Visuals are of maximum importance to gamers of all types. Greater visuals allow for enhanced immersion, by increasing the sense of realism. Gamers often seek out the strongest platforms, and the greatest displays, so that their games can look as real as possible.
However, what many gamers often overlook is the importance of sound. Good sound is crucial for creating the perfect gaming environment. With good sound, you can more easily buy that you’ve dropped into the most vibrant of gaming worlds. It can also give you a competitive advantage, by giving you another dimension through which to understand the actions of your opponents.
If you want a truly great gaming experience, it’s worth investing in a great sound system. And one of the best sound systems around is the trusty soundbar.
But what should you look for in a gaming soundbar? And which models stand out as the best for gamers? We put our Reliant tech experts to the task of finding out!
What Should You Look Out For In A Gaming Soundbar?
There are a few key factors that you’ll want to look out for in the perfect gaming soundbar. These factors help to ensure the visual and audio dimensions of your favourite games can blend together seamlessly!
Size
You’ll need to closely consider the size of your gaming soundbar. Soundbars are best when placed directly under the paired TV. When the two are of a similar size, it helps to create the seamless illusion that the sound is coming directly from the game world. But don’t worry. You don’t have to make the TV and soundbar match completely in terms of size.
The perfect soundbar should be able to easily integrate into your existing gaming setup. You’ll want to make sure your soundbar matches the size of your TV, and that it’s not too big for your TV stand or shelf!
Just make sure your new soundbar fits onto your TV stand, or within your entertainment centre.
Connections
One reason soundbars are such a great sound option is the fact that you can connect them in a massive range of ways. One of the best options is to make use of HDMI. HDMI cables aren’t just used for transmitting high-quality video signals. They’re also used for audio. If you plan to use HDMI to connect your soundbar to your TV, we recommend looking for one with pass-through technology.
Pass-through technology essentially allows a HDMI signal to pass through your soundbar, and into your TV. A soundbar would need to take up an HDMI slot on your TV, but you can mitigate the impact of this by plugging your consoles directly into the soundbar. The video signal from the console will pass through the soundbar and into the TV. Pass-through is essential for gamers with a collection of multiple consoles.
If you want to cut down on the number of wires connecting your gaming set-up, then it’s also worth looking for a soundbar with Bluetooth connectivity. This will allow you to connect the soundbar wirelessly!
Samsung HWQ930C 9.1.4ch Soundbar With Dolby Atmos
This amazing soundbar actually contains a massive 17 individual speakers all packed into such a small package. Despite its unassuming size, this soundbar can pump out some seriously incredible audio.
And you can bet that this TV will be able to put its serious sound potential to perfect use with your favourite games. Optimisation technology can actively analyse the sound of your games to not only enhance its quality but also convert it into directional audio. This means that in-game sounds will be able to travel around your room as if you were actually hearing them all around you. A surround sound experience without all of the complicated set-up.
Speaking of set-up, this soundbar is incredibly intuitive and simple to put to use. It can be paired with HDMI or Bluetooth to meet your needs, and it can even adjust its audio output based on the conditions in your space. A small microphone built into the unit analyses the acoustics of the room and adjusts the volume, bass and other factors accordingly.
Samsung HWS800B Soundbar With Wireless Subwoofer
This soundbar was designed with ease of use in mind. Not only can it easily be paired to your TV, but it also works perfectly with your favourite consoles. You can also utilise its HDMI-ARC compatibility to pair it directly to your TV’s remote. This means that, with a single remote, you can control both your TV and its paired soundbar. No more wrestling with various remotes just to control the experience!
The Samsung HWS800B soundbar is immensely easy to control and integrate. In fact, thanks to HDMI-ARC, you can actually control it entirely with your TV’s basic remote control. No more losing the remote!
It also comes with a wireless subwoofer, which pairs effortlessly with the soundbar itself. This subwoofer is responsible for pumping out incredible bass that makes in-game action feel all the more earth-shattering.
Finally, this soundbar is also incredibly sleek and modern. It will look right at home when integrated into a wider gaming setup!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the Best Soundbar For Gaming?
A gaming soundbar should fit seamlessly into the wider gaming set-up. As such, you’ll want to look for a model that’s small enough for your TV stand, and that’s also easy to connect. Bluetooth models are particularly great. They allow you to connect to the TV wirelessly, which helps to cut down on tangled wires!
Are Soundbars Good For Gaming?
Absolutely. Soundbars are fantastic for gaming because they offer room-filling audio without requiring the set-up of a complex surround sound system. This makes them great for gamers with existing gaming set-ups. You can cut down on extraneous wires, and still get access to high-fidelity audio that will blow your socks off!
