Aside from moving furniture, one of the most challenging tasks in setting up your gaming room is finding the right sound. It may seem like a daunting task to get the maximum amount of sound without disturbing the neighbors, but, it doesn’t have to be. Depending on a combination of the room size, living situation (owner/renter) and other co-habitants, you may feel limited as to what equipment you can use for the optimal sound you desire. At The Gamer Experience Review (GXPR), there is no limit to what you can do.
The GXPR understands that gaming rooms come in different shapes and sizes. On top of that, we also understand that not all living situations are the same. As we have said before, finding the right sound is not impossible. When you understand the concept of acoustics, you will be amazed with the available products that can provide that big sound you are wanting to hear.
In this article, the focus at The GXPR is more about sound control than anything else. Adjusting the volume is one obvious example. The basic idea that we want to show you are the products that can make any room feel like you are at the event of a lifetime without having to leave your personal space. These products include surround systems, headsets, and acoustical panels. When you use these products, not only are you keeping the sound quality intact, you are also keeping the peace with your neighbors.
Surround Sound Systems
Whenever you are watching content on a big screen TV, having a surround sound system makes perfect sense. It is like going to the movies with all of the positives and less of the negatives . You can also apply this method when you are playing video games. There is nothing that makes a gaming room feel larger than a high quality surround sound system.
For the best quality home theater experience, The GXPR recommends you have a TV that has at least a 50” screen. If you are looking to connect your laptop or mobile device to a surround system, make sure you have the proper connections to do so. Whatever path you choose to go, a surround sound system paired with a HD screen makes for the ultimate gaming experience.
A good quality sound system may cost you from up to $200 to over $1000. If you are paying less than that, you will end up getting what you pay for. Sound systems typically come with a receiver, woofer, sub-woofer (sound bar), and four speakers. The next thing you should consider is whether you want go wireless or not. If you decide to incorporate the speakers into the hard wiring, then you should consider having your system professionally installed. But if you are looking to save money, going with a Bluetooth connection is a better idea.
Headsets
For those of you who are mobile gamers, headsets are ideal when it comes to establishing your private sound. Of course, you don’t have to be a gamer on the go to possess a headset. You can also be someone who lives in a shared space or in a place with thin walls. Whatever the case may be, having a device designed for your ears only is not a bad investment.
When we talk about headsets, it is safe to assume that we are referring to devices that look similar to what you see at a fast food restaurant's drive-thru. Those are great for online gamers who want to communicate with their teammates without having to be in the same physical location. But if all you looking for headphones without the microphone attached, then we recommend you purchase ones that are noise cancelling. Either way you go, you will have the big, high quality sound that fits around your ears.
Alternatively, if you want go smaller, then earbuds are something to consider. You won’t have the same noise cancelling features as headphones. But, with the sound going directly into your ears, you won’t have to raise the volume to the max.
With either headphones or earbuds, you also have the option of going wireless or not. Plus, you choose the color that you believe best fits the design of your device. If you decide headphones are the right fit, you could be paying $50 on average for a quality pair. For the noise cancelling headphones, expect to pay at least double that. For quality earbuds, you should expect to pay somewhere between $30-$40 on average.
Acoustic Panels
When people think of sound control, they tend to believe that the focus is on adjusting the volume. In this case, we are talking about what sound you want to keep in and what sound you want to stay out. There are a couple of ways you could go about it. One way is to tear down the dry wall and add thicker insulation. But if that is not possible, you could invest in acoustic panels.
If you are someone who does sound recording or live video streaming, properly installed acoustic panels will make you look like a pro. Even if you are someone who wants to be loud without the neighbors knowing about it, having the right panels will help the cause. The real trick is identifying the path the sound travels in the room. Simply put, you will need to figure out the direction the speakers should be facing and how far away they need to be from the walls. Once you have all that established, installation should be a breeze.
As you shop for acoustic panels, there are many ways you could go. For starters, you could hang them on the wall. The materials typically consist of wood, plastic, aluminum, foam, or any combination of these materials. On average, you should expect to pay around $8-$12 a foot. If hanging panels is not an option, you could use foam blocks as an alternative. Foam blocks could cost you at least $20 a piece.
Summary
No matter where you are, any room can be the ultimate gaming room. Even if you are not in control of the visual aspect, you can always take charge of the sound. As long as you are aware of the situation, you will know which path you should take to have the quality sound you deserve. It all starts with the right gear.
If there are any other questions in regards to sound you would like to ask The GXPR, please feel free to contact us.
