The HT2 from Tozo are affordable, midweight, closed back, ANC headphones that features 60 hours of playback, passthrough audio, noise canceling microphones, and a 3.5mm jack for wired use. That’s a lot of features for a budget headphone, but how do they perform? My review:
The HT2 are constructed primarily out of plastic for the body and headbands, while the internal adjustment arms are flexible steel. They are adjustable in height with 8 discreet positions per side. They also have pivoting ear cups and hinges that allow them to fold inward for storage. The headset features two soft, low density memory foam earpads, two 40mm dynamic drivers, 3 mics for noise canceling and voice communication, a USB C input for power, a 3.5mm jack for analog connectivity, and buttons for power, volume, and ANC modes. The headphones retail for $99, but I have been seeing them on sale for between $49.99 and $69.99.
I’ve been using the HT2 for a couple of months now, at home, on the road, traveling, and in the office. As an audio enthusiast I review ANC headphones with a different level of scrutiny than I would, say, audiophile headphones. Being, I focus more on the features, how good they are, and how enjoyable the music is (not necessarily how precise or detailed the audio is). That being said, let’s hop into my thoughts on these.
The HT2 are constructed entirely out of high quality plastic, with a medium weight build that feels rather robust. When twisting and adjusting the body, there is no squeaking, creaking, or flexing apart at seams or junctions. They feel sturdy in the hands with a heft and density that exceeds my expectations at their price point. They are a touch on the heavy side, but this makes sense given the thickness and quality of the materials used. The buttons feel nice with a sturdy, audible click that is satisfying and tactile, while the adjustable arms have a light, ratcheting like sound that is soothing, but also reassuring.
Comfort wise, the HT2 are quite good but not excellent. The pads are extremely soft, with a slow recovery memory that feels great against the skin while doing an excellent job of distributing pressure around the ears. These prevented the drivers from touching my ears, but larger ears may find a little contact here. The headband features a very soft pad, but it is located in the center which is a common trapping these headphones fall into. It can, eventually, create a hot spot on the top of the skull but it is quite tolerable. I would rather have seen two pads, one of the left and right side of the headband, with a gap in the center to prevent this. Still, wearing the headphone for a couple hours on a plane or bus is no issue. After more than a couple of hours though, I did find them to become a little straining. The headphones have a little more clamp pressure than I prefer, and the slightly heavier weight emphasizes that headband’s center positioning because of this. Still, I found them to be rather comfortable, even if they can get a bit warm (like most ANC headphones).
Sound wise, the HT2 perform much better than I expected given the cost. I would describe the overall all tone as elevated bass and slightly forward mids, with a softening in the higher frequencies. The accuracy of the sound is good, but lacks a little bit of detail in the bass and treble in particular. The bass has a gentle kick to it that is full and digs relatively deep into the “sub bass” category but doesn’t have much in the way of speed or precision. Meanwhile, the higher frequencies roll off a bit while staying clean and well enough enough defined. The overall tone is pleasing to listen to and rather relaxing, which is great for travel and long distances. Nothing is harsh or sharp, and the music is portrayed accurately enough to not trigger my audiophile tendencies. It lacks some fine detail due to the recessed treble, and the positioning is a little weak due to this as well. However, stereo separation is solid with each channel sounding distinct. Bass can be a touch loose at times, but nothing that I consider bothersome or even a negative. The profile does change a bit when changing between ANC modes, with bass taking a dip with ANC off and while using passthrough modes, but otherwise sounds pretty similar across the board. I didn’t pick up any real distortion, crackling, or major issues with connectivity, so sound is an overall a strongpoint here.
The ANC is quite good, effectively neutralizing normal office noise entirely, fairing well against voices, while doing a good job of reducing the rumble of vehicles and especially planes. This is party due to a snug, tight seal around the ears that simply blocks most of the sound, but also the inclusion of quality microphones and a good algorithms that capture and neutralize the sound around the user also come into play. Pass through modes are O.K., but ambient sounds can be very soft or faint at times, with only closely positioned sounds like typing or people sitting directly next to you coming through loud and clear. I find it over emphasizes things like air conditioning and typing, which can be distracting, but still a useful and usable feature.
Battery life is fantastic, with these managing nearly 40 hours of continuous use with ANC on, and nearly 60 with ANC off at lower volumes. The 3.5mm jack works when the headphones batteries are completely depleted, which is a nice touch.
The app is basic but does allow for firmware updates, 10 point EQ, ANC toggles, and an adaptive mode that optimizes the ANC for your current listening environment. It’s simple, clean, and does everything one would want. It even includes a “leisure mode” which is a light ANC mode without the hiss that comes along with traditional ANC.
Controls are all handled by physical buttons, not touch sensors here. This is a win in my opinion. They work flawlessly and are intuitive with dedicated buttons for volume, ANC, and power. Skipping tracks, answering calls and such is handled by multiple presses of the volume buttons and the power button.
Overall
The HTC from Tozo represent excellent value, solid audio quality, and an impressive suite of features at a very affordable price point. At their suggested MSRP of just $99, they’re difficult if not impossible to beat on multiple fronts. They sound nice, are relatively comfortable, and the ANC works better than most in this price category. They can get a bit hot, and they’re a little heavier than I prefer, but the build quality and battery life are fair trades for this in my opinion. If the primary goal is to block noise while traveling, without sacrificing audio quality, these are excellent options.
Highly Recommended
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