Panasonic SC-GN01 review – The Final Fantasy XIV neck speaker can do more than just MMOPRGs

I was pleasantly surprised by the SC-GN01 neck loudspeakers from the Panasonic Soundslayer series. I didn’t know neck speakers before and would have expected that the volume, quality and thus the gaming experience would suffer from not having headphones around your ears. Also, the fact that the Final Fantasy XIV sound team was working on the hardware didn’t sway me at first glance – but more on that in a moment, let’s start with what you get with the SC-GN 01.

The agony of choice

If you decide to upgrade your gaming setup with neck speakers after this article at the latest, you must first see whether you should get the standard addition for €179 or the limited one Final Fantasy XIV version (€229) of the hardware you want to afford. The FF XIV version is a no-brainer for fans in particular, but casual players of the Final Fantasy series can also enjoy the additional sounds. There is a little Final Fantasy music when switching on and off and there is also an FF sound when switching between sound modes. Then there is the beautiful design which is not too flashy but clear. Otherwise, the two products are identical.

The speaker comes with a box (on the FF in an FF XIV design), a manual, a separate AUX cable and on the speaker is the inseparable plug-in cable with USB-A connector. And with that you can start! No installation is required and there is no separate software. Instead, you regulate the volume and the different sound modes via the four buttons on the sides. There is a mute switch for the overall sound and microphone, a volume control, a sound button and the input for the AUX cable. You can connect the Soundslayer with PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Series X|S and with the Switch in TV mode via the docking station.

The sound modes are RPG, FPS, Voice, Music, Cinema and Stereo. Most of it should be self-explanatory – but feel free to take a look at the video if you need further explanations. Incidentally, Voice is not the microphone in multiplayer, but a voice mode. This voice mode, RPG mode and FPS mode were co-developed with Square Enix’s FINAL FANTASY XIV online sound team. Especially in the RPG mode you notice the quality when you play FF ​​XIV. The FPS sound can be compared to the quality of the Sound Blaster GC7. Here, too, orientation from the exchange of fire is easier because subtle sounds such as footsteps or the reloading of the rifle are amplified.

The bonuses of a neck speaker

I particularly liked the Voice mode mentioned earlier, which emphasizes human voices. However, this made the cinema mode overdue for me because I like to filter the voices in films and series. But that’s also a matter of taste and not necessary in the action genre, for example. The mode is actually intended for adventure games in order to better perceive the NPCs and hints.

Wearing comfort is similar to the voice mode. It’s unusual to have the speakers on your shoulders and you might think such a soundslayer must be heavy. That’s not the case, the SC-GN01 are very light. But especially during the initial settling-in period, you have to be careful not to slump down because of the shifting of your weight. For the first two days I did notice the weight of the neck speakers after two hours of FF-XIV and kept reminding myself to keep my back straight, but after that you got used to the new feeling. So the rest of the time I could play as long as I wanted without worrying about the new hardware.

The special thing about the neck loudspeaker is that it relieves the ears. Voice chat works without constantly hearing game noise, although the SC-GN01’s mic is next to the speakers – but you can also use a separate mic, hence the included cable. Added to this was my fear that I might hear the sound distorted, but the fear subsided immediately after the first test: I owe that to the 4-channel full-range loudspeakers that are built into the U-shaped hardware. These create a surround sound that works like a system. The sounds come from all directions, not just from the shoulders, and they don’t clip. Incidentally, this applies to all modes: Yes, you hear some noises more through the filter and others disappear in the background, but all of this feels spatial. There is also a convenience advantage: Because the ears are not covered, everyday loud noises such as ringing or telephone calls are directly heard. However, small background noises, such as conversations that take place far away, are drowned out by the nearby game sound (which is a good thing).

Conclusion

I am very happy with the Panasonic Soundslayer SC-GN01 FF neck speakers. At this price point, you really can’t complain, considering you’re carrying a portable surround sound system on your shoulders. In addition, there is the fact that gaming experts worked for an FF XIV target group. You can see that in the implementation as well. The small extra clips of the Final Fantasy version are also a pleasant addition. The operation is uncomplicated and I am amazed by the comfort that this neck speaker offers – even if it takes a while to get used to if you only knew headphones before. In any case, my ears are already thanking me for the newly gained freedom.