More than two billion people play online games around the world according to the latest reports. That’s almost two thirds of the Earth’s population. If you’re among the masses, you’re well aware certain types of gaming equipment are essential.
Gearing Up with Gaming Earbuds
Staying at the top of your game and getting the most out of the experience definitely depends on skill and enthusiasm to a certain degree. That being said, aptitude can only go so far. While your game of choice and personal equipment preferences certainly help determine which types of gear you should invest in, some tools are universal.
Keyboards and mice geared specifically toward gaming offer a number of benefits. Gaming mice are far more customizable than standard ones, and they can greatly improve your speed and precision on a number of levels. With extreme functionality and sensitivity, specialized keyboards are bound to have the same impact.
Your chair and the area you’ve dedicated to gaming provide greater comfort and convenience, preventing hurdles and distractions from hampering your concentration and dexterity. Monitors with high resolution and fast response times give you considerable visual advantages while CPUs with ample power, speed and memory support the entire setup.
Of course, none of this does much good if you can’t hear what’s going on and effectively communicate with other players. This aspect falls on your speakers, headset or earbuds. Though every gamer has his or her own inclinations in this department, earbuds are quickly becoming the go-to option for many players.
Taking a Look at the Game Headset Options
As we’ve mentioned, three broad categories of communication equipment are at your disposal. Though the speaker and mic built into your computer or laptop will technically suffice, few people actually stick with this option. It just doesn’t provide the clarity you need to truly excel at your game and can become a nuisance for others around you.
Headsets are a popular choice among gamers. Depending on the type and brand, they can offer far more clarity from both listening and speaking perspectives than standard built-in mics and speakers. They offer full surround sound, so you can hear every pertinent detail. At the same time, they block out background noise, so you’re able to focus on the game more effectively.
Now, let’s take a look at earbuds. Until fairly recently, gamers tried to avoid earbuds when possible because they just weren’t up to par for gaming purposes. Fortunately, they’ve improved a great deal over the years.
At this point, some options offer quality and clarity comparable to that of their bulky predecessors. They’re even required at LANs and tournaments, which is another reason so many gamers are jumping on board the earbud bandwagon.
Benefits of Gaming Earbuds
Gaming earbuds bring you a number of advantages over the other alternatives. They’re much smaller, lighter and less cumbersome than headsets. Mics are typically built in, so you don’t have to continually readjust them or move them out of the way. Some high-end versions give you the same level of verbal and auditory precision as the best headsets on the market.
Some gamers are quick to point out the wires get in the way, and earbuds have a tendency to fall out of their ears or get pulled out. Still, many who’ve made the switch insist these factors aren’t usually much of an issue. Most feel the lighter weight and reduced size far outweigh the downsides, and as is the case with headsets, you just need a little time to acclimate to earbuds.
What to Look for When Purchasing Gaming Earbuds
Obviously, not all earbuds are created equally. Standard models and dollar store varieties aren’t going to cut it in the gaming world. Never buy earbuds for gaming simply because their packaging and advertising say they’re designed for this purpose.
True gaming earbuds have certain integral features that make them better choices than their more basic counterparts. If you’re in the market for gaming earbuds, be on the lookout for the following attributes.
- Sound Quality: Static is never a good thing during gameplay, and with all the earbud options on the market, you don’t have to tolerate it. Good gaming earbuds provide utmost clarity, so you can hear what’s going on around you and what other players are saying.
- Surround Sound: Clarity is important to the gaming experience, but being able to determine which direction those sounds are coming from takes things up a few notches. With surround sound, you’ll have a 360-degree perception of the audible aspects of the game, and that’s sure to give you an upper hand.
- Frequency Response: Sound quality is one thing; depth is an entirely different matter. Decent earbuds can pick up sounds in the 8 to 25,000 Hz range with higher-end models surpassing even that.
- Noise Isolation and Cancelation: Although these two terms are often used interchangeably, they’re actually very different functions. Noise canceling earbuds block out certain sounds but overlook others. This means you might not hear outside noises at lower frequencies, but higher ones like voices and music might filter through. Noise isolating earbuds focus on sounds coming through their speakers while blocking those on the outside.
- Mic Capabilities: In many popular games, vocal communication is key. This means the mic built into your gaming earbuds must be able to convey your voice clearly and precisely. Whether you’re communicating with other players or the game itself, mic quality is key.
- Gaming Platform: Purchasing a set of state-of-the-art gaming earbuds with all the right features means nothing if they’re not designed to work with your gaming platform. Check to see if the earbuds you’re considering support your desired platform and whether they have standard jacks or USB connections.
- Earbud Design: Be sure to consider the style of the earbuds themselves. Traditional earbuds sit outside the ear canal and tend to be a bit precarious. In-ear versions actually fit into the ear canal, making them more secure and more capable of blocking the noises around you. At the same time, both are equipped with various types of cushioning. This can be either a benefit or a downfall.
On top of all this, keep comfort in mind. Think about the style of earbuds you prefer when listening to music or talking on the phone, and try to find a similar version for gaming. After all, if the ear buds aren’t comfortable, you’re not going to enjoy using them, and this would render all their other features useless.
Exploring the Top Five Gaming Earbuds with a Mic for 2019
All that being said, it’s time to take a look at the top five gaming earbuds for this year. Since they’re required for LAN play and tournaments and so many casual players are making them part of their equipment repertoire, a number of manufacturers are now catering to the growing demand. Some stand out from several angles.
1) Philips SHE3590BK/28 In-Ear Headphones
Philips has long been a frontrunner in the electronics industry, and the company has developed a reputation for not only keeping up with the latest innovations but creating them. Though several earbud models are available from Philips, this is one of the best for gamers looking for high-end functionality at a moderate price.
Philips SHE3590BK/28 In-Ear Headphones offer a number of the highly sought-after features gamers are looking for, such as:
- Comfort: Sleek and lightweight with soft cushioning, these in-ear earbuds offer adequate comfort and fit well in most ears.
- Sound: This model has above-average sound quality and frequency range as well as stellar clarity. It’s treble, mid and bass are nicely balanced without the bass being overpowering as it can be in some models. The built-in mic offers equal sound quality.
- Variety: Seven distinctive colors are available, so if you’re a hardcore gamer with color-coordinated gear, matching your earbuds to your other equipment shouldn’t be an issue.
It seems the only complaint with these earbuds is their durability. Though they’re not overly fragile, they don’t hold up as well to repeated use as some other options.
2) Panasonic ErgoFit RP-TCM125 in-Ear Earbuds with Mic
As an international mogul, Panasonic has been a major player in the electronics field for quite some time. This brand has become synonymous with quality and customer satisfaction. Its ErgoFit RP-TCM125-K earbuds are another affordable addition to 2019’s “Best of” list.
Considering its price, this model performs well in all the important categories and even excels in some of them.
- Comfort: These earbuds for gaming are among the most comfortable on the market and are great for long stints at the computer. They also come with three different sizes of speaker sleeves, so they can be adjusted to fit ear canals of almost every size and shape.
- Sound Quality: Though these earbuds don’t offer the same levels of sound quality and frequency range as some of their higher-priced competitors, they’re more than adequate for gaming. Sound is well balanced, and the bass is a bit more prevalent than the previously mentioned Philips model.
- Mic Functionality: The mic on this model allows for clear communication. It’s an inline model with one-touch operation, so it can easily be switched on and off when needed without interfering with the game.
- Durability: As long as you don’t abuse these earbuds, they’ll last for a while even with repeated use.
Despite its high quality and high ratings, this earbud model does have one significant downfall. Its cables are a bit delicate, so they can get tangled fairly easily.
3) KLIM Pulse Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds with Microphone
This company hasn’t been in the game quite as long as some of its competitors, but it’s certainly making a name for itself in the electronics industry. These earbuds are a bit higher in the price range and come with plenty of features.
- Sound Clarity: Both incoming and outgoing sounds are clear, and these earbuds have an acceptable frequency range for added clarity and depth.
- Comfort: Memory foam tips make these earbuds extremely comfortable to use, and 12 pairs of tips in various sizes are included with purchase.
- Noise Isolation: In addition to making these earbuds more comfortable for the user, the memory foam tips work in tandem with their built-in noise reduction features to help keep outside noises where they belong.
- Wireless: One of the main complaints gamers have in regard to earbuds is their wires getting in the way. Since this is a wireless model, this isn’t an issue.
As far as cons go, the primary concern with these earbuds is their platform compatibility. They only work with Bluetooth-enabled systems. Being wireless means they need to be recharged as well. Though they’ll hold out through up to eight hours of gameplay, they won’t last indefinitely.
4) Razer Hammerhead Pro V2
Established in 2005, Razer has risen to the forefront of the electronics industry. The company’s latest earbud model is continuing its tradition of excellence. Also falling into the mid-priced range, the Razer Hammerhead Pro V2 is one of the best gaming earbud models you can get without spending a small fortune.
- Sound Quality: With high-grade drivers and an optimized acoustics chamber, these earbuds are hard to beat in terms of sound quality. Ample bass and superior sound balance further propel this model to the top.
- Frequency Response: Ranging from 20 Hz to 20,000 kHz, this model doesn’t fall short in this category.
- Jack Compatibility: This model works with standard 3.5 millimeter jacks, but similar models with further compatibility are available.
- Mic Features: The inline mic offers excellent sound quality and features a three-button remote for volume control, pause and play.
- Tangle-Resistant Wires: Due to their flat design and extra rigidity, the wires on the Hammerhead Pro V2 won’t tangle as easily as some other options.
- Durability: These earbuds are built to withstand ongoing use, so they don’t tear or fall apart as quickly as some models.
Razer’s latest addition to the earbud world has been met with plenty of praise. Still, its bass is a bit much for some users.
5) TaoTronics TT-EP002
TaoTronics has its hand in a number of different branches of the electronics industry. Sound systems happen to be among its specialties, and its earbuds are proof of its proficiency in this department. As far as features go, TaoTronics TT-EP002 earbuds are in a class all their own.
- Sturdiness: Made from an aluminum alloy, these earbuds are built for true gamers who place a lot of wear and tear on their gear.
- Sound Quality: Sound is one of this model’s greatest strong suits with clarity, frequency range and balance all going above and beyond the norm.
- Noise Cancellation: Despite their small size and sleek design, these earbuds have ample noise canceling capabilities. They also have a unique integral Awareness Monitoring Mode that allows users to adjust the level of noise cancelation as needed.
- Mic Quality: This model’s built-in mic offers noise canceling functionality of its own, helping keep static and background noise from drowning out users’ voices.
Current users have virtually no complaints about this version of TaoTronics’ earbuds. It’s moderately priced and offers many of the same features as much more expensive alternatives.
In a Nutshell
Not very long ago, many people flinched at the though of adding earbuds to their gaming arsenals. Now, though, a number of models have been designed specifically to meet the needs and expectations of gamers. These five models are among the best on the market, and at least one of them is sure to suit your preferences.