Can LG Tone connect to multiple devices?

LG Tone headphones are a popular line of Bluetooth wireless earbuds and headsets from LG Electronics. First released in 2010, the LG Tone models stand out with their around-the-neck wearing style and retractable earbuds. While the earliest LG Tone headsets could only connect to one device at a time, many of the current models feature simultaneous multi-point connectivity.

Multi-point connectivity allows LG Tone headphones to maintain connections with two mobile devices at once. For example, you can listen to music from your smartphone while also being able to answer calls from your tablet or laptop without having to manually switch between devices. This provides added convenience and flexibility when using LG Tone headphones with multiple personal gadgets.

Bluetooth Technology

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that allows data transmission between devices over short distances. It uses radio waves operating in the 2.4GHz to 2.485GHz band to allow devices to communicate and connect with each other wirelessly.

For audio transmission, Bluetooth uses a specific profile called A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) to stream high-quality stereo audio between devices like smartphones, headphones, speakers etc. The A2DP profile allows a continuous connection without interruption and supports audio codecs like SBC, AAC to transmit CD-like quality audio over a Bluetooth connection.

In terms of connections, most Bluetooth versions allow a device to be actively connected and transmitting data between one primary device at a time. However, with the advent of Bluetooth 5.0 and higher versions, simultaneous multiple connections have become possible.

According to this article, through Bluetooth 5, a single primary Bluetooth connection can connect up to seven different Bluetooth devices simultaneously. The multiple secondary connections can only receive data and not transmit it.

LG Tone Models

LG has released various models of Tone wireless earbuds over the years. Some of their most popular models include:

• LG Tone Flex (2019) – Features Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity.
• LG Tone Free (2020) – First LG earbuds with active noise cancellation. Connect via Bluetooth 5.0.
• LG Tone Free FP8 (2021) – Upgraded noise cancellation and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity.
• LG Tone Free FP9 (2022) – Improved sound quality and call performance. Still utilize Bluetooth 5.2.

The higher-end LG Tone models starting with the LG Tone Free in 2020 all include support for multi-point connections. This allows users to connect two devices simultaneously. For example, you could be connected to both your smartphone and computer at the same time.

Some other LG Tone models like the LG Tone Style, LG Tone Platinum, and LG Tone Ultra only support single connections via older Bluetooth versions. So multi-device support is limited to LG’s more recent releases.

Simultaneous Connections

Most LG Tone models support connecting to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth, allowing you to easily switch between devices for calls or music playback. This is enabled through Bluetooth multipoint technology.

According to LG’s support page, models like the LG TONE Free FP9 can maintain connections with up to two devices at once, such as a smartphone and computer (LG, 2023). The headsets can connect to both devices at the same time so you can seamlessly switch between listening to music or taking calls without repairing.

To enable multipoint connections, you first need to pair each device to the LG Tone headset separately using the standard Bluetooth pairing process. Once paired, the headset will be able to maintain connections to both devices. The LG Tone models prioritize phone calls, so if you get an incoming call while listening to music, the audio will automatically switch to the phone.

You can manually switch connections between paired devices as needed either through your device’s Bluetooth settings or buttons on the LG Tone headset. Refer to the user manual for your specific model for detailed instructions on enabling and switching multipoint connections (LG Electronics, n.d.).

Pairing Process

To pair the LG Tone earbuds to your first device, start by putting the earbuds in pairing mode according to the instructions in the user manual. This usually involves pressing and holding the power button until the LED indicator flashes. Then go to the Bluetooth settings on your smartphone, tablet, or other device and select the LG Tone earbuds from the list of available devices. Confirm pairing on both devices.

To pair additional devices, make sure the LG Tone earbuds are powered on and paired to your first device. Then go to the Bluetooth settings of your second device and select the LG Tone earbuds again from the list of available devices. The earbuds will connect to both devices at the same time in multipoint mode. You can pair to up to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. If you need to pair to a third device, you’ll have to disconnect or unpair one of the existing paired devices first.

The process may vary slightly between LG Tone models. Refer to the user manual of your specific earbuds for detailed pairing instructions. Make sure firmware is up to date on the earbuds for best connectivity performance.

Connection Priority

LG Tone earbuds can connect to multiple devices simultaneously via Bluetooth. However, the earbuds can only stream audio from one device at a time. So how does it decide which device to connect to?

Most LG Tone models will automatically prioritize the last connected device. For example, if you were listening to music on your phone and then turned on your laptop, the earbuds would stay connected to the phone unless you manually switched the audio connection to your laptop. According to LG’s support site, “If the Bluetooth device you want to connect to is not set by priority, you cannot hear the sound”

You can customize the connection priority settings on compatible LG Tone models using the LG TONE Free app. The Connection Priority feature in the TONE Free LAB section allows you to assign priority numbers to paired devices. Lower numbers get higher priority. This ensures that your preferred device will take priority when multiple devices are in range and available to connect.

So if you want your laptop to take priority over your phone for audio, you would set the laptop connection as Priority 1 and the phone as Priority 2. Then whenever both devices are on, the earbuds will automatically connect to the laptop for streaming music, videos, calls etc. You can customize the priorities however you like per your usage needs.

According to LG’s support site, this Connection Priority Mode “allows you to listen to music with minimal sound interruption in an environment where the wireless signal is unstable.”[1] So it ensures a more seamless listening experience when multiple paired devices are in range.

Audio Sharing

One unique feature of the LG Tone earbuds is the ability to stream audio to two paired earbuds simultaneously from a single device. This is called Audio Sharing.

With Audio Sharing, you can share your music, podcasts, or calls with a friend who also has LG Tones. To use this feature, both users need to have LG Tone earbuds that support Audio Sharing.¹

To start Audio Sharing, make sure both pairs of earbuds are powered on and within range. Open the paired earbuds app on your phone, go to Audio Sharing in the menu, and select which two earbuds to connect. The music or audio from your phone will now stream to both earbuds so you can share the listening experience.

The Audio Sharing feature allows you to easily share audio with a friend or loved one directly from your device. With compatible LG Tone earbuds, you can listen together seamlessly.

Other Features

LG’s TONE headphones offer various useful features beyond just connecting to multiple devices. Many models include active noise cancellation to block out ambient sounds during music playback or calls. According to LG’s product page, the LG TONE Platinum α uses advanced noise cancelling technology to detect and cancel out a wider range of low to mid frequency sounds.

Some TONE headsets also allow you to pipe in surrounding sounds using an Ambient Sound Mode, which could be useful to remain aware of your environment. The higher-end LG models like the TONE NP3 boast an Ambient Noise Cancellation feature that lets you adjust the amount of background noise you hear.

These noise controls can be quite handy when using the headphones with multiple paired devices. For example, you could listen to music from your laptop with noise cancelling enabled and simultaneously connect to your phone for ambient aware calls. The TONE headsets allow you to seamlessly transition between the two audio sources.

Troubleshooting

If you are having issues connecting multiple devices to your LG Tone earbuds, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Fixing Connection Issues

Make sure the Bluetooth on both devices is turned on. Bluetooth has a limited range so make sure both devices are within 30 feet of the earbuds. If one device is having trouble connecting, try removing the pairing and repairing again (source).

Check for potential sources of interference like other Bluetooth devices or WiFi routers. Turning off WiFi on the connecting devices can help. Also try restarting both the earbuds and the connecting devices.

If one device connects but doesn’t play audio, go into the Bluetooth settings on that device and ensure the media audio toggle is enabled for the earbuds.

Resetting and Repairing

Factory reset the earbuds by pressing and holding the touchpads for 10 seconds until the LED flashes purple. This will clear any paired devices so you’ll have to repair again (source).

Make sure the earbuds and connecting devices have the latest firmware installed. Connect to the LG Tone Free app to check for and install any updates.

As a last resort, deleting the earbuds from the Bluetooth settings of both devices and repairing from scratch can resolve persistent connection issues.

Summary

In summary, LG Tone earbuds utilize Bluetooth technology to wirelessly connect to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Most LG Tone models can maintain connections with two devices simultaneously, allowing you to seamlessly switch between audio sources.

The pairing process involves activating Bluetooth discovery mode on your devices and selecting the LG Tone from the list of available devices. Once paired, the earbuds will remember the connection and automatically reconnect upon powering on. You can manage connection priority in the Bluetooth settings if needed.

A key benefit of LG Tone’s dual connectivity is the ability to share audio between two devices at once. For example, you can listen to music from your smartphone while taking calls from your tablet without needing to manually change the audio source.

With intuitive controls, long battery life, and signature around-the-neck wearing style, LG Tone earbuds provide a versatile way to experience seamless wireless audio and connectivity across multiple devices.