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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Avantree Relay — biggest strength: It turns any wired AUX source (plane seatback, gym machine, older TV) into a Bluetooth stream for the earbuds you already own, and it supports aptX-Adaptive for low-latency, higher-quality transmission. It also throws in a set of ANC earbuds (Clan N1) rated for up to 24dB of noise reduction with a Transparency-style Ambient Mode.
• Avantree Relay — biggest trade-off: It is fundamentally an adapter-plus-earbud kit, so its noise cancellation figure (up to 24dB) is more modest than a dedicated ANC earbud, and the earbuds are only described with rounded in-ear tips in Orange — this isn't the product to buy if you want a huge variety of fit options or a wide color choice.
• TOZO Hybrid Active Noise — biggest strength: Much stronger ANC (up to -45dB), a dedicated Transparency Mode, 68 hours total playtime with the case (13 hours per charge with ANC off), 6-mic call clarity, IPX8 waterproofing and an app with 32 EQ presets.
• TOZO Hybrid Active Noise — biggest trade-off: It's earbuds only. It has no AUX adapter, so it can't pull audio out of a plane's seatback jack the way the Avantree kit can. It's also a single Blue colorway with a defined 20Hz–20KHz range and 45ms latency.
• Who each is for: Avantree Relay for travelers who want to keep using their own earbuds and tap into in-flight or wired audio; TOZO Hybrid Active Noise for someone who wants one pair of earbuds to do the heavy ANC, transparency and long-battery lifting for commuting and workouts.
Avantree Relay is best understood as a travel adapter that happens to come with a pair of ANC earbuds. The Relay itself works with anything that outputs audio over AUX — airplanes, TVs, gym equipment — and can connect to essentially any Bluetooth headphones or earbuds. If you already own a favorite pair of earbuds and just want them to work with a plane's entertainment system, that's the whole pitch. The included dual 3.5mm adapter means it handles different in-flight connector types without you hunting for a dongle at your seat. Bluetooth 5.3 keeps the connection stable, and aptX-Adaptive support delivers higher-quality audio at low latency when your listening device supports it.
The bundled Clan N1 earbuds cover the basics: hybrid ANC that blocks up to 24dB of environmental noise, an Ambient Mode that uses built-in mics to pipe surroundings back in so you stay aware, touch controls, and a charging case with a battery display so you can actually see your level instead of guessing. Frequency range is a standard 20Hz–20,000Hz.
Buy Avantree Relay if you fly often, want to reuse your own Bluetooth earbuds with seatback audio, and like the idea of a case that shows battery status. Skip it if your main goal is maximum noise cancellation — up to 24dB is respectable but it isn't the deepest ANC here, and the earbuds come in a single Orange finish rather than a range of options.
TOZO Hybrid Active Noise is a dedicated ANC earbud, and it leans hard into that role. Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation is rated to cut ambient noise by up to -45dB, and it's specifically aimed at steady low-frequency sounds — subway rumble, airplane engine drone, AC hum. Multiple ear tip sizes (six pairs, XS through XXL) help you get a proper seal, which is what actually makes that reduction land. It also has a real Transparency Mode, so you can hear announcements or a nearby conversation without pulling the buds out.
Endurance is the other headline. ANC off gives up to 13 hours per charge and 68 hours total with the case; ANC on gives up to 9.5 hours per charge and 40 hours total. A 10-minute top-up yields up to an hour of playback. Sound comes from a 12mm dynamic driver tuned with TOZO OrigX 2.0, and the TOZO app offers 32 EQ presets if you want to reshape bass or treble. IPX8 waterproofing covers sweat, rain and splashes, so workouts and outdoor runs are fair game. Bluetooth 5.3, auto-pairing on case open, and one-key reset round it out.
Buy TOZO Hybrid Active Noise if you want one pair of earbuds to handle deep ANC, transparency, long battery life and sweaty workouts. Skip it if you specifically need to pull audio from a wired AUX source like a plane seatback — there's no adapter here for that.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for in-flight wired audio → Avantree Relay. It's the only one of the two built to take an AUX signal and broadcast it to Bluetooth earbuds, with a dual 3.5mm adapter for different connectors.
• Best for battery life → TOZO Hybrid Active Noise. 68 hours total with the case (ANC off) is the standout figure here.
• Best for reusing your own earbuds → Avantree Relay. The adapter connects to any Bluetooth headphones or earbuds, so you're not locked into one pair.
• Best transparency/awareness feature → TOZO Hybrid Active Noise. Its Transparency Mode is designed for hearing announcements and conversations; Avantree's equivalent is the Ambient Mode on the Clan N1.
• Best for workouts and weather → TOZO Hybrid Active Noise. IPX8 waterproofing against sweat and rain is the deciding spec.
• Best for call clarity in noisy places → TOZO Hybrid Active Noise. 6 mics with ENC are aimed squarely at clear voice pickup in cafés, offices and streets.
• Best for fit options → TOZO Hybrid Active Noise. Six pairs of tips (XS–XXL) versus the simpler rounded-tip setup on the Avantree earbuds.
If I had to pick one for most people, I'd buy the TOZO Hybrid Active Noise. In my opinion, the deeper up-to-45dB ANC, a proper Transparency Mode, 68 hours of total playtime, IPX8 waterproofing, the app's 32 EQs and the broad ear tip selection make it the more complete everyday earbud for commuting, travel and exercise. The Avantree Relay is the smarter buy only if your specific problem is getting plane or wired audio into your own Bluetooth earbuds — that's a job the TOZO simply isn't built for. Pick based on that, not on which sounds more impressive on paper.
Transparency mode uses the earbuds' built-in microphones to feed outside sound back in, so you can hear announcements, traffic or someone talking to you without removing the buds. On the TOZO Hybrid Active Noise it's a dedicated mode, and on the Avantree Clan N1 earbuds the equivalent feature is called Ambient Mode.
What's transparency mode headphones good for?
On most earbuds you switch modes with the touch controls, cycling from transparency back to ANC or off. The TOZO Hybrid Active Noise supports touch and app controls for noise settings, while the Avantree Clan N1 uses touch controls for Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient Mode — so check the manual for the exact tap pattern on whichever you own.
No. The Avantree Clan N1 earbuds are rated for up to 24dB of hybrid ANC, while the TOZO Hybrid Active Noise is rated up to -45dB, aimed at steady low-frequency sounds like engines and rumble. If deep noise reduction is the priority, the TOZO has the stronger figure; if you mainly want to reuse your own earbuds with in-flight audio, the Avantree Relay does that job.
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