Panasonic SoundSlayer Final Fantasy XIV Online Edition Wearable Gaming Speaker, Lightweight Wired Neck Speaker with Built-in Microphone and Dimensional Sound - SC-GN01PPFF (Black)

Let me say something… I looked all over the internet & could barely find anything about this product being genuinely reviewed, other than someone talking about it & it’s features. Customer reviews were good, but they were so mixed so I was hesitant, however I can assure you that I made the right choice, & you should too.I came home from work & opened this up, it was so light. So flexible, & was so soft. Surprising… I immediately plugged It into the USB port, changed the Volume Setting to the (Game) setting, & it instantly worked.The sound is so crisp, like so crisp. I play Final Fantasy XIV for example, I have over 10,000 hours into the game. I have heard sounds that I’ve never heard before with this, like absolutely insane. Played Dark Souls 1 again, which I have 4,000 hours into, & it sounded unreal. Who would’ve thought this would actually be something that works so well.The volume can really pick up, & it’s weird cause it doesn’t feel like it’s as loud to you, just feels like you’re right there in the game. However, everyone in my house begs to differ. This has some kick to it. Absolutely 0 bass but has some vibrations from sounds, which is nice. This is terrible for music, really meant for playing games. Not sure why.In terms of comfort, it is great. Not having a headset on feels amazing. No more strain on the head with a minor headache after raiding or wearing it for extended hours, no more Headset Hair so I can go out without looking like an idiot, & just easy to take off/put back on.For the cord length as I’ve seen complaints, I don’t mind it. I don’t feel the cord on me when the device is on. It sure is long, absolutely, but it’s not bothersome depending on your setup. As much as I like wireless, I hate waiting to charge it up or buying new batteries etc etc, so this is great.The microphone, oh the microphone. I hadn’t seen anything on this either in detail. It’s good! Nothing amazing though. My raid team says it sounds like I’m almost on speaker, but it’s very clear. I had my game as max volume, & was attacking monsters with loud effects in my ear, & he didn’t hear anything as I talked. Maybe a few things here & there after long periods of time but was unnoticeable. Crazy! Feels fantastic.I mean this when I say it, a little change can really go a long way! This changed the way I will experience games & even games I’m investing thousands of hours into now, & I’m the future. It’s amazing! I thought it almost looked stupid but I’m genuinely impressed! Highly consider buying.Edit: It is currently July 13th, 2022 & this thing is still holding up great. I’ve dropped this more times than I could count, & still is in great condition. Some things I would like to update though.The microphone is a lot better than what I had described it on. It’s much better than being on speaker phone, just has that little bit of “raspiness” to it. You can play a game at full volume & talk to friends & they will not hear the game at all.It still is comfortable, there was 1 awkward phase of my neck adjusting to it, but that was maybe the first 3 days.Music still stands true. Anything with bass or 808’s is going to sound horrendous, gods honest truth. Any hiphop song you put on goes from 30% volume to 90% volume throughout because the headset can’t do bass, kicks, 808’s all that. Hard rock, game music, jazz, all that works really well, it’s just hip hop that sounds god awful on these lmfao.Sound quality has not dropped at all. Still crisp, smooth, impeccable. I see this is on sale now, nice! Would 100% recommend picking it up on sale especially, I’d recommend it even without the sale (obviously). For real though, this shit is crazy…. Definitely worth the buy. Enjoy it :)

Pros:- Comfortable to wear, very lightweight- Wired connection allows you to use speakers and mic simultaneously without degradation- No sound leakage into voice chat while gaming- Nearby people cannot hear as much of your device's soundsCons:- Sound quality could be better, especially bass- The speaker itself will make announcements when you use the buttons, which can be loud- Buttons all feel the same, which makes it awkward to differentiate functionality by touch- No option to go wirelessI was skeptical because of the price tag, but a friend recommended this to me, and after using it for a few days, I think this speaker system is a great idea. I have large ears, so I cannot wear a headset for long. Meanwhile, earbuds can be annoying to deal with, and the mic quality on those can be poor. I can wear the SoundSlayer for hours on end with no problem. It does require a sacrifice in audio quality, but in terms of functionality for gaming, I have no complaints.

(Updated Review)I was able to get a replacement, as I processed an exchange within the Amazon return widow.The replacement has no defects, and works perfectly. Sounds are crisp and clean.Neckband is light and comfortable on shoulders.Will probably be using this a lot, as the temperatures rise and over-ears won't be as comfortable.In terms of privacy, it can't beat over-ears for sound leaker (obviously), but a much quieter alternative to tv speakers/home theaters.From an outsider perspective, it's about as loud as a smartphone (at moderate levels).Of course, while wearing it, the targeted speakers will make it seem louder than it is.---------------------(Previous Review).:Distortion/buzzing in speaker (uncorded side):.I noticed a buzzing in the speaker even from the very first use.Initially I thought my sound settings might be too high.However, upon closer inspection, there is no distortion on the side closest to the cord.In addition, the sound clarity and fullness was lacking on the afflicted side when compared to the corded side.Could be pre-existing damage, defect, or even a design flaw causing the buzzing/distortion on the far end side of the neckband.

Summary:I purchased these headphones because most weeknights my girlfriend and I watch TV together and I wanted something that would allow me to play some PC games on my laptop while still being able to have conversations with her. Mostly RPG games that don't require 100% of my focus. I was not planning on playing FPS games, if you plan to play FPS games these will actually decrease your performance. I do enjoy these because they are light weight, and give me the ability to multi-task. They are great for RPG games or if you are listening to music at low volumes. This is not a replacement for quality gaming headphones if you are a hardcore FPS gamer especially. If you already own a pair of great gaming headphone's like me, then it's not a bad purchase if you wanted something that would fit niche situations.Positives:1. It's very comfortable and lightweight. Great Build Quality.2. It can be used in a situation where you want to hear a game you are playing, but still hear your surrounding environment. Either for safety or conversational reasons.Negatives:1. Price is too high for the quality of sound you get from these.2. The sound quality is good, it's not great. I expected a small scale surround sound experience. I also expected more bass. It has barely any bass, so you are not going to get that surround sound feeling or any sensations of the sounds on your shoulders.