Tozo Golden X1 Review 

Intro 

Hello, this review and feature covers the flagship model true wireless earbuds from the audio brand Tozo named the Tozo Golden X1 ($129). I was asked recently if I’d be interested in reviewing the Golden X1 and I didn’t hesitate in saying yes. I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying many Tozo earbuds in the past and I’ve always been a fan of this brand. Always price to performance style products which offer more than most brands. Now, the Golden X1 is actually a two-driver hybrid setup composed of one dynamic driver and one Knowles balanced armature driver. To add to that, the Golden X1 is loaded with features which I will dive into further into this review. I should also point out that the Golden X1 has been out on the market for quite some time. I believe since 2023. So, it’s a couple years old. The nice thing is that all of the tech housed within the Golden X1 are all still relevant and new by market standards. 

Tozo

I did a little homework and found out that Tozo was established all the way back in 2015, which totally took me by surprise. What was even more surprising was that they were founded in Seattle, Washington of all places. Now, it’s based in the US, but all the manufacturing seems to come from China. The name Tozo reportedly stands for Technology Orientation (To) and Zone (zo), which makes sense. However, the fact that they’ve been around for over 10 years now speaks volumes. Also, the success of their products is pretty astounding too. Sets like the Tozo T6, Tozo T10, the set I’m reviewing today, the Golden X1, Tozo HT2 ANC, and two models from the PA series named the Tozo PA1 and Tozo PA2 are all very successful within the market. Not to mention the other products that I didn’t name. I like to get a good understanding of the maker, and it does build some confidence knowing that Tozo has been in the game this long. That’s a very telling thing folks. No doubt there’s a reason that they’ve lasted in one of the more difficult markets to last in…obviously they’re good at what they do. 

Let’s get this going… 

No doubt about it the Golden X1 most certainly has plenty of competition out there. The market of tws iems is vast, and there is no shortage of decent offerings, especially over the $100 barrier. Now, I can tell you for sure right now that the Golden X1 is a very solid set. I’ve tried/reviewed and decided to “not” review more than enough tws iems because they weren’t up to par. The Golden X1 can and will… hold its own. However, it does have a few shortcomings to be aware of. Of course, I will certainly speak on the loads of good as well as the not-so-good. With that, I think I’m ready folks. So, without further ado… the Tozo Golden X1… 

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

–Tozo

–Amazon 

–Walmart

–Best Buy

Golden X1 Pros

-Build Quality is substantial 

-I really like this design style for a tws earbud

-The Golden X1 is a very comfy set, great for long sessions

-Dual hybrid drivers (1DD/1KnowlesBA)

-Tozo app is very nicely done with a ton of features

-Wireless Charging

-Takes to EQ nicely

-Very musical sound, awesome organic style timbre

-Deep guttural bass, nicely defined, not too saturated

-The Mids are clean, nicely bodied, rich, and they have just enough shimmer

-Non-Offensive yet semi-brilliant treble, nicely detailed

-I find the soundstage to be very well laid out

Tozo Golden X1 Cons

-No Aptx codec of any kind

-Control scheme on the earbuds is somewhat complicated compared to other buds

-ANC is only about average at best

-Bluetooth range is not the best either

-No in-ear detection 

-No other true “cons” in my opinion

Packaging / Accessories 

Unboxing Experience 

I think we can all agree that it’s very rare to see a true wireless with even a halfway decent unboxing experience. The reason being is that there really aren’t very many accessories to add. I actually feel that Tozo added a nice unboxing for the Golden X1. In relation to what’s out in the market anyways. At any rate, the Golden X1 arrived at my door in a medium sized black box with a picture of the X1’s on the sleeve cover. Take off the sleeve and you’ll notice a fully black box underneath with the name “Tozo” in the center. Take off the box top and right away you will see the X1 earbuds sitting pretty in formed plastic tray cut-outs. Next to the X1 is the charging case and under that are two boxes. One box has the eartips and the other holds the charging cable. All in all it’s a nice unboxing. I don’t talk it up too much because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone. Just know this, the packaging looks fitting of a $129 tws iem. 

Eartips 

So this brings us to the Tozo Golden X1’s eartips provided within the packaging. Tozo adds in six pairs of eartips in total running from extra-small to what I presume is extra-large. These eartips are white silicone tips which have a typical (for a tws) shallow fit and an oval bore. I actually like these eartips and feel that many folks will have an easy time getting a good seal with them. They have a more firm flange which holds its form better making a seal easier. However, as nice as they are, I found better tips to use with this set. As I always do and as you should do, I tip rolled through my collection of eartips. I used everything from narrow bore Final Audio E-Tips, to Divinus Wide Bore tips, and everything in between. What I ended up finding out was the best tips to use for this set (for my ears) was the Tenmak Whirlwind eartips. They have that super rigid stem, rigid and firm flange, shallow fit, but the bore is huge and really opens up the midrange on this set without suppressing or attenuating the lows. I tried other wide-bote tips and they didn’t do as well as the Whirlwinds. Actually, Tenmak Whirlwind eartips are my little secret and when you need them, they are some of the best wide bore tips on planet earth. One more thing that I’ll finish later, the fact that Tozo made a case that can fit eartips such as the Whirlwinds which is an enormous plus. However, one reason that I didn’t go with some other longer tips or deeper fit tips is that they simply wouldn’t fit in the charging case. 

Charging Case

It is so important to add in a good charging case folks. This is clearly one of the best cases that I’ve seen in the price point. So, the case is a medium sized pill-shaped case, opens from the top, magnets hold it shut, the usual. This is a very sturdy and well-built plastic case. Nothing flimsy or chinsy. It’s made well folks. Up to $130 standards I’d say. However, what I think is pretty neat is that this case digitally shows you the battery percentage of both the case and the left/right earbuds. Oh, did I mention that the screen is actually a small e-ink display. How cool is that?! You can see this when you open the lid and right between the earbuds is data for both. Another cool trick is that Tozo made sure to add wireless charging on the Golden X1. Wireless charging is not as much of a guarantee as it used to be and so it’s nice to have the option to charge the case wirelessly if need be. I should also add that the charging case provides an additional 32 hours of battery life on top of the 8 hours on the buds themselves. However, for me personally, I really like this case for a couple additional reasons. For one, the charging case is actually large enough to fit “some” 3rd party eartips. No longer eartips, but many shallow style. Which is nice. I was very happy to see that. Next, the case is just small enough to fit in the little pocket inside of my jeans where I usually keep my tws. In truth, I can’t find anything wrong with this case. Very nice. 

Build / Design / Internals / Fit / Chipset / Controls 

Build / Design 

The Tozo Golden X1 is made entirely of hard plastic materials making them feel and look substantial. All rounded curves everywhere on this set and it is very comfortable. Now, the Golden X1 has a somewhat unusual build as it does feature a stem, but it is very short. I like this style a lot. It reaches a little closer to the mouth over non-stem style sets, but it also looks better than traditional stem style earbuds. Also, the touch surface is very large in this set, and it is very receptive to any touches. Overall, I think the build is very nice. Again, just like the case, the earbuds themselves are made very well. You’ll notice once you get your hands on them. As far as the design, the Golden X1 comes in four color options at purchasing. Those colors are Black, Blue, Champagne, and Galaxy Blue / Black. I have the Champagne colorway, and I think it looks flat-out slick. Tozo did an awesome job on the appearance and overall aesthetic of this set. Really a nice looking and premium design that looks good in the hand and in the ear. 

Internals 

Like I said earlier, the Tozo Golden X1 is actually a dual-driver hybrid iem which is not something we usually see on the market at this cost. To be exact, the Golden X1 uses one DD and one BA. Now, the dynamic driver is actually a 12mm Carbon Nanotube which is a wild thing to see in a true wireless. Next, just as awesome is that Tozo chose to use a Knowles balanced armature driver. From what I could find out doing a little homework is that the bass (sub-bass / mid-bass) is covered solely by the large 12mm DD. The rest of the frequency (midrange / treble) is covered by the Knowles BA. Beyond the drivers, the Golden X1 features one really nice SOC chip. However, I have absolutely no idea what chip it is. Whatever it is, it allows Bluetooth 5.3, LDAC, ANC/ENC, Pass through, and a host of other features. Beyond that, the Golden X1 also carries a total of three microphones for use with ANC and ENC call purposes (more on that later). Also, inside of the Golden X1 is a 55 mAH Battery which also takes up quite a bit of space. Basically, Tozo squeezed a lot of stuff inside of the Golden X1’s housing which is quite surprising that the X1 is not a huge set of earbuds. 

Chipset

Now, I wish I could answer this for you all, but I cannot find anywhere that Tozo has mentioned the chipset that they used in this set. I have scoured the internet looking and the closest I’ve come to allowing all of these features is a little-known chipset that was also used by Soundpeats for a few sets, or A Qualcomm chipset. However, I don’t know for sure and so I cannot say for sure. I know one thing; it is a very good chipset that allows almost all of the flagship features. 

Fit / Comfort 

As far as the fit goes, the Golden X1 is a very lightweight set of tws earbuds, and they are also a very ergonomic set of earbuds. I have had a very easy time wearing this set for long periods of time. Hours upon hours for many days they sat in my ears, and never once did I feel that I needed to take them out. Now, how will they fit you? That I don’t know. Yet I have to imagine that they’d fit your ears similar to how they fit my ears. Mostly due to the shorter nozzle. Find the right tips and you’ll see what I mean. 

Earbud Controls

The Tozo Golden X1 has just about every control on the earbuds themselves, which is always a huge thing. Very nice. However, it is kind of a weird scheme. Not exactly user friendly. Not that I didn’t commit it to memory reasonably quickly, but it’s an odd scheme. Furthermore, you can change “some” of the touch controls in the app. I was trying to figure out how best to explain this, but I think I simply need to go through each one. So, one left tap is to change ANC modes. Dual taps on the left side changes to the previous song. Or, in the Tozo Sound app you can change the double tap to a few other options. Also, triple tap on the left side is normal mode. Which means it switches back to no ANC, and you cannot change this. Long pressing the left side turns the volume down. Now, on the right side a single tap can play/pause, answer calls or you can change this one in the app. I don’t know why you’d want to. Next, double tap is originally designated for the next song. This control can also be changed. Then, triple tap will bring up your voice assistant. Oddly enough, this you cannot change in the app. Lastly, hold down the right side and you’ll turn the volume up. So, it’s nice that you can do most all features from the touch surface. But they are kind of difficult to learn right away. 

Control Functionality 

Okay, now that we’ve gone over (to a degree) the control scheme and what the buttons do, I very quickly want to brag in Tozo for a minute because the Golden X1’s are perfectly sensitive. What do I mean by “perfectly sensitive”? Well, they aren’t too sensitive, and they aren’t unsensitive. Also, I love that the touch surface is the entire faceplate area of the Golden X1. I know this seems like a small thing but so many earbud brands get this wrong. Most are way too sensitive. Constant phantom touches screwing up my listening sessions. Not the Golden X1. Tozo obviously know what they are doing because the sensitivity is perfect. 

🧾 TOZO Golden X1 Specifications

🎧 Driver Configuration

Dual-driver hybrid design

1 × 12 mm dynamic driver (carbon nanotube diaphragm)

1 × customized Knowles balanced-armature driver

🔊 Sound Performance

Frequency response range: 12 Hz – 44.1 kHz

Impedance: 28 Ω

Sensitivity: 108 ± 3 dB

Tuning aim: balanced, detailed presentation with extended bass and clean treble

🔗 Wireless Connectivity

Bluetooth version 5.3

Supported codecs: LDAC / AAC / SBC

Transmission distance: up to 10 m (33 ft)

Multipoint connection supported

⚙️ Chipset & Processing

High-end Bluetooth SoC (DSP model not publicly specified)

Integrated hybrid ANC and ENC signal processing

Triple-microphone system per earbud

🔇 Noise Control & Microphones

Hybrid ANC (up to ≈ 35 – 42 dB noise reduction)

Transparency mode / Ambient listening

ENC for clear voice calls

Three microphones on each earbud

🔋 Battery & Charging

Up to 8 hours per charge (ANC off)

≈ 4 – 5 hours per charge (ANC on)

≈ 32 hours total with charging case

USB-C wired charging (fast charging) and Qi wireless charging

Case features digital battery level display

💧 Build & Design

Material: matte plastic surface texture. Many different colorways

Ergonomic bean-style shell with short stem

IPX6 water resistance (earbuds)

Compact charging case with sturdy hinge

🎛 Controls & App Support

Capacitive touch controls: single, double, triple tap + long press

Functions: play/pause, track skip, volume, ANC mode, voice assistant

TOZO App (iOS / Android) for EQ customization and gesture mapping

Many EQ presets (#32) as well as Eartune hearing test to create EQ profile

Firmware updates supported

⚖️ Dimensions & Weight

Earbuds: ≈ 5 g each

Charging case: ≈ 50 g

📦 Included Accessories

Charging case

USB-C cable

Six pairs of silicone ear tips. Shallow fit, oval wide-bore

User manual and warranty card

FEATURES 

OrigX Pro Sound

Okay, the first “feature” that I want to speak on is a feature that has almost no explanation online. That is, OrigX Pro Sound. So, what is it? Well, I suppose it’s at least a little bit up for interpretation, but from what I can find OrigX Sound is almost Tozo’s secret sauce for tuning their earbuds. However, it’s promoted as something that the Golden X1 has. Like it’s something implemented, almost like a tech. However, based on what I’ve seen, it’s almost like a tuning technique in the housing too. Friends, I really don’t know. Honestly, it’s that vague. What I know is that OrigX Sound is what Tozo uses to bring upon a large frequency curve from 12hz to 44khz. They call it their “Golden Ratio” sound tuning. We have no clue if this is a chipset DSP tuning or if it’s a tuning achieved with the housing or acoustic structure. They say that OrigX Acoustic Technology compensates for frequency loss in the ear canal curve and achieves the golden frequency response curve to bring sound closest to reality. Friends, I don’t know what this is, how it’s implemented, and I really don’t care very much. One thing I know is that the Golden X1 sounds very good, and if “OrigX Sound” has anything to do with it, then it must be pretty special. 

Audio Codecs

One of the main selling points of the Golden X1 has to be its usage of the LDAC audio codec. Arguably one of the better high-resolution codecs available on the market today. LDAC can decide up to 990 kbs of data which puts you squarely into hi-res territory. Pretty much lossless audio. Up to 24bit and 96khz. I find that the LDAC on the Golden X1 clearly makes for the most impressive listening sessions. The reason for that is because the Golden X1 unfortunately only has two other codecs available. Those are AAC codec and SBC codec. It’s nice for Apple / IOS users as they need AAC codec for the best sound quality on Apple products, but not having Aptx is quite a hit. However, Tozo made up for it by giving us one of the best audio codecs on planet earth. Definitely a huge selling point and good to see in their flagship model. 

Active Noise Cancellation 

One feature that true wireless earbuds of all price ranges have anymore is ANC. However, not all ANC implementations are created equal. This much I have seen in my time reviewing tws earbuds. So, the Golden X1 actually has a three-layer hybrid style ANC which can be changed in the app or on the earbuds themselves. So, the three layer ANC modes are Noise Cancellation, Leisure Mode, and Custom Pattern. Also, they added in Reduce Wind Noise as well. Now, the strongest of them all is “Noise Cancellation” which is supposed to attenuate up to 42 db’s of sound. Next would likely be Wind Noise Reduction. Which does help in that regard pretty well. Then you have Leisure Mode which is basically a very moderate version of ANC. Lastly, Tozo added in Custom Pattern which gives the user to choose from level 1 through level 10 depending on how strong they want their ANC. So, they added in plenty of options which is nice. 

ANC effectiveness

Okay, so I’ve gone over the different modes of noise cancellation, but how well does the Golden X1 perform against other tws iems on the market. To be perfectly honest I’d say about average. Let’s put it this way, most tws sets which have ANC marketed as having “55 db’s of cancellation”! Folks, nobody even knows what that means. The fact that Tozo was being honest and said only 42 db’s of cancelation is very honest of them. The truth is that the Golden X1 does an average job of attenuating some lower frequency noises. As honest as I can be, Leisure Mode is almost like not having ANC on. Just a titch of slightly reduced noises in the background. So, at its best the Golden X1 will dampen the sounds of a fan for instance. Just a touch. I have a fan blowing in me every night of my life and I do hear reduced sound. Or the humming of a car engine. They work well for constant low frequency sounds. Sharp noises, higher pitched noises, or human voices go right through. So, about average. It’s a nice feature and it works but it won’t compete with the best at the price point. Still, not bad at all. 

Transparency Mode

This brings us to the opposite of ANC with “Transparency Mode”. What is Transparency Mode? Well, it basically provides the listener with an enhanced ability to hear outside noises whilst listening to music or videos. Once again, not all Transparency Modes or Pass through Modes are created equal either. I have heard upwards of 200 sets with a transparency mode available and 90% of them sound mostly unnatural. Almost all of them. Yes, you can hear the outside world, but it will come across slightly tinny, or metallic sounding. Thankfully, Tozo actually added one of the better and more natural transparency modes that I’ve heard. The sound which comes through is pretty organic actually. Nothing tinny, nothing artificial sounding either. It may not be the strongest that I’ve ever heard, but it’s very natural. So, kudos to Tozo for a job well done on that one. 

Multi-Point Connection

Another very nice feature of the Golden X1’s is the ability to connect to two devices at once using multi-point connection. This is always a useful feature for anyone who actually uses it. I rarely use it because I’m rarely using two devices at one time, but I have used it, and I’d say it works like a charm. Basically, if I’m watching a video on my iPad and get a phone call on my smartphone all I have to do is answer the phone call on my phone and the connection will temporarily switch to my phone. Again, it’s very useful. I remember when multi-point connection was a novelty and awesome feature praised as the next new thing. However, it’s gotten so watered down that Tozo doesn’t even reference it in their promotional material. Anyways, it works well friends. 

Battery Life

The next feature to speak on is the battery life on the Golden X1. Now, in my opinion it is very good for anyone who doesn’t need to use ANC. Like me. I don’t ever really feel the need to use ANC. Perhaps in my office. However, in life when I’m just milling around, cleaning, chilling, watching videos or music I really don’t need it. I say that because without ANC the Golden X1 will get you a fairly large 8 hours of battery life. That said, with ANC on you can net around 4-5 hours. Not that 4-5 hours is miniscule or anything, it’s just not class leading. Still impressive enough for a set with a two-driver configuration. I read all the time when some folks will complain about battery life and not once stop to think of “why” the battery life may not be super high or… class leading. Folks, this set has a huge 12 mm Carbon Nanotube driver as well as a very nice Knowles Balanced Armature Driver. These drivers need to be powered, and they need to be powered to a satisfactory volume level. It’s no wonder that battery life isn’t huge with ANC on. The only option Tozo would have is to reduce volume, get rid of LDAC, or make their buds much larger to fit a bigger battery. You only have so many options folks. In the end, I’m more than happy with what Tozo provides. It isn’t unusual to see 4 hours with LDAC and ANC at all. Also, how many of you listen for longer than 4 hours?! 

Charging 

Another nice aspect and feature of the Golden X1 is its ability to fast charge via usb-c connection and through Qi wireless charging. I don’t have any numbers to give you, but I can tell you that both methods of charging works well and, in my opinion, the Golden X1 does so pretty fast. This is always a welcome feature in any set of earbuds. Furthermore, Tozo has something which they refer to as “Smartpow” charging. It’s basically an algorithmic charging method to properly charge your earbuds. I think. Now, it isn’t explicitly said anywhere what exactly Smartpow charging is. Once again it is a Tozo proprietary term that is pretty vague in its implementation and what it does. However, Tozo does mention it twice in their promotional material. I think that I can deduce that “Smartpow” is somewhat short for “Smart Power”, which would lend me to believe that it is a power regulating algorithm based on my, or your, charging habits. However, there is once again nothing, anywhere, in any blog, no thread, no manual, no website, nothing which explains it. Lol. Which is honestly fine with me. I could care less. Hey, if it helps the battery of my X1’s, then I am more than happy about that. 

Phone Calls

This next feature is one which is better than I thought it would be. That is… phone calls. I have many meetings at my day job and I almost always use whatever buds I’m reviewing. I noticed that with these 3 mics on each earbud I get a pretty natural sound from them. My voice to others comes across naturally. Well, natural for a set of tws earbuds. Don’t expect it to beat some $400 pairs meant for this purpose. Still, all phone calls come across on the natural side. Of course, I won’t fail to mention the fact that the Golden X1 comes equipped with those 3 mics because it was outfitted with ENC noise cancellation for phone calls in particular. ENC will attenuate certain background noises like a crowded room, wind noise etc. While I don’t consider the Golden X1 to be flagship level in this regard, it is very good. Enough to call it a “pro”. 

Tozo app

Another feature that I need to speak on is one of the Golden X1’s best features. Albeit, it isn’t really a feature on the earbuds, but rather a feature that Tozo earbuds get to use. That is the Tozo app. I praise so many of these wireless brands for incorporating apps into their product, but I am absolutely cheering on Tozo’s wonderful job on their app. It has a litany of features folks. You can do everything from firmware upgrades, assigning control schemes, EQ out the wazoo, select noise cancellation settings, settings in general, AI integrated hearing test, Ai translation (I have no idea how well this works and haven’t tried it), and even a robust community which you can share your EQ settings, chat, and grow within the community. Also, there is a bunch more very useful and cool stuff within the app as well. Not every app is created equal folks and Tozo has proven that with the Golden X1. I suppose I never really spent much time in this app in the past. Or perhaps they really cleaned it up because it is a polished app for wireless earbuds. Now, this app doesn’t require you to login with a password and email, but it helps you to do more within the app with it. Furthermore, there is a membership service that you can get for some amount of money to access stuff like Ai voice chat and other paid tier abilities. Honestly, the simple free version basically gives you everything you’d want for a casual listener. I definitely applaud Tozo, a great app and easily one of its best features. 

Tozo app UI

So, the Tozo app is very easy to navigate. I won’t go over every last feature, but I will give you a 3,000-foot view of the app in general. I’ll let you figure the most of it out when you get a chance to use it. So, the Home Page starts you out with the ability to use the hearing test called “Eartune” which again is using AI algorithms to figure out your hearing abilities and creates a personalized sound profile which fits you. Next, you can use all of the ANC features which lets you change the ANC setting that you are using. Then you have the EQ features which includes a 10-band graphic equalizer that lets you save the profile that you create to the earbuds themselves and to the app as well. You can have many multiple profiles which are stored in the app. Also, you can share those settings with the community. That brings me to the community. Yes, you can use other people’s profiles as well that they’ve shared. Very cool. Also, the Tozo app has 32 preset sound profiles for you to use. I won’t list them all, but they have “Bass+”,” Bass-”, Treble+”,” Treble-“, ” Classical”, “Jazz”, and a bunch more preset EQ profiles to choose from. Next, there is an Ai feature which allows you to record meetings, Ai translation, Ai chat, as well as listen to many soothing sounds and harmonies to listen to if you want to relax, fall asleep, meditate, etc. There’s a community page, a products page, and a personal page (My Tozo) as well where you can go through settings, use AI, speak with customer service etc. That’s my 3,000’ view of an awesome app. 

EQ

A features section would be nothing without speaking on the EQ capabilities of a true wireless set. Thankfully, Tozo provides so many ways to tweak the sound that I’m fairly confident that you wouldn’t be able to run through them all in a 3-hour window. Again, you have the graphic equalizer which does a surprisingly well job of switching up the sound. Better said, the Golden X1 takes to EQ better than most tws earbuds. I have many profiles saved and I am so very impressed with how much I can switch up the sound without distortion or weird audio artifacts. However, the beauty of making your own profile is that it saves on the earbuds themselves. This means that you can use this personally made EQ profile on every phone, tablet, app, or any device that you connect the Golden X1 to. Also, the community page is awesome. I love going through other people’s profiles and hearing what they are hearing. So, the graphic equalizer is really pretty special. Now, you also have those 32 preset EQ settings that also save to the Golden X1, should you choose one of them. 32! The last way that you can dial in the sound is through the Ai integrated hearing test called “Eartune”. I haven’t used this because my hearing is actually quite good and I don’t have weak spots in my hearing, but for those who do; check this out for sure. Anyways, I just wanted to speak a little bit more about the robust EQ capabilities with the Tozo app. 

Sound Impressions 

*Note: before I dive headfirst into the sound portion of this review I want to 1st speak on a few things. First off, I am only going to explain to you the out-of-the-box sound. No EQ, no changes from the standard sound. I may explain some of the settings that I use, but primarily I’m speaking of the factory setting sound. Next, I used Tenmak Whirlwind eartips as I truly feel they provide the best sound with this set. For all critical listening I used LDAC audio codec. All of my listening is also done using flac or better files (some mp3) which are stored on my devices. Rarely do I stream my music. When listening I usually use UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) as my Android music player as well as Poweramp. 

What’s it sound like? 

To my ears the Tozo Golden X1 comes across with a very nice mix of musical/analytical playback. I’d say that the Golden X1 is mostly a musicality-first set with a nice and warm tonal color, great balance across the mix, and it has a nicely rich sound too. Nice semi-rich note weight. However, it also provides a very clear and clean sound which is able to resolve many subtle details too. Again, I am speaking on the out-of-the-box sound, no EQ whatsoever. Truthfully, I don’t think EQ is even necessary to have good audio with this set. Now, in my opinion I’d say that the musicality/analytical split is something like 60/40. Certainly, a warmer sound, immersive, engaging, and able to draw out the emotion from my music quite well for a set of wireless earbuds. On top of that, the soundstage is actually fairly wide to my ears. It’s full, and it even has some depth to it as well. Something I don’t usually attribute to tws earbuds very often. I hear a very wide frequency range which only gets better using LDAC. 

Slight V-shape

If I were to call the Golden X1 anything, I’d say it has a slight V-shaped sound. I say that because this set certainly has a lifted low-end as well as a somewhat lifted and sparkly treble. There is a slight low-mid recession too, though I do find the mids to carry a decent presence and clarity. All-in-all, the Golden X1 has a nice dynamic balance as well. Yes, the bass is emphasized, but it isn’t all encompassing or too saturated. Everything is very cohesive too. Nice transitions from the bass to the mids and from the mids to the treble. The DD is smooth and dynamic, and the Knowles BA is also smooth and dynamic. They go together very well and there’s no noticeable difference between them in transient speed or tonality. Tozo did a nice job. Hence why I chose to review this set. 

Timbre

One thing which stands out to me is the natural-warm hue and more organic style timbre that the Golden X1 has. Certainly, this set is all about engagement with the listener. It comes across in an earthy way yet has the clarity and resolution to sound fairly precise. I’d say that transients are about average in speed, but every note also comes with a nice level of dynamism too. Macro-dynamics are nice and expressive and help to create an immersive atmosphere to my ears. Really some very nice timbre folks. Nothing shouty at all, no glare, no sibilance at all, and you won’t hear anything glaring peaky, or piercing either. The cadence of this set is smooth. This isn’t an ultra-precise sounding set in that it doesn’t necessarily come across overtly analytical, clinical, dry, and it doesn’t sound flat or boring either. The Golden X1 is a fun sounding true wireless iem with a great musical style that also has a high level of resolution to go with that rhythmic sound. Smooth, groovy, fluid in every note, yet it also carries just enough crispness to etch around notes when needed. 

Context

Before I go any further, I want to ask that you read these words in the context that I am speaking. Friends, I’m talking about a set of tws. I am not speaking about a set of $129 wired iems. There’s a certain difference there folks. So, when I say words like great, awesome, nice, and wonderful, I am referring to the Golden X1’s ability to sound those ways against other $100 to $150 true wireless sets. Okay, moving on… 

A quality set… 

Let’s get one thing clear, when Tozo proclaims that the Golden X1 can produce a frequency range of 12hz to 44khz, they weren’t joking folks. At least it certainly seems that way. I say that because the sound of this set is certainly wide in its range. Deep sublevel rumble and sparkly highs with very nice extension I to the upper treble. Whatever Tozo is doing they should keep doing it. Maybe it’s the use of quality drivers (12mm carbon nanotube DD, Knowles BA), maybe it’s the acoustic structure and solid DSP chips, or maybe it’s their proprietary OrigX Pro sound which helps them to tune this set in this way. I don’t know. However, the Golden X1 is certainly a quality set when it comes to doing what it is supposed to do best, replaying music for our ears to listen to. Let’s quickly check out each 3rd of the mix shall we… 

Bass Region

The bass is big, it hits hard, it has good density and doesn’t sound like a typical tws set of earbuds. There’s some really nice physicality as well as a very guttural sublevel response that can judder when a track calls for it. Though, it won’t ever overtake the mix by sounding muddy or too saturated. Each note is pretty concise and nicely contoured (depending on the track). Having said that, EQ’ing any additional db’s in this region can almost turn this set into a basshead level tws. Still, the stock bass tuning definitely has a solid emphasis. I’d say it is certainly directed more towards the sub-bass too, with a very haptic and rigid bass that I can feel as well as hear. The mid-bass isn’t as present and beefy, but it still hits with relative authority. I’d call it a bass that shows up when called upon. Not big enough to create veil across the mix or make the sound murky. The mid-bass remains pretty clean, nicely defined, and it carries a tight transient response for a bigger 12mm DD. What I enjoy about the bass is that Tozo made sure not to add too much bass bleed into the midrange giving those low midrange notes a chance to breathe. 

Bass Cont… 

The bass has some nice punch, some good impact, and it isn’t a soft bass. Sure, some tracks will sound softer than others but by-and-large the bass region presents a rigid and dense portrayal of anything from bass guitars, kick drums, to hefty bass drops. I don’t hear anything weak, nothing pillowy either. Bass guitar has all the fullness it needs to sound full-bodied, but not so much to sound one-noted. Kick drums generally have that booming hollow thud and the attack on those kick drums usually has some snap, some punch, some tackiness. Very satisfying actually (for a tws). This is not some ultra snappy and super-fast bass, however. It isn’t the most detailed bass either. Sure, it doesn’t sound muddy or one-noted, but it also isn’t some peppy and tightly wound bass. It’s the type of low-end which works perfectly to give the listener some solid thump, some muscle, some boom for their workout, and it’ll give the listener something to really bob their heads to. Again, natural transients, somewhat atmospheric, but clean. 

Midrange

Looking at the mids I’d say that they come across with such a nice fluidity and smoothness as well as a slightly warmer canvas for my music to play on. Earlier I said it has a very rhythmic sound and nothing has changed since then. Note weight has some richness to it without anything sounding too cramped, closed-in, or congested. It has this warm/neutral take on the midrange which also has the clarity and openness to give notes some distinction. The mids have a very controlled presentation to my ears. Male voices have some authority, some heft, and very solid presence against the rest of the mix. There is a slight recession, but that recession isn’t nearly as evident because of the nice amount of clarity here. Though, it is easy to hear that the low-mids take a backseat to the bass and treble regions. However, I’m not complaining at all because the timbre is very nice for both vocalists as well as all instruments. Percussion has some edge; some snap to them. Strings sound harmonious and defined. Woodwinds have that upper mid crispness and liveliness too. Timbre is great folks. Very solid for a musically tuned V-shaped set of tws. 

Mids cont… 

Again, males have a subtle recession but it’s almost to the point that I don’t even want to say that because they come across with such nice presence and body. The semi-rich sound and clean liquidity help with this as Tozo had the presence of mind to not bleed too much bass into this region. The low-mids generally sound nice for such a tuning. Now, the upper mids are more forward, more vibrant, they add crispness, and they have some very solid energy as well. I notice a touch of shimmer in this region whilst not losing any of the note body which helps females to sound moist, not dry, and they come across very engaging. What you won’t hear is any shout or glare. Really it is a very well-tuned set right out-of-the-box. There may be some extremely sensitive listeners who may want to EQ down around the 3khz range, but I happen to think it’s great. Actually, in my personal EQ profile I add some db’s here. At any rate, the mids are also decently detailed considering the tuning. The Golden X1 has very nice dimensionality of this region which provides nice depth and even layering too. Nothing 2D here. Also, there is an unmistakable airiness to the sound. Just enough to sound open and aid in note separation. All things considered, Tozo did a great job on the midrange. 

Treble Region 

To me the treble is semi-brilliant with an airy quality and nice crispness. This is not a treble which is going to make sensitive listeners run for the hills, but there is some lustrous treble activity too. I feel that Tozo brings the listener right to the brink of treble liveliness and stops just short of bright. Having said that, the treble is still what I’d consider to be mostly non-offensive. I hear nice detail retrieval as well due to the subtle brilliance and clean dynamics of this Knowles balanced armature. However, it isn’t even close to what some refer to as “forced-resolution”. This is a quality tuning which gets its detail retrieval abilities, its note separation, and it’s nice edge detail from the quality of its drivers and its smart tuning. Nothing forced here. Now, I do detect subtle hints of sibilance in tracks which usually display such a thing. That said, it is nowhere near annoying to me and I hardly ever pay attention to it. Beyond that, the treble is mostly smooth in cadence. Just like the rest of the mix the treble also has that rhythmic fluid sound, nothing thin, nothing too clinical and nothing dry either. There’s an almost viscous sound in this region as each note comes with solid body. Yet in the same breath the treble has adequate note separation and air too. I happen to like the amount of out-of-the-box emphasis added to this region. The treble is a very nice supporting actor and never enforces its will in the rest of the mix. It plays along rather well and does a nice job of uplifting and adding levity rather than adding harshness. 

Treble Cont… 

The treble also has what I’d call adequate extension into the upper treble. Don’t expect anything that would be considered treble head worthy but do expect decent harmonics from your cymbals. Expect nice timbre in the upper treble which doesn’t come across overly splashy. Basically, I don’t hear a mess of treble tizz or smeared treble. In fact, if anything I’d say it has some decent-to-very good control of this region. Beyond extension, the treble region does have some treble bite, some clean edge detail, and some subtle treble punch. Many tracks display a crisp enough sound to create good contrast tonally. This isn’t a flat and boring treble to my ears. It sounds lively without sounding coarse or too sharp. Overall, the treble fits the tuning very well and really does provide a solid counterpart to the bass region. Enough emphasis to add some levity frequency-wide and enough brilliance and sparkle to provide snap to percussion, some glow to female voices as well. Once again, the treble, just like the bass and mids… is nice. 

Technicalities 

Soundstage 

Okay, so the soundstage is what I’d refer to as just above average in terms of width. I have a ton of tws from the $100 to $150 range and the Golden X1 certainly sounds above par. Height is average too, but depth is a bit better than most. I hear enough of a front to back differential to provide some layering. Granted, it’s smooth layering and not that crisp and super defined layering of notes. Still, there’s some depth of field which really aids the sound nicely. It’s good to have a stage which is strong in dimensionality. No this isn’t some huge and grand stage, and it is more intimate too, but it has a nice layout of the sound field. Let’s put it this way, I hear nothing congested at all, nothing narrow, and I don’t hear anything which sounds cramped. Soundstage is one area that tws earbuds have always suffered, but the Golden X1 most definitely bucks that trend. 

Separation / Imaging 

As far as separation goes, the Golden X1 has decent note separation which is pretty cool considering this set is a musically tuned tws set of earbuds. It has a nice amount of openness which helps along with good note control, clean note outlines, and nice transients for a tws at $129. Of course, the Golden X1 isn’t going to beat some sets which are tuned more analytically, but they do very well. Good enough to sound distinct. Imaging is another aspect of the Golden X1 which fares well for a set tuned in this way. Right to left and front to back I can easily place instruments and voices. The one caveat is in bigger bass tracks with more of a low-end presence. Some tracks can mask the sound to a degree. Also, this is a smoother sounding set with good note body, some richness and warmth. Usually sets with this type of sound won’t as easily distinguish clarity as well as the Golden X1. So, against other musicality-first tws at this cost I’d say it does exceedingly well. However, against analytical sets the Golden X1 is right around average to just above average. Just a note; these are all my subjective opinions folks. I haven’t heard every set in the price point. Still, the Golden X1 performs admirably. 

Detail Retrieval 

When it comes to detail retrieval the Golden X1 also comes in right about average also. Can I just say… folks… average is good. Average means that you can hear some micro details and you won’t hear too much masking, veil, or murkiness. The Golden X1 has a clean sound which helps tremendously. Shoot, in less complicated tracks the Golden X1 will flat-out surprise you. I know it does with me. Still, don’t expect some detail beast, and don’t expect top tier detail retrieval. This is a musical and warm sound friends. I’d hate to screw up that awesome timbre to have a few more details. Not worth it. 

Last Word on the Tozo Golden X1 

I did not expect to like this set as much as I do folks. Admittedly, I thought for sure this would be an average set at best. I say that because it’s right around 2 years old by now. Or close to that age. I didn’t expect such a clean delivery, such an engaging and emotionally charged sound. Also, against the current $129 sets of tws, the Golden X1 is not out of date with its tech. Of course, the original MSRP was over $250 when this set launched, which kind of brings into perspective why the Golden X1 performs as well as it does against similarly priced sets ($129) nowadays. I can tell you that I most certainly want to try other Tozo sets and see where their products go from the Golden X1. Without question this set is worth every last penny of the cost. 

Some slight issues 

Of course, the Golden X1 does have some areas where they lack. Let’s not kid ourselves. First off, it doesn’t have any in-ear detection which may not be as common at $129 and therefore not a definite “con” in my book. But, at its list MSRP that would be a major thing to leave out. I guess that’s a moot point as the Golden X1 is no longer that price. Still, it is a feature that it does not have. Also, ANC is average at best. Do not buy this set if ANC is something that you need to perform at top level. Yes, it works, but no the ANC won’t amaze anyone. Good for low humming constant sounds but any higher pitched or sporadic noises will be heard almost perfectly. Also, one thing I failed to mention in this review is that the Bluetooth range is not top tier either. I can go through each floor of my home rather easily until I go to another floor. Usually, the Bluetooth will begin to break up whereas less expensive earbuds don’t break up as easily. Not a big issue at all as I almost always have my source device with me, but it is something to mention. Lastly, there is no Aptx audio codec. This is not a deal breaker because we have LDAC, but Aptx of some kind would have been nice. Honestly, those are the only real strong downsides to this set. I think they are very minor for the cost folks. From my perspective the Golden X1 is well worth the cost and a great set of earbuds at $129. 

The Why… 

Because the build on this set is premium. Like most buds the Golden X1 is made of plastic, but the plastic is substantial and very durable feeling. It has that HeyGears style build with a soft finish to the plastic, very comfortable, but also feels very substantial. Also, the design is one of my absolute favorites. I really like the partial stem style. The Golden X1 is a very nicely designed set. Very classy, they don’t protrude out of your ears making me look like Frankenstein or anything. A nice minimalist design with some striking features to it like the golden colored aluminum nozzles. Just a dope looking set. Another great quality of this set is its features. The Golden X1 is feature packed for $129. Multi-point connection, three different types of ANC, pass-though (Transparency Mode), the ability to change the control scheme, LDAC codec, as well as one of the best companion apps in the Tozo app. Just look at the myriads of ways that you can EQ this set folks. 

That Sound 

With all of that said, the sound is always going to be the final judge on how any set of earbuds performs or how we determine its worth. Sure, it’s nice to have features, but what are features if the earbuds sound less than desirable? In my opinion it’s the sound which takes this set from an average tws iem into one of the better tws iems within its price point. The sound has a nice dynamic balance across the mix with a very fun and very musically rich sound. I love its organic and natural timbre with no real issues like shout, glare, or any real harshness. I hear a very cohesive sound with solid note control, good detail retrieval per the tuning and great dimensionality for a tws as well. The bass is fairly big, but it is also nicely defined, it’s clean, very well textured, it has that impactful punch, with deep sublevel rumble that I can feel. The mids are very harmonious with solid note body. Every note sounds weighted but also concise. Very nice density of each note. There’s also a nice level of shimmer in the upper mids too. In fact, both male and female vocalists perform very well. Next, the treble is never truly offensive yet always clean, good resolution, good extension, nice treble bite as well. It’s also a smoothly cadent treble with adequate crispness. Overall, I hear way better detail retrieval than I ever thought I would. Note separation is good, Imaging is better, and there’s even some nice layering going on. Lastly, the soundstage has a very proportional layout. Good front to back depth, and a nicely wide left to right width. Nothing congested. As honest as I can be, the Tozo Golden X1 is an easy rec at this cost. 

Conclusion 

To conclude my full review and feature of the Tozo Golden X1, I first have to thank the good people of Tozo for providing the Golden X1 for review. I would have never had a chance to hear this set and so I cannot thank you enough. I think that Tozo did a very nice job on the Golden X1 and I can’t wait to see what their later flagship sets will sound like. Also, I need to thank you, the reader, for taking your time to click the link and check out my words. It always means a lot to me and to mobileaudiophile.com. Thank you very much. 

Other Perspectives 

Friends, please check out other thoughts of the Tozo Golden X1. We (reviewers) are all very much different, as each one of us has our own ideals, likes & dislikes. Of course, we may have different gear, different hearing abilities and we all haven’t been down the same journey through audio. Each of these differences can help to skew our thoughts, for any particular product. It will be very beneficial to you if you just click a few more links. Don’t simply rely on me. I’m only one man, and while I do give you my absolute most honest take, the next guy may feel entirely different. So please check out other thoughts about the Golden X1. With that, I think I’m done folks. I hope you all are well and good. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless