- Speakers have a more expansive sound space, which immerses users in the world of the game.
- Unlike headphones, speakers don’t cause discomfort to the ears even with longer gaming hours.
- Although a speaker system has more spatial awareness, they’re not good for competitive gaming.
As a gamer, I have always been obsessed with being immersed in the world of gaming. Besides what I see on the screen, the sound quality plays a significant role in immersing me in the game’s surroundings. Usually, headphones help immerse me in games. However, the pressure on my ears, the sweat, and the discomfort make me prefer speakers over headphones for gaming. I know it’s controversial, but allow me to explain.
A Wider Sound Space Means Spatial Awareness
For me, the biggest pro of using speakers is that they provide a more expansive sound space in games. On the other hand, with headphones, it sometimes feels like the sound is coming from inside my head rather than from my surroundings.
So, if I position my speakers correctly, I can accurately pinpoint the directions of in-game sounds, providing me with a more fabulous immersive experience in single-player adventure-type games. Whether it is the faint rustle of leaves due to the wind or a surprise attack by the enemy from behind, I can discern all of it with speakers.
No More Discomfort
Personally, I don’t play games every day. However, when I do, I’ll have long gaming sessions. Perhaps even eight hours non-stop. With headphones on for that long, the sweat that envelops it is disgusting. Plus, I hate having my ears warmed up from those cushions – no matter how breathable they may be.
Even if I’m wearing comfortable headphones like the Skullcandy SLYR pair that provide remarkable rest for the ears, after a particular time, my ears are bound to hurt because of the stress of the massive cushions. Because of that, I need to take periodic breaks from my gaming sessions to rest my ears.
Of course, on the other hand, such problems don’t exist with speakers. I have more relaxed gaming sessions and can freely move my head without worrying about getting tangled up by wires. I could always go wireless, but the latency issue is rarely discussed.
Versatility Beyond Games
Although gaming is my primary focus, speakers are more versatile than gaming. For example, when I watch movies and shows, listen to music, or test audio that requires precise sound control, my speaker setup always comes in handy. Of course, a good pair of headphones like the Corsair HS80 Max will provide a similar sound, but comfort is still an issue.
Therefore, this versatility makes speakers a worthwhile investment for anyone who wants to use them for anything more than games.
Not Meant For Competitive Gaming
Now, speakers aren’t the best either. For example, if I’m in the mood for competitive gaming, I’ll use my trusty Razer Blackshark V2 Pro headphones to hear every last decibel of noise in the game. What’s most important in competitive games such as Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, and Apex Legends is the accuracy of sound, not its realism.
That’s precisely why, even with top-of-the-line speakers like the Razer Leviathan V2 Line, you won’t discern whether a specific action in the game is happening from behind or on either side of the screen.
Another major issue with speakers for competitive gaming is using the microphone. No matter how good my mic is, it will pick up audio from the speakers, which no teammate would like. Hence, what’s the best way to avoid such scenarios? Just use a pair of headphones for competitive gaming.
Final Thoughts
Lastly, whether you use headphones or install a proper speaker setup depends on your use case scenario. I recommend having both for situations where you need either equipment, but if you’re on a tighter budget, perhaps buying a cheaper set of headphones should be the way to go.
Installing speakers can be a hefty physical and economical task, so if you don’t want to go through all the work, staying with headphones won’t deter your gaming experience. Hence, while I prefer speakers over headphones for gaming, I don’t recommend them for competitive games or if you’re on a lower budget.
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[Hardware Reviewer]
After many years of exploiting various pieces of hardware, Abdul Hannan now serves as an editor at Tech4Gamers. He’s been in the PC hardware reviewing industry for almost a decade, and his staff of passionate geeks and reviewers is second to none.
Abdul Hannan is constantly seeking new methods, you will always see him running into New Computer Courses to improve the performance of his computer components since he is an ardent overclocker. He is well-known for providing the most extensive and unbiased analysis of the newest and greatest hardware for PC gaming, including everything from GPUs to PSUs.
