[Trying LG Tone Free] "Comfortable and Pleasant" Enjoyable Earphones 'LG Tone Free'

LG Electronics Wireless Earbuds ‘Tone Free (TONE-TFP9)’

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] LG Electronics' wireless earphones ‘Tone Free (TONE-TFP9)’ are comfortable and refreshing products. The wearing comfort, which does not strongly reveal its presence to the user, provided comfort and pleasantness, and the sound design focused on spatial realization opened the listening ear refreshingly.

The most surprising part while using the Tone Free was the wearing comfort. It was impressive how it softly wrapped and comfortably settled as soon as it was inserted into the ear. This product, designed in collaboration with POSTECH's ergonomics laboratory, has a shape that bends once and fits tightly inside the auricle, providing a high and stable fit. This differentiates it from some earphones that slip down slightly and need to be readjusted with every movement.

Above all, it was comfortable, and the silicone eartips seemed to play a big role. The eartips are thin and soft, so even after entering the external auditory canal, they exerted little impression of expanding inside to maintain their original elasticity, resulting in less pressure. However, due to the eartips being very thin, there was a drawback that they flipped inside out every time the earphones were removed from the ear.

No matter how good the sound performance of earphones is, if they are uncomfortable to wear, the satisfaction from excellent sound quality can be offset by discomfort, making wearing comfort a key consideration when choosing earphones. In fact, it was easy to use as earplugs during movement on the subway or elsewhere because it did not cause much fatigue even after long hours of wear.

LG Electronics Wireless Earbuds ‘Tone Free (TONE-TFP9)’

The most essential function, sound quality, also showed competitive performance. LG Electronics emphasized spatial sound tuned in collaboration with the UK high-end audio brand ‘Meridian’ for this product’s sound quality, and the spatiality of the sound was also memorable after actual use. Rather than a single sound being thickly and wholly inserted into the ear, it felt like multiple sounds were thinly layered and flowed in from various directions and distances. This advantage was especially noticeable in string instruments that produce long sounds using a bow.

In the Tone Free app, users can select from five sound modes according to music genre and preference: Immersive, Natural, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and 3D Sound Stage. It was convenient to set easily with simple explanations, and the differences between modes were quite distinct, which was impressive. Personally, the ‘Bass Boost’ mode, which enhances low frequencies to bring out rhythm, felt the most comfortable and balanced regardless of genre.

However, there was some disappointment in call quality. Although external noise was well controlled, contrary to the company’s explanation that three microphones interact to enable clear and crisp calls, the sound tended to echo overall regardless of location.

LG Electronics Wireless Earbuds ‘Tone Free (TONE-TFP9)’

The recently most sought-after wireless earphone feature, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) performance, was generally satisfactory. It especially captured the rhythmic low-frequency vibrations on the subway well, making it easy to immerse in music during commuting. It also gave the impression of effectively controlling wind noise. It smoothly blocked indoor air conditioner or fan wind noise as well as wind noise by the riverside, making it suitable for use while exercising or walking while listening to music.

In a time when interest in personal hygiene is higher than ever, the ‘UV Nano’ care function also stood out. When the earphones are placed in the cradle for charging, an LED light using ultraviolet rays operates for 5 minutes to sterilize harmful bacteria such as E. coli in the earbud hole. Although prolonged use of earphones can expose users to bacteria, it is not easy to disinfect them every time, so the fact that sterilization is automatically performed just by putting them in and taking them out is a practical and trendy feature. However, it was somewhat disappointing that there is no way to confirm whether sterilization is properly carried out.

In addition to the ▲TFP9 (249,000 KRW) tested this time, the Tone Free lineup includes ▲TFP8 (219,000 KRW) and ▲TFP5 (169,000 KRW), broadening the range of choices. In particular, the TFP8 lacks the ‘Plug & Wireless’ function, which allows users to listen to sounds from devices that do not support Bluetooth connection, such as treadmills or airplane screens, by simply connecting the cradle to the earphone jack, but it offers wireless charging at a relatively lower price, which is expected to be popular among consumers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.