The TOZO NC9 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds are TOZO’s mid-tier offering — a step up from the entry-level TOZO A1 in this guide, adding genuine hybrid active noise cancellation, IPX6 sweat resistance, four call microphones with ENC and a 10mm dynamic driver in each ear. Priced around $40-50, the NC9 targets the buyer who wants real ANC at a clearly sub-flagship price. This TOZO NC9 review covers the sound, ANC, mic, comfort, codecs, gaming use and a verdict.
TOZO NC9 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds, 6 Mics ENC Clear Call, IPX8 Waterproof, in Ear Bluetooth 5.3 Headphones Stereo Bass Ear Buds 60H Playtime with LED Display 32 EQs via APP
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TOZO NC9 at a Glance
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Driver size | 10mm dynamic driver per earbud |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| ANC type | Hybrid active noise cancellation (feedforward + feedback) |
| Battery life (buds + case) | Approx. 7.5 hours per charge (ANC off), ~30 hours total with case |
| Quick charge | Approx. 10 min in case for ~1.5 hours of playback |
| Water resistance (IPX rating) | IPX6 (heavy splash and rain resistant) |
| Microphones (count + ENC) | Four-mic array with environmental noise cancellation |
| Codec support | SBC, AAC |
| Approx. price | Around $45 |
Sound Quality & Bass
Before getting into the specifics of this set it is worth a short refresher on the technical realities that shape every wireless-earbud review aimed at gamers and streamers. The most important is latency. Standard Bluetooth audio profiles introduce roughly 100 to 200 milliseconds of delay between the source and your ears, which is fine for music and YouTube but clearly audible as audio-video lag in fast-paced games and as lip-sync drift in streaming. Some manufacturers — notably Soundcore, JBL and TOZO — add a dedicated low-latency or game mode that cuts that figure to roughly 55-80 milliseconds, which is good enough for casual competitive play on a phone, Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch. For tournament-grade FPS, a wired 3.5mm headset is still the right tool, but for the bulk of mobile and couch gaming, a true low-latency mode makes a real-world difference.
Microphone quality matters even more than headline sound quality for the gamer-streamer use case. Bluetooth voice profiles compress the microphone signal more aggressively than the music signal, and an outdoor or noisy room exposes a weak mic immediately. The headline number to look at is the mic count — single-mic earbuds tend to sound thin and pick up room noise, while four-mic and six-mic arrays paired with an ENC (environmental noise cancellation) algorithm isolate the voice with far better intelligibility. For Discord party chat, Zoom meetings on the move and casual streaming, a four-mic-plus-ENC set is the practical minimum. None of the earbuds in this guide can substitute for a proper boom microphone in a recording studio, but the best of them are genuinely usable for everyday voice work.
Finally, codec support and connection. The two universal Bluetooth audio codecs are SBC (mandatory on every device) and AAC (the codec Apple iPhones and iPads prefer). aptX appears on some Android-focused budget earbuds and offers slightly lower latency on compatible Qualcomm-powered phones; LDAC is Sony’s high-bit-rate codec and does not appear on any earbud set in this guide — it is reserved for Sony’s own lineup and a handful of premium Android-first models. Multipoint connection lets a single earbud pair to two devices at once (a PC and a phone, typically), which is genuinely useful for the streamer who jumps between a desk and a phone. For gaming context across the wider category, our linked guides at the end of each review cover gaming headsets, streaming microphones and best-budget audio for PC.
TOZO tune the NC9 around 10mm dynamic drivers with a slightly bass-forward signature that flatters mainstream music and gaming audio without the bloated low end that some cheap rivals fall into. The midrange is reasonably clean for the price, and the treble is bright enough to render dialogue and game cues clearly. Toggling ANC on shifts the perceived sound slightly, as is normal with hybrid ANC implementations — the cancellation circuit also affects how the driver loads against the ear canal — but the effect is mild. There is a TOZO app that exposes EQ presets and a custom EQ, which is a meaningful upgrade over generic budget sets in this guide that ship without any software. Mid-tier rivals are covered in our best budget wireless earbuds guide and the wider category lives in our best wireless earbuds guide.
ANC, Transparency & Mic Quality
Hybrid active noise cancellation is the NC9’s central selling point. The implementation pairs a feedforward microphone outside each housing with a feedback microphone inside, processing the signals to cancel low-frequency drone such as aircraft cabin hum, traffic noise and air-conditioning rumble. The effect is genuine and meaningfully better than the passive isolation offered by the TOZO A1, kurdene and TAGRY sets in this guide; it is not at Apple AirPods 4 with ANC or Beats Fit Pro level, but it is good for the price. A transparency mode lets the external microphones pass ambient sound through, useful at the airport gate or on a busy street. The four-mic ENC call array delivers clean voice pickup for Discord, Zoom and casual streaming. For dedicated streaming see our best earbuds for streaming guide; for further ANC choices see our best ANC earbuds guide.
Comfort, Fit & Battery Life
The NC9 housings are conventional teardrop in-ear shells, light enough for multi-hour wear with the silicone tip that fits your ear best. Three tip sizes are supplied. The case is pocket-friendly. Battery life is rated at approximately 7.5 hours per bud with ANC off, dropping to roughly 5 hours with ANC engaged — the standard ANC trade-off. Total runtime with the case is around 30 hours, which is competitive. The IPX6 water-resistance rating is a small step above the IPX5 of most rivals in this guide — IPX6 covers heavy splash and rain rather than just sweat, which is useful for cycling commutes and outdoor running in unpredictable weather. The NC9 is not built for swimming or full immersion.
Connectivity & Codecs
Bluetooth 5.3 carries audio using SBC and AAC; aptX and LDAC are not supported. There is no dedicated low-latency game mode advertised on the NC9, so gaming audio sits in the standard 100-200 millisecond Bluetooth range — fine for casual mobile gaming and turn-based titles, but audible as lag in fast-paced FPS or rhythm games. Pairing is simple. Multipoint pairing is not officially supported on the NC9, which is a small weakness for users who switch between a phone and a laptop daily. The TOZO app does not currently expose a game-mode toggle, which is a notable gap given that the very-similar Soundcore P20i in this guide includes one for less money. For low-latency gaming, see our best earbuds for mobile gaming guide.
Best For – Gaming, Workouts, Calls
The NC9 is the right pick for the buyer who wants real hybrid active noise cancellation at the lowest practical brand-backed price, and is willing to use the TOZO app for EQ rather than a generic no-name product. The IPX6 rating, four-mic ENC call array and decent battery life make it a sensible all-rounder for commuting, home-office work and casual gym use. It is not the best gaming pick — the Soundcore P20i and Beats Fit Pro deliver real low-latency game modes — and it is not the most premium ANC experience (AirPods 4 with ANC, Beats Fit Pro and Soundcore Space A40 step up). For the budget ANC commuter, the NC9 is well judged. Broader picks live in our best wireless earbuds guide.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Genuine hybrid active noise cancellation at sub-$50 price; TOZO app with EQ; IPX6 water resistance (above the IPX5 of most rivals); four-mic ENC call array; 30-hour total runtime; 10mm drivers for confident bass.
Cons: No dedicated low-latency game mode; no aptX or LDAC; no multipoint pairing; battery life drops with ANC engaged; ANC effectiveness below flagship Apple and Beats sets.
Verdict
At around $45 the TOZO NC9 is one of the most cost-effective ways to get genuine hybrid active noise cancellation in a true wireless earbud. The combination of a brand-backed product, a working app for EQ, the IPX6 rating and a clean four-mic call array is well judged at the price. For gaming with real low latency the Soundcore P20i is a more focused pick; for flagship ANC, look at AirPods 4 with ANC, Beats Fit Pro or Soundcore Space A40. For the buyer who wants ANC without paying flagship money, the NC9 delivers. See our best ANC earbuds guide and our best wireless earbuds guide for further options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the ANC on the TOZO NC9?
It is a genuine hybrid implementation that meaningfully cuts low-frequency drone such as aircraft hum and traffic noise. It is well above passive isolation and at the lower-mid tier of brand-backed ANC sets.
Does the TOZO NC9 have a gaming mode?
No dedicated low-latency game mode is currently advertised on the NC9. The Soundcore P20i is a better mobile-gaming pick at this price.
How long does the TOZO NC9 battery last?
Approximately 7.5 hours per bud with ANC off, dropping to around 5 hours with ANC engaged. Total runtime with the case is around 30 hours.
Are the TOZO NC9 earbuds waterproof?
They carry an IPX6 rating, which covers heavy splash and rain. They are robust against sweat and rain but not built for swimming or full immersion.
More Wireless Earbud Reviews
- JBL Vibe Beam Earbuds Review: True Wireless Deep Bass Buds
- Soundcore P30i Earbuds Review: Affordable ANC True Wireless
- Beats Fit Pro Earbuds Review: 1st Gen Wireless ANC for iPhone
- Raycon Everyday Classic Earbuds Review: ANC Wireless Buds
- Apple AirPods 4 Review: Wireless Spatial Audio Earbuds
- Soundcore Space A40 Earbuds Review: Adaptive ANC True Wireless
- TOZO A1 Wireless Earbuds Review: Budget Bluetooth 5.3 IPX5 Buds
- Soundcore P20i Earbuds Review: Budget Wireless with Gaming Mode
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