Computer Speakers Vs Headphones for Playing PC Games
From an extreme gaming entertainment perspective, audio is the second most important media (graphics/video being the first) that make you engage in the game. For this purpose we have two options: 1) use a gaming headphone or 2) use external Speakers. You can use either device with desktop or a laptop computer in order to get a high quality audio output. Purpose is to boost the sound and make sound waves powerful enough to reach you ears with quality that sounds real.
There are many contributing factors that affects the sound quality but the most important one is what sound format you are getting, stereo or surround sound system? Let’s makes things clear on this part, if you are gamer you must know that surround sound is the way to go, no matter you use a headphone or external speaker system, stereo is not going to help much for role playing games such as FPS-types that require great concentration towards game audio to find your target. We are not considering stereo headphones/ speakers in this articles as this is about extreme gaming experience.
Speakers vs Headphones is an interesting debate among computer gamers. Let’s compare both audio devices and see how they affect your game experience positively and negatively:
External Speakers For Surround Sound PC Gaming Audio:
Pros of Speakers For Gaming:
- For everyone in the same room, one or more person can enjoy
- Get as much higher sound quality as you can afford, sky is the limit!
- Possibility to set up a home theater audio for playing games in front of large TV screen
- More professional and realistic surround sound (2.1, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1 channels) for serious gamers
- Realistic bass and floor shaking beats vibrating you furniture
- You can get a dedicated remote with better sound controls
Cons of PC Speaker Systems:
- Affects people in nearby rooms/ same room
- Large size speaker satellites cover more room
- Multiple speaker units (around 2 to 9 speaker units) that you place across the room
- Surround sound external speakers are not easily affordable
- Requires a separate microphone
- Any irrelevant noise in room (caused by someone else) can affect your gameplay
Headphones/ Headset For Surround Sound Gaming Audio:
Pros of Video Gaming Headphones:
- sound directly reaches in your ears
- easily portable, good fit for a mobile gaming laptop
- Most gamers love them
- supports up 2,1, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1 channel surround sound standards
- small size audio device
- can have built-in volume rocker and mute button
- Built in Microphone for chat, can have noise cancelling filter
- No external sound interference
Cons of Headset for PC Games:
- For one person only
- Fall short in terms of vibration
- Some gamers get headache after hours long gameplay
- surround sound headphones are expensive, not budget friendly
