Our Verdict
The RP-HC800 will make decent everyday headphones. They're sturdy and isolate really well from noise. However, their leakage can be distracting to the people around you.
- Sturdy build.
- Great noise cancelling.
- Poor seal, leaks a lot of sound.
- Uncomfortable padding.
- Bass-heavy audio profile.
Mediocre for neutral listening. They have a decent but uneven sound quality. They also sound a little too closed for pure neutral listening.
The RP-HC800 are good headphones for commuting. Their noise isolation is efficient enough for most commutes and even noisy flights. They also have a decent control scheme. However, others may be to hear your audio at high volumes.
Mediocre for sports. They're a little too bulky and cumbersome to use while doing strenuous exercise or running.
Mediocre at best for office use. They will block most of the ambient noise in the office however they leak a lot and will be audible even at moderate volumes.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Oct 02, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
Check Price
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The HC800 have an understated studio design. They're not the most stylish headphones but their simple all black esthetic will surely work for some. The textured back, oval-shaped ear cups do add a little more flare and the headband is well-padded.
The ear cups are large enough to easily fit around most people's ears and flexible enough to not feel rigid when on the head. The issue is with the padding used to cushion the ear cups. It's not soft, feels unpleasant and definitely could be improved. This reduces the HC800's comfortability significantly.
Button layout is simple and easy to use. There is only one noise cancelling button on the ear cup and the rest of the controls are relegated to the in-line controls of the provided TRRS-TRRS audio cable. The in-line controls are good but would be better if they could deliver a little more tactile feedback when clicking.
The RP-HC800 are a little on the larger side for over-ear headphones. They are below-average portable and do not fold into a more compact format. They won't fit into your pockets and are a little cumbersome to carry around comfortably. On the upside, the ear cups lay flat to take up less space in a backpack.
Comes with a stylish hard case that will protect the headphones from scratches and falls. It will also shield the headphones from minor water damage and doesn't add too much bulk.
Build quality is good all-around for the HC800. They're not built with the most premium materials but the plastic feels solid and the metal frame makes them sturdy. However, the joints may become weak over time and the ear cup padding could be much softer.
The Panasonic RP-HC800 are decently stable headphones. They stay in place during casual listening sessions but are unideal for gym use. The large ear cups sway too much while running and slip off your ears during high-intensity exercises. On the upside, the audio cable is detachable and won't pull the headphones off your head if it gets hooked on something.
- Panasonic RP-HC800 Headphones
- Carrying case
- AAA battery
- Audio cable
- Airline adapter
- Manual
Very good noise cancellation overall. With ANC set to Off, reduction starts at around 300Hz and gently reaches -40dB just before 20KHz. The active noise cancellation starts at 20Hz with more than 10dB of reduction, peaking at -20dB at 50Hz, and consistently remaining below -14dB.
Poor leakage performance, considering these are closed, over-ear headphones. The profile of the leakage is quite broadband too. It starts from 300Hz and up to 7KHz.
The Panasonic RP-HC800 have a satisfactory battery life of 20.5 hours. This gives you enough continuous playtime for long flights, but you will still need to change the battery after a full day of continuous use. Unfortunately, they do not have any battery saving features.
No compatible app.
