Stereo vs Dolby Headphones: The Differences You Wanted to Know About

One thing most gamers take pride in besides their gaming skills is their gaming setup. The passion for such technical details can really be awe-inspiring. 

At least that’s what inspired me to read up more about gaming headphones. And I did not have to look too hard. There are discussion forums filled with gamers arguing what’s the best technology out there. 

That’s when I decided to dig deeper. So here’s what I found about stereo and Dolby headphones. Get ready, things are about to get nerdy!

Also Read: DTS HEADPHONE X VS DOLBY 7.1

How Do Stereo Headphones Work?

Most of us make use of stereo headphones. Stereo headphones make use of two speakers – left and right. These two speakers produce two distinct playback sounds. These sounds are produced from two separate/free channels. 

Let’s not confuse a stereo headphone with a mono headphone. Mono headphones lack the ability to produce the two distinct sounds. The same sound is produced by both channels in a mono headphone. 

Stereo headphones are most commonly being used nowadays in radios, gaming sets et cetera. 

The demand for these headphones has seen a rise due to the fact that they can produce a surround effect without costing as much as a true surround system. 

Should You or Should You Not Go for a Stereo Headphone?

Pros: 

• Thanks to the effect being created by the two channels surround sound technology isn’t too difficult or expensive to find. Stereo headphones have you covered!
• Stereo headphones are always an upgrade over mono headphones. You’ll notice the difference in the audio quality when it’s coming from two distinct earpieces. 

Cons:

• Although stereo headphones might give you the surround effect, they fail to offer the full immersive surround experience. 

Are Dolby Headphones Worth the Hype?

If you are a person who watches movies, plays games, or even uses listens to music you in all probability have heard of Dolby Atmos. So why the hype? 

Dolby has been able to really change the game when it comes to surround sound systems. They have aced the object-based audio mixing technology which is obviously an improvement over the channel-based one. 

And when this technology is brought into the compact form of a headphone, there’s nothing like it. 

Thinking about investing in a Dolby headphone? Allow me to outline the pros and cons for you-

Pros: 

• There’s the powerful Dolby Atmos technology in something as compact as a headphone. 
• The object-based sound system provides that extra depth due to how well it captures the positional specificity of the sound channels. 

Cons: 

• It is a system designed more for enthusiasts or someone looking for that immersive experience than casual listeners. 

Concluding Thoughts

For most gamers, a good pair of stereo headphones work wonders. Some gamers even find the surround effect to be a wasteful addition. They call it the useless bathroom echo effect. 

However, there are enthusiasts who enjoy the virtual surround sound and the depth of audio that comes along with it. 

Overall, both systems can perform well. It all depends on the user’s preferences in the end.