LobeMan FM Radio

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Judie Hughes

January 23, 2004

Product Requirements:
A local FM radio station

If you read Julie's and my CES trip report, then by now you know about LobeMan, the product that came from out of nowhere and pleasantly surprised me. No, I was definitely not in the market for an in-ear FM radio when Scott Hynd, their Director of Marketing, gave me a sample. To be honest, listening to the radio is not something I do very often. When I am at home, I listen to streaming Sirius over the computer; when I am in my Mini, I listen to Sirius over the stock radio. But there are times when FM radio has it's place, and I have been discovering them thanks to this little gizmo.

The LobeMan reminds me of an BTE hearing aid, you know - the kind that fit over the ear and into the canal. Unlike hearing aids of old, the LobeMan receives incredibly clear FM radio transmissions instead of conversations from the table across the room. Most likely responsible for the clear signal is the 20" flexible wire antenna which hangs down from the body of the device.

The unit measures 3" tall x 1.25" wide at the bottom. It is 0.6" thick and weighs 0.5 ounces with battery. The body is comprised of two plastic panels, one of which can be removed for changing the CR 2032 battery or customizing with a different color plate. I was given panels consisting of the four primary colors, so of course I have since removed the original silver plate and replaced it with green. All available colors are shown here.

My LobeMan came with a battery installed as well as a spare in the plastic pocket hard case. I have used the device for about six hours off and on, and the original battery is still going strong. I am not sure how long the battery life will ultimately be, but so far so good.

If you are wondering about the overall feel of the device, well it's not too bad. Granted, it is made of plastic and weighs so little that it almost goes without saying that it will feel cheap - and to a point it does. But then, my LobeMan has managed to survive two drops from over six feet, and it has kept right on working. So evidently it is a tough little booger.

The earpiece itself is nothing special - a typical earbud design covered in a light foam mesh that can slip on and off. I fully expected the bud to irritate my ear within no time, but perhaps because of the way the device is supported by the upper ear, there was no ache like I would typically associate with earpieces of this design.

The LobeMan is simple to operate - its spine holds just three controls: the slider from which you can choose Hi-Lo-Off, the reset button (which allows you to start over from the beginning of the dial), and the Scan button.

To wear the LobeMan, you choose an ear and then turn the earpiece to match the needed direction.

At this point, I switch the LobeMan to Lo. Then I place it over my ear, hooking the earpiece into the bowl. Sliding the body of the LobeMan over the back of my ear "locks" the receiver in place.

Graphical instructions are available here

Once the LobeMan is on, tapping the bottom button advances to whatever station I am looking for. The resulting sound is good - surprisingly good. And while you are listening to the radio in one ear, your other ear is left exposed: which means that you can still participate in conversations around you without yelling or removing your headphones. It also means that you are still aware of sounds around you that you should be paying attention to - such as cars when you are jogging.

That brings up one of the great uses for this gadget - exercising. If you aren't working out in an aerobics' studio with its inherent thumping music, then you are probably used to carrying some sort of radio, MP3 or CD device along to help keep your pace and pass the time. Let's face it though - it isn't always practical or desirable to carry a $300+ iPod when you want tunes.

Then there are other less expensive FM radio receivers, CD players and MP3 Players that attach with an earpiece, but you have to place that receiver somewhere - whether in a pocket or on an arm-band. With the LobeMan, you have the whole kit and caboodle securely placed on either ear. Plus there is the peace of mind, knowing that if for some reason the LobeMan were to be stolen from your gym bag or if you were to leave it somewhere, you won't be out big bucks.

I can also imagine using the LobeMan at a sporting event, if you are one of those die-hard fans that likes to watch the game and listen to the radio play-by-play.

The LobeMan FM Radio is a simple gadget that performs as advertised. While I am not so sure about the "stylish" claim, I will agree with everything else said on the main page of their site. If you want a portable radio that won't weigh you down, is tough, and won't break the bank if lost or stolen, then you should check out this product.   

The LobeMan FM Radio is available here.

Price: $14.99

Pros:
Comfortably fits either ear
Stays put while you are active
Can be customized with colors

Cons:
None