Over the past two years, I’ve tried a number of LG headphones, with each successive model featuring slightly improved specs over the previous ones. The new model adds Dolby Head Tracking alongside bacteria-killing UVnano technology. You can also count on active noise reduction (ANC) and a well thought-out smartphone application.
I first experienced spatial audio with the Apple Airpods Pro and later with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. Dolby Head Tracking is a similar feature and the LG Tone FREE T90Q are the first headphones in the world to feature it.
I was quite impressed with the comfort of these headphones, their battery life and their bacteria-killing UV technology. But are they worth the price of 229 euros? That’s what we’re going to find out.
Features
- Microphones: 4 microphones with noise reduction
- Water Resistance: IPx4 rating
- Autonomy: up to 9 hours of playtime with ANC off, the wireless charging case provides an additional 11 hours of music listening
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
- Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX
- Earbud weight: 5.1 grams each
Construction and material
The LG Tone Free T90Q box includes the wireless headphones, a charging case (weighing just under 40 grams), a USB-A to USB-C cable, a USB-C to 3.5mm cable and ear tips in small/medium and large size silicone. The case supports Qi wireless charging, so you can charge it with a traditional charging pad or the back of a phone that supports reverse wireless charging.
The USB-C to 3.5mm cable is useful, as it allows you to connect the charging case to an analog device. The charging case then acts as a Bluetooth transmitter and retransmits the signal to the headphones.
LG Tone Free T90 – Best prices:
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The charging case is a small white sphere about 5cm in diameter and just over 5cm thick. It slips easily into the pocket of pants, a shirt or a coat. Inside the case is a small UV light source for the UVnano bacteria killing function. When you charge the case, either wirelessly or with a USB-C cable, the UV-C light activates and sanitizes the tip of each earbud within 10 minutes.
The headphones have a stem-like design, similar to AirPods and many other wireless headphones. The inner curvature is well designed to rest on the bottom of the ear opening, so there is no need to push them into the ear canal. Everyone obviously has a different ear shape, but LG’s Tone Free T90Q fit my ears perfectly and are lightweight and comfortable.
The headphones also feature automatic proximity sensing, so your music stops when you take them out of your ears. Your phone also connects via Bluetooth as soon as you insert them into your ears.
Unlike the AirPods Pro and their control system via the stem, LG has opted for controls placed on the outer part of the headphones, with a touch surface that allows you to trigger different functions. You can customize these gestures in the dedicated application.
Smartphone app
To get the most out of the headphones, it is strongly recommended that you download and install the LG Tone Free app. This software allows you to view the battery status of each earbud and charging case, manage equalizer settings, enable or disable spatialization, multipoint option, noise reduction noise, and much more. This is a very well-designed app that greatly enhances the experience.
Through the mobile app, you can configure and control the level of ambient sound. There are two options in the dedicated category: listening mode and conversation mode. In Talk mode, the sounds around you are amplified so you can hear voices more clearly. Listen mode amplifies all sounds.
Image: Matthew Miller/ZDNET.
There are also five default EQ settings: Immersive, Natural, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and 3D Soundstage. The latter is normally designed for watching movies or sports, but other soundtracks work just as well. There are also two slots for custom EQ settings.
Finally, if you lose one or two headphones, you can try to find them using a small noise to activate from the phone, provided that your smartphone is within range of the headphones.
Performance
The active noise reduction of the LG TONE Free T90Q is more subtle than that of the AirPods Pro. Nevertheless, it works well to create a fairly quiet environment. It is possible, for example, to mow a lawn while enjoying its music.
As I mentioned before, Apple AirPods Pro have a poor touch control system and very limited control options. So I’ve been using LG’s Tone Free T90Q for a few weeks, and it’s clear that the headphones have good battery life, are extremely comfortable, sound fantastic and offer an interesting audio experience with Dolby head tracking.
Picture: LG.
Spatial audio is great because it feels like you’re at the center of a soundstage with variations as you move your head from side to side. If some don’t see any point in it, I’ve come to look for support for this feature in all the headphones and earphones I test.
LG announces nine hours of music playback without RBA and 18 hours more with the charging case. With ANC on, you can expect around five hours depending on the volume level.
Conclusion
LG packed a lot of technology into the Tone Free T90Qs and overall I was quite happy with their performance. Between $200 and $250, it’s not uncommon to find high-quality headphones, so you’ll need to figure out which features are most important to you in order to decide if the T90Qs are worth buying. They’re very bass-heavy, support Dolby Head Tracking, and are arguably the most hygienic headphones on the market.
Alternatives
If you’re looking for other features in your headphones, here are some options to consider:
Source: ZDNet.com