I was deciding between these Panasonic headphones, the Sennheiser PXC-550 and the Bose QC-35. Actually, I had just about ruled out Bose from the beginning because I always feel they are priced for the name, like Sony, and yet are not that great functionally to justify their high price.
While I have heard the Bose, I was flying blind with the Sennheiser and Panasonic models, depending almost totally on specs and customer reviews. With Bose, the noise cancellation is unquestionably top-of-the-line, but the sound quality for me is just average. I was very tempted by the Sennheiser, but Panasonic won out mainly because I have owned quite a lot of Panasonic electronic equipment and have faith in the brand. I have never owned anything Sennheiser, and tend to think of their brand being more associated with business use rather than regular consumers.
I am very glad I settled on the Panasonic headphones. They have a solid, clean build, a simplistic, understated look, all-black, and are very comfortable. As for sound, they really are superb. There is no coloring to the sound, and yet they do not sound flat at all. The sound is rich and full, and in fact I hear things that I have never heard before in many of the songs I really thought I knew well. The bass is beautiful and warm, the mid-range clear and not compressed- sounding, like many mid-ranges in lesser-quality equipment, and the highs are crisp and clear. I'm actually really happy with the sound even without any equalization, and I tried many genres, from classical through jazz, rock, folk and contemporary.
Of course, one of the main features you are paying for at this price point is active noise cancellation, and this Panasonic unit does not disappoint. The noise cancellation is truly exceptional, and I would say is on a par - or even better than - Bose. I love the idea of three levels of noise cancellation, which gives you some flexibility in applying only just as much noise cancellation as might be needed. While I haven't yet had a chance to try the noise cancellation on an airplane, I have no doubt they will perform just fine.
All the other functions work as expected, i.e., forward and back skip, pause and play, ANC on, off and three levels, headphones on/off, and Bluetooth pairing. Pairing with one device is a breeze, as it is with two devices simultaneously. Also, the wired connection for sound is a great feature for when the built-in battery runs down unexpectedly. I also particularly like the ability to silence the phones by cupping a hand over the right earpiece, thus allowing you to hear outside sounds when needed without removing the headset.
Some people have complained about the owner's manual being a single, thin sheet of folded-down paper. I agree this is a little disappointing for such a high-end device, but if it's any consolation, there is an online pdf version which you can download.
Finally, I like that the hard-shell case has an interior pocket for storing the accessories.
This really is a first class headset, and I am loving it. This a great example of "you get what you pay for", yet in this case I feel you get even more, because it could easily be priced the same as Bose and people would still buy it!
Don't hesitate to buy these Panasonic headphones. Let your search end here with confidence. I am certain you won't be disappointed.
Customers also viewed these products
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Climate Pledge FriendlyProducts with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn morePRODUCT CERTIFICATION (1)
TCO Certified identifies IT products that are independently assessed for lower environmental and social impact, safer chemicals, and circular design.
Reviews with images
Premium Product, Period.
Wow.. what can I say?I am simply amazed and awestruck by the perfect package the Panasonic HD605 offers as a premium noise cancelling headphones.This product not only handles fundamentals of a headphone to perfection, but it also adds flare and unique benefits that no other headphones offer.I own two Beats Studios. Don't ask me why; I simply love headphones.As much as I have enjoyed these (99% for its aesthetics) for years, there were obvious downsides: Sound quality (that I had no idea because I have not tried any other headphones to compare with), sub-par noise cancelling capabilities, and big form factor that impedes portability.That's when I found these Panasonic HD605 headphones that instantly resolved all the existing problems I've had with the Beats, PLUS MORE!1. First and foremost, the sound quality.As I am by no means an audiophile, I had no complaints about the Beats Studios. However, as soon as I put on the Panasonic HD605, I immediately realized that I've been feeding garbage to my ear canals with the Beats. For songs I thought the lyrics were intentionally mumbled down (as bass took everything else over) , I could actually hear the lyrics with the Panasonics. For a song that I've always been listening to as having 4 instruments mixed in, I found out it actually had 6. Clearly, I've been missing out.What can I say? Sound is clear, crisp, accurate & well balanced.2. Noise cancelling.We've all had that experience sitting through 14 hour flights with crying baby sitting right next to us.Although the Beats' noise cancelling did help a bit, I found myself very often jacking up the volume to offset the unwanted noise. I am well aware that this is extremely bad for my hearing, and although the thought of going deaf at the age of 40 frightened me to death, the need to survive the immediate 14 hours with a crying baby overrode it all.This pair from Panasonic is different. It has 3 stages of noise cancelling that you can control with a physical button, and when you press it each time, the voice lets you know which level you're at. Level 1 on Panasonic is comparable to Beat's one and only option. I always put it on level 3, and it is like night and day the difference it has made for me: I no longer have to max out the volume to counteract the unwanted surrounding noise. Thank you Panasonic.3. Form factorPersonally, I always felt that these over the ear headphones were not only wide but TALL. I do not like carrying huge backpacks when I travel, and the headphones always fit very awkwardly due to its big and bulky size.The Panasonic HD605 is different. It twists and folds in a way that my yoga instructor does (refer to pictures). It lays completely flat! This obviously allows its case to be much shorter in height, which really does make a difference when you're trying to fit it into an already overpacked bags.4. Look, Design & FeelThis may vary by personal taste, but I really love the minimalistic, low-key, matte design (NO FINGERPRINTS AT ALL YAAA) of this product.Its simple & sleek design puts a smile on my face every time I wear it.All in all, this product is simply amazing.Oh, did I mention it's $150-$200 less expensive than its inferior "competitors"?Great product at great price. There is nothing more that I can ask. Thank you Panasonic.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2018
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2019
I read the reviews and saw how some were commenting about the low build quality of the headphones but I thought for the price I would give them a try and see what I thought. Well, this is one of those cases were you do get what you pay for... The head-strap is all plastic and although it looks strong enough as you can see in the pictures it does not do the job. The headphones do sound nice, so no issues there but I was not over impressed with the noise canceling of them and compared to the Sony's the Panasonic's are sub par for sure. I have returned them, thankfully they were still under warranty and I am either going to go with the Sony's or I may just wait awhile and see what Sony and Bose come out with next and buy that. So buyer beware with the Panasonic headphones. I should have known they were just to good to be true.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2018
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2018
Top reviews from other countries
mr x
Excelso aunque ya sea un modelo viejito para los estandares actuales
Reviewed in Mexico on June 3, 2020Marco Castillo
Audifonos para uso casero y ligero, no recomendables para viajar.
Reviewed in Mexico on August 4, 2019Isai Aguilar
Excelente producto
Reviewed in Mexico on April 11, 2021
Isai Aguilar
Reviewed in Mexico on April 11, 2021
Images in this review
