LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q

LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q package

In the small cube-shaped box, you will find the charging case, including in-ears, three pairs of medical-grade silicone tips (according to the manufacturer, they meet ISO 2 and USP Class VI requirements), three pairs of ear hooks, and a USB-C to -A charging cable (50 cm).

Wearing comfort of the LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q

Normally, I automatically reach for size XL earpieces during our in-ear tests, as they fit me better, or at least provide a more secure fit. These headphones do not provide this size, but thanks to the ear hooks, the LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q fit very well with size L. With a short turn counter-clockwise, these in-ears can be fixed in the ear so that abrupt movements will hardly affect them.

The ear hooks – apart from the smallest size – are equipped with ventilation slots so that the air underneath can circulate and moisture can escape. The hooks only cause a slight feeling of pressure, which makes them suitable for longer periods of wear.

These in-ears only protrude a little from the ears, so in colder weather, they can be worn under hats without any problems. However, due to the design, you can hear a slight rustling sound when you move – but this is no different than with other similar headphones.

LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q Technical data

The LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q use Bluetooth version 5.2 and SBC, as well as AAC codecs as a higher-quality alternative. They don’t provide high-resolution codecs such as aptX HD, LDAC or even LHDC. With Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair, it only takes a few seconds for the TONE Free Fit to be paired, but Apple users have to hold down the touch pads for a few seconds.

The wireless link proved to be extremely stable in our tests: In open space, more than 35 metres was achieved without drop-outs, while indoors, we were able to make an uninterrupted connection over one floor without any problems.

Thanks to Multipoint (connection of two devices at the same time) and Multi-Pairing (pairing with up to five devices), there is nothing left to be desired for use in everyday life. An app allows you to conveniently manage these connections.

Unfortunately, the charging case – unlike the in-ears – does not have IP certification, so you need to be careful that the headphones are dry and clean when inserting them into your ears so that no damage occurs.

Weighing only approx. 43 grams, the case is pleasantly light, and thanks to the slightly rough, ribbed texture, it doesn’t slip in your grip, although it can be difficult to open with just one hand. It does not support wireless charging (Qi), but two LEDs provide information about the charging status and whether or not UVnano is in operation. The three-colour battery LED shows the status depending on whether the headphones are inserted or if the case is charging via USB.

With UVnano, LG includes an automatic cleaning function, something which is supposed to rid the earpieces and the driver grille of certain bacteria using UV light. According to the manufacturer, 99.9% of the bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia are eliminated within ten minutes. It should be noted that this only happens during the charging process. However, we cannot verify how effectively the whole thing works.

Battery: How long does the LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q last?

Depending on the operating mode, according to the manufacturer, these headphones last up to 30 hours on one charge. The in-ears are ready to go again after one hour, while the case takes two hours to recharge. If ANC is switched on, the runtime is reduced accordingly. These are only theoretical values and depend heavily on different configurations and how the in-ears are used. We managed over seven hours with ANC at a volume of about 65% without Multipoint activated. The LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q also have a quick-charge function: within five minutes, you can get an hour of continuous sound. These are good values and should even provide enough listening pleasure for longer journeys.

Many options: The LG TONE Free app

Yes, I admit it: I like to be able to adapt headphones to my own needs down to the smallest detail. This is simply because I want to be able to use the different headphones I use every day in as much the same way as possible without having to get used to them.

The LG TONE Free app for iOS and Android allowed me to do just that, and there are only a few providers out there that offer me this much freedom. These include Technics and Soundcore, but LG also qualify. It would go beyond the scope of this article to list everything in detail, so I will limit myself to a few highlights.

In addition to the multipoint and pairing management mentioned above, there was the option under “TONE Free LAB” to have UVnano always on and to activate a gaming mode for reduced latency between picture and sound. The control options of the touchpads can also be tuned in the app (louder, quieter, track forward/back), and it is possible to set up a complete lock to protect against incorrect inputs. This is useful if the earphones need to be readjusted in your ears.

In addition, you can activate whether messages should be read aloud (Android only) or whether the LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q should automatically pause/continue playing when the earphones are removed or reinserted from your ears.

There are also five equaliser pre-sets and two custom EQs.

How do the LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q sound?

As with the LG TONE Free DT90Q, the Free Fit rely on the cooperation of Meridian Audio – a hi-fi pioneer from the UK.

However, I found that not every equaliser pre-set appealed to me sonically. If “Natural” was selected, acoustic instruments, in particular, sounded extremely natural, but the basic sound seemed a little thin and constricted. When I switched to “Immersive”, which uses HSP technology (Headphone Spatial Processing), the sound stage opened up and created a clearly perceptible spatiality. Indeed, this pre-set doesn’t sound quite as balanced, but like the “Bass Boost” pre-set, the focus was more on listening pleasure than audiophile resolution. But you have to keep your expectations quite small: The LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q are, first and foremost, headphones that have been specialised for use during sports activities.

Thanks to two custom EQs, you can adjust the sound more precisely to your own needs. But as with the LG TONE Free DT90Q, the playback level was audibly lowered, which means there is a need to turn up the overall volume accordingly.

All in all, then, a good, practical sound performance.

Noise cancelling and transparency mode of the LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q

The hybrid noise cancelling (ANC) is single-stage switchable and doesn’t work as effectively as top headphones like Apple AirPods Pro 2, Technics EAH-AZ80, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or even the new Sony WF-1000XM5 do. The noise suppression can therefore be said to be somewhere in the upper midrange because the TONE Free Fit certainly can create a quiet room. Low-frequency ambient noise was satisfactorily reduced, keyboard noise or conversations in the immediate vicinity were not completely eliminated, nor was wind noise.

The switchable transparency mode distinguishes between a general listening mode and a conversation mode, and this clearly emphasises voices. Due to the headphones’ design, both modes raise the background noise but without becoming annoying.

Conclusion

The LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q sound good and fit perfectly in the ears thanks to the ear hooks, even over longer periods of time. They can also justifiably be described as having a wealth of features – hardly any other manufacturer allows such detailed configuration options via an app. With a current retail price of around 125 euros, the LG TONE Free Fit DTF7Q are sports specialists that also do a great job in “normal” everyday use. The noise cancelling is not as effective as that of the considerably more expensive competition, but it is still practical.