Hori is renowned for pushing the boundaries in design and creating exemplary products for game consoles.
They are mainly known for their great controllers and arcade sticks which are always at the forefront of third-party accessories.
This time around Hori is stepping out of their comfort zone, releasing the 3D Surround Gaming Neckset.
However, this isn’t the first time Hori has dabbled in audio hardware, they have a selection of gaming headsets designed for specific consoles.
Unlike their controllers, these sit in a lower price bracket, maybe because this sector is packed with so much competition.
But Hori has managed to create some great headsets, with fabulous designs and admirable sound quality at an affordable price.
However, neck speakers are an entirely different story, as this space is yet to be dominated by one of the audio market leaders.
There are a few other companies that have entered the fray, such as Sony and Panasonic but there are only a few dedicated gaming ones available.
Looking to fill this space Hori has released the 3D Surround Gaming Neckset which aims to give players an immersive experience outside of the typical headset.
The Gaming Neckset comes in a U-shaped design that is akin to a travel pillow, this is so it can comfortably sit around the neck and rest on the clavicle area.
The speakers are housed in a strong plastic material that feels as durable as the PS5 DualSense controller.
It's very futuristic looking and while the design takes some time to get used to, it's incredibly practical and is a nice change of pace compared to using headphones that can cause your ears to sweat or ache.
These collar parts of the Neckset are connected by a bendy rubber material that feels really flexible.
The connections are hidden by a silicon slide which looks like it's there to prevent the speaker from falling off during long periods of play.
The Neckset is designed so the speakers are on the top side of the collars closer to the ear allowing for the best possible sound.
The system buttons are smartly placed on each side for easy access with volume control on the right and the rest on the left.
The left side is also where the mic lives with a light button to indicate when it's on and off. The extra buttons included on this side are the mute, power, and mode alongside the 3.5mm jack and USB-C charger.
There are two versions of this Gaming Neckset, one for the PS5 and the other for the Xbox Series X/S. The PS5 comes in a white and black colour scheme that’s a perfect fit next to your console whilst the Xbox is in black.
The 3D Surround Gaming Neckset is a pleasant-looking product that is definitely geared towards gamers with its brazen aesthetics.
It feels really comfortable on my neck and doesn't irritate over long periods of play. It's very light, weighing in at 235g, so it won’t put any strain on your clavicle area.
It could have used some padding for a little extra comfort but that’s not a deal-breaker.
This isn't a product you can wear in a public area, but its lightweight means it can be easily transported. I only wished Hori had included a travel case.
The aim of the Gaming Neckset is to immerse the player in 3D audio to make them feel as if they are in the game. The audio should feel like it’s coming from all angles.
Hori’s Gaming Neckset does provide a wide range of sound but the immersive experience does depend on what game you're playing.
Ghost of Tsushima is my go-to for most audio tests as it has phenomenal sound design. Playing with the Hori Gaming Neckset, I felt it did a good job at recreating the 3D audio experience. Everything sounded like it was coming from the right side and angles.
However, when playing older games the audio sounds like it's coming from beneath you rather than around you.
The actual audio quality is passable for the price range, with highs not sounding as clear or pristine as they could.
It comes with two audio modes, Bass Boost and FPS which aim to offer two different experiences.
Bass Boost mode looks to offer a rich and balanced audio experience, much like what you will hear on a headset.
FPS mode is said to heighten the faintest of noises so players can detect the location of enemies very quickly.
When using both modes during games like Call of Duty: Vanguard, the Boost Mode allowed for all the audio to come through which include the background noises.
In FPS mode the background noise is moderately reduced, which did actually allow me to hear gunshots, and footsteps even better.
This is a nice feature to include but I feel the level balance can still be improved to really offer two distinct experiences.
The mic provides clear sound, my only issue was sometimes the levels between the game audio and the mic audio didn’t differentiate themselves enough.
Hori 3D Surround Gaming Neckset is easy to use straight out of the box by plugging it into the 3.5mm jack on the PS5 controller. It can also be used on the PS4 and PC which is great versatility for the price.
More gaming peripherals really need to start utilising Bluetooth or some sort of wireless through a dongle as players are limited to the battery life of the controller.
The controller has a battery life of ten hours which isn’t amazing when you can get up to forty hours from a single charge these days. However, ten hours will see you through a good gaming session.
Verdict 4/5
Hori’s 3D Surround Gaming Neckset is a good alternative if you don’t want to use a headset, as it provides moderate audio.
It’s a very good first product of this type from Hori at an affordable price range that will elevate your gaming experience in some areas but not all.
Hori's 3D Surround Gaming Neckset is out now for £69.99 for the Xbox version and £89.99 for the PS5 version on amazon. co.uk
