3 Alternatives to Gaming Headphones
Gaming headphones are advertised everywhere, but ironically, they may not be the best option for you to experience the best out of your games.
We want to show you three alternatives to gaming headphones that won’t only make you get more out of your money, but also improve your gaming and listening experience in general.
Why You Should Avoid Gaming Headphones
There’s nothing wrong with gaming headphones, but if you’re starting out, they might not be the best choice for you.
Gaming headsets are usually packed with features that you probably don’t need or won’t use for an inflated price. They usually sound “okay” and their comfort is mediocre at best. It’s pretty hard to wear gaming headsets for long periods of time as they’re usually closed-back and sealed, making for a sweaty situation.
Having an all-in-one solution is great, but it leaves you with mediocre experiences when it comes to comfort, sound, and microphone quality. But it is pretty hard to find non-Bluetooth wireless headphones though, so here are thebest wireless gaming headphones. There aren’t many non-gaming alternatives for those, so if 2.4GHz is a must, gaming headphones are the way to go.
If you want to make the most out of your budget, or even want to save some money, these alternatives will be your gateway to having a great audio experience.
Granted these don’t have microphones, but this list of thebest USB microphonesall sound better than any built-in microphone. You should check out the Amazon Basics microphone in that list, it’s cheap but doesn’t sound like it.
1. In-Ear-Monitors (IEMs) for Gaming
In-ear-monitors are quite the rage in the audiophile community, and someone you know might own a pair because of how cheap they can get. The “Chi-fi” (Chinese high-fidelity audio products) market is coming up with insanely cheap IEMs that sound much better than any gaming headset up to around $200 in price.
They’re easily portable, so it’s possible to bring them around if you’re not gaming. You also have a plethora of ear tip choices to choose from to confirm they fit your ears perfectly.
If you don’t care about sound quality, you should still give these a try. Some even go for as low as $50 and still sound better than expensive gaming headsets. Pair that with the $47Amazon Basics microphoneand you’re already having a better audio experience than most gaming headset users.
2. Open-Back Headphones for Gaming
If you haven’t heard about open-back headphones, check out open-back headphones and how they differ from closed-back headphones, this will get you up to speed on them.
Open-back headphones are still quite underrated but they are receiving more attention in the gaming space. They used to be quite expensive and inaccessible, but there are many affordable and great-sounding options now. ThePhilips SHP 9500can be had for around $80 but are often on sale for up to 50% off.
TheHIFIMAN HE400seis also awesome, and it easily beats out many headphones even triple its price. It uses planar magnetic drivers which could rarely be found in headphones for less than $400 before 2018. Their sound is incredibly precise with very little muddiness due to the quick response times of planar magnetic drivers.
If you haven’t tried open-back headphones, you might never turn back once you’ve tried them. They’re also incredibly comfortable because they don’t create a tight sweaty seal around your ears so it’s possible to wear them for hours.
3. Studio Headphones for Gaming
The word “studio headphones” might sound expensive, but audio technology has moved quite far and affordable options sound awesome. Audio-Technica, Beyerdynamic, Shure, and even Sennheiser all have great options below $100.
These brands don’t mess around and have been around for a very long time, so even their more affordable products have a lot of their technology and experience built into them. If you want to get higher-end headphones for $100, you can even check eBay or your Facebook Marketplace for great second-hand deals in your area.
You Probably Don’t Need Gaming Headphones
Unless 2.4GHz wireless is a must, maybe a wireless gaming headset is for you. However, audio is a big part of the experience and a lot of time and money is spent on a game’s audio design.
So if you’re starting out or want to get a new pair of headphones, you should try exploring other audio options before spending your money on gaming brands.
Wireless headphones are convenient, but wired headphones have them beat in all other areas, hands down.
Now, I actually finish the books I start.
Tor spoiled me forever.
Freeing up vital memory on Windows only takes a moment, and your computer will feel much faster once you’re done.
These are the best free movies I found on Tubi, but there are heaps more for you to search through.
Make sure you don’t miss these movies and shows before Netflix removes them.
