LG Tone Free FP9A earbuds deliver new connectivity options

LG has announced a set of wireless earbuds with some fascinating features.

LG Tone Free FP9A wireless earbuds

LG has announced a set of wireless earbuds with some fascinating features. Earbuds already pack amazing technology in such small devices including multiple microphones and speakers, and share capabilities such as active noise cancellation and ambient sound management found in larger headphones. There’s spatial audio processing and 3D sound too.

Quality earbuds deliver amazing sound.

But is there anything really new?

LG has sought to offer something different with its ‘plug and play’ feature on its LG Tone Free FP9A earbuds. The feature is particularly good if you want to listen to music from a fixed source that normally demands a wired connection.

Instead, you plug the charging cradle into the music source. The cradle then wirelessly transmits the music to the earbuds by Bluetooth. It means a music source that normally needs a wired connection can go wireless, provided it has an AUX connection.

LG says this is ideal for those who frequently fly and use exercise equipment. Users can plug the cradle into a smartphone, gaming console, treadmill or other compatible devices via a USB-C to AUX cable, to experience their favourite audio.

There’s more. LG has tackled the issue of having a private conversation during a call using your wireless earbuds in a busy environment, such as on a bus. So often, people get to hear your side of the conversation.

The charging case is also a Bluetooth transmitter

You can remove the right earbud from your ear, hold it in front of your mouth and use it as a microphone in ‘whispering mode’. LG says it is an ideal solution for making and taking calls in both quiet and loud environments.

This earbud set uses LG’s UVnano feature. LG says the UVC-LED light in the charging case eliminates 99.9 per cent of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria after five minutes of UVC exposure. It says the new models also feature medical-grade ear gels.

LG’s relationship with Meridian brings headphone spatial processing and 3D sound stage.

Headphone spatial processing surrounds the listener with multidimensional sound while 3D sound stage expands spatial up-mixing which is useful for audio from movies and smartphone gaming. Users can access an equaliser, ambient sound mode, touch control customisation and a Find My Earbuds function.

There’s active noise cancelling for minimising low-frequency sounds. The microphones on the earbuds listen for ambient noises and neutralise these by producing identical sound waves that are inaudible to the listener.

LG claims up to 10 hours of playback on the FP9A between charges, for a total of 24 hours of usage when used with the charging cradle. Five minutes in the case enables up to one hour of listening.

The FP9A, along with the FP8A and FP5A will be available online from LG and from major retailers from October. LG is yet to announce pricing.