Tozo HT3 Review

Our Tozo HT3 Headphones Experience

Our experience with the Tozo HT2 prepared us for great things in the Tozo HT3, and it did not disappoint. Given the low price of the HT3 it would be easy to discount them as another boring budget pair of headphones with nothing to rave about, but this would be a mistake.

The HT3 comes naked without a case (one of its only missteps), but Tozo offers a more expensive bundle that includes one. They feel higher-end than their price suggests and higher-quality than the previous version. They offer comfort for over 7 hours of continuous wear. They are lightweight, and the pleather feels smooth and soft, even if they can get warm over time.

While the sound quality is not going to knock anyone's socks off, it is really good and similar to some options that cost three times or more. The soundstage is clear and roomy, even if it isn't vast, and we were surprised by the mids' accuracy.

The noise cancellation isn't stellar and could be a deal breaker for some looking to silence the outside world. But the performance for the price is good enough for many casual listeners, and it did an adequate job dampening the surrounding noise in busy offices and at home, even if it couldn't calm a busy commute.

The HT2 (left) and the HT3 (right) are very similar, with only minor differences.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The main visual difference between the HT2 (orange) and HT3 (green) is the shape and padding on the headband.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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Sound Quality

The Tozo provides impressive sound for cheap headphones, creating an experience that implies a higher price. The sound is better than average, better than the prior version, and better than some headphones that cost significantly more.

The Tozo soundstage feels cleaner and roomier than the prior generation and what we expected for the price. It is uncluttered, more spacious, and cleaner. Less-dense tracks feel immersive and intimate, with textural accuracy, and the mid-range works across a wide space with focused locations.

The bass for the Tozo packs a poppy punch but sometimes feels bloated. The lows are elevated to the point of commanding attention, but it wasn't as fatiguing or overblown as some competitors. Tracks with prominent bass sound distorted, but those with less involved bass sound clean and natural. We definitely prefer the bass in this version to the HT2, but it can overwhelm the mix.

The mid-range has a pleasing texture and color that sounds pretty natural and realistic. The instruments and voices sound developed rather than artificial, unlike other cheap headphones. The sound is more distinctive than the HT2, but it gets muddy when the bass is too prominent. Sometimes it changes the sound of our favorite tracks, which makes them seem like strangers instead of old friends, but this doesn't happen often.

The treble range is floaty, glimmery, and a bit vague. There is less detail here than we might like, but the highs are pleasant, colorful, and warm. It can occasionally veer into shouty during dynamic shifts, but it is otherwise smooth and mostly balanced. Sometimes it made us want to turn the volume down a click when the vocals became piercing in intense moments.

Comfort and Fit

We think the HT3 are remarkably comfortable for cheaper headphones and were able to wear them for up to 7.5 hours before feeling the need to remove them.

They are lightweight and use a smooth pleather material that feels softer than most cheaper headphones, which feel more like plastic. They can get warm, but not instantly hot, and they never felt sticky and didn't tend to slide.

The newer Tozo HT3 (green) has less padding on the headband than the HT2 (orange).   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The padding on the HT3 earcups is comfy, but shallow, so some testers could feel their ears rubbing on the inner lining.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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The clamping force is good, slightly stronger than the prior version, but it wasn't too tight and didn't create pressure points. While the headband is adjustable, it felt almost too big even on the smallest setting for narrower or squatter heads. We didn't love them when wearing glasses, but it is doable; we just wouldn't choose it if we could avoid it.

Noise Cancellation

Tozo didn't do much to improve noise cancellation on the HT3 over the HT2, and it still falls below average for the group. However, for the lower price, it is hard to complain too much about what you get.

These headphones do not create an immersive experience where the background of daily life is muted; they just dampen some sounds and help the world be less distracting. They perform better in quieter environments than loud, but it is better than nothing and many casual listeners might find the blocking power acceptable for their needs.

They block an average of 21 decibels across the ranges with an impressive, strong showing for the bass ranges. The treble range is where they struggle the most, blocking barely 9 decibels, one of the lowest results in the group. It does better at blocking sounds like a generator and space heater than it did with higher-pitched voices and clinking dishes in a cafe.

Ease of Use

The Tozo offers more than you might expect for the price, and the delivery is probably all most users need and maybe more.

Controls

The Tozo has headphone ear cup controls on the right side that are slightly spaced out (could be more) and shaped distinctly enough to prevent too much confusion (though it takes some practice). They include volume, noise cancellation, play/pause, and skip/remind. There is an odd pause in the media when pressing the ANC button to toggle between ANC and awareness modes, but it works; it just feels cumbersome because you have to interact with your media again to get it to play in the new mode. It isn't a deal breaker, but it might be annoying for some who frequently use this feature.

Customization

There is a downloadable app, though it isn't required to pair and use it. It is the same platform as the prior version, with pages dedicated to unrelated topics such as social media, shopping, and AI. It feels like the clutter it is, and we suspect most users won't look at these features or will quickly become disenchanted with the app.

There are more useful features, like adjustments to the active noise cancellation (ANC) levels. There is a robust list of equalizer maps that is arguably too long, but it does allow you to fine-tune how music sounds to your preferences. It also has the ability to chime to help you find lost headphones, and a lower-grade find feature that can remember the location where the app and headphones were last paired. AMarketing claims they also have an auto-pause feature that detects when you take the headphones off, but we couldn't find it and couldn't test it.

Awareness mode is effective but not particularly life-like. Well, much improved over the prior model, but it isn't the best, and we suspect most listeners won't choose it for longer wear periods.

Battery

The Tozo has a claimed battery life of 55 hours. This is an impressive length given the low price and is on par with headphones that cost significantly more.

They also support passive playback, which allows you to listen when wired after the battery dies.

Call Quality

The Tozo's call quality is about average for the group. It is neither truly frustrating, depending on conditions, nor is it a delight. While we can envision wearing them for online meetings or occasional chats on the go, we suspect most users won't enjoy them for prolonged family catch-ups.

In our office environment, the Tozo HT3 is an upgrade over the prior version. Voices are clear, crisp, and loud enough to hear. The headphones manage to mute most background noises with only occasional breakthroughs.