Gamers are used to wearing headsets or maybe listening to gameplay through computer speakers, but have you ever considered wearing speakers? Believe it or not, that’s the idea behind Panasonic’s SoundSlayer SC-GNW30.
This immersive and wearable gaming speaker system includes connectivity for HDMI, Bluetooth and a low-latency wireless mode for seamless gaming with consoles, PCs and smartphones.
The SoundSlayer has four separate speakers creating a 3D sound that surrounds the wearer. The device includes built-in AI mics for picking up the wearer’s voice instead of using a headset. There are even sound modes for RPG, FPS, Voice, Cinema, anime and Music modes so you can fine-tune the overall sound.
Immersive Power
Panasonic says its SoundSlayer lets people hear games, movies and music “like never before.” It’s a lightweight speaker weighing around 100g that drapes around the wearer’s neck and connects via HDMI, Bluetooth and low-latency wireless through a transmitter box that then connects to the Sound Slayer via a wireless link. The box also has an output for a subwoofer, which is just as well as there’s not a lot of bass coming from those four speakers. There’s a downloadable app that can keep in-game chat smooth and clear, with settings for the four speakers to provide a wraparound 3D sound.
The SoundSlayer consists of four 38mm speakers strategically placed in the front and rear of the device for optimal comfort and sound quality. The advantage of wearable speakers is how they place the user at the center of the sound which creates a soundstage with depth, placing the virtual world around the wearer for audio immersion.
With one speaker system for all your sources, users can switch between HDMI, Bluetooth and a low-latency wireless connection. However, there are a few caveats. You can’t stream Bluetooth directly to the Sound Slayer, everything must go via the transmitter box, so there’s no chance of wearing this on the bus and enjoying surround sound. The Sound Slayer can be used for chat or even video calls, if that’s what you want.
TV Sound Through HDMI
The SoundSlayer’s transmitter can be directly connected to a TV via HDMI for high-quality sound from TV shows, movies and sports fixtures. However, the transmitter box uses HDMI ARC rather than eARC, which might limit the ability to stream Atmos. The system does provide a new way of watching movies or enjoying soccer matches with a surround sound feel that won’t disturb others in the room too much.
Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, the SoundSlayer can connect wirelessly to smart devices or a computer, making it suitable for video calls without the need to wear a headset but it does require that transmitter box so maybe it’s not quite so versatile.
Nine Separate Sound Modes
There are plenty of sound mode options with the SoundSlayer, including special gaming modes optimized for RPG and FPS games. For movie night, the Cinema Mode provides a full theater experience by balancing a rich bass with crisp highs that will bring everything from a whisper to an explosion to life.
For music lovers, there are several modes for enjoying a favorite album or playlist. Music mode is designed for balanced stereo playback. With surround sound enabled, it expands the music into a wider and more immersive soundstage, ideal for live performances. There is even an 8-band EQ for both front and rear speakers, allowing independent frequency adjustments for balanced listening.
An advanced Stereo Mode delivers simple 2-channel audio for playing all kinds of content. With pseudo surround enabled, all four speakers can create a spacious effect. Live Mode offers the energy of a packed arena, recreating the atmosphere of concerts and performances with powerful bass and expansive surround sound.
Other modes include Anime and Sports. Anime mode is designed to sharpen dialog for clearer speech, but it also enriches the tones of character voices, while adding punch to action scenes that are true to the anime spirit. Sports mode brings the thrill of the stadium into the living room. Sports mode enhances crowd noise, commentary and spacious acoustics as if the wearer was there in the stands.
Comfortable To Wear
By wearing the speakers around the neck instead of a headset. Panasonic claims this lightweight neck speaker makes it possible to spend more time gaming, streaming and talking without the pressure of a headset on the ears, hair or glasses.
The SoundSlayer includes dual microphones for capturing speech by using advanced AI processing filters to remove any background noise. There’s also a mute button which turns the unit’s blue indicator lights to red so you know you’re off the grid.
Setting up the SoundSlayer is as simple as connecting the included transmitter to a PC or gaming console using USB or by establishing a wireless connection. There is also lag-free audio with 6-channel audio signals on a dedicated 2.4GHz band with a latency of less than 20 milliseconds, making it suitable for FPS games with demanding audio delay requirements.
A second device can be connected to the SoundSlayer transmitter so two people can enjoy music, movies or gaming. There is also a SoundSlayer Engine app available for PCs and smartphones that makes it easy to adjust sound settings and chat options.
Pricing and Availability:
The Panasonic SoundSlayer GNW30 is available from the Panasonic website and is priced at $349.99.