When you play professional games on your PC, your regular headphones would not provide the kind of sound quality that you would be hoping for. Gaming headsets are designed in such a way that you experience immersive gaming with virtual surround sound and clear, crisp audio. Some headsets have microphones that can be removed or retracted.
If you have a headset that isn’t quite up to the mark then you can get yourself an affordable gaming headset under 100 and enjoy immersive gaming.
What does a gaming headset consist of?
Headsets consist of a headphone with a microphone. Commonly, a headset may have a single or double earpiece but a gaming headset has a double earpiece. For the ultimate gaming experience, a virtual surround headset comprises ear cups that cover the entire ear.
These headsets have larger speakers for dynamic sound quality. The earphones are connected with a headband so it can be comfortably placed over the head or around the neck. Plus, there is a built-in microphone attached to the earcup. Moreover, headsets normally connect to a computer with a wire, but wireless headsets are now gaining more popularity over wired ones.
What are gaming headsets used for?
Gaming headsets provide a surround sound along with stereo sound. Hence, while playing games, you can hear everything clearly – from the light movements of the enemy to the direction of the gunfire.
The earcups isolate you from the external sound and you can focus entirely on your game. You can also communicate easily through a built-in microphone with your teammates.
How to choose a gaming headset?
Choosing a good headset that would make your gaming experience exciting is not an easy task. There are a lot of factors that you need to take into consideration before getting the headset of your choice. You need to look at the:
- Design
- Build quality
- Comfortability
- Isolating ear cups
- Sound quality
- Microphone
Let’s take a detailed look.
Design
You would want a headset that looks good and complements your personality. Some headsets look normal like regular headphones attached with a microphone. But some have designs that make you look like an alien straight out of star wars. With LED lighting, weird angular designs, some gaming headsets present the look of laser guns. Hence, in order to avoid being a laughing stock, you need to consider the design appropriate for your own use.
Build quality
Generally, the headsets are made of plastic. If the plastic used is cheap, then it may not be sturdy and break easily. You must look for durable plastic, metal, or wireframed headbands that are comfortable as well. Plus, they should be flexible to adjust according to the size of your head. Some even have an all-metal skeleton that can survive even the rough usage by intense, professional gamers.
Comfortability
Comfort matters the most when you are playing games that keep you glued to your screens and does not hinder your movements in any way while playing games. If you play for a long period of time and the headset does not fit properly on your head, it might be painful as well as distracting. You may feel exhausted after an hour or so due to heat, friction, and sweat build-up. It may cause neck pains if pressure is laid on the wrong spot. Plus, you can get terrible headaches or sore ears with even a slight pressure exerted by the headband.
Isolating ear cups
Playing games without any kind of external noise interference is what every gamer desires. For this purpose, the earpads of the headset must be big enough to cover your ears properly. Also, the material of the ear pads must effectively create a seal to block external noise.
People who wear glasses should opt for velour earpads as they are made of soft cushions and would not cause any discomfort while you play games. Or at least look for the headsets that have eyewear channels in the ear pads. In this way, you will not only feel comfortable but would also get a good bass level for the games. You will be aware of the footsteps, reloads, and other enemy actions quite clearly. So, playing PUBG, Fortnite, and Apex legends would be a whole lot of fun.
Very few gaming headsets provide sound cancellation as well. Hence, the background noise is filtered and the audio is crisp & clear. Therefore, while you play games, the noise of the traffic outside, clatter around the house by family or friends, or any other annoying disturbance would not hinder your game in any way.
Sound quality
If you want to play single-player games or MOBA games like League of Legends or DOTA 2, and you are not much concerned about knowing every single step of the enemy, you can get yourself a headset with stereo sound. Though not normally used now by the players, stereo sound can provide effective sound quality for the games you play.
Surround sound is what is being used in most of the gaming headsets nowadays. These types of headsets provide a 360-degree soundscape and have many speakers that cover both ears. Therefore, you will be aware of the attack of the enemy from whichever direction they would be coming from. You will hear them coming from that particular direction. Such sound quality is absolutely divine for games such as Fortnite.
Another interesting newer generation of surround sound called spatial audio has also been introduced. Though it provides the virtual 7.1 surround sound experience, there is an addition of a degree of verticality in your audio. Hence, you would feel as if the sound is coming from all around you – just like in a sphere and not just from the front, sides, or behind. If you are a serious gamer, this kind of headset is what you are looking for.
Microphone
The microphone of a gaming headset holds extreme importance if you play games in teams and remain in constant contact with your teammates. You can adjust the sound quality of the microphone through the settings. However, you will not be able to get the perfect recording quality microphones in the gaming headsets.
Another factor that you should take into consideration is the attachability of the microphone to the headset. Some headsets are permanently attached and can be lifted up or pushed down when not in use. Some can be detached at your convenience. For a gamer who plays games alone, a detachable microphone would be more suitable.
Another factor that plays its part in good communication is the position of the microphone. If the microphone is too far away, the sound transmitted would be low and you would seem quiet during chats. You should position the microphone at such a distance from your mouth so that the voice is transmitted clearly and it does not hinder your game in any way. This, of course, would depend whether the microphone is maneuverable or not.
Conclusion
There is a wide variety of headsets available in the market that are not very expensive. If you are passionate about your gaming equipment, you are sure to get something that would complement the rest of your gaming equipment. Whether you are going for an expensive or an inexpensive gaming headset, you should consider all the above mentioned factors before making a buying decision to make your purchase worthwhile.
