Delivery in 2-3 working days
What is a neck speaker?
Some hearing aids sit on the ear, others fit inside the ear, and still others are positioned farther away from the ear. A neck speaker works differently. It rests on the shoulders like an open-back headband. Its speakers point upward toward the ears, leaving the ears themselves uncovered.
The sound comes close to your head without feeling like anything is pressing against it. This still allows for conversation in the room. However, the open design also means that others in the room can hear part of the sound but cannot follow the conversation.
What is a neck speaker?
This category of devices is newer—more recent than headphones or soundbars—and often has several synonyms. “Neck speakers” and “neckband speakers” most accurately describe their design. Colloquially, they are sometimes referred to as “neck headphones,” even though the ears remain uncovered in this design.
The design on the shoulders
A neck speaker consists of a curved band that rests against the back of the neck and rests on the collarbone at the front. Small speakers are mounted at both front ends, which emit sound upward. The distance to the ear is therefore only a few centimeters.
The device is worn like an open collar. It does not touch the head or ears. The weight rests solely on the shoulders. It is usually operated using buttons on the headband, so that volume and playback can be adjusted without looking at a display.
Your ears stay clear
The key difference from headphones is that there is no seal. Sound travels the short distance through the air to the ear instead of being channeled into it. This keeps the ear canal open. Ambient sounds reach the ear unimpeded. Conversations, the doorbell, or the phone won’t be drowned out because nothing is blocking the ear.
The Difference Between Headphones and Speakers
A neck speaker falls between the two best-known categories when it comes to improving TV sound: headphones and external TV speakers or soundbars.
Comparison with Over-Ear and In-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones enclose the outer ear with cushions, while in-ear headphones fit inside the ear canal. Both provide varying degrees of sound isolation, thereby blocking out ambient noise. However, both also exert pressure that can become uncomfortable after extended use. It can also get very warm under the cushions at times.
The neckband headphones have neither of these two features. There are no pressure points on the temples or ears, which makes a difference especially for people who wear glasses, because the temples of the glasses aren’t pinched. On the other hand, there’s no sound isolation. The sound seems less rich than with closed-back headphones.
Facing a speaker in the room
A soundbar or TV speaker fills the entire room with sound. People sitting farther away need to turn up the volume. Everyone in the room hears the same sound level. The neck speaker shortens the distance to just a few centimeters. This often means a lower volume is sufficient compared to a TV or room speaker, because less sound has to travel across the room. Others in the room often hear it too, without really understanding anything or being able to follow the movie aurally.
| Characteristic | Neck Speaker | Headphones | Speakers in the room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with the Ear | no contact | on or in the ear | no contact |
| Distance from the ear | a few centimeters | right next to the ear | several meters |
| Surroundings audible | yes | limited | yes |
| Others are listening in | in part | barely | yes |
| Customizable volume | yes | yes | no |
The neck speaker bridges the two worlds. It allows you to set your own volume, just like headphones, but leaves your ears free.
Everyday Use
Three characteristics often determine whether a neck speaker is a viable alternative or not. These characteristics are directly related to the open-back design and cannot be considered in isolation from one another. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
Comfort and Weight
Because the device rests on your shoulders, its weight is more noticeable than with headphones that are distributed across your head. Lightweight models weigh around 100 or 200 grams, while heavier ones can weigh significantly more. You’ll really feel the weight of these after a long evening of watching TV. The most important feature besides weight: a flexible headband that adapts to different neck shapes is more important than any other feature.
Sound and Bass
The small housings impose physical limits on bass response. Depending on the model, low frequencies may also be perceptible as a slight vibration on the shoulders because the housing rests directly against them. For speech, this effect is less significant than the proximity to the ear, which increases the proportion of direct sound.
To eavesdrop or not to eavesdrop
This is the most honest limitation, and it must be clearly stated. Because nothing is sealed off, some of the sound escapes into the room. People sitting in the room can hear some of it without understanding what’s being said. A neck speaker isn’t the best choice for watching TV with others. For people who watch TV alone and have trouble wearing headphones, a neck speaker might be an option.
Neck Speakers While Watching TV
The TV is where the neck speaker is most commonly used. Connecting it to the TV is straightforward.
Connecting to the TV
Some models connect directly to the TV via Bluetooth, provided that feature is available on the TV. Other models have a base station that plugs into the optical output or headphone jack and transmits the audio wirelessly.
In both cases, it’s important to note the delay between video and audio. Depending on the TV, broadcaster, and codec, a noticeable lag relative to lip movements can occur when using Bluetooth. Low-latency transmissions or wireless connections via a dedicated base station are therefore often advantageous when watching TV.
Neck speakers in the living room
A neck speaker can be useful if headphones start to feel tight after a short while, or if you want to be able to hear people when watching TV. It also lets you move between the sofa and the kitchen without the sound cutting out or a cable getting in the way.
The neck speaker is less suitable if someone is sleeping or reading in the same room, or if two people want to watch TV at the same time.
When it comes to dialog
Proximity alone does not automatically make speech clearer. A neck speaker shortens the path to the ear, thereby reducing the impact of reverberation and ambient noise, but it does not alter the film’s sound mix. If dialogue remains unclear despite the short distance, it is usually due to the balance between speech, music, and sound effects.
For this purpose, there are devices that further process the signal to highlight the range of the human voice. The TV speech amplifier OSKAR works on this principle: A base station connected to the TV’s optical output or headphone jack transmits the audio wirelessly to a portable device equipped with three adjustable speech filters. This allows the TV to be turned down because the sound reaches the listener’s seat.
Frequently asked questions
A neck speaker is a portable audio device shaped like an open headband that rests on the shoulders. The speakers are located at the front ends and emit sound upward, so that the sound reaches the ear from a distance of just a few centimeters. Because nothing sits in or on the ear, the ear canal remains unobstructed. The terms “neckband speakers” and “neck headphones” are also commonly used.
To some extent, yes. The open design allows sound to escape, which is why people in the immediate vicinity can hear something when the volume is turned up. However, the noise level in the rest of the room is still lower than when a TV is turned up loud. If you need complete sound isolation—for example, because someone is sleeping in the same room—you’re better off with closed-back headphones.
Manufacturers' specifications range from a few hours to double-digit hours. As a general guideline, the device should last through an evening of TV viewing without needing to be recharged. If you also use the device during the day, you should look for a fast-charging feature or a charging cradle where you can place it between uses. Models with a base station often charge directly in that station.
This design does not touch the head or ears, but rests exclusively on the shoulders. As a result, the temples of the glasses do not get pinched. Nothing slips out of place when putting the glasses on or taking them off. This is one of the ways in which this design noticeably differs from over-ear and in-ear models.
Four factors matter most in everyday use. The weight, since you’ll be carrying it all evening. The battery life, which should last through an entire evening of TV. The type of connection, including the delay between video and audio. And the ease of use of the buttons, which should be accessible without looking.