LG HBS-730 & iPhone 5

I have had these headphones for a while now and I am SO frustrated that no firmware update has been released for it. I am having the exact same issue with cut outs and drops in calls and music. I have an iPhone 5s with iOS 7.1.

Here is what I don't get. I bought a different BT headset from another maker because this was just making me angry that I have a headset that I can't use. The new headset, doing almost the same thing but just not as bad. I have my phone in my jeans pocket and I get cut outs in the music. Although no disconnections like I was getting with the LG. Is the phone the issue and no so much the headset?

I believe it is a bit of both.

I tried other bluetooth headsets with the iPhone and they work ok. A Jabra Halo 2 I have works really well, without issues most of the time, but every now and then there is that low signal or something.

Then there is the LG HBS-730, which is totally bad on the iPhone. Although after upgrading to iOS 7 it got much better, it is still not good enough. I tried the HBS-730 with other bluetooth devices, and they were not perfect too. In this case, an iMac, a MBP and two windows computers. The LG NEVER worked perfectly with any of those devices.

In the end, I think it is the sum of both things, but if I were to replace something, I would replace the HBS-730, which never worked perfectly with anything I have, while the other devices had worked with all the other headsets without many issues.

Bluetooth is still an extremely faulty and crappy technology, but that is what we have for now, unfortunately.

agreed, this is most likly due to BT. The 730 I had worked perfectly with my iphone5 with music and podcasts via the apple apps, but as soon as I fired up the audible app for an audiobook...total crap. Playing an audiobook via the apple music app...total crap as well.

I also have a sneaky suspicion that the 730's TONE+ tech might be screwing with it as well.

My 700 works flawlessly in all situations.....

I've been using the 730 flawlessly since Feb. Suddenly yesterday it starts dropping out and glitching on Podcasts and Music from my iPhone 5. Very annoying. I've tried multiple cycles of switching everything off, pairing and unpairing but to no avail.

Ok so I run on iPhone 4 with iOS 7.1.2 and I had same issues like most of you guys.

I bought this headset for biking. I ride a mountain bike A LOT and I was tired of wire headphones so I came across HBS-730 and design is awsome and practical for biking. It really is, whenever you use one earbud or both. The device itself can be hide underneath your neckband so its really neat.

Also whenever you use one earbud or both it's perfect for biking also earbuds fit my "weird" ears quite well and battery life is pretty much same as my iPhone's when playing music.

Now for the issue and how I managed to solve it. Take a note that this is for biking I if you have it for just music listening I'm not sure.

First time I was riding, I had my iPhone in my back pocket you find on most bike-dresses and it was just... horrible. Signal was constatnly dropping and music was interrupted like each two seconds. So I was looking for solution and it seemed that HBS-730 is just flawd design. I've even tried my old nokia with old Bluetooth 2.0 but it didnt help.

So what I figured out is, that if I take those headphones and my iPhone in my hand and place it direcly on my back, it's interrupted. But when I leave space like few inches between my back and phone, it's fine. So I tried to put my iPhone into my small bagpack that is underneath my saddle on my bike and... it works. It's been uninterrupted for hours and it just works. I dont know why but it does but as soon as I put phone direcly on my back or in back pocket, it's interrupted so...

I dont know if this helps anyone, but this is my experience so far. Also this fix doesnt fix the fact that beginning and end of each song is cut (like one second). It's still a minor problem compare to that signal problem.

TL;DR: Just my 2 cents.

I have had the same experience. If I keep my phone in my front pocket the thing disconnects and breaks up. If I keep it closer like on my arm, it stays connected. I have to assume this is a side effect of the low power blue tooth with BT 4? *****! Back in the day you could walk pretty far from your device and not have issues. I now have a Galaxy S5 and have the same issue with other BT headphones. While in the pocket it breaks up, out of the pocket its fine. grrrrrr.

Has anyone tried this out again on iphone5 > ios8? Curious if the 730 works any better on that version...

My poor 700 is falling apart, and I need to order up a replacement asap.

on a side note...is anyone using/trying the other versions 750, 900?

-JK

Here is the update.

iPhone 6, iOS 8.1.1 + LG HBS730.

It is much better than with my old 4S, that is for sure. With the 4S I could notice a huge improvement jumping to iOS 7, not that much difference upgrading to iOS 8.

Now with a new iPhone 6, it works ok, but I can still notice a "catch up" at every new song, as if there was a delay and then the headphone would just play the song quickly or cut pieces, thus giving the wrong "tempo" on the music for 1 or 2 seconds, until it normalizes and the song plays ok.

To me it is undeniable that LG screwed up badly with the 730. What is unacceptable is that they just "moved on" and we were left with devices that don't work properly.

Lesson learned for me. Any LG device I buy in the future will only be bought if I could return them for a full refund within a few days. Not working 100%, not keeping it, because LG simply won't update or fix the issue.

I have a 750, and using iOS 8.1.1 on a new phone. My husband, running iOS 7 and same headset does not have the problem. Mine plays music and audio just fine, but continually drops my voice so person I am talking to cannot hear me. I have to switch back to phone, and then back to headset for person to be able to hear me again. I had this issue with my LG 730 also. we thought it was a phone problem since it doesn't happen on husband's iPhone 5 (identical to mine), but phone I activated yesterday is having the same problem.

I see people weighing in with the same problems, but I haven't seen any answers.

Lisa

I have all the same--and all units are brand new. Still have problem of suddenly dropping my end of conversation during phone calls only. I can hear the other person, but they can't hear me until I switch to handset and then back to headset.

JGKos, Davidlitz, and others,

I just got off the phone with an Apple Care guy. A big shot-out to Scott for being a true troubleshooter!!! Anyway, we think that the problem is that the LG (730, 750, etc) are all running Bluetooth 3.0 but the iOS8 is running 4.0. Apple thought the latest update would correct the problems, but they are still getting multiple reports of issues, including car Bluetooth systems.

My LG 750 is going back because it is within the time frame. I guess I will wait for either an update to the software or for some headsets with similar features to work with Bluetooth 4.0 My husband, still running iOS 7 is NOT upgrading to iOS8!

My 2 cents worth.

I have an iPhone 5S, iOS8.3 HB 730.

It still intermittently drops out on me. Mostly when I try to put my phone in my pocket. If it is in the phone holder in the car, right in front of me, I don't notice any issues. In my pocket (back is worse than front), the songs break up constantly.

I bought a new bluetooth headset - Vaas Stereo Bluetooth Headphones. They also are Bluetooth 3.0. Same issue.

Hi,

The local mute (my voice is dropped in calls) problem can be resolved by turning off iPhone's wifi.

It happens only if iPhone Wifi is turned off AND 5 Ghz Wifi is nearby (for example at my home). Hope it helps.

Akos

Same issue here, just upgraded from HBS700 to HBS730, significant lags and sound drops when connected to iPad 3, no issues with my MBP or Android devices.