TOZO Open EarRing True Open Ear Headphones Review (2) – The Unbearable Lightness Of Being

TOZO supplied the Open EarRing True Open Ear headphones unsolicited for this review – and I thank them for that.

I tend to refer to multi-driver earphones as cherries, simply because their housings are so large. When I first had the $73 TOZO Open EarRing headphones in my hand, they did look like a pair of cherries indeed, albeit being much smaller than the multis. They look, in fact, so unconventional that had no clue how to insert these into my ears (or wherever else). Some audio engineer obviously had a rather unusual idea, which turns out to be a very good one. Loomis had been very fond of these (his review here), and, spoiler alert, rightly so imho.

There are quite a few “no-name” companies on amazon marketplaces and aliexpress that sell decent TWS earphones at budget prices. QCY, Baseus, Soundpeats, and OneOdio come to mind, and TOZO. Since Bluetooth transmission limits sound quality, and since non-serviceable built-in batteries constitute planned obsolescence, there is no need to spend big bucks on future landfill candidates.

The open ear concept was previously reserved for the pricier Oladance model range, which follow the different “ear hooks” design.

The Tozo Open EarRing headphones got their name from their functionality and looks: whereas real earrings, as the name implies, are “rings”, the TOZOs are…err…open rings that are wrapped/molded around the ear’s antitragus and helix (see photo). No hole in the ear lobe required. They are flexible and therefore fit into small and large ears alike. “Open” also means, they are not intruding the ear canal but rather sit on top of it, similar to earbuds.

Earbuds have the distinct issue that the driver/speaker is aligned at an oblique angle to the ear canal and therefore some of the sound quantityquality and bass are lost. The round design of the TOZOs corrects for that: you get a better bass than from earbuds. But the OpenEaring do not isolate very well either, which can be a blessing when you wear them at work.

In terms of build and haptic, the small charge case is as sturdy as any I have had before – and it has an LED screen indicating the charge levels. Nice bonus! The earpieces are unspectacular looking. The may have been given the attribute “earrings” but they are certainly no ear jewelry, as opposed to big earphones with fancy faceplates. The TOZOS constitute an entirely pragmatic design made of rugged polycarbonates. They are not for the eyes, just for the ears.

You can twist and turn the loop that connects the outer battery and control unit and the inner earpiece. I have really big ears but could get these positioned properly for maximum bass. Once in, they really are like earrings. 5.2 g light, with firm hold even when banging my head. You switch your music off and forget they are still in…while searching all over the house for them.

The touch controls on the earpieces are not very responsive and rather finicky. Initial Bluetooth connection was tricky but, once established, the buds find their source automatically at the next use. I got more than the nominal 10 m (unobstructed) transmission in my house.

Battery runtime is optimistically given at 10 h (at 50% volume), but you likely operate the EarRings are higher volumes than that. Budget for 5 h and be positively surprised. Bluetooth version 5.3 offers SBA and AAC, but not the higher resolving LDAC.

TOZO offer a free app for iOS and Android that contains, among other things, preset EQs on the push of a button, for Pop, Rock, Jazz, Classical…and many more. You can also create your own custom EQs and save them.

After I had figured out how to attach the Open EarRing to my flappers, and connected them to my phone, I was in for a treat. Sure they don’t offer kilobuck super premium tonality, but they still sound darn good. They are marginally on the bright side, without being fatiguing, and rather articulate with some lightness in their presentation.

This comes from a distinct treble extension, clarity in the midrange through well defined but lean notes (voices and instruments), and a bass that is not as visceral and thumpy, and it lacks sub bass extension compared to an earphone inserted into the ear canal. I find the treble resolution exquisite; cymbals are crisp and have good definition.

Soundstage is tall with average width but not that deep. Adding bass via the app’s EQ adds depth to the stage. Separation of musicians and instruments is excellent for its class, no smearing whatsoever. Imaging is also good though the musicians appear to assemble along an imaginary line, meaning it is a bit 2-dimensional.

The Open EarRing can play relatively loud (compared to other TWS phones).

In comparison, the Oladance TWS Pro, at more than twice the price, are an overear design incorporating more expensive materials. They look better, sound more composed and groomed with a wider stage and bigger headroom, but almost sterile in comparison. The TOZOs are earthier and a bit darker. But, the Oladance don’t provide more listening enjoyment as these differences established by A/B-ing are quickly forgotten when focusing on the music.

Specifications TOZO Open EarRing Headphones

I use TWS earphones when I am out and about, when there is ambient noise so that I don’t care about audiophile listening. The TOZO Open EarRing are just right for that. I had purchased some QCY Melobuds for this purpose before, but got rid of them as they were too bright for me. At home, I found myself using the TOZOs for “easy listening” over longer periods, as if they were a radio in the background.

In summary, I could not find any fault with TOZO Open EarRing headphones. The imaginative concept of open headphone is well, albeit unorthodoxly, executed. Sure, they lack the heft and richness of good in-ears but they nevertheless provide lots of pleasure and fun for me on a budget without trying to be pretentious.

Keepers!

Until next time…keep on listening!

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