Panasonic RP-HTX7

Introduction

I needed a set of headphones for everyday use at work that would sound good and provide some isolation from office noise. These were praised on many sites as the best buy headphones in the sub 50$ range. They fit my budget and needs, so I got ’em.

rp-htx7
Build Quality

For the price, they seem to be well built. Metal U-shaped frame and plastic cups that can slide up or down on the frame. Cable is PVC but seems solid. I’ve had them for few months now with no issues.

Sound

My first impression was – they are waaaay too loud. I almost went deaf the first time I plugged them in with PC volume set at whatever I used with the previous Logitech headset. They are probably about 5 times as loud as average headphones. No joking. I keep master volume on my PC below 15% and there’s still enough volume. They are that loud!

Apart from the deafening loudness, they sound very, very good. After maybe a month of breaking in, the bass response increased, so now they are slightly on the bassy side, but nothing that cannot be solved by EQ. Usually I keep my Winamp EQ in V shape with a cut around 600Hz and a little boost of highs and mids. With these headphones I keep the bass leveled and boost only highs. Highs are detailed without ever being harsh.

Isolation from ambient noise is pretty decent. There is some cable handling noise. They are not as good as my Sony Sony MDR-7506 in that regard, but they are not as bad as some of the earbuds can be.

Looks

They look very cool, kind of 50s retro. Also, there’s plenty of colors to choose from.

Verdict

For $35 I’m very happy. They hold their ground even compared to my trusty old Sony MDR-7506 that cost three times as much. As mentioned, they are ridiculously loud for no reason, but apart from that, they are a win. I recommend them.

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