We have a new review of the Tozo NC20 on Headphone Reviews. Check it out here!

We have a new review of the Sony WF-1000XM5 on Headphone Reviews. Check it out here!

We have a new review of the Technics AZ-100 on Headphone Reviews. Check it out here!

We have a new review of the Bose QuietComfort 2023 on Headphone Reviews, check it out here!

Tozo have kindly sent us their Open EarRing to review. This review is only on our blog rather than in our usual database because they’re such a unique product there’s no existing category for them on Headphone Reviews.

The TOZO Open EarRing headphones are a great option for anyone who wants to hear what’s happening around them while still enjoying music or podcasts. They’re ideal for runners, cyclists, drivers, or anyone who just doesn’t like having earbuds jammed into their ears. It’s a bit of a niche product, but a really clever one for people who prefer awareness over isolation.

The design sits gently outside the ear canal, looping neatly over your ear. Putting them on is simple and comfortable, and once they’re in place, they stay there. They’re surprisingly secure and lightweight, which makes them easy to forget about during a walk or a long day at your desk. As a bonus, they work really well with glasses – there’s no awkward pressure points or fighting for space behind your ears.

Of course, open-ear headphones come with trade-offs. The big one is sound leakage. People nearby will hear your music if the volume is turned up, and you’ll also hear everything happening around you. That’s the whole point of their design, but it does mean they’re less suitable for noisy environments or shared spaces where you want privacy.

Sound quality is good overall. The midrange and treble come through clearly, giving voices and instruments a nice presence. Music sounds crisp and pleasant, which is impressive for open-ear design. The one area where they fall short is the bass, which is noticeably weak and doesn’t go down very low. You can still enjoy the rhythm of your music, but don’t expect any deep thump or rumble. Sound quality also changes depending on what’s happening around you, since outside noise blends naturally with the music.

These aren’t headphones for people chasing audiophile perfection. They’re for people who want convenience and awareness. If your priority is safety while running or driving, or you simply dislike the blocked-off feeling of traditional earbuds, the trade-offs make sense. You’ll still get a pleasant, clear listening experience without feeling cut off from the world.

Battery life is solid, lasting most of a day before needing a recharge, and the case adds extra time when you’re on the go. The touch controls take a little getting used to, but once you learn the taps, they’re simple enough to use.

Overall, the TOZO Open EarRing headphones fill a unique spot. They’re not about booming sound or blocking out reality—they’re about blending your audio with your environment. For people who want to stay aware, stay comfortable, and still have their soundtrack running in the background, they’re a refreshing and practical choice.

You can purchase the Open EarRing direct from Tozo, or on Amazon.com (affiliate link).

We’ve just added a review of the Tozo T20 canal phones, which Tozo kindly supplied for review. These headphones blew us away with their excellent sound quality, particularly since they are currently on sale for US$22 at Amazon.com.

They’re comfortable with long battery life, wireless or USB-C charging, a battery display on the case, and touch controls. They provide environmental noise cancelling during calls, though they don’t have full active noise cancellation.

These are some the best value in-ear headphones we’ve reviewed here at headphonereviews.org!

You can view the full review here.

Brainwavz were kind enough to send me their Krudul Duo earphone hanger. This product is designed to attach to your desk, your laptop or anything else really to give you a place to hang your earphones.

They came in a compact box that was easy to open. The box has two hangers, one seems good for putting on the back / front of a desk, the other for attaching to a monitor or similar.

They’re both made of aluminium, and seem both very strong and very light. They’re a matt black, with a very slight sheen / reflective to it, they’re quite good looking. They come with 3M adhesive to attach them to whatever you need them attached to. It looks like a permanent attachment rather than one of the 3M removable strips to me.

I don’t use compact headphones very often at my desk, as I prefer full sized headphones. Instead I used these at the back of my desk for cable management of my various USB charging cables. I found them good for that, with the cords staying in place well, but able to be removed if they need to be. I’m sure they’d do well with holding headphones as well, as the larger part that goes in your ear couldn’t slip through the gap.

If you need this sort of a product, I think this is a well made options that you should consider. They’re available from Amazon.com for US$13.

The A900X is a big step backward for the ATH-A family of headphones, primarily because the poor support offered by the new 3D wing design results in the headphone cups slipping down and resting on your ears. I strongly recommend against purchasing these headphones.

Read on for more.

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We have a bit of a treat in at the moment, the loan of a pair of Sennheiser HD650‘s and a very expensive Headroom Balanced Desktop Amp, to pair with our Audeze LCD2 and a custom made PPA headphone amplifier. We’ve been swapping cables all day! The balanced amp can drive two pairs of headphones or one balanced pair, which has been invaluable for head to head testing.

We’ll do a full review in a week or two, but for now my impressions are that the HD650 has a little more detail than the LCD2, especially at the high end, but the LCD2 has stronger, punchier bass. Don’t get me wrong, the HD650’s have bass, and the LCD2 has treble, we’re talking about subtle differences between two of the best headphones in the world here! It’s not always about each part of the sound is though, sometimes it’s about how it all comes together to play the music we love. Both are very comfortable headphones, but I think the Senny’s with their soft pads, lighter weight, and lower clamping force just edge out the still excellent LCD2’s leather pads and slightly greater clamping force.

I’m not sure whether or not I can hear a difference between the two amps. Sometimes I think the headroom has slightly better high end detail and a touch more bass, but I doubt I could tell the two apart in a blind test.

We may throw in the old A900s, since they’ll be back in the office tomorrow anyway, and there are some Beats by Dr Dre’s laying about that we’ll add in too.

Questions are welcome!