When comparing Panasonic RP-HTX7 vs Sony WH-1000XM2, the Slant community recommends Sony WH-1000XM2 for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Sony WH-1000XM2 is ranked 12th while Panasonic RP-HTX7 is ranked 105th. The most important reason people chose Sony WH-1000XM2 is:
The bass has good punch and control which works really well with most genres of music. The mids are slightly forward at just the right levels, which ensures that vocals can be clearly heard. The highs are emphasized and sound great with a lot of clarity and detail, especially on the upper registers.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Forward highs and ample bass
The highs stand out from the overall sound. They are quite forward and come with a lot of clarity. This quality makes it very easy for listeners to hear the details of the music.
While the bass is not that powerful, it has good presence and gives the music a full feel.
Pro Very good sound isolation
The closed back ear cups effectively keep sound in and the noise out,. You can use these in quiet places without sound leaks disturbing others, or use these in noisy areas to isolate yourself.
Pro Not tiring to wear
Weighing just 154 g, wearing these won't strain your head and neck. They're also rather small, making it a good option for mobile and travel use.
Pro Fun-sounding with good details to the audio
The bass has good punch and control which works really well with most genres of music. The mids are slightly forward at just the right levels, which ensures that vocals can be clearly heard. The highs are emphasized and sound great with a lot of clarity and detail, especially on the upper registers.
Pro Right ear cup functions as touchpad remote
Swiping or tapping on the right ear cup's surface can pause or play track, go to the next track or go back to the previous one and can control volume levels as well. Also, the right ear cup has more of a textured surface compared to the old MDR1000x model's smooth, leather-like surface. This makes gesture control much more accurate on the WH-1000XM2.
Pro Quick Attention mode allows easy conversations
If you need to talk while using these, all you need to do is to cover the right ear cup with the palm of your hand. This activates Quick Attention mode which cuts off the music and amplifies voice for easy conversation. To get back to listening to music, all you need to do is to remove the palm from the ear cup.
Pro 4 noise cancelling modes to choose from
Aside from just turning noise cancelling on or off, users can set it to Ambient Sound which offers 2 further options.Normal Mode allows some outside noise through, while Voice Mode allows voice frequencies through the noise cancelling.
Pro Mobile app grants extra functionality and easy tweaking of the headphones
The WH1000XM2 comes with a companion mobile app that allows you to easily tweak the various settings of the headphones including EQ and noise cancelling levels. The app can also take advantage of the accelerometers in your smartphone as you move, adjusting noise cancelling and audio settings on the fly to give you the optimal listening experience.
Pro Good noise isolation
These have great noise isolating properties and can block out a good amount of sound even with the noise cancelling off. The ear cups are closed back, while the ear pads go over the ear and seal well, awhich effectively minimizes sound leakage to and from the headphones.
Pro Can fold down to a more compact size
The ear cups can be folded into the headband. This reduces the headphones' size so that it can easily fit inside bags.
Pro Active noise cancelling is very good
The WH-1000XM2's active noise cancelling is one of the best in the market today. With the mode activated, a significant amount of outside noise is blocked, allowing you to really enjoy your music with minimal distractions. The Bose QC 35 II slightly edges out the Sony in this aspect though.
Pro Built in mic makes taking calls very easy
There is a built in microphone which negates the need to remove the headphones to answer a call.
Pro Can be used wired or wireless
You can use these headphones wired using the detachable 3.5mm cable or you can go wireless with Bluetooth.
Pro Very long battery life
The internal battery can last up to 30 hours of listening to music in wireless mode with noise cancelling on. This number goes up to 40 hours in wired mode with noise cancelling activated.
Pro Carrying case allows for easy and secure transport
This comes with a carrying case that is made from high quality materials. It should provide extra protection to the headphones against scratches and minor impacts, which are quite common when taking these while traveling.
Cons
Con Treble can be too bright
The treble can come off as quite harsh for some people. Others may prefer this due to the detail and clarity that is added to the music. Those who are sensitive to washy or zingy highs may find this to be quite distracting if not uncomfortable to listen to.
Con Bass may be inadequate for some
While the bass output may be enough for most genres, bass heads may find it lacking power and thump.
Con Not travel friendly
These headphones don't fold, so they are a little bit more difficult to travel with.
Con Highs can be too piercing
The boosted highs add a lot of detail to the sound that these headphones produce. This also makes it too harsh for some.