Comments on: Panasonic RP-HC55-S Noise-Cancelling Earbud Headphones

By: Jeffry Joe

Jeffry Joe — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:18:01 +0000

I had high expectations for this product based on other glowing reviews. My goal was to find a smaller more portable replacement for my Bose Acoustic 2 headset. I don’t like to carry much weight when I travel. I realized at the time it was a lofty goal. I can’t say I was disappointed based on the price I paid but If you are accustomed to good noise cancellation this product will let you down. In fact it doesn’t seem much different than my apple iphone earbuds.
Rating: 3 / 5

By: R. BAER

R. BAER — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:54:42 +0000

Bought these around the same time as my wife (who travels more) got a pair of Bose over the ears headphones. No comparison in sound canceling ability. On a recent commuter air plane hard to tell if they cancelled anyof the sound. The sound quality is pretty good and the price is low.
Rating: 3 / 5

By: Adam J. Briggs

Adam J. Briggs — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:54:21 +0000

I read the reviews before buying. Some good and some bad. One person said that they used the noise canceling all buy itself. I think he took his hearing aid out before this because when I tried just the noise canceling feature I heard everything just crisper. If you think that is bad when I tried them with the tv I heard a hissing sound like a tape deck makes and when I tried them on my phone it was even worse. My opinion is that the good reviews on this product is people trying to justify spending a [...] bucks on headphones! Maybe I got a bad pair or maybe this is how they all are considering the other reviews I read, but for[...] I dont want digital music to sound like its playing on a tape deck. I guess unless you are willing to shell out [...] for the Bose that look like earmuffs the technology just isnt there yet for earbuds. Also one other thing I did not know before getting them is that the actual noise canceling device is supposed to be cliped to your shirt, but needs to hole a AA battery to work so it pulls on your shirt and is not that attractive to walk around with a half a silver pen lookin deal hangin on your shirt and there is no other way than this because the cord that goes to the earbuds itself is to short otherwise you could put it in your pocket.
Rating: 1 / 5

By: D. Behrens

D. Behrens — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:47:18 +0000

At the beginning of January ‘09, this product was listed as from BuyNow Incorporated. I ordered it. They say I should have gotten a email that it was “out of stock”, but I didn’t get that email.

Now, two weeks later, Amazon’s selling it directly for almost TWICE the price!

“Panasonic RP-HC-55 Noise Cancelling Earbuds (Silver)” price changed from $56 to $99.

Panasonic RP-HC-55 Noise Cancelling Earbuds (Silver)

Rating: 1 / 5

By: Gustavo

Gustavo — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:37:29 +0000

1/4/09 Update: I compared this product with the JLab JBuds J2 earphones and the Sennheiser NoiseGuard headphones PXC 250. In the Consumer Reports article, the Panasonic is rated above the Sennheiser unit. Based on noise cancelation/isolation alone, I’d rate the Sennheiser as best, then the Panasonic (to my own surprise) only slightly above the JLab product. For music, there are slight differences among these three units, based on different songs/music, but to my ears, not a discernible difference. The product is fine but it is only slightly better in noise isolation to the JLab unit but costs about twice as much.

11/28/08 My partner got the Sennheiser for his iPod – I liked the noise reduction feature but found it good but not great. Interesting to read Chris’s comment – confirms we have different perceptions (and tastes, likes, etc…!). I just read the Consumer Reports 01/2009 article (p. 41) and based on that I’m ordering the Panasonic one to check it out (instead of the super expensive Bose I have been considering but could not see myself paying for it). I am rating this headphone as a 4-star for now (since I have to rate it so that others can check out the CR article), with the assumption it is at least good (based on both Chris’s and the CR rating). Will add further comments if needed.
Rating: 4 / 5