Panasonic is a reputation extra readily related to high quality TVs and Blu-ray gamers, however the agency has lastly moved into the extremely aggressive true wireless earbuds market with two pairs. The dearer of these, the Panasonic RZ-S500W, function noise-cancelling know-how (in contrast to the opposite, extra reasonably priced RZ-S300W) and are the mannequin we’ve on take a look at right here.
As you would possibly anticipate from a product by a serious shopper electronics model like Panasonic, the RZ-S500W’s spec sheet is fairly complete. It contains Twin Hybrid Noise Cancelling Expertise achieved by way of use of suggestions coupled to analog and digital processing; an Ambient Mode to amplify surrounding noise when the time is correct; twin beamforming microphones to extend the readability of voices and cut back noise throughout calls; and a complete of 19.5 hours of playtime with noise-cancelling activated (6.5 hours from the buds, 13 from the charging case).
The RZ-S500W initially launched at £169 ($199), however already that asking value has been lowered so it now hovers across the £100 ($150) mark. Ought to the competitors be anxious? We’re about to seek out out.
Consolation
The graceful, matte plastic earpieces and their case resist smudges from our fingerprints properly. The case is pocketable and encompasses a premium-feel set of three white LEDs for battery life. The magnets to maintain the lid shut are maybe a bit weaker than we’d like, however supplied you retain it in your bag or your pocket the earbuds ought to be positive.
Inside every earpiece is an 8mm Neodymium driver, and the housings function metallic accents across the round high floor of every unit. A part of this visible flourish is a blue LED gentle, which flashes periodically when the headphones are paired and pink when the buds are charging. At 21mm throughout and 31mm lengthy, the housings are on the bigger aspect, protruding a bit from the ears when worn. The neck of every is angled ergonomically, however additionally it is pretty lengthy – a consideration for many who aren’t used to extra intrusive in-ears.
5 sizes of good-quality ear ideas are equipped and straightforward to change. Nonetheless, even after downsizing from the usual dimension, the RZ-S500W aren’t probably the most safe pair of in-ears we have come throughout – even a brusque stroll could be sufficient to knock one of many earpieces unfastened. Clearly, not getting a very good seal will have an effect on the sound presentation for dynamics, bass and element, too, so it’s value spending the time to get the match proper.
Construct
We obtain the Panasonic Audio Join app, which provides preliminary prompts to assist pair the headphones for the primary time. Though the app doesn’t look significantly slick or new, it features properly and by no means crashes throughout testing.
On the app’s homepage, you possibly can view your headphones and the battery life remaining in every earpiece. Under this are two tabs labelled ‘Ambient Sound Management’ and ‘Sound Enhancement’. Click on on the previous and also you get two sliding controls to pick the noise cancelling and ambient sound ranges, plus a toggle to show them off solely. The latter pulls up 4 choices: ‘Bass Enhancer’ and ‘Clear Voice’ sound profile presets, an ‘Equaliser’ tab with 5 sliders to tweak the sound, and an ‘Off’ toggle to pay attention at impartial.
Alongside the underside of the display screen, you possibly can see the present listening quantity, which is a helpful contact, and within the high proper is an Alexa icon. Faucet it and, supplied you’ve downloaded the Alexa app, you possibly can add the RZ-S500W as equipment. Doing because of this long-touching the left bud now provides a direct line to Alexa, quite than the Siri default on our iPhone.
Different neat options embrace a USB-C quick-charge so {that a} 15-minute re-juice can ship 70 minutes of playback, even with noise cancelling deployed. An IPX4 ranking signifies that the earpieces ought to have the ability to deal with a wet day, too.
The dual beamforming mics guarantee clear calls all through our checks. The Bluetooth 5.zero connection is stable, although it’s value noting that the superior aptX and aptX HD Bluetooth codecs aren’t supported.
Contact capacitive panels on every bud are probably probably the most responsive and intuitive we’ve examined inside an in-ear design. They by no means fail to answer our contact, however in addition they appear to understand after we’re merely adjusting them in our ears quite than urgent for a response.
Play, pause and quantity management are carried out with the left earpiece; monitor skipping with the appropriate. Touching the appropriate earpiece for 2 seconds scrolls between the three primary noise cancelling profiles (ambient sound, noise cancelling and off), however these could be additional customised within the app relying on the quantity of noise-cancelling or background noise you’d favor. It’s refreshing to seek out on-device controls as dependable and user-friendly as these.
The noise cancelling is exceptionally good, too – so good in truth that with the noise cancelling slider set to max, we truly really feel a bit disorientated when standing exterior close to a busy highway. This isn’t a criticism of the RZ-S500W – some folks expertise low-level steadiness points when utilizing noise-cancelling headphones – however it’s a positive signal that constant exterior sounds are being largely eradicated, particularly at decrease frequencies.
We discover the ambient sound profile simply as efficient, and since the contact capacitive controls are so good it’s fast to deploy them with out reaching to your telephone. There’s no auto-off wearer detection, however at this degree and with these notable skills, the RZ-S500W look spectacular worth for cash.
Sound
Setting all sound enhancements to impartial, we stream Eric Clapton’s Cocaine on Tidal. Slowhand’s bassy guitar riffs have ample area to shine inside the spacious and cohesive combine. This explicit monitor at all times makes us assume that Clapton didn’t need his vocal to take centre stage, and the RZ-S500W oblige, paying his lyrics simply sufficient consideration to resonate with none trace of muddying the guitar. Earlier than You Accuse Me is a higher take a look at of the Panasonics’ treble frequencies and it’s a transparent, agile and glowing efficiency.
Switching to DJ Snake’s Taki Taki (a Tidal Grasp), we discover agility by way of the low finish and textured vocals throughout the frequencies. In direct comparability, even the Award-winning Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 undergo marginally for element. The reggaeton monitor begins off quietly, nearly as if performed in a tunnel, and the Panasonics simply match the Cambridge Audios for the nuanced construct by way of the intro.
Our playlist continues to Daddy Yankee and Snow’s Con Calma and the Panasonics proceed to time properly, with a wise dollop of vitality by way of the rise and fall of every beat. The sound is refined, clear, agile and by no means harsh. If we’re actually nitpicking, it’d err on the aspect of subtlety over enjoyable – however it by no means underplays our music’s meatiness and pleasure.
We stream Lascia Ch’io Pianga from Handel’s opera Rinaldo, and the piano feels properly three dimensional beside a transparent bass with loads of depth. When the emotive construct of the keys is available in – the sort of musical passage that heightens our feelings – we hear that marginal cautiousness when it comes to dynamic construct. Once more, at this value, it nearly feels churlish to say it.
As we transfer on to Fractals (Reality 4) by Jessica Moss, the snaking, skulking construct of the strings is as impactful by way of the RZ-S500W as it may be at this degree. We pattern the identical monitor by way of the extra reasonably priced, additionally Award-winning Earfun Air, and there may be loads of distinction when it comes to nuance and element. The Earfuns current a zealous sound with loads of snap, however the Panasonics provide an additional ounce of element and transparency. At this degree, spending just a bit extra can typically pay dividends, and that’s definitely the case right here.
Verdict
At their authentic asking value, these Panasonic true wi-fi earbuds confronted loads of robust competitors within the true wi-fi market. Nonetheless, with the value having dropped significantly, their noise-cancelling, efficiency, touch-capacitive controls, in-app options and normal construct high quality are nothing in need of excellent for the cash.
The Panasonic RZ-S500W really feel like a much more costly product, as a result of it’s. The underside line is that the sound right here is as detailed, correct and clear as this cash can at present purchase in a real wi-fi design. Simply be certain that they fit your ears.
SCORES
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