Most people choose to use a nice pair of earphones during gaming to try and sort the issue of low-quality sound from the PC speaker. This will only work when you’re playing alone; trouble begins when you invite friends over and have to play with them. What do you do!
In such a case, a nice set of gaming speakers becomes inevitable. This way, you’ll be able to involve everyone inside the room and make your gaming sessions more exciting.
So, how do you find the right gaming sound system for your PC? In this post, we look at the factors to consider when purchasing gaming speakers.
Consider the Size of Your Space
The size of your gaming room goes a long way to determine the setup of speakers you can buy. For a relatively confined apartment, you might have to settle for a 2.1 stereo, as opposed to a 5.1 system or anything higher. This is because a 2.1 audio setup will require much less space and leave some breathing room for you.
Furthermore, the power of audio produced won’t overwhelm the small size of the room. rather it will be better than the built-in speakers on your PC. Your room size may also influence the type of speakers you purchase.
For instance, if the room you plan to install speakers is not fully dedicated to gaming, you can go for single-piece hardware such as a soundbar. This should save you acres of space and reduce the clutter inside your room.
Check the Specs on Your PC
You want to check the specifications on your computer to know whether it can handle the speaker system you fancy. For instance, not all PCs can handle a 5.1 speaker setup. The configuration on your computer may not be able to support the setup, and you’ll notice this when there are no ports to insert some of the cables from the speakers.
You might also want to check if the computer’s sound card is compatible with the stereo system. Older PCs weren’t designed to handle anything higher than 2.1 channels. Also, not all offer digital compatibility. In such a case, you may have to find a separate converter for the speakers to function with your computer.
But that’s not the end of the story. Even if your sound card is compatible with the speakers, it may fail to drive the system without an amplifier. Therefore, you’d be wise to go for pre-amplified ones with a total harmonic distortion of 2% at maximum.
With all these extras becoming necessary, you still have to consider the space in your gaming zone and check whether they will fit inside. If not, you want to pay great attention to the compatibility of the PC and the speakers you desire before deciding to buy!
Consider the Role of Sound Cards in PC Gaming
Sometimes you may invest in a set of high-end gaming speakers yet the sound quality is still weak. Normally, most people will blame the speakers, not realizing that the actual problem lies with the internal sound card.
Essentially, the sound card serves as a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). It processes digital audio data and turns it into an analog signal. So, even if you pair your computer with quality gaming speakers, the sound will be off if the sound card is bad. The solution, therefore, will be to upgrade your sound card.
You can install your new sound card either externally or internally-via PCI Express. External sound cards usually connect through a Firewire or USB port. You should also note that different sound card models differ in the kind of connections they offer, as well as the audio formats supported.
To get the best surround sound, most speaker systems built for gaming connect through USB sound cards fitted with surround sound formats.
Sound Quality
A simple two-channel gaming stereo system will produce better sound than your computer’s built-in speakers. However, the power may not just be enough for you. Sometimes you want something that will engulf the room with the boom and get you immersed in the game.
To get better production of both low and high-frequency sounds, you might have to invest in a subwoofer. If you have enough space in your room to accommodate the extra unit, then there’s nothing to slow you down. When shopping for a sub, check the power rating.
The unit’s wattage will help you determine how loud it can get and the bass you can expect from it. If you want something that will reverberate against the walls of the room, then go for a sub with a higher wattage. But if you’re okay with the casual thumps and bangs, then a 40-watt speaker should do!
Remember that you can also adjust the volume of the speaker, as well as the frequency. This will be more convenient if the speaker comes with a remote, so you might want to consider this during shopping.
Finally, check if the treble, bass, and other frequencies can be adjusted so that you can easily tune the music to suit your taste.
What About Your Budget?
When it comes to buying anything, money always plays a big role in your final decision. You never want to spend beyond what you had planned for. The same case applies to purchasing gaming speakers; you need to know how deep your pockets are before going to the speaker store.
7.1 and 5.1 stereo systems are usually the more expensive options you can get. They make a great acquisition if you have a flexible budget. On the other hand, those with a constrained budget may have to settle for a 2.1 channel, which is more affordable.
Alternatively, you can go for a soundbar if you just want a single-piece speaker in your home. Some latest brands of soundbars as you’ll discover on Pinnacle Speaker.
More on: https://www.pinnaclespeakers.com/best-gaming-speakers/
Some of these are fitted in 7.1, 5,1, and even 2.1 channels, and won’t cost you an arm and a leg!
Extra Features
Some additional features on your speaker system will help to boost the overall user-experience of the unit. You might want to put them into consideration during shopping for more practical use of the system. For instance, a remote control makes it more convenient for you and saves you the trouble of getting up to go and adjust the volume and other settings every other time.
Furthermore, check if the speaker comes with bass, treble, and fade adjustment controls. While almost all subwoofer systems will offer bass adjustment, not all will let you adjust the treble or fade. This is something that may improve the user experience for you!
Portability and Installation
Finally, you want to get a unit that won’t trouble you during installation. You shouldn’t have to contract a technician just to set up the speaker as it will mean that you incur unnecessary extra costs. An easy to install system allows you to take it apart quickly in case you want to move houses and reinstall it in your new home with little trouble.
A portable unit will also come in handy when you want to move the speakers from one room to another. This enables you to use the speakers for other uses, such as listening to music and watching movies, other than playing games on your pc.
Conclusion
Before you decide to buy gaming speakers, you want to make sure that they will be the best suit for you. The above article provides you with crucial pointers that will see you take home the appropriate speakers for your space!
