Summary
Using ahigh-refresh rate monitor, afantastic gaming keyboard, and anexcellent mouseis a great way to immerse yourself in any gaming experience, but the thing that ties it all together is audio. While setting solid gaming audio might seem as simple as plugging in a nice pair of headphones or speakers, which is undoubtedly part of it, there are also a few steps to vastly improve your gaming PC audio without breaking the bank.
5 Tips To Improve Your Sound Experience On Any Gaming PC
Try Windows Enhancement Features
Although it is sometimes frowned upon in the audiophile community, Windows actually has some good built-in ways to improve sound quality. The most accessible setting to check off the bat is the format, which can be found by going to Sound>Properties of the output you are using. Depending on your device, you may see slightly different options in the dropdown menu, but unless you are using a specific bitrate frequency for something else, we would recommend using the highest option available.
Spatial Sound is the second setting worth turning on if your device supports it. This will emulate a surround sound experience on headphones that don’t already have surround sound support. That being said, if you are using open-back headphones, you probably won’t want to turn this on because it sometimes creates some weird distortion.
The last setting is audio enhancements, which combine virtual surround and loudness equalization. This setting is the most troublesome of the three and can cause issues with your headphones and speakers making the sound muddy. Because it’s easy to turn it on and off, it’s worth trying, to see if you enjoy the sound quality with this setting turned on.
Pick Up a USB Audio Interface
If Windows enhancements didn’t do the trick you were looking for, you could try upgrading the audio interface you are using. you’re able to either upgrade the sound card in your PC or pick up something like a USB DAC. For most people, a USB DAC will be easiest, since it offers a bit more versatility than a sound card upgrade.
DACs, or digital-to-analog converters, work like a sound card on your motherboard, unpacking digital audio signals to analog so the sound comes out of your headphones. Because DACs are dedicated to this purpose alone, they typically perform much better than built-in soundcards on motherboards.
Desktops and, in some cases, portable DACs are often paired with an amp inside, which makes driving high-impedance headphones like the Sennheiser HD600 possible. Most headphones, even the HiFi options, can be driven without an amp, but you will not get the best performance out of many of these headphones without an amp that can provide the proper amount of power.
Learn How To EQ
From the outside, learning how to EQ (equalize) a pair of headphones or speakers can seem quite intimidating, but after learning how audio frequency works, it starts to make a lot of sense. Human hearing ranges from about 20Hz on the low end to about 20,000Hz on the high end. We have listed the frequency ranges and their equivalents in the real world below to make it more approachable and give these frequencies context.
20 to 65 Hz
Felt more than heard
Drum beats
6,000Hz-20,000Hz
Cymbals and Reverb
Depending on what you are using to EQ, you can get more bands than just these four, but this will still give you a general context of what each band controls. While some gamers' first instinct might be to boost the sub-bass and bass so you can really feel explosions and firefights, this can quickly muddy the mix and make it hard to hear higher noises that complete the whole package of sound.
However, the great thing about EQ-ing is that you’re able to do whatever sounds best to you. So, if you like a lot of bass and can take or leave the highs, you can do that. Or if you want as flat a response as possible for accurate listening, you can do that as well. EQ control is a very powerful skill once you learn the ins and outs.
Invest In Quality Headphones
It is hard to avoid investing in a solid pair of headphones at some point in the journey for better audio. Now, that doesn’t mean you need to buy a $1,000 pair of headphones for the best experience; there are more affordable options that deliver excellent performance and last you for quite some time. If you are not sure where to start your search, we have already gone through and picked out some stellar options that are a great place to start.
Try Desktop Speakers
If you are looking for a bigger sound than headphones can deliver, desktop speakers are an excellent second place to look for your next audio investment. Like headphones and most audio gear, there are high-end premium options that will be outside of the budget for most gamers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a fantastic pair of speakers to enhance your gaming audio. Be sure to check out Game Rant’s Best PC Speakers guide for 2024 if you are looking for an excellent place to start.
Related Products
Fiio K10
The Fiio EK10 is an affordable compact sound card DAC amplifier. It can deliver improved performance without too much tweaking and has a simple user interface. It has an output power of 200mW at 32Ω as well as a potentiometer-based volume dial.
Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M
The DacMagic 200M is a relatively compact, powerful performer. It can be used as a DAC, a headphone amp, or even as a preamp for a whole digital system, to get the most out of digital music, decrease crosstalk and improve separation.
Austrian Audio Hi-X65
You’ll understand the quality of the Hi-X65 headphones the moment you take them out of the box before you’ve even listened to the first note. They feel great in the hand and excellent on your ears, and the build quality is exceptional. The Austrian Audio Hi-X65 open-back headphones were designed with mixing and mastering in mind from the start. They’re built to deliver accurate and precise listening, which is crucial for producing anything with sound. Even if you are not a professional, that incredibly accurate sound makes them perfect for audiophiles as well.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro allows more buyers to experience studio-quality wired headphones at an attainable price. Using a closed-back design, the DT 770 Pro gives listeners an immersive experience during music playback, video editing, or gaming. Unlike most gaming headphones, bass effects are prominent but not exaggerated, so sounds are heard exactly as intended. The DT 770 Pro also boasts an exceptionally durable metal-dominated construction and soft velour earpads that remain comfortable even after extended use.
Creative Pebble Pro
The Creative Pebble Pro 2.0 speakers continue to evolve the Pebble line of speakers which provide big sound in a compact form factor. Even with their small size, the Pebble Pro employs a new digital amp with BassFlex which allows for more powerful low tones and higher volumes with distortion. For the first time, the Bluetooth-equipped Pebble speakers are built with RGB lighting effects with 3 preset patterns.
Audioengine A2 Plus Speakers
The Audioengine A2+ are small speakers, measuring a mere 6” x 4” x 5.25", but don’t let their smaller stature disuade you. These little PC speakers are packed with much more sound than you would expect. Clear, full, and powerful audio ideal for your computer and smaller rooms.
FAQ
Q: Why are gamers switching to IEMs?
Recently, many gamers have been switching to IEMS or inner ear monitors for their excellent noise isolation, low latency connection, and, most importantly, fantastic audio quality in a minimal form factor.
Q: Should gaming audio be mono or stereo?
While gaming can still be immersive in mono, stereo is the way to go if you want the most immersive experience possible. Plus, most games are mixed for at least stereo, if not surround sound playback.
