Conclusion

PC surround speaker systems never really took the PC market by storm. The main reason is that they cost a lot more than their 2.1 speaker counterparts. Even then, only gamers would really be interested in such a setup. Audiophiles and even movie buffs would prefer a "real" 5.1 home-theatre setup.

With that said, you should still consider a 5.1 surround sound system. Yes, you read that right. Even after pointing out their deficiencies in this article, I would still recommend a PC surround sound system. Just hear out my reasons.

Most high-end PC speaker systems today come with a 5.1-channel configuration. In other words, if you want high-fidelity and power output, you need to buy a 5.1-channel speaker system. Even the best 2.1 speaker system cannot provide that kind of audio fidelity and power output. If you do not use the rear speakers at all, you will end up with a very good 2.1 speaker system.

Of course, this is assuming you are looking for the audio fidelity and power output associated with high-end 5.1 speaker systems. If you can only to buy a low- to mid-range 5.1 speaker system, it would be a good idea to invest instead in a good set of 2.1 speakers.

Let's come back to the question at hand - do gamers really need surround speakers? The simple answer is no. This is not because surround systems are bad, but because of the problems associated with setting the system up and the actual usefulness of surround sound systems in games.

My personal recommendation would be this. If you can afford a decent high-fidelity audio system, that would undoubtedly beat the living daylights out of any high-end PC speaker system out there. Or you can just get a pair of headphones and have your games sound much ‘closer’ to you.

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