LG Tone Style HBS-SL6S Review: Two-In-One Deal!

If you are trying to find a headphone that goes well with heavy workouts, then a wireless earphone can be a perfect choice for you.

The question is, which one should you purchase?

As there are lots of headphones available on the market, but if you want our well researched opinion then we think you’ll love the LG Tone Style HBS SL6S.

Why this one?

Well, continue reading through this LG Tone Style HBS-SL6S review to know all the details about it.

In the end, you will be able to know whether you should buy it or not.

LG Tone Style HBS-SL6S Review: A Neckband Earbuds

In today’s discussion, I will describe all the elements needed to know a headphone in depth.

Let’s start the review session by knowing the vital features at a glance.

At A Glance

• Retractable earbuds.
• External mono speaker.
• Hi-fi sound solution with meridian audio technology.
• Dual microphones.
• Fast charging feature (10-minute charging for 3 hours use).

LG Tone Style-HBS-SL6S was released on August 1, 2019.

These headphones are convenient for easy hands-free calling.

All the components of the headphone come in a package. The first thing you will notice in the box is the headset in a white plastic case.

What else will you get?

Here, I am revealing it now.

In The Box

When you unbox the whole package, you will have the below items.

• LG Tone Style-Hbs-SL6s In-Ear Headset.
• USB-C type charging cable.
• Warranty card.
• User manual.

They provide three sizes of ear tips to ensure the best fit for your ear shape.

The medium size ear-tips are installed with the earbuds, and you get small and large ear tips as extra accessories.

I will mention some key specifications and the pros and cons of these earbuds before going into the main review.

Key Specifications

• Headphone Type: In-Ear.
• Color: Black.
• Weight: 1.6 oz.
• Connection type: Bluetooth.
• Wireless range: 10m.
• Bluetooth version: 5.0.
• Microphone: Dual microphone.
• Connectivity: USB C.
• Standby time: Up to 18 days.
• Talk time: Up to 8 hours.
• Playtime: Up to 8 hours.
• Dimension: 7 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches.
• Battery: 3.7v,Lithium-ion polymer.
• Charging time: Approximately 1 hour.

Comfortability is a great concern when you buy a pair of earbuds. Right?

That’s why I will talk about this matter in the next segment.

Is It Comfortable to Wear?

LG HBS-SL6S is undoubtedly a comfortable neckband earbud. You can use them for a long time as the lightweight reduces wearing fatigue.

I use these headphones for 4 to 5 hours every day, and I never felt any discomfort.

The silicone ear tips are soft and fit into the ear canal perfectly. 

The neckband is flexible and sits around your neck properly.

If you wear glasses, I have good news for you!

These earbuds will go well with your glasses without causing any interference.

However, you can’t use them when lying as it will create pressure on your neck. Also, you will feel discomfort while switching your sleeping position.

Here comes an essential part of the review. It’s the sound quality of HBS-SL6S earbuds.

Have a look below to know the details.

Sound Profile

As it is crafted with meridian audio technology, you will hear balanced sound and clear tones.

The bass and midrange frequency sounds good with 60% or less volume. But, if you increase the volume 70% or more, then the audio may distort a little bit.

Lg Hbs Sl6s has an operating frequency from 2402 MHz to 2480 MHz.

This headset is highly focused on delivering rich bass in every genre of music.

Yet, I was disappointed with the high and treble as they lack clarity.

Still, If you prefer to hear the loud bass rather than the other sounds, then these earbuds will satisfy you.

Does It Leak Sound?

There will be no sound leakage if you hear music at low or medium volume.

However, if you crank up the volume very high, it may leak a bit of sound.

You can keep the volume at 60% or low to avoid any leakage, and also this level is considered a safe volume for headphones.

Noise Cancelling Feature

LG HBS SL6S has no active noise canceling feature to block unwanted noise. It can provide average noise isolation if the ear tips seal your ear canal properly.

But, the isolation is not enough when you use them in busy streets or crowded places.

If you are searching for active noise-canceling headphones, you may go with 1More wireless earbuds.

You may know that neckband-style headsets are famous for making calls.

In this regard, the mic has to be great. Right?

Now, it’s high time to know about the mic performance.

How Is The Microphone?

The two microphones are strategically located on the headset so that the person on the other end can hear every conversation clearly.

The mics can cancel background noise during phone calls.

However, one day while I was talking to my friend, he said he could hear the windy sounds coming from my fan.

So, it seems like the mic can’t cancel the wind noise that well.

Recording Quality

While recording with LG Tone SL6S, it may pick up background sound.

Hence, I will say it’s not an ideal headphone for professional recording.

Still, you can casually record with it if you want, as the recording quality is not that bad.

Anyway, are you waiting to know about the control system of these Bluetooth earbuds?

Then, It’s the end of your waiting, as I will discuss the whole process in the following section.

How To Control LG SL6S?

This neckband headset has MFB(Multi-Function-Button: Power/Call/Play) button, volume button, and Speaker/Earphone mode switch button.

-Press and hold the MFB button for 2 seconds to turn on the headset.

-Hold it for 4 seconds to turn it off.

-One-click on the MFB button for receiving a call, play/pause music.

-Briefly press the MFB button twice for rejecting a call.

-Briefly press the MFB button twice to activate the headset voice.

-One click on volume(+) and (-) for volume up and down.

-Press and hold volume(+) for 1 second to play the next song.

-Press and hold volume(-) for 1 second to play the previous song.

-Slide the Speaker/Earphone switch to enter speaker mode from earbuds mode.

At first, you may get puzzled by the control system, but you can handle them efficiently after trying them a few times.

Build Quality & Design

The earbuds have silicone ear tips, and the nozzle is straight. I wish they had provided an angled nozzle as they fit better than straight ones.

The wires of the earbuds are thin and may snatch off if you pull them with excessive force.

It has a slim and seamless design which is pretty attractive.

Durability

This Bluetooth headset is quite good in terms of longevity. It can resist a few accidental drops.

If the earbuds malfunctioned, you don’t need to worry as LG offers one year of warranty on this product.

For your kind information, this warranty doesn’t cover any physical damage and is only applicable for system defects.

Are They Portable?

The neckband is flexible and very lightweight (1.6 oz) so that you can carry them everywhere with you.

The retractable system has easy storage management for wires, and you don’t need to worry about the cables getting tangled inside your bag.

In short, it’s a travel-friendly headphone.

Stability

LG Tone HBS SL6S is renowned for its stability.

You can run and do heavy workouts wearing them, and they will not slide off your neck.

When you manage to choose the right pair of ear tips that fits you, the earbuds won’t fall off either.

Is It Waterproof?

No. These earbuds are not water or sweatproof.

If the earbud is exposed to excessive sweat, you have to wipe them immediately.

In case you want a waterproof neckband, then you can go for Nanami X1 Bluetooth headphones.

Do you know that this neckband headphone has a special feature? What!

Is curiosity buzzing like a fly above your head after reading the previous line.

Well, chill out! I am revealing it right away.

Special Feature

It has an external mono speaker where the previous version of LG HBS SL5S didn’t have it.

This speaker is very convenient to make hands-free calls when you cannot use the earbuds.

If you are a busy person or need to multitask, then this speaker will be helpful to you.

You can take calls and do your work simultaneously. Also, while driving, you can talk with people in speaker mode, which is considerably safer than putting earbuds on.

Right now, I am going to disclose its battery feature.

Battery Details

You already know that it has a fast-charging feature.

When your battery goes low, charge them for 10 minutes, and you will get 3 hours of playtime.

Once, I needed to make an important call to my friend, but the headphones ran out of battery.

It was a crucial time, but thanks to its fast charging feature, I could make the call in 10 minutes.

If the battery is fully charged, you will have 8 hours of talk time.

As you know, LG Tone HBS SL6S is a Bluetooth headphone, yet I didn’t talk about its Bluetooth till now.

Here I am explaining it without further delay.

Bluetooth Details

These headphones use Bluetooth version 5.0 and can cover 10m of wireless range.

A voice message will inform you when you get away from the effective range and automatically connect when you come back.

Note that walls, metal, obstacles between the device and headset can cause a connection drop.

How To Pair with Devices?

I have discussed the pairing process step by step for your better understanding.

These headphones can connect to two devices, such as a PC and a mobile phone, simultaneously.

If the headset is connected to two devices, the main function will work based on the ‘Main Connected Device.’

Sometimes, the earbuds don’t get paired.

At that time, it would be wise to reset your earphones.

How to Reset?

Whenever you purchase a headphone, you need to consider whether it is compatible with every device that you are using or not.

As we always switch between devices, let’s know about their compatibility at this moment.

Compatibility With Other Devices

This neckband headset is compatible with most Bluetooth-enabled devices.

You can connect them with your PC, laptop, and mobile phone.

If you are an Android user, note that this headphone only supports Android 6 or above version.

Is It Suitable for Gaming?

These headphones are not compatible with gaming consoles like Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo, and many other consoles.

You can play games on mobile or laptops, but the quality is not comparable with professional gaming headphones.

If you want earbuds for Xbox One, you may check out this article.

Customer Support

LG provides friendly customer service.

You can contact them through mails or phone calls from Monday to Friday (7 AM-7 PM, Excluding public holidays).

Now that you get a precise idea of these headphones’ features, will you purchase them?

Wait! Are you still confused about whether to get it or not?

It’s okay. Take a look at the next part to get rid of your confusion.

Who Should Buy This?

This headphone is highly recommended to people who remain busy on calls for hours. The dual mic ensures that your every conversation is crystal clear.

This headset will do justice to your need if you need a stable neckband during heavy workouts sessions. It will not fall off your neck while cycling, jogging, or running.

And, If you love to listen to high bass music, then this headset will surely satisfy you.

Who Might Skip It?

These headsets are not suitable for studio use or hardcore gamers. You can’t record with the mics as they might pick up rubbing noise from the wires.

It’s not a great pick for close audiophile listening too.

If I compare these headphones with similar earphones, you will understand the feature difference more clearly. That’s why I put a comparative discussion below.

Compare With Other Headphones

I will compare the LG Tone SL6S with some popular neckband-style headsets.

1. LG Tone Style Hbs-Sl6s Vs. BeHear NOW: Digital Personal Hearing Amplifier

BeHear Now: Digital Hearing Amplifier is created for people who have mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

A free app is available named “W&H BeHear”, which you can download from the Apple Store or Google Play. This app helps to personalize the headset to match your hearing profile.

However, It’s not designed for people with severe hearing loss who have been using hearing aids for many years.

On the other hand, LG SL6S is for people who don’t have any hearing problems.

BeHear Now weighs 1.6 ounces, similar to our LG HBS-SL6s. But, it doesn’t have retractable earbuds like HBS SL6s.

2. LG Tone Style-Hbs-Sl6s Vs. Philips Performance PN402BK Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds

Philips Performance PN402BK has an IPX4 waterproof rating meaning they are resistant to moisture, while SL6S is not waterproof.

Both of these headsets are suitable for sports and exercise.

Philips has super-fast charging (2 hours of talk time with 5-minute charging), while HBS-SL6S takes 10-minute charging for 3 hours talk time.

3. LG HBS SL6S Vs. SGart Bluetooth Headphones, Foldable Neckband

These two neckbands have retractable earbuds and Bluetooth version 5.0. They come with an external speaker for quick calls and music listening.

The weight of SGart is 5.6 ounces that is heavier than HBS-SL6S (1.6 oz).

The wire of the earbuds of these two headsets is thin and can break easily.

4. HBS-SL6S Vs. LIUHE Retractable Neckband Bluetooth Headset

LIUHE Retractable Neckband has four strategically placed speakers that deliver the best surround sound. It supports Bluetooth version 5.0 with 33 feet coverage.

This headset is sweatproof with an IPX5 rating. It gives you 10 hours of playtime when the battery is fully charged.

However, you already know, HBS-SL6s is not sweat-resistant and offers up to 8 hours of play time with a single charge. Otherwise, It covers a 10m bluetooth range like LIUHE.

5. LG Tone SL6S Vs. 1MORE Dual Driver BT ANC In-Ear Headphones

You can guess from the name of 1More that it has a dual driver with an active noise-canceling feature.

Though it’s a wireless Bluetooth headphone, a type C to 3.5mm connector is provided as an option for wired playback if the battery runs low.

Since LG Tone SL6S doesn’t come with a wired option or an ANC feature, 1More has done a great job in this matter.

6. LG SL6S Vs. LG TONE Ultra Α Neckband Earbuds (Hbs-830)

LG Tone Ultra (HBS-830) uses advanced quad-layer speaker technology.

Both HBS-830 and HBS-SL6s are comfortable and travel-friendly and have dual microphones.

Nevertheless, the 830 doesn’t provide any external speakers like the SL6S.

After reading all the comparisons, you may be thinking about whether the LG Tone HBS SL6S is worth buying or not.

Let’s discuss it.

Is It Worth Buying?

These earbuds are comfortable even if you use them for long hours.

The multi-layer metal helps to enhance the bass and produce clarity in high and low ranges.

Two microphones make conversation smooth.

Moreover, you can switch between earbuds and speaker mode, which is a two-in-one deal.

So, If you are looking for a neckband with all the above features, it’s worth buying.

Are you not satisfied with these headphones?

In that case, I have some alternate earbuds that are almost similar to this headset with slightly better features.

Alternative to It

You can go for the following headsets as an alternative to HBS SL6S.

1. BCS-700 Wireless Bluetooth Headphone
2. Skullcandy Ink’d+ Active Wireless In-Ear Earbud
3. LG Tone Ultra HBS 830

All these neckband headphones are an excellent competitor to our Tone Style SL6S and are budget-friendly too.

You can choose according to your needs.

Conclusion

In this LG Tone Style HBS-SL6S review article, I gave my honest opinion about this product.

Now, it’s up to you whether to purchase it or not.

That’s all for today.