True Wireless earphones have become a real commercial
phenomenon. It was Apple who made it possible, thanks to the success of its
AirPods, which were followed by dozens of other models, some at low cost and
others more expensive. Panasonic, which has an exceptional know-how in the
audio-video field, had not yet had its say in this area but now the RZ-S300W
and RZ-S500W are coming , true wireless mid-range headphones that differ in
their presence, in the RZ-S500W model, of active noise cancellation , proposed
at 179 € in Italy.
Sales and design pack
Panasonic is not a brand that pays much attention to frills,
preferring a more direct and practical approach, as can be seen both from the
sales package and from the overall realization of the product. The package
explains very well the features of the RZ-S500W and the possibilities they
offer and includes a USB Type A to USB Type charging cable and four rubber
adapters for the earphones.
The charging case of the headphones is gray and is made of a
low quality plastic , we are far from the standards reached by Samsung's
AirPods or Galaxy Buds unfortunately.
Panasonic should pay more attention to these details,
because it is enough to take this element in hand for the first time to
understand that it does not convey that feeling of quality that is expected
from the Japanese brand, especially in the hinge that connects the body lid.
On the front you can see three LEDs that show the charge
status, while on the back you can see the connector for charging via USB Type
C.
The headphones have a rather rounded design and are also
gray. The attention to detail, even in this case, is not exceptional but still
better than that of the box. The external part of the headset is characterized
by a circular silver insert, while on the inside you can see the charging
connectors, very particular. Good IPX4 certification , which makes them
refractory, but not waterproof, to water.
In general, in terms of design and quality of materials,
these Panasonic RZ-S500W do not fully convince, they seem a lower quality
product than they actually are.
Specifications, software and testing
The RZ-S500W are active noise canceling earphones, a
technology we have seen several times in the past, for example when we reviewed
the Sony WF-1000XM3 . In this case, Panasonic uses Dual Hybrid technology,
which uses both the noises inside and outside the headset to generate an
opposite signal, to cut down unwanted sounds.
To improve the yield during phone calls, for example to
reduce the noise generated by the wind, the Japanese house uses six MEMS
microphones, integrated in a labyrinth structure, which prevents the wind from
reaching them easily. The microphones also use beamforming technology to focus
audio capture only in the direction of the mouth.
The connection with the smartphones takes place via
Bluetooth 5.0 and the two earphones can also be used individually, a useful
option in the car. The specifications indicate 6.5 hours of continuous
playback, for a total of 19.5 hours with the charge present inside the case.
Fast charging: with 15 minutes you can get about 70 minutes of playback. Full
compatibility is guaranteed with Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants.
The connection to the smartphone is very simple, as for all
Bluetooth headsets, and a dedicated application is also available, with few
features but more than enough to manage the headphones. You can adjust the
intensity of the noise cancellation or turn it off completely, or check the
state of charge of the earphones, or even apply an equalization to the sound to
increase the bass for example.
On the ergonomics front, Panasonic should review the design
of the earphones to make it more practical, all the weight is concentrated in
the external camber of the headphones, the only attachment point is the plastic
grommet. The result is earphones that need to be pushed to the bottom of the
ear to be kept still, an operation to be carried out every so often while
walking, because the jolts make them come out slowly from their seat. Obviously
this aspect varies from ear to ear, but it is evident that the shape does not
help to keep the RZ-S500W firmly in place .
A real shame, because on the sound front Panasonic has done
a great job. The yield is very good, with bass present but not overwhelming.
The sound spectrum is wide, mids and highs are well represented, net of the
structural limits of a product of this type. Among the earphones we have tried
in recent years they are certainly among the most balanced.
Even in calls, the microphones work well, without forgetting
a very low input lag when watching videos . The noise cancellation is also
excellent, which manages to isolate from external sounds effectively and that
does not make you regret the Sony WF-1000XM3.
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