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On these pages we have often tried "out of the box" products, but until now we had never tested a soundbar designed for gamers . On the other hand, it is a very specific niche: those who do not want to use headphones during the gaming phases but want to aim for a different type of audio experience. We could not therefore refrain from testing the Panasonic SoundSlayer SC-HTB01EG , which particularly winks, as mentioned above, to gamers. Among other things, it is a versatile device, since it does not disdain either a use in the PC field or in the console or Smart TV field.
A versatile and original product, sold at a price of 299.99
euros on Amazon Italy. The question that arises is: is the device worth this
amount? Let's try to understand who this solution is for and if it is something
valid.
Technical features
Panasonic SoundSlayer SC-HTB01EG has an integrated
eight-centimeter subwoofer (80W total, between amplification and woofer), a
2.1-channel system with two three-way speakers, two four-centimeter full range
transducers, two 8-centimeter passive radiators each and two 1.4cm tweeters. On
the backs there is an HDMI 2.0 input and output with HDCP 2.2 and support for
the ARC standard, as well as an optical input and a USB port used only for
updates. Do not miss the support for Bluetooth 2.1 with SBC.
Experience of use
In our view, there are three important characteristics that
a product of this type must satisfy: ease of use, versatility and good audio
quality. The first thing you notices when using the SoundSlayer is how quickly
it can be set up. The presence of Bluetooth allows you to quickly connect the
soundbar to any type of hardware. For example, once the device is paired, the
Smart TV can automatically detect the soundbar when it is turned on, asking if
you want to use it or whether to stay with the TV speaker. Latency has always
been good and we have never had any particular problems.
In addition, the soundbar can be connected via HDMI directly
to the TV, but in that case you must check that your model has support for the
ARC standard. There is also the possibility to go through an optical cable, in
order to carry the digital audio signal directly from the PC motherboard to the
soundbar. In this way, you can enjoy audio with technologies such as Dolby
Digital and DTS.
However, the best use for such a device is to go through the dedicated HDMI IN and OUT ports on the back. In particular, we are talking about a 4K HDR passthrough from the video card / console to the monitor / TV (the video signal also passes with the soundbar deactivated). To explain it even to the less practical, you connect the video card / console to the HDMI IN port of the soundbar, the latter "captures" the audio to reproduce it at its best and then you connect the HDMI OUT port of the SoundSlayer to the monitor / TV, in order to see the video stream on the latter, which "passes" through the soundbar.
What interests the end user is that, through the HDMI
connection, it is possible to take advantage of the best audio experience, as
technologies such as DTS: X, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD,
all supported by the SoundSlayer, become accessible. Not surprisingly, Panasonic
"pushes" for this type of use and is the main approach we used to
test the product.
Before moving on to the use phase, it is good to say that an
important selling point is the dimensions of the soundbar, since they are equal
to 43.1 x 5.2 x 13.2 centimeters, for a weight of 1.8 kilograms. In short, the
SoundSlayer is a solution that can be easily positioned in many contexts, as
opposed to other larger soundbars.
Once connected, you move on to the use of the remote control
supplied in the package, with rather small dimensions. The latter allows you to
quickly access 4 presets (Standard, Music, Cinema and Game), perform Bluetooth
pairing, manage the overall volume and the subwoofer volume, activate 3D
Surround and enable the CLR Dialog option, for an enhanced dialogue experience.
In short, we are talking about a versatile and easy to configure and use
product.
Coming to the most important point, namely the sound
performance, it is clear from the outset that the spectrum is calibrated on the
bass , just as expected from a gaming soundbar. Most of the time we kept the
Game preset with 3D Surround active and found some very perceptible and
immersive sounds.
To give you some concrete examples, in an atmospheric title
like Dead by Daylight, which bases much of its experience on a dark environment
and on the noises of fugitives and killers, the game action becomes more bleak
and closer to the player, contextualizing for good the sounds of crows and
making the screams of captured players even more merciless. The feeling of
anguish created by the developers is exasperated to the nth degree by the
SoundSlayer, whichmanages to transport the user to the center of the action .
If you're not a survival horror lover, the soundbar's sonic
qualities can make your raids in Battle Royale titles like Fortnite or COD
Warzone, as well as (and above all, we would add) in dreamy video games like
Ori and the, more enjoyable and immersive. Blind Forest, a real sight for the
ears. It is also safe with Final Fantasy XIV Online, given that Panasonic has
worked closely with the team that gave life to the sound sector of the title,
to create three dedicated game audio modes (RPG, FPS and dialogues). In any
case, the maximum volume is full-bodied and is able to satisfy even the most
demanding users.
Using the soundbar in other contexts, such as music, some
flaws begin to emerge. In fact, here there are noticeable highs compared to
other solutions on the market, especially when aiming for playback via
Bluetooth. The mids, on the other hand, are almost always full-bodied. Don't
get us wrong: this is a great upgrade over the classic TV speakers, but the
SoundSlayer is definitely not the best soundbar for uses that go beyond gaming.
To understand, there is no story against 5.1 or 7.1 solutions, as well as
against soundbar with external subwoofer.
In any case, it is very interesting that the SoundSlayer
supports Dolby Atmos in this price range. The latter is able to give greater
direction to the sound, but we must say that in this case the difference with
more expensive solutions is heard, despite the fact that the final result is
excellent for a soundbar of this type. Summing up, the audio quality is there,
especially for the specific target the product is aimed at, namely gamers.