Ever wondered what the mashup of headphones and neckbands would be like? That’s neck speakers, the oddballs of the audio world. While they haven’t exactly taken the world by storm, that hasn’t stopped audio companies from dropping new ones. Even Panasonic is getting in on the action with its latest release, the GNW10 SoundSlayer, “a wearable gaming speaker that allows players to immerse themselves in play to experience the real emotion of gaming.”
This new wearable gaming speaker is a revamped version of the 2021 wired SoundSlayer, bringing in a bunch of fresh features and a touch of AI magic (because, let’s face it, in 2023, everything’s better with AI) to help “players to level up their game.”
The GNW10 SoundSlayer comes with four brand-new 38mm speakers strategically arranged for a surround sound experience. This setup produces realistic sounds that envelop players “in a deep, layered soundscape,” thus promising to make the gaming experience truly immersive.
Additionally, it also includes a compact transmitter that plugs into your console or PC, utilizing a proprietary 2.4GHz wireless protocol. As per Panasonic, this setup keeps latency under 20ms, guaranteeing more responsive and crucial sound feedback, especially in fast-paced genres like first-person shooters.
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Panasonic has also made subtle adjustments to enhance the overall comfort of the GNW10 SoundSlayer. According to the manufacturer, the new design tweaks aim to eliminate the common discomfort associated with contact pressure around the ears and the top of the head typically experienced with over-the-ear headphones. The company’s design process also involved identifying “points of fatigue and discomfort related to neck-mounted devices to create an ergonomic housing that avoids contact with the clavicle and does not place a burden on the trapezius muscles.”
The new GNW10 SoundSlayer comes with 130cc housing that’s 60 percent larger than its predecessor, which aims to deliver “even more acoustic pressure and substantially more powerful bass for even more immersion.” Another notable feature is the “AI voice control,” which, despite its name, focuses on beamforming noise-cancellation rather than actual voice commands for the speaker. This feature aims to deliver “superior noise-cancelling performance”, cutting out ambient noise and allowing only your voice to reach co-op partners.
Panasonic also says that the GNW10 SoundSlayer will leverage AI to enhance the reduction of background noise and echo during calls, although the effectiveness of this claim is yet to be tested. The wearable gaming speaker also has support for subwoofer output, promising a more robust soundscape. Compatibility-wise, it pairs well with Windows 10/11 PCs, PS4/PS5 consoles, and the Nintendo Switch (TV mode only).
During the release, Fifi Tjiong, Product Marketing Manager – AV, Panasonic, said, “The GNW10 SoundSlayer delivers an immersive audio soundscape and intense gaming experience, along with crystal-clear communication. It’s combined with an ergonomic design that removes pressure on ears and the head, so you can play hard in comfort.” So, if you’re interested in picking one up, Panasonic’s GNW10 SoundSlayer is set to hit the Australian market in mid-December with a price tag of AUD $449.
