Panasonic Announces Worlds Most Compact Wireless 5.1 Surround Sound Headphones

If you’re in the market for a new pair of decent headphones you may be interested in the new RP-WF5500 wireless headphones just announced by Panasonic which not only promise to deliver 5.1 channel, high resolution 20 – 22000 Hz surround sound at ranges of up to 30 meters but also weigh in at a mere 250 grams.

Due to begin shipping in Japan from November 20th, Panasonic’s RP-WF5500 wireless 5.1 surround sound headphones operate via a 2.4Ghz radio frequency offering room to room operation and will automatically determine and adapt to multi-channel digital, DTS and MPEG-2 ACC audio formats via a series of inputs (both analogue and optical/digital) and music/movie mode selections.

The headphones, which will be available in either black or white, come complete with their own base station serving as the central connection hub, wireless transmitter and recharging unit with a full three hour charge purportedly allowing up to six hours of continuous use.

At the time of writing pricing details are yet to be announced, however, with Sony’s 7.1 channel surround sound MDR-DS7000 wireless headphones being due for release from November 10th Panasonic will need to ensure that pricing is extremely competitive.

Update 23/06/08: Following a lengthy delay, Panasonic’s RP-WF5500 headphones look set to become available. See: Panasonic RP-WF5500 5.1Channel Wireless Surround Sound Headphones Poised For Release [Dolby Digital 5.1 Headphones].