If there’s one thing that gamers know very well, it’s that sound, especially quality sound, is the one component that can create the truest level of immersion.

Visuals are nice, even when it’s virtual, but it doesn’t matter what fantasy realm you’re exploring when you can hear the dog barking in the background or your siblings or kids whining over their chore list. 

This is especially true now that games have become technical powerhouses, in terms of audio quality, and you certainly don’t want to miss out on all of the advantages and immersion that come along with it. But, what’s the best way to listen? 

Many gamers use headphones as they play while others insist that speakers are the only way to go. There are some distinct advantages and disadvantages of using gaming speakers, so are they worth the purchase or should you just stick with a quality headset?

Are Gaming Speakers Worth It?

If you do not want to be fully cut off from the outside world and you don’t need to be fully immersed in the game you are playing, gaming speakers are worth it and a quality gaming speaker system will provide you with a decent level of gaming immersion, however, they do tend to not be as effective when it comes to multiplayer games, along with a few other caveats. 

The big issue that you would have to deal with when it comes to gaming speakers is FPS, MMO games, or MMORPG, where chat is an essential function and communication with friends or other players is integral to the game. Nobody wants to catch an earful of your game’s background music amplified to top volume. 

Unless you have an extraordinarily efficient noise canceling system in your headset, then your game’s music and sound effects would be a major interference. Not only that, but if the noise canceling is that good, then you would defeat the purpose of having an explosive gaming speaker set up, to begin with. 

The only other potentially major caveat would be if you don’t happen to live alone. Gaming sound effects and music are great at normal levels but it only truly becomes blood pumping at higher levels and not everyone in your home may appreciate that.

What are Gaming Speakers?

Because of their angled shape and compact size, gaming speakers could be seen as something that falls in between a soundbar and a headset. They have RGB lighting and an I/O interface with gaming in mind.

They are sometimes upward-firing due to the small space between the player and the speaker and are built for putting out audio in smaller spaces. They are designed to be used with a gaming monitor rather than for a living room TV setup.

Gaming speakers may also have other features like being able to toggle between speaker and headphone mode and the ability for the speaker to be used as a headphone deck and amplifier.

When people think about gaming, it usually encompasses a wide variety of platforms, but gaming speakers are typically the kind that you find hooked up to a PC for gaming on that platform. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be used for console gaming, just that they are usually marketed and sold for PCs. 

Gaming speakers are generally smaller (though that’s not always the case) and designed for setting up on your desk. The most common speaker systems for gaming are 2.0, 2.1, and 5.1, but there are exceptions to that rule as well.

The 2.0 speaker system is the most common and the most popular choice of the above three. A 2.0 setup is just two speakers of the same size and makes, with one on the left and one on the right. 

Speakers for PC gaming are nothing without a decent sound card, however, so that’s something of importance that you should consider as well. These speakers tend to have excellent drivers and, even without a subwoofer, can produce deep and rich music and sound effects.

But without a decent sound card, you can’t harness their full potential.

Related Article: Top 23 Reasons Why You Should Buy A Gaming PC Instead Of A Console

What Are The Differences Between Gaming Speakers And Regular Speakers?

In terms of their design, not much. In terms of how they work with their respective platforms, there is a larger separation. For instance, you can take some of the most high-end gaming speakers and hook them up to your smart TV and they will work great. 

Then you turn around and hook them up to your PC and you get a bunch of whiny, insect-like sound that makes no sense. So, what’s the difference? As we mentioned above, it’s the soundcard in your PC. 

If you have a great sound card then you will have a far better experience using your gaming speakers. Even if you don’t, that’s not as big of a problem as you think. You can pick up an internal sound card upgrade for your particular PC or you can even go with an external soundcard. 

Both the internal and external will convert digital audio to analog as it passes through your speakers and to your ears.

Are Gaming Speakers Good For Music?

Quality speakers are quality speakers and if you recently picked up something like the Razer Leviathan, then you will get exceptional sound quality, which certainly includes music. This is especially true if you opt for a 2.1 setup, which is a two-speaker system with the addition of a subwoofer. 

If you want a true surround sound effect from both your music and your games, however, you will need to opt for something different than the 3.5mm jack, since it cannot support multiple channel surround sound listening. 

There are some excellent 2.0 PC speakers out there but if you want the music that you play from your PC to truly shine, you may have to upgrade either the quality or fork over some extra cash for a 5.1 system.

Do Gaming PCs Have Speakers?

Gaming PCs come with their own, built-in speakers, of course, but unless you get some kind of deal like ‘two for the price of one,’ you’re not going to get any speakers with your gaming PC outside of the internal ones. 

Unfortunately, the built-in speakers for gaming PCs, even your high-end, multi-thousand dollar PCs are not going to be anything worth writing home about. For premium gaming PCs, however, you will get some decent sound with them, but that’s about the extent of it. 

One thing that may be perplexing is why would a gaming PC come with a sweet, high-end sound card, only to produce sub-par sound. Well, it’s usually a matter of simply saving money. From the manufacturer’s perspective, you can always go out and get yourself a better pair of speakers.

Are Gaming Chairs With Speakers Good Enough?

As with most things in life, it depends on what you’re willing to spend. If you’re down for a premium experience, then you can find some incredible gaming chairs with rich, deep sound. There are even some with subwoofers built into the back to give you an even deeper sense of vibration and fullness. 

A good example of this is the Southern Wolf Gaming Chair. It comes with all of the things that you would expect from a good gaming chair, including full lumbar support, a retractable footrest, armrests, and even a massager inside of the lumbar pillow.

But, most importantly, it comes with two Bluetooth speakers and an AUX port in case you just need to put your headset in for a little bit. The speaker’s sound is excellent. It’s not going to blow you away and make you feel like you are in an IMAX theater or anything, but it’s definitely good quality. 

Most of the gaming chair choices that come with speakers are the kind of gaming chairs that sit on the floor, called rockers. That may not be to everyone’s taste and it really won’t work all that well for a PC set up on a desk, but the choices aren’t as maxed out on gaming chairs with speakers as you would think.

What Is A Good Gaming Speaker Setup?

If you ever want to reach the pinnacle of sound when it comes to gaming, the first thing that you’re going to need is a great soundcard. There are plenty of great choices out there, like the Creative Sound Blaster AE-7, which is one of the most powerful soundcards available on the market.

It supports 32-bit/384kHz playback and is designed for use with 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound audio systems. This will give you the most immersive experience possible, assuming that it is paired with the right speakers.

The Creative Sound BlasterX G6 is another good one, as it works with PCs and with gaming consoles. The best part about these two is the fact that they support 5.1 and/or 7.1, which is what you want in a good gaming speaker setup. 

You want your two front speakers in their normal positions, with the subwoofer down to the right or left of your feet. The final two speakers in a 5.1 system can go behind you. When it comes to PC gaming, everything should be closed in and tight.

It’s not like watching TV in your living room, where there is a deal of distance between all of the speakers. This is your own little world. It’s your sense of immersion, so keep everything compact.

Final Thoughts

Gaming speakers are definitely worth it, especially if you are a hardcore gamer and spend a lot of time honing your craft. Not everybody is comfortable with wearing headsets for a long time and not everyone wants to completely eliminate noise from the outside world. 

If you want the next best thing to full audio immersion, then gaming speakers are more than worth the time and investment.