REVIEW – The TOZO brand is no stranger to The Gadgeteer, but the usual product lines tend to consist of Bluetooth earbuds, of which we’ve seen some great options. The TOZO PA1 Bluetooth speaker came along claiming a few interesting characteristics and I decided to give it a try. It sits in what I would consider a budget class per its price, but I’ve noticed that there are some true gems out there that can go toe to toe with much more expensive speakers. Let’s see how it did.
What is it?
The TOZO PA1 Bluetooth speaker is a 20W speaker with an IPX7 rating and a 4000 mAh rechargeable battery.
What’s included?
- PA1 Bluetooth Speaker
- Lanyard
- Short USB-C cable
- User Manual
- Quick Guide
Tech specs
- Speaker size: 2.5in
- Speaker type: Full-range speakers
- Passive diaphragm of loudspeaker: 80mm x 50mm
- Amplifier power: 20W
- Play Time: At 50% volume, 12 hours
- Frequency Response Range: 55Hz – 18kHz
- Waterproof Grade: IPX7
- Battery specs: 4000mAh/3.7V
- Product Size: 210x91x61mm
- Weight: 590g / 1.3 lb
- Charging time: <2.5h
- Calling: 1 microphone
Design and features
This Bluetooth speaker is a bit larger than the other Bluetooth speakers that I currently have. Occasionally it’s nice to be able to throw one in my back pocket for whatever reason, but it’s not quite as easy with this one. It does still fit in my back pocket, but it’s snug. All of the device buttons are located on the top of the speaker flush with the body. It also came with a lanyard that loops through the side of the speaker that does make it easier to carry around.
Setup
The initial charge of the TOZO PA1 Bluetooth speaker took an hour or so. Connecting the Bluetooth was pretty standard compared to every other Bluetooth device out there. Hold the pairing button down to put it into pairing mode and connect on whatever device you’re trying to pair up.
TOZO also has an app that you can connect to the device where you can change EQ settings. Pretty intuitive to connect and change settings to a variety of preset options or customize it to your own liking. There is also a section with preset white noise options that you can play, which I thought was a nice touch.
A decent library of different sounds you can play in the background.
Performance
The sound quality of the TOZO PA1 Bluetooth speaker is great. The bass sounds good and I couldn’t notice any significant issues with quality. The only problem I have is that the initialization sound when you turn it on is loud and kind of annoying. I wish it could be adjusted down or turned to a different sound.
For the IPX7 testing, I actually put it to the test. I first ran it under a running faucet to see if that would have any effect. The water streamed off the device and it kept playing without problem.
IPX7 is supposed to indicate waterproofing down to a meter. I don’t have a swimming pool handy, but I did have a Home Depot bucket. I filled it up with water from the hose and gave it a dunk. See video below!
It kept playing through the whole test and the effect of the sound on the water was fun to watch. I was even surprised to see how well it floated. I had to push it down to get it to sink. Upon pulling it out, there were no issues, and the water drained out well. A few hours later, it continued playing well.
What I like about the TOZO PA1 Bluetooth Speaker
- Great sound
- The IPX7 rating appears to be very legitimate. I would feel confident leaving this outside while the kids are playing in the water or other potentially damp situations.
- Device is well made and looks nice
- App functionality is a nice little bonus.
What needs to be improved?
- Initialization sound when you turn the device on is too loud and kind of annoying. Not a big deal, but enough to mention.
Final thoughts
The TOZO PA1 Bluetooth speaker is a great little speaker. Build quality, the TOZO app, and waterproofing are all great to have and gives me confidence that this will last for quite a while. Aside from the loud initialization sounds, I can’t think of anything negative with this device. I’d recommend it for anyone looking for a portable device that you don’t have to worry too much about.
Price: $33.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by TOZO. TOZO did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
