Gaming Headsets with Sidetone: The Must-Have Accessory for Gamers

Gaming headsets are essential accessories for gamers who want to enjoy the best sound quality and communication in their games. However, not all gaming headsets are the same. Some gaming headsets have a feature that can make a big difference in your gaming experience: sidetone.

Sidetone, also known as mic monitoring, is the feature that allows you to hear your voice in your headset. It is the sound of your voice that is picked up by the microphone and fed back to your ears. Sidetone is common in telephones and radios, where it provides feedback to the speaker that the transmission is active and clear.

Sidetone can also be very beneficial for gaming headsets, especially for online multiplayer games where you need to communicate with other players. Sidetone can help you to:

• Improve your speaking quality and clarity. Without a sidetone, you may not realize how loud or quiet you are speaking, or how your voice sounds to others. You may end up shouting or whispering, or sounding angry or bored. With a sidetone, you can hear yourself as others hear you, and adjust your voice accordingly. This can improve your communication and teamwork with your teammates, and also avoid annoying or offending other players.
• Reduce your speaking fatigue and discomfort. Without a sidetone, you may feel like you are talking into a void, or that your voice is muffled or distorted. This can cause you to strain your vocal cords or feel uncomfortable in your ears. With a sidetone, you can hear yourself clearly and naturally, and feel more relaxed and comfortable while speaking. This can prevent you from damaging your voice or hurting your ears, and also allow you to enjoy longer gaming sessions.
• Enhance your gaming immersion and realism. Without sidetone, you may feel disconnected from the game world and the characters you are playing with. You may miss out on the subtle cues and emotions that are conveyed by your voice. With a sidetone, you can hear yourself as part of the game environment and the story, and feel more engaged and immersed in the game. This can increase your enjoyment and satisfaction with the game, and also make you more invested in the outcome.

How to Enable Sidetone on Your Gaming Headset?

If you want to enjoy the benefits of sidetone on your gaming headset, you need to make sure that your headset has this feature, and that it is enabled on your device. Depending on the type and model of your headset, there are different ways to enable sidetone, such as:

• Use a dedicated button or switch on the headset or its controller. Some gaming headsets have a button or a switch that allows you to turn on or off the sidetone, or adjust its level. For example, the ASTRO Gaming A50 has a flip-to-mute function that also enables sidetone when the microphone is active.
• Use an inline sound card or a base station. Some gaming headsets come with an inline sound card or a base station that provides volume control, microphone mute, and sidetone adjustment. For example, the HyperX Cloud II has an inline sound card that lets you adjust the sidetone level with a dial.
• Using software or an app on your device. Some gaming headsets have software or an app that lets you customize the EQ settings, sidetone level, and other features on your device. For example, the Logitech G Pro X has software that lets you enable and adjust sidetone with a slider.

Conclusion

Sidetone is a feature that can greatly improve your gaming experience by allowing you to hear your voice in your headset. Sidetone can help you improve your speaking quality and clarity, reduce your speaking fatigue and discomfort, and enhance your gaming immersion and realism.

If you want to enjoy the benefits of sidetone on your gaming headset, you need to make sure that your headset has this feature, and that it is enabled on your device. You can enable sidetone by using a dedicated button or switch on the headset or its controller, using an inline sound card or a base station, or using software or an app on your device.

Sidetone is a must-have feature for gamers who want to communicate better and enjoy more immersive games. If you are looking for a gaming headset with Sidetone, check out our list of the five best gaming headsets with Sidetone.