We talk about gaming-specific tech on this site pretty often, but sometimes there are a few regular pieces of technology that can transform your gaming experience, especially when you’re playing from the comfort of your own home.
One of those things is a soundbar. Soundbars have been on the market for quite a few years now and there’s an abundance of affordable options out there. In today’s post, I want to go through how you should install your soundbar for optimal performance while gaming. I’ve kept these tips pretty generic so they should be applicable to most models. However, if you need help with a specific brand, you can ask me here, refer to the owners manual, or even message their technical support team as they’re usually pretty knowledgeable.
Remember, this post is about enhancing the sound of your soundbar, if it’s not working properly to begin with, it could be damaged.
Mounting Matters
If you’re getting any kind of tinny or rattling sound quality, it could be that the soundbar isn’t mounted onto your wall correctly. It may also be off-center, which, believe it or not, can make a huge difference in the quality of the sound when gaming – especially when it’s part of a larger surround sound system. Check out this tutorial from The Handy Guys if you need guidance mounting your soundbar.
Find the Sweet Spot For Your Subwoofer
Nowadays, your soundbar will come with a subwoofer as part of the standard package. It’s best to keep this close to your TV and soundbar for it to work the best. This will optimize any cinematic capabilities the soundbar has been equipped with.
Use HDMI Cables
Most soundbars run off Bluetooth these days, but, if you want to add some oomph to your sound, go back to basics and use an HDMI cable. There’s a lot of opinion surrounding what makes a good HDMI cable, and though some things, like gold plating, can help a little, most perform very similarly and if you’re having issues, it’s likely that the cable is damaged. Looking after your cables is probably the best way you can ensure top-quality sound, not spending $100s or $1000s on a fancy one.
Testing…1, 2, 3
One your soundbar is set up and installed, the best way to achieve optimum sound quality for your specific soundbar (after doing the above things), is to slightly change the settings between rounds or levels on your game to see if it makes a difference. You’ll find that small things like nudging the bass a couple of points up or down can make the world of difference. And yes, there is such a thing as too much bass.
I hope these few tips help to improve your sound experience when gaming at home and using a soundbar. If you have any questions about a specific soundbar you’re using whilst gaming at the moment, feel free to reach out and I’ll help the best I can.
