At the height of the pandemic, one of the most innovative products was the LG Tone series truly wireless earbuds which came with UV technology that sanitised the units every time they went back into their charging cases. However, these superb-sounding earbuds were a bit expensive and somewhat serious in their looks. Now LG has released the Tone Free Fit series aimed at those who are very active and need the convenience of earbuds that fit into their fitness regime.
Unlike the stemmed design of the earlier models, the LG Tone Free Fit has a more compact design that fits completely in your ears with a rubber fin on top to keep it in place during your morning jog or late-night workout session. The earpieces can be easily twisted into the ears for a better fit. The earbuds come with a black and fluorescent yellow dual-colour design that gels with the innards of the charging case. The charging case however is not very compact; it seems to be a tad bit larger than what came with earlier models.
I have tried enough noise cancellation earphones over the years to be not awed by anything I hear — or don’t hear — anymore. However, the moment the LG Tone Free Fit went inside my ears I was indeed awed, as the drone of the Atomberg fan in my living room was sucked into a vacuum soon after. For a small fitness-focused earbud, the Tone Free Fit sure has some very active noise cancellation… may be best in class for this price range. And when going for my evening walks, where traffic is always a concern, the ambient mode works pretty well. In fact, I like the fact that the Tone Free app gives you two options here — a conversation mode and a listening mode for when you just need to be aware of your surroundings.
The charging case however is not very compact; it seems to be a tad bit larger than what came with earlier models (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
You can switch to the ambient mode using the touchpad settings on the earbuds too, but it will go to the setting you have selected on the app by default. The app lets you select preset equaliser modes like the immersive or 3D sound stage for movies and games. It also comes with the option to create your own custom presets. Using the app you can find the earbuds if they slipped inside the cavities of your sofa or been taken to the kitten’s lair.
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Oliver Anthony’s vocals get all the focus when you listen to Rich Men North of Richmond, the guitar is balanced accompaniment to his political rant of a song that is becoming popular across the world. But as you switch to Zach Bryan’s Something in the Orange you get to know how rich these earbuds can be. The twang of the guitar chords reverberates beyond your ears, thumping your heart and soul. Also, you feel the soundstage better with a number like this, filling your ears with highs and lows… really rich. You get the sense that Tone Free has more of a neutral profile, with no excess bass or treble.
This is when I discovered Sid Sriram’s new English Album Sidharth. Sid is a singer I love for his versatility that blends his training in Carnatic music with the learnings of his American upbringing. Do the Dance is a number that highlights just this, with its very global sounds that sound Indian somewhere thanks to his soulful rendition. The Tone Free Fit managed to balance out the bassy music with Sid’s sharp vocals.
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You can switch to the ambient mode using the touchpad settings on the earbuds too (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
As Shekhar Ravjiani’s Fly Fly Away took me far away from sultry Noida during one late evening walk, the sweat drops trickling down my brow reminded me where I really was. But the Free Tone Fit with its IP67 rating can manage this well. I liked the fact that you can lock the touchpad of the earbuds using the app so that there are no false touches when you are working out.
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A single charge should be able to last a full week with lots of hours of music and calls. In fact, for the weeklong review, I did not have to charge these more than once. And every time you open the charging case you will see the blue lights that are getting reading to give your earbuds the UV-Nano treatment.
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At Rs 12,989, the LG Tone Free Fit is a good option for those looking to buy a truly wireless set to help with workouts and jogs. I am not sure this works well for professional users though, because it does look like something you will wear to the gym. If that’s not a problem, you can wear it for your Zoom calls too. At this price point, the Tone Free Fit offers best-in-class noise cancellation, a balanced sound profile and the convenience of an app that offers great customisations.
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