Introduction
It’s easy to come across a lot of info on what type of headphones or headsets you should use. There’s a lot of personal preferences that lead to a bias towards one or the other.
This ends up being not helpful because then there’s the question of if a certain product will technically work with your set up, regardless of your preference.
If you ever used Beats headphones for any period of time, then you’ll know that they are usually top of the line for studio listening and general music listening.
One question that comes to mind is whether or not they are easily compatible with gaming set ups because of their headphone jacks, drivers, and ability to transmit voice on team speak etc. This article will help you understand how you can make it work for your gaming set up, and ensure that you don’t have any technical issues along the way.
So do Beats headphones work well with gaming setups?
Yes, Beats are high-quality gaming headphones that deliver great audio regardless of the type of setup do you have. Sometimes people run into mic calibration issues, but there are many solutions you can use that cost less than $10 for an adapter. Either way, you will be able to maximize the audio quality on your systems sound card using them.
Some people might have issues with microphone transmission because of the system they are using or the type of Beats they have. This is not a unique problem to just this brand. Sometimes headphones will run into these issues and it is actually really easy to fix. As long as you have a USB port or Aux input, you’ll be good to go. Take a look below to see if you need to implement any of these troubleshooting fixes.
If you’re browsing Beats online and you’re not sure if its mic will work with your gaming set up. Test out the mic detection with a pair of headphones lying around the house that you haven’t tried before (if possible).
If your Beats Headphone Mic Doesn’t Work
Get a microphone adapter. This adapter will let you split the audio from your Beats between a USB and its original aux import. Sometimes people plug in their headphones and they notice their PC doesn’t register the mic feature on their device. This can be caused by a lack of compatibility with the Beats drivers and the computer’s current audio software installation.
Get a stand-alone mic. This is a great option if you know you will be using your Beats for something other than gaming (like working out or anything else). This is what my preference would be because I game without friends more often than I do. I don’t always need a mic attached to my headphones when I’m gaming. Having a free-standing mic on your desk is super convenient because it’s there when you need it but you don’t have to take it with you when you’re done.
The solution to getting a desktop mic brings up an important point:
One major problem with “gaming headsets” is that they try to be an all in one solution for gamers. They put in useless aesthetics such as RGB lights, and they often skimp on audio quality, durability, or microphone quality. You’ll get a bigger bang for your buck if you buy dedicated headphones like Beats or Sennheisers. If you need accessories like bass booster dials or a mic, get them separately.
Make sure your drivers are updated! Check the drivers on your graphics card and motherboard. These things don’t always update on your own and they could make all the difference. Be sure to routinely open these apps to make sure they are good to go and don’t require any admin authorization.
They’ll be way cheaper and easier to implement. Gaming headsets often break in less than a couple of years. If the mic isn’t the first to go, something else will be (but that won’t be the case for your studio Beats).
Beats Can Be Super Expensive, Are There Any Alternatives?
I’m not trying to confuse you anymore than needed. I know there’s way too much information on what the best headphone speakers are. This section isn’t meant to convince you of anything different. But I do think you can get the best bang for the buck if you know what to look for.
Throughout my research on different headphones, there are two headphones that come to mind that I would recommend to my friend if they asked me. They would be the AudioTechnica ATH-M50x and the Sennheiser Momentums (the ones I currently use).
Audio-Technica’s are by no means a knock off brand of Beats, but they do come super close to the quality. They’re not as popular of a company as Beats, and that’s why I think their prices are a little more competitive. You can expect the ATH M50 series to be the same level of quality as the Studio Beats series (and they come with a leather finish that makes them super comfortable).
As for the Sennheiser Momentums, there are a lot of different versions of these headphones. Sennheiser makes great studio headphones for a wide variety of prices. From all my research, Sennheiser has the best range of quality headphones for every budget. I’m not sponsored at all by them, I just can speak from personal experience on that one.
Related Questions
Why are gaming headsets USB? Gaming headsets are the most common choice for gamers. For this reason, they will come with a USB and aux input. One is for the mic and the other for the gaming audio. Everyone has a different set-up, so gaming headsets try to accommodate all of them (XBOX, PS4, gaming desktops, etc).
How can I get Beats headphones for a better price? Find a really good, durable pair and then buy them used with less than a couple hundred hours of use. If you can find a quality headphone model that has a ton of good reviews but is expensive, buying it used will be a reliable purchase. My only other recommendation would be to save up instead of getting budget headphones because they might break on you.
Should I use earbuds for gaming? While these can work really well, they might fall short on microphone quality. I can speak from personal experience. I kept trying to get my budget earbuds to work well with my PS4 because they had a mic on them, but they transmitted sound so poorly that my friends got annoyed. Long-story-short, I ended up getting a pair of headphones I knew would work better with my console and gaming PC.
Additional Resources
All the resources below are related in order to help you with your search for the right headphones. Again, I really don’t recommend “gaming headsets” because I think they’re a ripoff and try to beat out good brands. Beats are a great option for gaming and for other activities in general, so I wouldn’t be swayed into wanting other brands unless you don’t have a preference.
Remember, there is a difference between gaming headsets and gaming headphones, but that’s not dependent on what type of input they use.
Some headphones will be USB or 3.5mm jack inputs. This article will help you understand the main difference if you’re stuck wondering.
I’m generally unimpressed by gaming headsets because they’re more expensive than they deserve to be. If you look at Reddit, Yahoo Answers, and Quora, a lot of people post questions about why their Turtle Beach broke after only having it for half a year. I wrote an article on why gaming headsets keep breaking if you’re interested. I think the vast majority of streamline gaming headsets aren’t good quality, and that real studio headphone brands are the way to go. These are definitely more expensive but you’ll get exactly what you pay for when going with them.
Conclusion
Using Beats as gaming headsets is perfectly feasible. You shouldn’t feel like its a gamble after you purchase them. My brother and I used beats for the longest time. He currently has a Turtle beach headset that I give him crap for because I know they’re not that durable.
Thanks for reading! If I missed anything or if you have any questions/comments, feel free to reach out at entertainmentden.ns@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to respond. I’m currently taking article suggestions or topics if you guys have any so feel free to send those over too.
Thanks again for reading and be sure to check back regularly for the next article!
