How to Choose a Gaming Speaker?

By Rustam Iqbal | Last updated:

How to Choose a Gaming Speaker?

The main thing to consider with gaming speakers is how much output you want versus how much money you want to spend. For low-budget builds, having a set of earbuds can be just as effective for your gameplay needs (and they’ll likely cost less than 20$). If you have a little more cash than that to spend, then expect to pay around 60-150 dollars on some good speakers. You should also look into what the specific audio requirements are for any games which you play frequently.

Important Speaker Specs

Number of Speakers:

Consider 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, or 5.1 surround sound systems with at least a 2-channel subwoofer for full sound output. The more speakers you add, the more immersive the experience is and the higher quality audio it produces to keep you immersed in your games without distractions from outside sources like neighbors or loud noises that can interfere with your gaming sessions.

Multiple speakers also add to the visuals while playing games since each speaker has its unique sound effect; whereas headphones are just one source of audio that can be off-putting when trying to find someone/thing visually in a game but only hearing them through one line of audio.

A good balance between quality and price for a quality gamer can be achieved with a 2.1 speaker system.

Wireless:

You may want to consider going wireless if you want to avoid dealing with cables that might hinder smooth gameplay. Also, some people who just need their devices to work will find wireless speakers more appealing because there’s no risk of damaging hardware during installation/usage and they do not need to worry about accidentally disconnecting these.

Wireless systems require batteries which should be considered when expecting long gaming sessions because the battery life is often shorter than opting for non-battery-powered speakers. If you go this route, make sure you remember your charging station!

Surround Sound Processing:

The original purpose of surround sound was created to simulate playback from multiple directions which can create a more immersive experience.

Virtual surround sound processing achieves this in two different ways: the first type uses extra speakers to create surround sound (most commonly 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, or 8) while the second creates virtual channels from normal left/right/center audio.

These are often used for headphones where they’re unable to use extra speaker arrays or full-sized gaming systems that don’t have enough power to drive multiple sets of speakers to closely simulate real-life audio setups (but you should consider your environment if trying to find the best quality and accuracy before settling on virtual based solutions).

The best way to determine what works best for you is by trying it out! Listen carefully as some audio samples can be deceiving.

Noise-Cancellation/Isolation:

Some speakers include a microphone to cancel out background noise for clearer audio or some kind of isolation material that helps block outside sound from interfering with the speaker’s output. 

I haven’t found much use for these yet but I do know someone who uses them often while recording their voice in an app so they don’t have to record in a noisy environment – just make sure you get the right size!

Warranties & Technical Support:

If making a large purchase, it’s always best to double-check if your chosen system comes with at least a 1+ year warranty or even better, 2+ years (many companies offer this) so you don’t have to worry about being stuck with a broken item if something goes wrong.

Technical support is also important as it can save your time and effort in getting your speaker system repaired or replaced by the company instead of finding someone else to do it for cheap.

Price:

The quality of a gaming speaker system is not necessarily determined by price alone. You can find many great deals online or in-store so if you’re trying to save money, it’s worth looking for sales. Good speakers should start around $70-$100 and go all the way up to $500+ depending on your budget and desired quality.

Some speakers can produce the highest sound quality output while virtual surround sound processing will generate more immersive audio without needing additional speakers but these are both high-end technologies that generally make expensive systems as they add little value.

Bluetooth connectivity also adds extra cost since it requires the speaker system to have its wireless transmitter which eats away from actual sound quality because BlueTooth has limited bandwidth.

Additional Features:

Most decent speakers come with an audio cable that you can plug into your computer or game console. You should consider getting one as it adds more value to the purchase besides compatibility for many devices without wireless capabilities (such as the Xbox One).

Some extra features may be worth considering such as FM Tuners, CD Players/Recorders, and USB ports to connect a flash drive. Just make sure they fit your needs! Seeing as I use my PC for both gaming and work, some users need higher-resolution audio than DVDs offer so that’s why they go with a 5.1 speaker system connected with cables.

Full-sized gaming speakers generally have better sound quality than their smaller counterparts because they have more components to generate the sounds. Conversely, bigger speakers are bulkier and heavier than smaller ones so the choice is ultimately up to you.

Another thing I recommend having at least 2 sets of speakers for a 5.1 system: one for your desktop PC and another set if using a laptop/tablet when traveling with it since laptops often have weak internal speakers or not enough power to connect external systems directly.

For my second set, I got two small bookshelf-style speakers that pair with an external subwoofer connected via audio cord (I prefer this over BlueTooth as it’s faster/easier).

Ready to buy? Shop Gaming Speakers.

Rustam Iqbal avatar

Rustam Iqbal