Imagine this: you are window shopping and have gone through the tech section of the mall. As you go through the peripherals of mice, keyboards, etc, you decide to stop by the headphone section. The promise of “3D audio,” along with flowery words of “be the best” or “step up your game” show up, but what do they mean? Do these sounds technically pop out enough to provide you with a competitive advantage? Let’s find out!
Breaking it down
“3D audio” is a buzzword that confuses casual gamers when they look for new peripherals
to buy. We know that 3D movies provide a heightened experience when watching because they trick the user’s
eyes into thinking that the action is unraveling right before their eyes. The concept is similar when it comes to
audio.
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From your traditional 2D headphones, these new modern headphones take that sound, and reconfigure it in a manner that
feels like you are standing in the thick of it. If you hear fire burning, manufacturers try to re-engineer the sound
as if you can actually hear the crackling of the intense flames. That said, 3D audio attempts to replicate sound the
same way our ears pick up ambient noise and other sounds. By doing this for gaming headphones, gamers can be
immersed in the world that the developers have laid out for them. With this in mind, it appears like 3D audio is a
necessary feature to get the edge over our opponents, right?
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A more immersive experience
Think about it this way: when developers create a game, they also include audio in their brainstorming sessions; how
sound will bounce off the cave walls, how it sounds in a moving car, how things sound when bullets are flying by,
and a lot of other scenarios. Sound is an important element to consider when in game development; if headphones
always offered these 3D features, developers wouldn’t care too much about the audio structure, which would
hurt their game.
Audio is especially crucial for competitive FPS games like CounterStrike 2, Valorant, Rainbow Six Seige, and
the like. As much as possible, developers would create an equal playing field to give everyone a fighting chance for
the win. If 3D audio just handed off these “advantages,” the game wouldn’t seem fair for those who
cannot grab themselves gaming headphones.
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So where does it stand?
Although some may say that 3D audio is a gimmick, there are headphones out there that provide a different experience
once you switch this feature on. Sound becomes louder and more distinct, which can appeal to some players out there.
The baseline of this is to point out that the feature will depend on your preference. If you want to rely on
something the developer created, simply turn the 3D feature off; however, if you want to have things roll out your
way, you can keep the feature on.
As technology improves further, we can expect this to truly be fleshed out and give that “true-to-life”
experience that a lot of people want. While its impact varies, the technology is becoming increasingly accessible,
making it easier for everyone to explore the benefits of three-dimensional sound.
So when you're out in the market for headphones, it is still recommended to try them out for yourself so you can
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