Gaming Headset vs. Gaming Speakers - Which Is Better?

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.