It’s not always clear whether closed-back headphones or headsets are good for gaming, especially if you’ve never used either type of headset before or have a strong inclination towards open headphones. The fact is that, the headphone technologies designed for gaming can offer some perks over their open-back counterparts when it comes to delivering a satisfying gaming experience. And that’s what this article is going to explore.
Closed-back headphones feature an acoustic chamber design to reduce noise leakage, provide noise reduction and specific sound response that makes gaming an event in itself. As such, they’re great for gaming and music listening. But there’s more to it than that.
Gaming with closed-back headsets – Expectations
When it comes to sound quality, gaming and non-gaming closed-back headphones offer a different level of quality. Gaming-centered headphones such as the HyperX Cloud 2 and the Logitech G Pro X deliver good, engaging sound that still delivers a deep bass sound.
In contrast, closed-back headphones such as Shure SRH1540 and Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro deliver high-quality audio perfect for gaming, music, voice chats, and movies.
A mix of professional headphones with gaming headsets exist, such as Beyerdynamic MMX 300 (Second Gen) and Beyerdynamic CUSTOM Game, which offer a high level of fidelity similar to professional headphones while offering the gaming-specific features that are needed in a gaming headset: good microphone, immersive sound experience, and long-lasting comfort.
Reasons why closed-back headsets are the best for gaming
Numerous reasons exist why closed-back gaming headsets are the way to go for gamers. The quality of the sound is high, the experience is immersive, the design provides sufficient passive sound insulation and you can’t hear background noises from the environment.
Sound quality
The sound quality you get from open-back headsets differs a lot from closed-back headsets. However, closed-back gaming headsets distinguish themselves with their full sound, enhancing bass response and making the overall gaming experience more fun and engaging.
There’s a lot more to say about the sound quality of closed headphones, though we do have an article that highlights the differences in sound quality between closed and open headphones. LINK HERE
Engaging and dynamic sound reproduction
Closed-back headsets, which can be used for casual gaming and electronic music, offer more satisfactory sound quality with better soundstage depth and more power than open-back headsets. They’re better suited to younger players, as they’re less demanding in their ability to hear footsteps and concentrate more on fun audio cues such as explosions and vibrations in first-person shooter games.
The Sennheiser GSP 300 and HyperX Cloud Alpha closed-back headphones are the most enjoyable for gaming. While the Cloud Alpha is slightly better for hearing footsteps and audio cues, both are excellent for gaming, and the sound quality is bass-driven and vibrant. Their microphones are also intelligible and effective for team speaking.
Ease of use
No one wants to be annoyed by obnoxious sounds from other people or yourself when you’re trying to concentrate on work. That’s where the closed-back gaming headsets come in handy. You can wear them and not have to worry about any noise coming out of them, which makes it great for use both in multiplayer games or just casual use.
Even if you don’t have your own gaming room and the walls are thin and not soundproofed, you will be able to focus on your game more and get a better sense of what’s going on with a pair of closed gaming headsets in the game.
When buying a closed-back headphone, you don’t have to worry about any of that. There is no need to find a quieter room, move your gaming desktop, or search for soundproofing ways to enjoy your pair of open headsets. You just plug it in, and that’s it.
Privacy and sound isolation
As mentioned earlier, the best gaming headsets are those that allow you to immerse yourself in the game without any unnecessary disruption to your environment. Closed gaming headsets have this unique ability to reduce outside noise and avoid feedback noise issues during in-game communications.
Ambient noise and computer cooler noise that can be heard from an entry-level gaming machine are reduced.
In an article about high-quality passive noise-isolating headphones, I mentioned two fantastic gaming headsets that block the most noise and are very affordable: the Sennheiser 670 GSP and the JBL Quantum 800 Wireless. Both are closed-back gaming headphones that reduce noise by an average of -20 dB. The most you’ll get in a pair of gaming headsets.
Cheaper price tag
Closed-back headsets are more common, less demanding in terms of environmental necessities, and more enjoyable to listen to than open-back headsets. They are more popular and purchased by more people, which is a clear indication that they are more widely produced, and therefore priced lower than other types of gaming headsets, just as with televisions and gaming monitors.
FAQ regarding closed-back headsets for gaming
Should I go for closed gaming headsets or open?
In general, closed-back headphones make the gaming experience more fun and exciting, they’re also better for noise isolation, and you cannot go wrong with the sound quality. You get better performance in competitive gaming with open headsets, but if you didn’t use an open-back headphone before and aren’t used to the open, flat, and a natural sound, they’ll seem boring.
There’s more to open and closed headsets, and I cannot tell you what’s best for you. But have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of closed-back and open-back headphones (LINK HERE), to make an informed decision about what gaming headset is best for you.
Are closed gaming headsets suitable for all games?
Since closed-back gaming headsets offer a more vibrant and exciting type of sound, you’re better off using them in games where audio cues and sound effects can make an even large impact.
For instance, racing, adventure, and action games work well with closed gaming headsets, as long as the game is not too fast-paced or heavily reliant on positional accuracy, in which open headphones offer a greater advantage.
What are the main reasons I should buy a closed gaming headset?
Anyone with a preference for:
- Abundant bass
- Intense sound
- Passive noise isolation
Users are more than satisfied with closed-back gaming headsets, as they are better suited for an exciting and private gaming experience.
They are also ideal for users who enjoy playing in crowded environments, LAN parties, or online with other players, such as during a multiplayer raid in World of Warcraft, because the natural sound isolation and deeper, more impactful bass make the game more lively.
The bass does tend to create a good base with its powerful response. However, at the same time, it can encompass the low mid-range frequencies and make footsteps detection a bit more challenging.
Do closed-back headsets sound better?
Closed gaming headsets do indeed offer a more colorful, warm, and enticing sound, aspects that many gamers seek in their experience. This is because closed-back headsets have an airtight enclosure that provides that dynamic, immersive, and entertaining sound.
“I love the closed back for the deeper aural experience that atmospheric games and music provide. But if I truly want to enjoy music to the max – you can’t beat open-backed.”
A Reddit user’s opinion pretty much captures the sentiment of the gaming community regarding closed and open headsets. It’s not surprising that gamers feel their experience is enhanced by using a closed headset. Still, it’s hard to choose a closed headset when you have a dedicated gaming room and love the openness and clarity of an open headset.
Competitive gaming is not the best environment for closed-back headsets unless you’re in a live tournament with a crowd of people. If you’re a streamer, closed-back headphones offer better sound because their acoustic reproduction is more comfortable to listen to.
Individual experiences vary, and not everyone who uses closed-back headphones agree that they’re the best for gaming.
Are closed-back studio headphones good for gaming?
Without a doubt, closed studio headsets are professional audio equipment with studio-grade sound quality, capable of producing balanced sound with low distortion, wide frequency range, and accurate sound reproduction. For gaming, studio headsets are fantastic choices for anyone who doesn’t mind the lack of a built-in microphone.
For people who want a better sound experience than with ordinary gaming headphones, closed studio headsets offer great value enough bass with minimal flaws. They offer good passive noise reduction comfort and can assist you in hearing the sound of your games crisply.
When you play games on your home computer, there is often a lot of background noise coming from your headset that can ruin your gaming experience. Closed-back studio headphones allow you to focus on the game because they are better designed and built.
Conclusion
When it comes to gaming, you need to have the best equipment to provide seamless enjoyment, so you can concentrate more on what’s important – your game. Closed-back headsets do a fantastic job in that regard and deliver great value with all the features you need to have fun gaming, like voluminous soundstage, powerful bass, decent noise isolation, and brilliant sound isolation.
If you found this article valuable, please share it with your friends. Also, you can check out these gaming headsets articles that are popular among our readers. LINK HERE
For people who spend a lot of time gaming, let us know your favorite closed gaming headsets and the type of gaming headset you had a better experience with.
