Frequency response range: 12Hz – 44.1kHz
Audio codec: LDAC / AAC / SBC
Bluetooth version:BT 5.3
Battery capacity: 55mAh(earphones) / 500mAh(charging case)
Music play time (AAC, Default setting, 50% volume)*:
Max Noise Cancellation: 5h (single charge)
Noise Cancellation Off: 8h (single charge)
Water resistance – earphone: IPX6
Weight (each ear):5.8g（±0.2g）
Weight (charging case):43g（±1g）
Weight (entire device):54.6g（±1g）
Dimensions of charging case:69.9*34.2*38.2mm
Total Score
Introduction
Greetings to all Hifitopia readers looking for wireless earbuds. I’m here today to show you another option. The earbuds we’ll be reviewing are the Golden X1 from Tozo—a brand I’ve also had the chance to get to know.
TOZO is a brand generally known for its budget-friendly, entry-level TWS earbuds. However, with the Golden X1, they aim to raise the bar and target the audiophile and upper-mid-range TWS market. Featuring a massive 12mm dynamic driver and a balanced armature (BA) bearing the Knowles logo for high frequencies, this model promises incredible performance on paper with a price tag under $150. Let’s see how well the Golden X1 lives up to these promises in real-world testing.
The unit I have was sent to me by Tozo for an independent review. I’d like to thank them for adhering to our principles of integrity.
Note: This review is based on the product after the V3.1.9 update.
Design & Build
The TOZO Golden X1 is a TWS earbud designed to combine functionality and sound quality. To that end, the box contains the following items:
- TOZO Golden X1 Earbuds (Left and Right)
- Wireless Charging Case with LED Status Display
- 6 Pairs of Silicone Ear Tips (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL – Size M pre-installed)
- USB-C Charging Cable
- User Manual and Quick Start Guide
The Golden X1 boasts a sleek design with its matte black finish and understated gold accents on the body. In terms of ergonomics, pressure is evenly distributed across the ear canal, so they don’t tire your ears even during extended use. The IPX6 water resistance rating protects the device from sweat and heavy rain splashes, making it reliable for sports use. The ear tips included in the box are oval-shaped and come in six sizes.
The most striking feature of the charging case is the digital LED battery display that appears when you open the lid. This display instantly shows both the case’s remaining charge percentage and the charge status of the right and left earbuds in bar graph form. The case also supports Qi wireless charging.
Technology
Golden X1’s technological specifications are quite impressive for its price. In its hybrid driver architecture, the 12mm dynamic driver handles the low and mid frequencies, while the upper-mid and high frequencies are handled by a Knowles balanced armature (BA). This configuration covers a wide frequency range from 12 Hz to 44.1 kHz. On the connectivity side, it features a Bluetooth 5.3 chip and supports the LDAC codec. When data is transmitted at 990 kbps via LDAC, the improvement in audio resolution is noticeable.
ANC
Tozo Golden X1 features a -42 dB TOZO W-ANC noise-canceling system; however, while this system performs well with low-frequency steady noises (such as airplane or bus engines), it delivers average performance with human voices. I found the ANC to fall somewhere between average and above-average: it’s effective at sound isolation, but the sound character changes significantly when ANC is enabled. The sound undergoes an acoustic change, which isn’t exactly what we’d like. Still, it’s not a major issue. I found the Transparency mode to be quite effective.
APP Support
The TOZO app offers 16 preset EQ profiles, as well as a 10-band parametric EQ that allows users to make highly precise adjustments. It also includes a hearing test that measures your hearing and automatically creates an EQ profile based on the results. But that’s not all: the app also includes additional functional features such as AI real-time translation, face-to-face translation, AI chat, and meeting recording. The app also offers a library of soothing and focus-enhancing sounds. To be honest, how flawlessly all of this works or how necessary it is is a very personal matter. However, I see an effort here to create a well-crafted and versatile product, and I really appreciate that. Thats a really nice app.
Call Quality
Simply put, it works just fine indoors. The sound comes through clearly to the other person. It also works outdoors when it’s not too noisy, but in noisy environments, you might have to raise your voice to carry on a conversation. I’d say it’s average in this regard.
Sound
The TOZO Golden X1 exhibits a balanced V-shaped sound signature in its factory (default) settings. However, since the drivers have high hardware potential, it’s possible to fine-tune the sound to an extremely mature and harmonious level using the in-app EQ. Under normal circumstances, we don’t recommend adjusting the EQ on headphones because, unless you’re an expert, you’ll ruin the sound. However, modern wireless headphones like these feature powerful DSP chips and software-based auto-tuning. This means you won’t easily distort the amplitude and ruin the sound. Therefore, there’s no harm in adjusting the EQ on these types of headphones.
Bass
12mm dynamic driver, quite generous in the lower frequencies. The sub-bass extension is deep, delivering a distinct rumble and body. The mid-bass hits are satisfying and fast. The sub-bass is more pronounced than the mid-bass (which is exactly what we want). Although the bass is slightly dominant in the default profile, it doesn’t bleed significantly into the lower-mid range. The low frequencies are generally excellent for hip-hop, pop, and EDM, and they also perform quite well with instrumental tracks.
Mid
The midrange remains clean and keeps vocals well-defined as the Knowles BA kicks in toward the higher frequencies. There’s plenty of instrumental space and transparency in the midrange. Instruments sound quite natural and full-bodied. The texture isn’t spectacular, but it’s good, and there’s a fair amount of detail here. The timbre great for price.
Treble
The trebles are extremely detailed, fast, and airy because they’re processed directly by the Knowles BA driver. The decay of the high frequencies and the ability to capture micro-details are superior to most TWS earbuds in this price range. However, on brightly recorded tracks, you might occasionally notice a slight “BA timbre” (metallic texture). Still, it remains within a natural range, and to be honest, it didn’t sound bad at all on the jazz tracks I occasionally played while testing the Golden X1. This section is extremely successful at adding the airiness and detail the sound needs.
Last Words
The Tozo Golden X1 is a great product thanks to its dual-driver design and versatility. The build quality is excellent. I think it’s worth the $130 price tag. It offers app support with a wide range of options. It’s one of the best choices in this price range.
