Whether you are gaming with a pair ofheadphones, agaming headset, or even asoundbar, good audio quality is a make-or-break point for a good gaming experience. You can have the best PC, with the most powerful hardware and a gorgeous monitor, but if the audio performance does not live up to the rest of the quality, it is easily noticeable and will quickly break your immersion.
Spatial audio seems to be the latest and greatest buzzword in the world of gaming audio. While it can seem like marketing mumbo-jumbo in some cases, spatial audio can truly enhance your gaming audio setup when applied correctly. Before you take our word for it though, let’s go over how spatial audio works, what it means for your gaming setup, and some other alternatives that can offer something similar.
What Is Spatial Audio?
Even though we only have two ears, we can hear sounds coming from above, behind, below, and all around us, and for the most part, it is pretty easy to tell what direction all these sounds are coming from. But if our ears followed the same principles as surround-sound speakers, we should only be able to tell if sounds are coming from the left or right of our head, right?
Despite only having two ears, we can tell what direction sounds are coming from because our ears use our other body parts, like our shoulders, head, and outer ears, which also help us process sounds. These body parts help us process the impact of the volume, timing, and phase relationships to the different frequencies. Using these physical interactions alongside what our ears are processing, our brains have learned to decipher where the sounds are coming from within the space around us, not just left or right.
In fact, if you put a tiny microphone in your ears, sounds would also capture the same HRTF effect we hear. These recordings are called binaural and create surround sound effects when played back in headphones or over speakers with two channels. Spatial audio uses this process to produce sounds that sound like they are coming from all around with just two channels.
While spatial audio has become more advanced than basic binaural recording, the same concept applies when people mix sound design or music with spatial audio delivery. Audeze and Embody recently partnered to make designing spatial audio more accessible to more creators by using just a piece of software instead of a full studio room.
What Does Spatial Audio Offer For Gaming?
While spatial audio seems fairly new to the gaming community, it has actually been around for quite a while. Recently, we have seen a surge in headsets offering spatial audio support, as well as more games likeValorantadding spatial audio and HRTF to their audio settings.
The gaming community has actually been one of the driving forces of innovation in the spatial audio world. Music and movies are constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to sound design, but because games are meant to be directly interacted with, and being able to tell what direction sounds are coming from creates an advantage in competitive games, spatial audio implies a lot more to the gaming world.
Besides the competitive advantages, a sound design that recreates the way we naturally hear sounds makes games instantly more immersive and effective, both for story-based games and competitive games.
Not to mention, before spatial audio became more popular in mainstream gaming, one of the few ways people could achieve the surround sound effect was with a five — or even seven-channel setup. While these setups still sound amazing, for many people, they are impractical not only because of the cost, but also because of the space alone. If you have a typical gaming desk setup, adding multiple speakers will take a lot more room and more cables to manage.
Achieving surround sound with just a pair of headphones or some desktop soundbars, like the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro, is much more approachable for most gamers.
Related Products
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT gaming headset uses Slipstream Wireless Technology for an incredible 60-foot range and to support up to 3 wireless devices at the same time. The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT also can connect to the PC and consoles using USB, 3.5 mm analog connections, and Bluetooth. 50 mm high-density drivers produce a frequency of 20,000 Hz to 40,000 Hz, far superior to most gaming headsets. Built with a lightweight construction, the memory foam earpads keep gamers in comfort during hours of listening
HyperX Cloud III Gaming Headset
The HyperX Cloud III is the follow-up to the ultra-popular Cloud II wired gaming headset, approved by Esports competitors. Featuring angled 53 mm drivers, the Cloud III sends sound directly on a path to eardrums for maximum effect. The Cloud III is exceptionally comfortable and is compatible with PCs and most consoles.
Razer BlackShark V2 X USB
The Razer BlackShark V2 X USB is a slight upgrade from the popular and great-performing BlackShark V2 X as it brings a noise-cancelling microphone, making it ideal for team chat. The headset connects to the system via USB Type-A and delivers impressive sound quality thanks to its 50 mm drivers. The headset also hasHybrid memory foam cushions and volume controls on the earcups.
Razer Leviathan V2 Pro
Experience the next innovation in 3D audio with the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro – the world’s first PC soundbar with head-tracking AI and adaptive beamforming powered by THX Spatial Audio. Directing sound to your ears through intelligent on-the-fly tracking, enjoy ultra-personalized audio with untold accuracy and immersion.
FAQ
Q: What Is Spatial Sound?
While spatial sound might seem similar to surround sound, the way audio is actually delivered to you is quite different. Surround sound setups “surround” you with directional speakers, whereas spatial sound aims to create a more unified listening experience that is more like how we naturally hear sounds around us.
Q: Do I Need Dolby Atmos Headphones To Use Dolby Atmos For Headphones?
Because the software only needs two channels to output to simulate sound from all directions, Dolby Atmos for headphones will work with any pair of headphones. However, if you want the added benefits of head tracking, you must pick up a pair of Dolby Atmos-supported headphones like theCorsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT.
