Design and features:The Tone Platinum uses a collar/earphone design; all the electronics and controls are incorporated into an open collar that sits around the neck and the earphones are attached to wires that can be retracted into the collar when not in use. The collar has a built-in microphone and integrated volume, music player and call connect/disconnect controls for use with paired Bluetooth devices. Additional features include a tone control with three settings, a vibration mode to provide notification of incoming calls and when the earphones are moved out of range of a connected Bluetooth device, and optional NFC Bluetooth pairing. When used with Android devices with the LG Tone & Talk app installed it supports SMS reading, and it is compatible with HD voice cellular service when used with cellphones and services that have that feature. This model comes with three pairs of ear pieces of various sizes and a USB charging cable. The free LG Tone & Talk app is available for download to Apple and Android mobile devices.
Sound quality: We found the Tone Platinum delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks. In default (Bass Boost) mode the overall sound can best be summarized as mellow but a bit constricted. Bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) goes deep and has decent impact, but is slightly prominent and a bit boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is a touch nasal, and a bit constricted (think straightjacketed), congested (as in sonic traffic jam), hazy, and grainy. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but the mid- and upper- treble are somewhat subdued. The sound has a decent sense of liveliness and is somewhat open (sound-wise it almost seems like you don't have anything plugging your ears). The "Tone Platinum" and Treble Boost modes reduce the bass, increase the treble, and make the midrange sound more constricted.
Comfort: We found that these earphones fit and stay in place with no problems, and the collar that they retract into is not generally noticeable and is very convenient unless it interferes with clothing, but as typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear opening that might be uncomfortable for some.
