Test and comparison of two balanced-sounding earbuds
Even after five years on the market, wireless earbuds that favour a balanced musical presentation over a warm and bassy sound are still hard to find.
Time to catch then up with two earlier released balanced-sounding earbuds on Scarbir.com. Both the $100 Google Pixel Buds A-Series from 2021 and the $150 Tozo Golden X1 released this spring are great in delivering music in a natural way - although they both have their shortcomings.
Google Pixel Buds A Series review in 2023: Barebones but beautifully balanced
$100 — 5 hours playtime — AAC Codec — IPX4
How good is the $100 Google Pixel Buds A-Series in 2023, two years after its initial release?
It's no secret that comfort is the hardest part of reviewing earbuds, as wearing comfort can vary from person to person. I can't overlook it on this pair of earphones, as many reviewers have stated the Google Pixel Buds A Series is a very comfortable pair. It's quite the opposite for me.
Whereas the inside of the Pixel Buds A is oval and very compact, it extends to a nozzle that sticks a bit too far in my ear canal. Despite the compact shape, I can always feel the earbuds sitting in the ears, and even have to take them out every half an hour or so to relieve the pressure on my canals - a 'feature' not many earbuds have.
That's not all though. Google mounted a little rubber hook on the earpiece, which can be put in your upper ear cave to get a tight fit. In my medium-sized ears, however, it pierces a little too much when I twist it in, or it doesn't provide enough grip when I don't: the earbuds fell out twice, which I never have with earphones with rubber ear tips. The entire design with the protruding nozzle and the hook makes it downright uncomfortable to lay on your side with these, unlike competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and Soundcore Space A40.
See: comfort isn't the same for everyone.
On a less personal note, the Google Pixel Buds A isn't a great all-around package in 2023 anymore. The earbuds are rather barebones in functions for its 100 dollars price. There's no Active Noise Cancelling or a Transparency mode, there are no customizable controls, and you can't connect the earbuds to multiple devices at the same time.
There is an Adaptive Sound feature from the Android-app (that looks and feels half integrated in the Android settings), which tweaks your music volume a little bit to adjust to the noise around you, which sounds clever - yet after weeks of usage, it's still unclear when and why it does what. You can pretty much forget about this unique option.
Other features are so-so. The 5 hours battery life on a single charge isn't anything special, but it will definitely be sufficient in most circumstances. The same goes for the IPX4 waterproof level. Not as much as most competitors, but safe enough to take them out in the rain or for a run. The Pixel Buds A-Series shows its age in 2023.
The call quality is a letdown too. Whereas your voice sounds clear and loud in quiet areas, the Pixel Buds A doesn't do a great job of focusing on your voice over other people talking, and even the slightest gust of wind is a direct threat. Your voice doesn't fade away, but wind noise is very audible, making for a tiring listen to the other end of the line.
Chances are you're come across this review because of the balanced sound of course. And it's here where the Google Pixel Buds A delivers.
The Pixel Buds A convinces with crystal clear mid-tones. Acoustic center-mid instruments like piano, guitar and also the trumpet and cymbals have a natural if a tad cold tonality, yet also heaps of clarity. Vocals can sometimes appear a bit nasal, but even despite this, they have plenty of nuances to them - especially higher-pitched male vocals can show more dynamics than on many other earbuds that aren't afraid to open the lower treble. Upper mid-tones and highs never become tiring, harsh or metallic.
Compared to the standard of balanced sounding earbuds under $100, the Samsung Galaxy Buds S, the Pixel Buds A is more open, with increased air in the top end of the music and more space in between instruments. There's less weight on lower frequencies, however. Lower mid-tones are barely boosted, meaning there's little warmth induced in the music. The sub-bass rarely reveals depth or rumbles, and the tight and slim mid-bass can feel a bit dry.
Android-users preferring a more embodied bass shouldn't shy away, however, as the app settings contain a Bass strength-slider that lets you easily increase the bass section. It's with this specific setting that the Pixel Buds A even manages to compete with bass heavyweights. Turned up, lower-mids become more boosted without blurring into the still clear mids and highs, the mid-bass gets a deep and full thump and the sub-bass rumbles easier - all without attacking the tightness of the bass.
The main gripe of the sound on both Android and iPhone is that the maximum volume could have been louder.
All in all, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series is a somewhat outdated offering in 2023, with disappointing call quality and below-average battery life and features. Its sound quality still stands, however. Even though it can be a bit cold, this is one of the best-balanced sounding earbuds under $100.
Design and comfort: 3/5 - Surprisingly tricky fit due to a long nozzle and the rubber ear hook. Mediocre battery life
Controls and connectivity: 3/5 - Limited controls, no multipoint connection
Playback: 4.5/5 - Flawless in videos, capable for gaming too
Call quality: 2/5 - Suffers quickly in noise indoor and outdoor areas
ANC: -
Transparency mode: -
App support: 2.5/5 - A functional bass slider, only available on Android
Sound quality: 4.5/5 - Balanced, clear, dynamic and wide - could have been louder
VERDICT: 4 STARS (Good)
$80-$100
Buy on Amazon US
Buy on Amazon UK
Buy on Amazon Germany
Buy on other Amazon stores
Tozo Golden X1 review: Great balanced sound on iPhone, a fatal flaw on Android
$150 — 5 hours playtime (ANC on) — AAC + LDAC Codec — IPX6
It's the first time that Tozo dips into the premium priced territory, and seeing the many raving user reviews on Amazon, it seems that the brand absolutely nailed the Golden X1 - even in the price territory between the Sony WF1000XM4 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro!
Well, I'm guessing a part of the user reviews on the Tozo Golden X1 has to be fake. Or… literally every buyer has an iPhone.
These earbuds have some serious issues. For a start, the Tozo app almost always fails to connect on Android phones. This failure takes the sound equalizers, control options, and different ANC modes too far out of reach. The standard control scheme is questionable too - with switching the ANC modes with a single left-tap, and play/pause with a single tap on the right earbud.
Those aren't the biggest issues though.
These earbuds don't go loud enough on Android. They don't even come close. Even with the volume bar raised to the top, the X1 still plays music on moderate volume. Active listening is impossible. It's a problem that doesn't occur on iPhone, as there's plenty of volume there.
It's a shame, because the Tozo Golden X1 otherwise sounds very good. It's defintely Tozo's most and best-balanced sounding earbuds to date, with a tight and slim mid-bass rather than the brands default thumpy offerings, and much more room for the mids. Center-mid instruments like guitars, piano play and also trumpets come in clear and natural, not much behind the forward singers. Both female and male vocals have an outstanding clarity without becoming flat, hitting the lower notes and higher outbursts.
What's more, is that the Golden X1 separates instruments very well, creating a spacious, wide soundstage with plenty of details from your left and right. There's a naturality and something very fluent to the musical presentation. It doesn't have the eccentric emphasis competitive Soundcore models put on lower frequencies, or the wonderfully warm and juicy mids of Sony's offerings, and is closer to the likes of the Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 - albeit with more air and less lower-mid boost.
The Earprint feature can compensate the sound for frequencies you can't hear yourself very well anymore
That said, there is a sound difference between the ANC settings. You'll get the most balanced presentation with the function turned off. Hit the ANC switch, and the lower mid-tones gain weight and the mid-bass becomes fuller - without giving in on tightness by the way; the bass can even be a little stabby in songs pushing it, while the sub-bass underneath controls its rumble well. The Active Noise Cancelling switch secretly functions as a mood-swing switch as well: would you like a slim or a full lower end?
By itself, the Active Noise Cancellation is decent. Only decent, you might say at this price point. It takes away lower frequencies, succesfully softens the higher end and reduces volume of noise around across all frequencies, but sudden sounds like chatter, clicks, and door slams still come through. The Transparency mode works well too, emphasizing lots of treble - so traffic and chatter - in an artificial, but successful way. Both modes do let in a lot of wind noise, but the app has a specific wind-noise reduction mode that counters most wind noise… at least on iPhone.
What's available for all users, is the multipoint connection that lets you connect the earbuds to two devices, making you switch to another device when you press play or take a call on it. Don't be afraid to do so - it's easy to take a phone call with the Tozo Golden X1. The microphones pick up your voice loud and clear. Most background noise is filtered well and wind noise is only audible when you talk. Even then, your still rises above it.
Basically, the Tozo Golden X1 is two earbuds. It's a steep-priced, great sounding and versatile pair Active Noise Cancelling pair of earbuds on iPhone - and a lackluster, vastly overpriced offering on Android.
Design and comfort: 4/5 - 5 to 8 hours listening time (ANC on/off), comfortable to wear for hours, scratchy case
Controls and connectivity: 4/5 - Solid multipoint connection, control scheme takes getting used to
Playback: 4/5 - Flawless in videos, capable for gaming too
Call quality: 4/5 - You sound clear, even with some sounds and wind around you
ANC: 3.5/5 - Decent across all frequencies, wind mode from the app needed for comfortable outdoor use
Transparency mode: 3/5 - Emphasizes traffic and chatter in an artificial way
App support: 3/5 - Decent and functional on iPhone, rarely works on Android
Sound quality: 4.5/5 - A wonderfully balanced and clear performance with enough lower dynamics and a wide soundstage... but Android-users only get 2/5 because of the low volume.
VERDICT: 3 STARS (Worth considering)
$150 - $180
Buy on Amazon US
Buy on Amazon UK
Buy on Amazon Germany
Buy on other Amazon countries
Tozo Golden X1 and Google Pixel Buds A vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
The most well-known and affordable wireless earbuds that boast a great balanced sound are the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 you can get somewhere between 80 and 120 dollars.
Both the Google Pixel Buds A and Tozo Golden X1 have a wider sound than the Samsung, with more separation between instruments. The Galaxy Buds 2 does sound more harmonic than its rivals, however, with more elevation of the lower frequencies to counterbalance the clear treble. Darker electronic tones and lower male vocals sound fuller on the Samsung, and both the mid-bass and sub-bass show more texture and depth. Vocals also sound fuller in the lower tones, giving especially male singers more weight and depth. The Tozo and Google are clearer - the Galaxy Buds 2 is more rounded.
Feature-wise, the Buds 2 goes head-to-head with the Pixel Buds A. It lacks good call quality, and its ANC is sub-par - not even to the level of the Tozo.
FinalAudio ZE3000
There are more balanced sounding earbuds with good clarity, but they always have their own problems. The Nuarl N6 Pro2 is very big and heavy to wear for long amounts of times. It sounds more neutral than the Tozo, but the Tozo has a wider sound and better separation. The FinalAudio ZE3000 is brighter and perhaps even airier than the Tozo, but also thinner in the lower-end - and less comfortable due to its square inner shapes. The Moondrop Sparks is brighter, a bit harsher and so less balanced than both the Google and Tozo.
Also read: These are the best sounding wireless earbuds
Disclaimer: I bought these TWS true wireless earbuds myself or I received these products from the manufacturer or a distributor. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
Consider buying this earphone? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my ongoing quest for great affordable audio. <3
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