO NC9 Wireless Hybrid Noise Cancelling Headphones get several useful features:

• USB Type-C interface allows for fast, but wireless charging is also available;
• Control the headphones using the touch panel on the housing;
• Three-layer noise canceling, combining both active noise control systems and passive noise canceling through the use of silicone ear cushions;
• There are voice prompts;
• Two noise-canceling microphones for calls;
• One-step pairing with Bluetooth devices (Bluetooth version 5.0).

No firmware update is available on the NC9. The brand’s official Android and iOS app does not support these headphones – only the older Pro and Pro Max models. But TOZO regularly updates the app, so perhaps support will appear in the future.

Control

How to use TOZO NC9 earbuds with a touch control system:

• Pressing: start/pause, accept/reject the call (“L” and “R”), holding toggles between Noise Cancelling and Transparency Mode (L);
• 2 pushes: “L” – previous song, “R” – next song;
• 3 pushes: “R” activates the voice assistant;
• Press for 2 seconds: call reset, “L” – lower, “R” – add volume.

Controls are intuitive and stable – no phantom triggers.

Power

The TOZO NC9 has a battery life of 10.4 hours on a single charge and another 24 hours with the charging case. But practical tests show a different result: from one charge of 4.2 hours, from the case of about 17 hours more or 3 full charges.

Wireless headphone charging is supported and lasts less than two hours – depending on the charger, but usually 1.5 hours.