LG has recently introduced its latest truly wireless earbuds, known as the Tone Fit TF7. These earbuds offer a comfortable fit but come with a relatively high price tag. Are they worth the investment?
While LG may no longer be a player in the smartphone industry, it excels in other domains, particularly in audio. LG’s audio products are a result of a longstanding partnership with audio industry experts Meridian. LG has a track record of producing quality audio products, including earbuds. So, when LG unveiled its latest active noise-cancelling wireless earbuds, the LG Tone Fit TF7, there was considerable anticipation regarding how they would perform differently. LG’s claim that these are the best-fitting earbuds in the market also added to the excitement. In this review, we will discuss the key aspects, but let’s address the pricing first.
The LG Tone Fit TF7 belongs to the premium category of earbuds. Initially launched at Rs 12,500, they are currently listed at Rs 12,989 on the company’s online store. Priced at around Rs 13,000, the LG Tone Fit TF7 faces stiff competition from other established brands like Apple, Sony, Samsung, Bose, and JBL. LG appears to be focusing on offering the perfect fit more than emphasizing audio quality, but the question remains: Are the new Tone Fit TF7 earbuds worth your hard-earned money? Let’s find out.
Design of LG Tone Fit TF7: The LG Tone Fit TF7 earbuds are specifically designed for a purpose – catering to exercisers. LG’s claim that these earbuds are ideal for athletes, gymnasts, and individuals engaged in various sports activities appears to hold true.
For active individuals, more than audio quality, the fit of earbuds is crucial. They require earbuds that can stay securely in place during vigorous movement. The LG Tone Fit TF7 excels in this regard. These earbuds feature a unique design that requires you to swivel them once they are inserted into your ears, effectively locking them securely in place. Silicone hooks on each earbud snugly fit within the ear, ensuring a secure grip that remains unaffected by any physical activity. These hooks also feature openings to allow proper airflow, preventing ear discomfort caused by congestion.
Even though I am not an athlete, I do engage in regular workouts. During my training sessions, these earbuds never once loosened or dislodged themselves. I never had to adjust or reposition them because the music playing at the gym did not align with my preferences. The fit of these earbuds surpassed that of some other earbuds in the same price range. I found them comfortable enough to wear for extended periods. It’s worth noting that you can select the ear tip size that best suits your ears. However, I do have a minor concern to mention. After prolonged use, I experienced slight discomfort, likely due to the snugly packed silicone ear tips. I recommend taking short breaks if you plan on using them continuously for an extended duration.
The earbuds feature a relatively large surface area that allows touch controls for playback and call management. While I had no issues pausing music or answering calls using the earbuds, I did find the touch responsiveness slightly lacking. The responsiveness level may depend on your preference for interacting with the earbuds. Personally, I prefer controlling music playback using my phone, so this wasn’t a major concern for me. These earbuds can detect when you put them on or take them off, automatically pausing or resuming music accordingly. This feature compensates for any occasional lack of responsiveness.
LG’s Tone Fit TF7 earbuds come with an IP67 rating, providing protection against water and dust ingress. I had no problems wearing them while running or working out, as their snug fit prevented sweat from affecting their grip.
Audio Quality of LG Tone Fit TF7: While LG may not have emphasized the audio quality of the Tone Fit TF7, these earbuds deliver good sound quality. By default, the Tone Fit TF7 has a bass-heavy sound signature, but the LG Tone Free app offers various sound presets, allowing you to customize the audio to your liking. Upbeat Bollywood dance tracks felt energetic and rhythmic, making me want to dance to the music. However, for quieter moments or personal reflection, I found that soulful tracks, such as those in the Sufi genre, lacked the subtlety and impact I desired. In such cases, the earbuds seemed to underperform.
Songs like “Shikayat” from the movie “Gangubai Kathiawadi” had powerful vocals, but the classical elements in the music were occasionally overshadowed by the pronounced thumping beats. As a fan of retro music, I found that older tracks lacking modern audio enhancements, such as “Dil Cheez Kya Hai” or “Mohabbat Hai Kya Cheez,” sounded significantly lower, with an almost imperceptible sound stage. Even at full volume, the listening experience was underwhelming. While changing the sound preset did make some difference, I still felt that more could have been delivered. For most users, these earbuds should perform well with various music genres.
If you seek a spatial audio experience, you can activate the “Immersive” mode in the Equalizer Settings within the app. However, it’s important to note that this is not the same as true spatial audio with head movement support. The app offers other options such as “Natural,” “Bass Boost,” “Treble Boost,” and a “3D Sound Stage” mode that attempts to simulate a 3D audio effect. Personally, I wasn’t particularly fond of the 3D Sound Stage experience, but it’s available for those who wish to experiment with their listening experience.
Noise Cancellation on LG Tone Fit TF7: The noise cancellation capability of the LG Tone Fit TF7 is decent, but it doesn’t stand out as exceptional. It provides satisfactory performance for most users. During my time in the gym, I was able to concentrate on podcasts and my preferred music without being disrupted by the gym’s background music. However, sharp and loud beats from the gym’s music occasionally penetrated the earbuds. In essence, the noise cancellation effectively suppresses midrange noises and typical traffic sounds. However, high-pitched noises can still be heard due to the earbuds’ average noise isolation.
The earbuds also offer a transparency feature that allows you to hear your surroundings and engage in conversations without removing the earbuds. However, the voices transmitted through the earbuds sound somewhat artificial, which diminishes the overall experience. There were times when I preferred removing the earbuds rather than using the transparency mode. Taking calls with the earbuds is a relatively average experience. The microphones perform well, focusing on your voice while minimizing background noise. However, on windy days, the earbuds struggled to filter out wind noise, resulting in a subpar calling experience. In summary, the active noise cancellation on these earbuds is decent, and most users will find it satisfactory
