Have you ever wondered how ridiculous typical bluetooth headsets look when worn over the ear? That is the only reason I don’t use one… until now.
I have found the perfect wireless stereo bluetooth headset. It is the LG Tone (HBS-700) Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset.
Very nice packaging. Comes in a solidly built box.
Open the case and the headset is protected under another layer of plastic.
Unlike most bluetooth headsets, it is shaped like a neck band. When not in use, I simply wear it around the neck (and tuck it under the collar).
Chock full of features, and I enjoy every one of them.
Note the mention of SMS-to-speech feature, which is for Android phones only.
The in-ear type ear buds are magnetically attached to the ends for easy storage.
Any closer and the ear buds will pop back into the magnetic housing, makes storage fast and easy.
When the phone rings, the LG Tone HBS-700 vibrates. I detach the ear buds, pop it into my ear, and press the “call” button to answer the phone. That means I don’t have to wear the ear buds to know that a call is coming in.
Open the tiny casing and the micro USB charging port appears.
Micro USB charger with US-spec pin.
Not that I have any issue wearing them. The ear buds are very comfortable to wear and I have no trouble listening to music or watching videos the whole day (battery life is rated for 10 hours of use, 15 days of standby).
The ring around the power button flashes blue when in use, and red when charging.
The LG Tone (HBS-700) Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset can also connect to multiple devices simultaneously due to its A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) capability. For example, I pair it with my Huawei MediPad for audio, and with my BlackBerry 9780 for telephone calls. When the phone rings, the audio pauses, and then automatically resumes after the call has ended.
However, you may need to make some manual adjustments. When I turn on the LG Tone HBS-700, it connects to my Huawei MediaPad for both phone and audio (even though I cannot make phone calls on a Honeycomb tablet). I need to first disconnect the phone channel on the Huawei MediaPad, before connecting my BlackBerry. This can’t be done automatically – I see it more as a limitation of Android Honeycomb than a shortcoming of the LG Tone HBS-700.
Thoughtfully designed for intuitive use.
The controls are well-designed, and can be easily manipulated by touch alone. Range is decent. I get consistently good connection with no gaps till about 10m away. If there is a wall in the way, then the range drops slightly to around 8m. Beyond these distances, I occasionally experience dropped signals (pockets of silence).
At the moment of writing, it’s going for about USD20 less than when I ordered, that makes it an ever better deal.
Get it before they realise they are under-pricing it. 🙂
Edited on 11/11/2011: Added content on range and phone connection.
Hun Boon's Blog 
LG selected me to reviews the new LG Tone stereo headset and I am very excited and pleased with the product. It is excellent, comfortable and easy to use. It is definitely the best headset I have ever used. Many people have even told me the quality of sound is better when I am using the LG stereo headset to make a phone call rather than just speaking thru my phone without the headset. I highly recommend the LG Tone!
I love my LG Tone too! Now, how do I get selected for a product review as well? 🙂
Since I was given the opportunity to wear and try the LG Tone through Active Ambassadors, I have used it once so far when I participated in a 5K race. It was a joy not having to worry about long bothersome chords getting in the way from when I use my ipod to listen to music. I was aboe to concentrate mostly on running instead of having to hold the chords that I had previously used. The Lg Tone has amazing sound quality and I can listen to music while I run. It is also a benefit to have this bluethooth technology to allow you to also hear oncoming calls in addition to making calls. The sound is crystal clear and the other person can not tell the difference of when I am using the LG Tone to talk or if I am using my cell without the LG Tone, meaning the sound is a great quality. It is small enough to fit inside your purse. It also is a comfotaly device that wears around the neck.
Hi Devie, thanks for your comment. I’ve only tried using it in the gym for the rowing machine. The LG Tone is very comfortable to wear despite sweating profusely. I’m sure it will hold up well even for a marathon, the 10 hour battery life will be more than sufficient too. 🙂
BTW, what is this Active Ambassador programme you mentioned?
I am currently a member of the Active Ambassadors program, and I was selected to receive this complimentary product and review it. Let me just say that I have been using this product for almost a full month, and I thoroughly enjoy it. I had moved away from Bluetooth technology on the go, and I preferred to stick with it just in my car (people that walk around with a blinking bluetooth in their ear freak me out). I must say that I have been converted.
I used my LG tone to cook a Thanksgiving feast and to shop throughout the holiday. It was a huge success, and I enjoyed being able to complete my tasks and be entertained. Music is my salvation! Here are a couple of thoughts as to why I liked it…
PROS
-easy to use
-charge last a long time
-nice access to controls of calls and music
-sits nicely on your shoulders
-earbuds don’t have to be a permanent fixture
-earbuds easy to seat when a call arises (unlike maneuvering on the other bluetooths)
-lightweight
-inexpensive
-buds are attached to prevent complete droppage
-great sound quality
CONS
-sometimes you forget they are there
-may get tangled with long haired users
-may have “too much sound” for delicate ears
I hope you enjoy it too!
hi Hazel, thanks for sharing your experience with the LG Tone in such detail. Seems like there are quite a few of the Active Ambassadors here. 🙂
I’m definitely enjoying it, I’ve paired it not only with my handphone and tablet, but also my 2 laptops. It’s very comfortable to just wear it and lay down on the bed, as the neck band is thin, rubberised, and flexible. Much better than the plastic-band type headsets I’ve tried in the past.
I agree Hun Boon. I am glad that you have enjoyed it as much as I have! 🙂
Hi, Can you please let us know the details how to connect to Laptop. I have a sony Vaio Laptop.
Regards
Santhi Konidena
Hi Santhi, you will need to pair the LG Tone with your laptop. Here’s the bluetooth pairing instructions:
1. Set your LG Tone to pairing mode by long pressing the round “call” button. It will start flashing blue.
2. On your Sony Vaio, go to Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers\Bluetooth Devices
3. Click “Add a device” and then follow the instructions on-screen.
Enjoy!
DON’T BUY this product. If you ever lose a 25 cent earbud or have you cat eat it, your expensive Headset BECOMES WORTHLESS because, to quote LG:
“LG is unable to mail out replacement parts.” and “LG does not have replacement ear buds to provide.”
Worse, in my case, one of the earbud rubbers was missing from the original package and LG still refused to do anything about it.
I’ve had a previous bad customer service experience with LG on a $3000+ TV.
LG has the worst customer service I’ve ever encountered.
Don’t buy LG.
It’s a real shame to hear about your experience. Poor customer service is really inexcusable in this day and age, where bad reviews can spread quickly.
So far, I hadn’t needed to contact their customer service yet. As for the earbuds on my LG Tone, they appear to be very firmly attached. I think it will be pretty hard to get it loose.
I’m sad to read this as I have just lost one of the black clips that hold the wires on each side… I’m waiting to hear if they sell replacements but am guessing that the answer will be no. After wearing these day in and day out for a year or more, this is the first thing that has happened. I guess I will start trying to rig something up to replace that clip! (It was my fault that the clip popped off, btw… It just seems to have vanished.)
Same thing happened to me. Please share you fix to this issue when you find one. I otherwise love the headset.
I actually had the clip for the wire break, but i wear them at night and listen to audiobooks. This is completely my fault, but wanted to share how i fixed it. I used a tiny black hair band, the small kind for braids and wrapped it around a couple of times. it rolls up and down the neckwire to adjust the tension on the earbud. i happen to have a daughter so i have these readily available, but they can be found cheaply at walmart in the haircare isle. Happy fixing!!
I had kind of anticipated the problem that rgesner brings up. The connecting wires are the weak links in this otherwise good design: they could be the first to fail, simply because of accidental knocks from the hands causing sudden stresses at the joints at both ends of the wires. LG should have borrowed ideas from some other models that use rubberised reinforcements at the joints to prevent such problems. Hopefully future improvements will take care of this problem. Until then, maybe this is not a good idea unless you happen to be the ultra careful type.
Hello,
I have been using this stereo headset for three months now and they are absolutely amazing. The sound quality is very great, I always get compliments on how they look and I’m extremely comfortable with the design.
I have never had one issue with this device it’s a great device, they connect with my iPod, iPhone and with my laptop so I’m extremely happy with the fact I can use them with whatever Bluetooth enabled device I own. I would definitely recommend these for anyone wanting a pair of wireless headphones.
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I got my set and they are great But I do have one big problem and that is my music cuts out alot when moving or laying at the pool if I turn my head its like the connection gets interupted , but as long as i’m not moving much it plays great. Anyone else having this problem?
My earphones has been pretty robust, no such issue for me.
Can you show me how can i pair iPhone and iPad the same time? I couldn’t do it. It just pair one of them.
does it have a small size eargel/buds?
Sorry I can’t recall, it’s been a while.
I have small ears and they fit me fine – I wear mine for many hours of the day and they are very comfortable. Hands-down, the BEST, most convenient headphones ever!
The LG is far superior to any other Bluetooth device. I wear mine inside of my helmet when riding my streetbike, and I’ve had the headset literally stretched out from the 80 mph wind, with no problems. I’ve learned a few things in the past few years of having these. 1. when the music starts to fade or get sporadic, turn both your phone and the headset on & off, and it will be like new. 2. The little plastic clips don’t really fall off, as much as they simply weaken and break. Thus far, I’ve not seen any replacements offered under warranty or for sale. RGesner has made a few statements that make little sense, in regard to a “missing” earbud. The LG comes with EXTRA earbuds, as well as one on each side of the unit. Unless he bought it used, it should have had all he needs. Later !!! DW
I had the same issue with the little clips. After an exhaustive web search, in which I found third-party clips for sale, in black (I have a white headset–not to mention that these clips were only being sold as part of a set with other items that I didn’t need) on an online retailer’s site, I came across a Facebook post by a customer with the same problem. LG’s Facebook team directed that customer to the LG customer service website. I figured it was worth a shot, went there, and was promptly assisted by a Live Chat technician. My replacement clips should arrive in 5 business days. 🙂
Same issue. Lost clips. The LG customer website did the trick. Same thing, live chat, asked how to get replacements, was told they would send for free. Provided name, address and color of headset. Clips should be here in 7-10 business days.
Will this device work on IPods with Bluetooth?