The Sony Theater U Neck Speaker Could Be Great, Except for That Pesky Wire
The Bravia Theater U: A Unique and Surprising Tech Product The Bravia Theater U is a tech product that embodies everything I appreciate. Its unconventional design, although slightly suggestive, manages to deliver good-quality sound. It also reminds me of the naming scheme used for the Nintendo Wii, adding a touch of nostalgia. Amidst Sony's new product lineup, where they combine their sound and TV offerings under the Bravia name, one of their most interesting creations this year is a neck collar that supposedly enhances the gaming experience. But there's a catch – Sony expects you to use a wired controller to achieve optimal sound quality. Priced at $300, the Bravia Theater U presents a 360-degree audio setup that wraps around your neck, giving you a sensation of being part dog and part cyborg. The intention is for you, the user, to enjoy the full bass and audio experience while those around you are not disturbed. You might be wondering, "Why not just use headphones?" It's a legitimate question, but the idea behind the neck speaker is to allow you to remain aware of your surroundings while still immersing yourself in the surround sound without bothering your family or roommates in another room. Technically, the Theater U is an update to Sony's existing neck speakers like the NS7, but with improved connectivity. It falls in line with other neck speakers such as the Panasonic SoundSlayer, a gaming-specific device that unfortunately resembles an airplane neck pillow too much. The Bravia Theater U can be used in conjunction with a soundbar or the TV itself, and if you're okay with looking a little odd on the couch, you can even connect two to a TV. With a battery life of approximately 12 hours, the Theater U offers a decent amount of usage time similar to regular wireless headphones. Gizmodo had the opportunity to try out the Theater U and other home audio products from Sony last month. The Bravia Bar 9, in comparison to last year's A2000, is now 30% smaller and no longer has a shiny surface that reflects your TV. Additionally, for those who desire a surround sound setup even in irregularly shaped rooms, there's the Bravia Quad. Overall, the sound quality of these products is impressive, boasting excellent bass and a genuine 3D audio experience. Of course, a short 30-minute demo is not enough for a thorough assessment, and further testing would be ideal. Unlike headphones, you can still hear the audio from the Theater U neck speaker when you're a few feet away. It's not particularly loud, but it's noticeable, albeit without the same 3D sound quality. The sound emitted from the neck speaker isn't powerful enough to overpower another nearby Theater U, so it doesn't provide a truly isolating experience. Beyond these features, the new and improved neck speaker is designed to be compatible with Sony's gaming brand. Sony demonstrated the device working with a PlayStation 5, and the audio quality for gunshots and footsteps was exceptional. However, things take a strange turn with Sony's requirements. They expect players to connect their PlayStation 5 controller to the speaker using a wired connection. While this may seem reasonable, Sony also expects players to use a wired connection from their controller to the PlayStation, which can be inconvenient. Personally, I don't own a USB-C cable long enough to reach from my couch to my PS5. This becomes even more peculiar considering that Sony's PlayStation brand already has low-latency connectivity capabilities with PlayStation Link. This was utilized for the recent PlayStation Pulse earbuds and PlayStation Pulse Elite headset, both of which could connect via Bluetooth. Although the PlayStation 5 lacks this connectivity natively (possibly to be included in the future PS5 Pro), both headphones were accompanied by a dongle to activate the Link service. Unfortunately, the Theater U lacks Link connectivity, which feels like a missed opportunity. We appreciated the audio quality offered by the Pulse Elite headset, and when combined with the PlayStation 5's existing 3D audio settings, it provides an immersive experience. However, the uncomfortable and restrictive design of the headphones was a letdown and created a sense of detachment between the ears and the pads. The Theater U could be a viable alternative for gamers who dislike having a headset clamped to their head, but Sony may be limiting themselves unnecessarily. It would be beneficial if the PlayStation and Bravia teams collaborated more closely to deliver an improved experience for all consumers.