Whether it’s to give you audio cues, to immerse
you or to communicate with your teammates, Sound plays a huge role in video games. Over the years, sound technology has been perfected to appeal to gamers.
If you’re looking for a quality gaming experience, you have to consider if you
are going to use a gaming headset or gaming speakers. In this article, we will
discuss different gaming elements and see how fulfill their roles in each
element.
Immersion
To most video games, atmosphere is everything. To
be “immersed” means a game has to have a great atmosphere which is achieved by
a combination of high quality imagery, story and most importantly: sound.
Headset
Using a headset when playing video games is
usually preferred by many; not because they’re usually alone in their room and
want to be completely isolated from the outside world, but because headsets
provide great audio isolation. Audio isolation works in tandem with surround
sound which is almost always present in gaming headsets nowadays. Surround
sound is a system that enhances the depth of sound reproduction by using
multiple audio channels that surround the listener. The combination of these
two provide a very immersive gaming experience for the player.
Speakers
Having a wider soundstage and a louder volume
limit to make up for it, gaming speakers’ sound isolation is only as good as
the room you’re in. Speaker audio may suffer from all the noise dampening by
curtains and other sound insulators. Surround sound is also not as good as the
one in headsets. This may affect your overall gaming experience due to weaker
immersion. But if you have anyone with you, they would hear as much audio as
you unlike if you are using a singular headset.
Also Read: 5 Best Headphones to Enhance Music Experience
Communication
Communicating with other players is important for
online multiplayer games, whether it’s planning your tactics with your team in
an online shooter or just hanging out with your friends and other people in a
social game.
Headset
Since the rise of online multiplayer games,
having a mic is mandatory. That’s why all gaming headsets have them. Mic
quality varies depending on the brand and model, but some of the more expensive
headsets offer noise reduction on their mics that improve audio quality which
enhances overall communication.
Speakers
While some gaming speakers come with a separate
mic in the package, they may pose problems when you use them together. One such
problem is feedback. Feedback is the sound that you hear when a mic is put near
a speaker. To avoid this, you can either lower the volume of the speaker or put
a sound dampener for your mic that reduces enough noise to not pick up the
speaker output.
Competitive Gameplay
Competitive games have been the craze for a big
percentage of the gaming community over the past few years, raking in millions
of audiences in Esport events. A lot of players have started taking their own
path towards the competitive scene, thus gaming gear has been constantly
refined and has been in constant demand.
Headsets
The go-to when it comes to competitive play.
Gaming headsets, as mentioned before, come with built-in mics and have surround
sound. This gives players an idea of which direction the sound is from,
ultimately giving them an advantage if they choose to use a headset. Audio
isolation also plays a significant part as it reduces any distraction which
helps the player focus on the gameplay.
Speakers
Though you can use it for competitive play, it’s
not advised as you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. The lack of surround
sound and the risk of having feedback may be a detriment to competitive
gameplay.
Verdict
Gaming headsets give a better gaming experience
overall. Gaming speakers are better used for experiencing a game with someone.
But if you’re playing alone, you’re better off using a headset. With all things
considered, we recommend you to check out Headphones Lab to help you find the best
headsets not only for gaming, but also for other purposes.
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