Panasonic Wearable Speakers – Review

Do you also find that headsets exert a little too much pressure on your ears? Speakers, on the other hand, can never be as accurate for reading the direction of sounds while gaming. But what if you had speakers for your PC or console that you could wear over your shoulders? Well, Panasonic seems to have answered that question with their bizarre new product that is the most dynamic manifestation of a wearable speaker yet.

Panasonic revealed its brand new SC-GN01 Wearable Immersive Gaming Speaker System (WIGSS) during Gamescom 2021. Alternatively known as the SoundSlayer, the SC-GN01 is a device that will be a new entry on the list of things you carry on your shoulders. Despite looking uncomfortable and surely exhausting after hours of use, the wearable speaker is surprisingly a good investment for gaming and weighs only about 244 g. For gamers who are satisfied by neither headsets nor speakers, the Panasonic SoundSlayer wearable speakers are an in-between alternative that is as effective as it is innovative.

It’s also a bonus for fans of Final Fantasy (or of role-playing games in general) since the series’ developers have partnered with Panasonic for this unique product, specifically optimizing it for Final Fantasy XXIV Online and including a special mode for role-playing games. It has 4-channel full-range speakers, but the speaker can reportedly even replicate 5.1-channel sound. The ambition, as per Panasonic, is to make the end result as real as possible. It’s the kind of device that would work well with augmented reality. There’s also the Voice Mode, made specifically for dialogue, which would be handy in single-player games. The FPS Mode, on the other hand, is immersive and accurately relays the source location of any audio. You’ll be able to feel the sound of all nearby threats on your shoulders. Aside from gaming, the wearable speaker also features specific modes for films and music.

The only drawback of the SoundSlayer is that it gets hot and exhausting after hours of usage, but that’s true for just about any other headset, as well. Its pros clearly outweigh its cons, especially if you find headsets a little too harsh on your ears. Sony has also released its own immersive wearable audio speaker not too long ago, but the Panasonic SoundSlayer is – by far – more of a worthy purchase. Unlike the Sony product, however, which consists of only two speakers for virtual surround, the Panasonic SoundSlayer features four full-range speakers at the same price. Other selling features of the Panasonic SoundSlayer include the True Majestic Augmented Gaming Environment Sound System (MAGESS), the Panasonic-exclusive signal processing tech, and support for multi-channel audio sources.

So, while the Panasonic SC-GN01 SoundSlayer may not be as immersive for gamers as a high-end gaming headset, it’s still the best and the most dynamic option for those who find such headsets uncomfortable. The SoundSlayer may not outperform some headsets in terms of accuracy, but it still holds its ground as a highly immersive sound device for those seeking audio alternatives. Its versatility of output is another aspect that makes it a great aspect, especially the RPG-specific mode. If you want an immersive gaming experience, narrative or competitive, without putting too much burden on your ears, the Panasonic SC-GN01 SoundSlayer is the right kind of audio device for you.