Gaming audio has a problem: most people underestimate how transformative a proper AV setup is for the experience. The game producers spent serious money on the sound design of Call of Duty, GTA, Forza, and FIFA. They encoded it in spatial surround formats specifically so it can be reproduced accurately. A TV's built-in speakers throw away roughly 80% of that investment. Arthur from Zebra Home Cinema explains what it takes to design a media room that does justice to modern gaming — and why the principles are simpler than you might think.
The 80% Rule: AV Comes First
The foundational insight for gaming room design is a restatement of something every games producer knows but most consumers never act on:
"The producers have spent a huge amount of money making the game look really good and sound really good. If you've got a good audio-visual display, that's probably 80% of your enjoyment right there."
Start with a great display and a great sound system. Everything else is secondary. The lighting, the furniture, the ambient atmosphere all contribute — but they enhance an already excellent foundation. Getting the AV wrong and compensating with RGB strips and a gaming chair is working backwards.
Building Blocks: From Soundbar to Full Surround
Not every gaming room needs a full Dolby Atmos installation. The right specification depends on how seriously you game, what you play, and how the room is used.
| Level | Setup | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Entry point | Television + soundbar + subwoofer | Dramatically better than TV speakers; bass reinforcement for gaming impact |
| Mid-tier | 5.1 or 7.1 surround system | Full directional audio — hear enemies before you see them; spatial awareness |
| Reference | Dolby Atmos 7.2.4 or higher | Height channels for rain, helicopters, aircraft; full three-dimensional audio field |
"Start off with a monitor and a sound bar and a subwoofer. That's going to enhance your gaming from simply just watching it on the TV. But depending on how serious a gamer you are and how immersed you want to get, then you need to get the other bits of equipment."
The step from stereo TV speakers to even a basic soundbar and subwoofer is the largest single improvement in gaming audio most people will ever experience. The step to full surround — for competitive games with spatial audio — can be genuinely competitive as well as immersive.
Room Ambience: Lighting, Design, and Communal vs. Private
Beyond the core AV specification, the room's ambience contributes significantly to the gaming experience. Arthur identifies the key factors:
Lighting
- ▪Dimmable LED — the ability to reduce room brightness to match the mood of the content is essential
- ▪Philips Hue or ambient bias lighting — systems that change colour and intensity based on on-screen content create genuine immersion, particularly in darker games
- ▪Colour temperature — warm tones for relaxed sessions, cooler tones for high-energy competitive play
"Lighting moods — you can get really cool, funky, dimmable LED just to enhance your gaming experience. You can get Philips Hue type situations where the ambience and colour of the room changes according to what's on the screen."
Private vs. Communal Space
The design approach differs significantly between a personal gaming bedroom and a shared entertainment space:
- ▪Bedroom / private space: design according to personal taste — RGB lighting, custom finishes, full gaming immersion without domestic compromise
- ▪Open-plan living room or lounge: design must integrate with the broader home aesthetic; speakers need to be discreet, the screen position needs to work for multiple use cases, and the gaming setup should not dominate the room when not in use
"If that's a bedroom and you're the only person using it, everything's pretty much down to your taste and your lighting preferences. But if you've got a communal space — a large lounge, conservatory, open-plan dining area — it really depends on the look of the house."
Which Games Benefit Most From Spatial Audio?
Modern AAA games are designed for spatial audio from the ground up. The benefit is both experiential and competitive:
| Game Type | Spatial Audio Benefit |
|---|---|
| First-person shooters (Call of Duty) | Directional footsteps, gunfire positioning — genuine competitive advantage |
| Open-world (GTA V, Red Dead Redemption) | Environmental immersion — rain, traffic, crowd ambience |
| Racing (Forza, Gran Turismo) | Engine roar, track surface variation, crowd — physical immersion |
| Adventure/action (God of War, Horizon) | Cinematic score and environmental audio — transforms narrative experience |
"Any of the Call of Duty games or GTA — these are encoded in surround sound. If you really want to get the best out of the game, you need to get some fairly basic equipment to reproduce what's been recorded."
Key Takeaways
- ▪A great display and sound system account for approximately 80% of gaming enjoyment — AV investment returns more than any other aspect of gaming room design
- ▪The entry point — TV + soundbar + subwoofer — is dramatically better than built-in TV speakers, especially for games with sub-bass (explosions, engines, impacts)
- ▪Full surround sound (5.1, 7.1, Atmos) provides directional spatial awareness with real competitive benefits in games like Call of Duty
- ▪Dimmable LED and ambient bias lighting (Philips Hue or similar) meaningfully enhance immersion, especially for atmospheric games
- ▪Private vs. communal rooms require different design approaches — personal gaming spaces can be optimised for pure gaming; shared living spaces need to balance gaming performance with domestic aesthetics
Frequently Asked Questions
Does surround sound help with gaming performance?
Yes — in competitive games with spatial audio, surround sound provides genuine competitive advantage. In games like Call of Duty, the ability to hear directional footsteps, distant gunfire, and environmental cues before you see them can directly affect gameplay outcomes. Beyond competitive play, spatial audio dramatically increases immersion in open-world and cinematic games.
What is the best speaker setup for gaming?
The ideal setup depends on your gaming style and room. For casual gaming, a soundbar with subwoofer is the most impactful upgrade from TV speakers. For serious gaming, a 5.1 or 7.1 surround system adds full directional audio. For the ultimate experience, a Dolby Atmos system with height channels (7.2.4 or higher) provides three-dimensional audio including height — critical for games with aircraft, rain, and environmental effects. Zebra Home Cinema can design and specify any of these configurations.
How can I improve my gaming room without spending a lot of money?
The most cost-effective improvements, in order of impact: (1) upgrade from TV speakers to a soundbar + subwoofer, (2) add dimmable lighting and control room ambient light, (3) calibrate your television for the gaming mode (minimise input lag), (4) add bias lighting behind the screen. These steps cost relatively little compared to hardware upgrades but deliver significant experiential improvements.
Should I use Dolby Atmos for gaming?
Yes, if your budget allows and your room is appropriate. Most modern gaming consoles support Dolby Atmos output, and an increasing number of AAA games are mixed in Atmos with height channel content. The effect — particularly for open-world games with weather, aircraft, and environmental audio — is transformative. An Atmos system with in-ceiling speakers or Atmos-enabled upward-firing drivers is the recommended configuration for serious gaming rooms.
What lighting is best for a gaming room?
The best gaming room lighting combines: dimmable warm-white LED for general illumination (adjustable brightness without glare on the screen), bias lighting (a soft glow behind the display that reduces eye fatigue and increases perceived contrast), and optionally Philips Hue or equivalent smart bulbs that can sync with on-screen content for immersive ambient effects. Smart lighting control integration allows all of this to be automated or voice-controlled.
