Pansonic ErgoFit RP-TCM325 USB-C
Execs
- Spectacular sound for less than $25
- Strong construct high quality
- Safe, snug match
- Inline distant and microphone with good noise discount and voice calling efficiency
Cons
- Some fraction of customers might not get a good seal from the included ear suggestions (three sizes)
- No storage pouch or case included
Again in 2012, I wrote a evaluation of Panasonic’s ErgoFit RP-HJE120 wired earbuds, which price me $6 on the time (now they’re $9), and I used to be impressed by how first rate they sounded for the way little they price. They did not have a ton of bass, however they had been well-balanced and supplied an ample quantity of element and readability, making them arguably the most cost effective audiophile-friendly earbuds. Whereas the corporate’s step-up ErgoFit RP-TCM125 earbuds did not sound fairly nearly as good for some purpose, they did have an inline distant and microphone, a key characteristic if you happen to plan on utilizing your buds with a cellphone.
In these days, telephones had been outfitted with 3.5mm headphone jacks (and so had been once-popular digital music gamers such because the iPod Mini). Now, most telephones go away them off, which is the place Panasonic’s new-for-2026 ErgoFit RP-TCM325 USB-C is available in. The religious successor to these two earlier wired fashions with 3.5mm plugs, the RP-TCM325 as a substitute connects to the USB-C port of your cellphone, pill or pc to ship an all-digital wired connection. For $25, the sound is difficult to beat, and their voice calling efficiency can also be good, which is why I’ve awarded them a CNET Editors’ Alternative award.
The ErgoFit USB-C buds at present are available three coloration choices: blue, white and black.
Panasonic ErgoFit USB-C design
One of many drawbacks of the ErgoFit RP-HJE120 was that whereas that they had a sturdy L-shaped plug, their wire was skinny and had a bent to turn into tangled if you happen to stuffed the earbuds in a pocket. The ErgoFit RP-TCM325, nevertheless, has a thicker, tangle-resistant wire for about two-thirds of its size earlier than splitting into two thinner cords that lead into the buds, which appear extra substantial than the tiny RP-HJE120 buds; they’re bigger and have extra weight to them. The way in which they’re formed does permit them to nestle properly in your ears, even with the wire weighing down on them a bit.
Within the wire main as much as the appropriate bud, you may discover an inline distant that means that you can increase and decrease the quantity in addition to advance tracks ahead and again and reply/finish calls.
I needed to placed on bigger suggestions from one other set of buds (Beats Powerbeats Professional 2) I examined to get a good seal.
The one design situation I had was with the included silicone eartips. Whereas most individuals ought to have the ability to get an honest match from one of many three sizes of included suggestions, the biggest tip did not fairly give me a cosy match, so I needed to swap in bigger eartips from one of many many earbuds I’ve examined (they occurred to be extra-large suggestions from the Beats Powerbeats Professional 2). However at the least these buds do not require proprietary eartips such because the Apple AirPods Professional 3 or Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Professional; they’ve an ordinary submit that accommodates many suggestions.
Spectacular sound high quality
The sound high quality is remarkably good for $25 earbuds. The buds’ advertising and marketing materials describes them as having “tonally balanced audio with crisp highs and deep low notes, plus wider frequency response and energetic sound high quality.” That just about sums them up, although I would add that the important thing right here, past the balanced sound, is that there is a pure, correct high quality to that sound. Additionally, whereas the bass goes deep, it is managed and does not overwhelm the mids and highs, which have some good sparkle to them (the highs). I additionally encountered minimal distortion, which is uncommon for cheap earbuds.
The one large caveat is that as a way to get the standard of sound I am speaking about, you do need to get a good seal from one of many included eartips or discover some suggestions that get you that tight seal. With out a tight seal, you lose numerous bass, and you may possible come away pondering the buds sound tinny and mediocre. If you happen to’re underwhelmed by the sound, attempt urgent each buds into your ears to create seal and see if the sound high quality adjustments.
The buds have a 1.2-meter wire with a microphone and distant built-in into it.
There are many sub-$25 USB-C earbuds on the market. I’ve examined just a few of them, together with Sony’s IER-EX15C buds, which retail for slightly below $20. These Sony buds additionally sound good for the cash, however the ErgoFit USB-C are a minimize above for sound and construct high quality (the Panasonic buds ship richer sound with extra bass). The Sony buds appear and feel just a little cheaper, and I had one pair the place the sound minimize out on one of many buds, so I needed to toss them.
Passive noise isolation however no ANC
Whereas wired earbuds are again in vogue (my teenage daughter has taken to carrying Apple’s wired EarPods USB-C together with her iPhone), I am unable to say I am all too keen on carrying wired earbuds on the go. If you happen to do get a good seal, you get some passive noise isolation from the ideas, however there isn’t any energetic noise canceling, although the buds do draw a little bit of energy from the USB-C connection. (USB-C earbuds are likely to have their very own built-in Digital-to-Analog Converter or DAC.)
The again of the buds’ field shows all their key options.
I’ve gotten so used to carrying true-wireless earbuds with excellent noise canceling that it is just a little arduous for me to go with out noise canceling, particularly in noisy environments just like the subway. I loved utilizing and listening to the earbuds most once I was stationary in a quieter atmosphere (seated at my desk or on a sofa). That stated, not all people likes or cares about energetic noise canceling.
Higher voice calling efficiency than I anticipated
I hadn’t used wired earbuds for some time to make calls and was stunned when callers stated they might barely hear any background noise from the noisy streets of New York and that my voice sounded largely clear and pure. I examined the earbuds with callers on the similar time I used to be testing Anker’s Soundcore House 2 headphones ($130), and the 2 callers I spoke with each stated the ErgoFit RP-TCM325 had been the straightforward winner. I graded the House 2 a B for voice calling. I would give these an A-minus, with the one potential situation involving wind noise (do not count on stellar voice calling efficiency when it is windy).
Panasonic ErgoFit RP-TCM325 ultimate ideas
There are many cheap USB-C earbuds on the market, however Panasonic has constructed on the legacy of its earlier ErgoFit buds to ship a set of USB-C buds that stand out from the pack for sound high quality and in addition serve up good voice calling efficiency. If you happen to get a good seal, they sound nearly as good or higher than wi-fi earbuds and headphones that price greater than $100.
