Headphones aren’t ideal for ear health while speakers are bulky and harder to calibrate. So someone thought of combining the strengths of the two clashing auditory devices and came up with the neckset or neckband; wearable speakers. They’re great for just about any audiophile endeavor, especially if you’re gaming on a gaming neckset.
They’re closer to the ears, meaning the ears can pick up smaller sounds which they wouldn’t be able to with faraway speakers. At the same time, since they’re speakers, they have decent bass compared to headphones. And more importantly, they won’t impede your movement or obstruct your desk.
So if you’re in the market for a gaming neckset or are just curious to try it out, check out the following gaming neckset models from Amazon.
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Monster Boomerang Neckband
PROS
- Good sound quality
- Waterproof up to one meter and 30 minutes
- Long battery life
- 3D surround sound
- Upward-facing speaker
- Clear vocals, great for calls
CONS
- Hard to remember the buttons due to similar shapes
- No volume memory
- Slides off easily
- Lackluster base
Specs:
- 12-hour playtime
- True 3D Stereo
- IPX7 Waterproof
- Built-in mic
Monster understands how some of its customers will behave around their necksets or neckband. Some of them might try taking it to the bathroom or leave it on unintentionally while they go outside during rain. In such cases, you’ll be thankful to have a waterproof neckband that is rated for IPX7, meaning it can withstand one meter of water for 30 minutes.
But enough about durability, how’s the sound? It’s good. There’s a legitimate 3D surround quality and they even sound loud and clear outdoors, despite the natural ambient noise.
Monster Boomerang Neckband
Sony SRS-NS7
PROS
- Sleek, grey mesh design
- Splash-proof
- Upward-facing speakers
- 360-surround sound tech from Sony
- Long battery life
CONS
- Expensive
- Disappointing bass
- Disappointing treble
Specs:
- 12-hour playtime
- Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer technology
- Wireless TV adapter included
- IPX4 Splash-Resistant
- Upward-facing speakers
- Built-in mic
Of course, Sony is also in on the neckset market, and one of their most complete entries is the SRS-NS7. It also has upward-facing speakers and waterproofing to a small degree. You don’t have to worry about sweating all over this baby.
As for audio quality, it has that typical neckset weakness of a lackluster bass. For cinema and gaming, it’s superb but for music, it’s rather disappointing as it won’t be able to fully reproduce all the sounds from the instruments.
Sony SRS-NS7
Sony SRS-NB10
PROS
- Small form factor
- Upward-facing speakers
- Generous battery life
- IPX4 Splash/Sweat Resistance
CONS
- Not good for music
- Expensive
- Disappointing bass
Specs:
- 20 Hours of Battery Life
- Upward-facing speakers
- IPX4 Splash/Sweat Resistance
- Built-in mic
Most necksets, while not bulky, are conspicuous and have a bad fit. Something smaller that still functions well as a speaker might be preferable for a lot of people. Thankfully, Sony heeded that call with the SRS-NB10.
It has a sleeker design with thinner speakers and it looks more secure, especially for smaller people. Since the form factor affects speaker size, don’t expect the audio quality to be the best. Like the other Sony neckset, it’s not great for music. But for everything else, it performs good.
Sony SRS-NB10
HORI 3D Surround Gaming Neckset
PROS
- Good console integration
- FPS mode and Bass mode are handy
- Light
- Distinguishable buttons
- Decent battery life
CONS
- Hollow sound
- Lackluster bass
- No Bluetooth
- No charge indicator
Specs:
- Easily connects to PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S controllers
- 3D surround sound
- 10-hour battery life
- Bass mode and FPS mode
- Built-in mic
If you own a console, this one might be the wiser and more economical choice. HORI created something that integrates well with the most prominent consoles these days.
If that’s not enough to provide its focus for gamers, then the FPS and the Bass modes surely will. It allows you to switch between two modes to make audio clearer during the most important multiplayer moments in FPS games.
HORI 3D Surround Gaming Neckset
Neckband Portable Bluetooth Speakers
PROS
- Flexible design
- 3D surround sound
- Slim design
CONS
- Affordable
- Cheap plastic material
- Poor durability if dropped
Specs:
- 6-8-hour battery life
- 3D surround sound
- Flexible
- Built-in mic
Of course, if you’re just new to this kind of transition, you’re better off spending low so you can test out if the product style is for you. Here’s a budget off-brand that has some niftier features compared to those that ask for hundreds of dollars. It has a flexible design, meaning it’s more accommodating for most people.
A lot of people even seemed surprised at the quality of the 3D audio though like most necksets, it still has that lackluster bass shortcoming. It’s also light but don’t expect to take it everywhere since it’s not waterproof.
Neckband Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are necksets better than headphones?
Not necessarily. The sound from headphones will usually be superior but at least necksets won't block your ears or make your head sweaty. -
Are necksets better than speakers?
For portability, sure. But for audio, they're worse than actual speakers.