When using a treadmill at the gym, the monitor attached to the machine was little more than decoration. I didn't use it because the cord brushing against my body while running was uncomfortable. After using the LG XBOOM Buds Plus, I've been putting my smartphone in the locker and heading into the gym.
Bluetooth wireless earphones are commonly perceived as devices used by linking to a smartphone. That also implies wireless earphones are limited to use with smartphones. In many everyday places, you still have to use "wired earphones." The LG XBOOM Buds Plus resolves that inconvenience.
The LG XBOOM Buds Plus features "Plug & Wireless." If you connect the wired earphone jack (AUX) to the charging case (cradle) with a cable, you can enjoy content audio wirelessly. Touch and hold the button on the charging case for 3–5 seconds to turn it on or off.
This feature shines in places like gyms (fitness centers), buses, planes, and libraries, where many people share devices and it's hard to set up a Bluetooth environment for each one. That's because most devices installed in public places support only AUX. The LG XBOOM Buds Plus delivers the freedom of wireless connection even in those spaces. It can also improve usability for older or low-cost laptops and tablets that don't support Bluetooth.
On planes without data connection, in-flight entertainment (IFE) usually offers audio access only through AUX. Airlines sometimes provide wired earphones separately. But enjoying in-flight content with a wire on long flights is harder than you think. That's why the convenience of the LG XBOOM Buds Plus stood out.
A strength is a feature that, after running a test through the dedicated app, measures ear shape and fit and automatically adjusts the sound. At home, it made the low end fuller, and in a noisy cafe, it made vocals clearer, as if a "personal sound engineer" were with me.
You can also measure whether the earphones are sealed tightly in your ears. This shows whether the active noise canceling (ANC) is working properly. If the seal is too tight or too loose, swap to the appropriate size from the two pairs of ear tips included with the product.
It also has a driver (sound generator) with a "graphene" coated diaphragm. Graphene is a thin film one atom thick of carbon; using it helps prevent sound distortion and deliver rich bass.
The wingtip design that braces the inside of the concha is another strength. It won't fall out even when running. The fit wasn't bad, either. However, if snug, canal-type earphones feel stifling to you, they may be uncomfortable.
LG Electronics released this product in Sep. last year along with the "XBOOM Buds Lite." It added Plus and Lite to the "XBOOM Buds" launched in Jan. last year. The list prices are: ▲ Lite 99,000 won ▲ standard 149,000 won ▲ Plus 199,000 won.
LG Electronics completed a three-model XBOOM Buds lineup and emphasized "value for money." Despite various premium features, the price stays under 200,000 won. In its "Wireless Earphones Buying and Selection Guide," the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) also picked the XBOOM Buds as a product with excellent value. They are cheaper than comparable wireless earphones from Samsung Electronics (319,000 won) and Apple (369,000 won). However, compared with Chinese products released domestically, the "value for money" is questionable.
Xiaomi recently released the "Redmi Buds 8 Lite" at 27,800 won. It offers 42 dB noise canceling. That's higher performance than the XBOOM Buds Plus (35 dB). Huawei also launched the "FreeBuds SE 4 ANC" domestically and set the one-month price at 49,800 won. It provides up to 50 dB noise canceling and has IPX5 durability, maintaining performance even when exposed to water jets. The XBOOM Buds series is limited to IPX4, which withstands splashes from all directions.
The XBOOM Buds series is regarded as delivering high sound quality performance, including through the use of a graphene driver. But if you don't discern subtle sound differences, it's hard to feel the value. I want to give passing marks for the usability of the XBOOM Buds Plus, but I hesitate to recommend it to others.