The TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless are well-built in-ears with an impressive ANC feature that can block out lots of background noises. These headphones have an excited, V-shaped sound profile that adds an extra thump and punch to your audio while making vocals and lead instruments sparkly and bright. While there isn't a dedicated ANC off feature, 'Transparency Mode', allows you to hear some ambient noise around you. Unfortunately, they don't have any features for customizing their sound to your liking, and they only last for a little over four hours off of a single charge. Fortunately, their portable charging case offers around three extra charges for when you're on-the-go.
Our Verdict
The TOZO NC9 are passable for neutral sound. Their V-shaped sound profile adds extra thump and punch in the bass range while making vocals and lead instruments sound bright and sparkly. However, this may be a bit overwhelming for fans of neutral sound. Unfortunately, they don't offer any sound customization features.
- Consistent audio delivery across different users.
- No sound customization options.
The TOZO NC9 are good for commute and travel. Thanks to their ANC feature, they can block out bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines as well as the sounds of people chatting around you. Their in-ear design is very portable, and while their continuous battery life isn't ideal for long plane rides, their portable charging case makes it easy to power up when you're on-the-go.
- Impressive noise isolation.
- Portable design.
- 4.2-hour continuous battery life.
The TOZO NC9 are impressive for sports and fitness. These portable, breathable in-ears have a stable fit, so they shouldn't fall out of your ears during moderately intense workouts. They even have an IPX6 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. That said, their bulky design may not be comfortable for all listeners.
- Portable design.
- IPX6 rating for water resistance.
- Stable enough for moderately intense workouts.
- 4.2-hour continuous battery life.
The TOZO NC9 are fair for office use. Their ANC feature does an impressive job blocking out background noises like coworkers chatting nearby, and you can activate their Transparency Mode if you want to hear ambient noise. They don't leak a lot of noise, either, so you can crank up the volume on your music without really bothering those around you. While they're decently comfortable, their bulky fit isn't ideal for all listeners, and their 4.2-hour continuous battery life isn't ideal for long shifts. That said, their portable charging case offers around three extra charges.
- Impressive noise isolation.
- 4.2-hour continuous battery life.
The TOZO NC9 aren't compatible with PS4, PS5, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X consoles. While you can use them with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, their latency is likely too high to be suitable for gaming.
The TOZO NC9 are wireless-only headphones, so they aren't suitable for wired gaming.
The TOZO NC9 are decent for phone calls. Their integrated microphone has a decent recording quality, so whoever's on the other end of the line should be able to understand you, even if your voice sounds a bit thin. Also, their ANC feature offers impressive noise isolation, so you aren't distracted by background noises during your calls. However, the microphone struggles to separate your voice from loud background noise and speech may be drowned out.
- Impressive noise isolation.
- 4.2-hour continuous battery life.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 11, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 25, 2021: We retested the passive noise isolation performance of these headphones while they were turned off. The Noise Isolation score hasn't changed.
- Updated Feb 11, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Feb 08, 2021: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The TOZO NC9 earbuds come in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The TOZO NC9 are noise cancelling in-ears with an impressive ANC performance. They have a similar, slightly bulky design compared to the TOZO T12 Truly Wireless and the TOZO T10 Truly Wireless. Their V-shaped sound profile adds thump, punch, and excitement to your audio, but there isn't any way to customize the sound. You can only cycle between their ANC feature and Transparency Mode, which lets in some ambient noise, but you can't turn both of these features off at the same time. See also our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, the best noise cancelling earbuds and in-ears, and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds under $100.
The TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless. The NC7 have a more balanced sound profile compared to the NC9, especially in the bass range, so they're more suitable for fans of neutral sound. Also, they leak less audio, and they have longer continuous battery life. Their charging case also supports wireless charging, which is handy. That said, the NC9's charging case offers around one extra charge.
The TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless and the TOZO T12 Truly Wireless are very similarly performing headphones, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The NC9 have an ANC feature that offers better noise isolation, especially against bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines. However, the T12 have a better leakage performance, and their continuous battery life is a bit longer.
The TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the TOZO T10 Truly Wireless. The NC9 have a more comfortable fit, and their V-shaped sound profile is less boomy and muddy compared to the T10's bass-heavy sound profile. That said, the T10 have a better leakage performance, and their passive noise isolation has somewhat similar performance compared to the NC9's ANC feature, although they don't reduce as much bass-range noise.
The TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless and the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless have similar overall performances, so you may prefer one over the other depending on your listening habits. Thanks to their ANC feature, the NC9 offer a bit better noise isolation, especially against bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines. However, the T6 have a better leakage performance, and their continuous battery life is a bit longer.
The TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless and the TOZO NC2 Truly Wireless have different strengths, and which you may prefer depends on your needs. The NC9s have an impressive ANC feature that does a good job of blocking out noise like the rumbling bus and plane engines. On the other hand, while their ANC feature doesn't work nearly as well, the NC2s have much longer continuous battery life and a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer.
The TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones for most uses than the JBL Vibe 100TWS True Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the TOZO have a more stable in-ear fit and have an ANC system that can block out a great amount of ambient noise. They're also certified IPX6 for resistance against direct contact with water such as rain. The JBL have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and a somewhat better battery performance.
The Mpow X3 Truly Wireless are better for neutral sound than the TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless. The Mpow's sound profile is more neutral compared to the TOZO's V-shaped sound profile, and they have a more comfortable and stable fit. That said, the TOZO offer a much better noise isolation performance, so they're a better choice for your commute.
The Mpow X5 Truly Wireless and TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless are very similarly-performing headphones, though one pair may suit you better than the other. The Mpow deliver audio more consistently, leak less audio, and have longer battery life. However, despite not having ANC like the Mpow, the TOZO do almost as good a job at blocking out ambient noise. They also take much less time to charge.
The TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Cowin Apex Elite Truly Wireless. The TOZO are better-built, and they offer a more balanced mid-range. Also, their ANC feature isolates against more background noise, and they leak less audio. That said, the Cowin are more comfortable.
The TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless are better overall in-ears than the Mpow X6 Truly Wireless. The TOZO do a far better job of blocking out ambient noise, offer superior microphone recording quality, and last a little longer on a single charge, though the Mpow have a case that supplies roughly one additional charge. The Mpow deliver audio a little more consistently and have a more comfortable fit.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The TOZO NC9 are truly wireless in-ears with a similar look to the TOZO T12 Truly Wireless. They're mostly made of matte plastic with a glossy plastic outer ring. They have a rounded, slightly bulky shape, too.
The TOZO NC9 are decently comfortable. They're a bit bulky, and they sit a little deep in your ears. However, they don't go deeper into your ears when you press their controls, which is nice. Also, they come with lots of different earbud tip sizes to help you find the best possible fit. For more comfortable in-ears, check out the Cowin Apex Elite Truly Wireless.
The controls are good. You can tap the left bud once to switch between ANC mode or Transparency Mode, which lets in ambient noise so you can hear people talking to you. Tap the left bud twice to skip back to the previous track, and hold it to turn the volume down. You can tap the right bud once to play/pause your audio, twice to skip to the next track, and hold it to turn the volume up. If you get a phone call, you can tap either bud to answer and hold either bud to end or reject the call. Tap either bud three times to activate the voice assistant. Overall, the controls are responsive and there's lots of audible feedback, including voice prompts and beeps when you reach max and min volume.
The TOZO NC9 have incredible breathability. Thanks to their in-ear fit, they don't trap a lot of heat, so you shouldn't sweat more than usual while wearing them.
The TOZO NC9 are outstandingly portable. They're very small and lightweight. Their carrying case isn't very bulky, either, and it should fit easily into your pocket or bag.
The case is good. It's mostly made of plastic, which feels hard and solid. You can use it to charge the in-ears, and the four LED lights help indicate the battery level.
The TOZO NC9 have a good build quality. They're mostly made of plastic, with matte plastic on the exterior and glossy plastic on the interior. The buds are rated IPX6 for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. Overall, they feel pretty solid, though the earbud tips are a potential weak link.
These headphones have good stability. They should stay in your ears during moderately intense exercise. However, they lack stability fins, so they may fall out during more intense workouts.
The TOZO NC9 have a somewhat excited, V-shaped sound profile. There's extra thump and punch in the bass range, while vocals and lead instruments are bright and sparkling. However, some listeners may find that their mixes sound a bit muddy or boomy. There aren't any sound customization features, so you can't adjust their sound.
These headphones have impressive frequency response consistency. Once you get a proper fit with the included earbud tips, you should get a consistent audio delivery each time you use them.
The bass accuracy is acceptable. The entire range is overemphasized, so you really feel the deep thump, rumble, and punch in your mixes. This is ideal for fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop, but other listeners may find it a bit boomy or overwhelming.
These headphones have great mid accuracy. There's some overemphasis coming from the bass range that can add a bit of muddiness, and the small dip in the mid-mids nudges vocals and lead instruments slightly towards the back of the mix. However, the rest of the range is balanced and neutral, so vocals and lead instruments are clear and present.
These headphones have adequate treble accuracy. The range is overemphasized, so vocals and lead instruments are detailed and a bit harsh, while sibilants like cymbals are piercing.
The TOZO NC9 have decent peaks and dips performance. The dip in the mid-mids nudges vocals and lead instruments towards the back of the mix, while the peak in the low-treble makes those same instruments a bit harsh or painful. The uneven mid-treble can make sibilants alternately piercing or dull.
The TOZO NC9 have outstanding imaging. Their weighted group delay falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in a tight bass and transparent treble. Also, the L/R drivers of our test unit are well-matched in phase, frequency, and amplitude response, so objects like footsteps and voices are accurately placed and localized within the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our test unit, and your experience may vary.
These headphones have a terrible passive soundstage, which is typical for in-ears. Due to their design, they bypass the outer-ear, which is one of the key factors in creating a large and out-of-body soundstage. Sound seems like it's coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed all around you.
The TOZO NC9 have a great weighted harmonic distortion performance. All frequencies fall within good limits, resulting in clear and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings we used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when using these settings.
Update 02/25/2021: After user feedback, we tested the headphones completely off to measure their passive noise isolation performance. Turning the ANC on also matched our original measurements. The scoring of this box hasn't changed.
The TOZO NC9 have impressive noise isolation. These headphones have an ANC feature. However, you aren't able to turn this feature off unless you completely turn off the headphones. That said, you can cycle between the ANC and 'Transparency Mode', which is advertised to let in some background noises while blocking out others. With the ANC feature on, these headphones can block out bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines as well as higher-frequency ambient noise like people chatting nearby or the hum of AC units.
These headphones have a great leakage performance. They don't leak a lot of noise, and escaping audio sounds quite thin, so it shouldn't really bother those around you if you listen to your music at loud volumes.
The microphone's recording quality is decent. Your voice should sound fairly natural, but also thin and a bit muffled.
Update 11/26/2021: These headphones have been updated to test bench 1.5. In this update, we made changes to the way we test noise handling. We now use a subjective evaluation of our audio clips. This new method has resulted in different results than what we had reported in our previous test bench. As a result, the scoring of this box has changed, and we have updated our results.
The microphone has an alright noise handling performance. While your voice is still audible with moderate background noise present, speech can become unintelligible if the noise is very loud. If you're taking a call from a busy street, your voice may be drowned out.
The TOZO NC9 have a sub-par battery performance. The manufacturer advertises a continuous battery life of eight hours, however, they only lasted for a little over four hours in our tests when in ANC mode. However, battery life can vary depending on usage, so your experience may vary. Their portable case offers around three extra charges for when you're on-the-go. You can also use one earbud while the other charges, which is nice. If you're looking for ANC earbuds with a longer battery life, try the EarFun Air Pro True Wireless.
The TOZO NC9 have fair Bluetooth connectivity. They don't support NFC pairing, and you can only pair them with one device at a time. While their latency with PCs is likely too high to be suitable for watching videos, they perform better with iOS and Android devices. However, some apps compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience may vary.
The TOZO NC9 can't be used with a wired connection. The included USB-C cable is for recharging their case.