Is 5.1 sound necessary for gaming?

[Denithor]

Necessary is the wrong word. Few things are necessary. Heck, are speakers necessary when you can read subtitles?

Better question is if 5.1 surround sound is worth the money, and that's really down to your finances. However, I'd say you should first spend money buying a strong 2.1 setup before pursing surround sound. If you're on a tight budget, buy into a new system, don't buy 5 crappy speakers at once (which is why I strongly dislike HTIB sets, they aren't reusable in higher-end systems).

This. Start with a good receiver, add a pair of decent towers. If that is sufficient, you're done. If not, add a sub or center or rears (whatever you feel is lacking and/or find a good deal on) or even piece it together over time if budget is the issue.

I'm more than happy with my 3.2 setup. A pair of Klipsch subs really changed the whole tone of my system, it's just awesome now.

 

[RedRooster]

Spatial sound is greatly enhanced by it but full range stereo speakers do an admirable job. I've been replaying Condemned 2 on a 2.1 setup and I still get the "holy **** what was that behind me" feel from the sound. I remember Doom 3 supposedly being the first game truly designed with 5.1 sound in mind and it really pulls it off well. Every horror game since then has gotten more geared for it. Mandatory no however.

That's my main concern, as I went straight from TV speakers to a cheap 5.1 system, so I never heard a well made 2.0/2.1 system and if it can give you that same immersion. That's good to know.
Its not really cost so much as it is downsizing. Having to run cords and move furniture to place the rears and stuff is fine, but if I can just have some power up front give me similar audio, I'd just do that for convenience.

 

[purbeast0]

That's my main concern, as I went straight from TV speakers to a cheap 5.1 system, so I never heard a well made 2.0/2.1 system and if it can give you that same immersion. That's good to know.
Its not really cost so much as it is downsizing. Having to run cords and move furniture to place the rears and stuff is fine, but if I can just have some power up front give me similar audio, I'd just do that for convenience.

if you can, run cables in the walls, much nicer looking and you don't have any clutter and won't have to move furniture around after the initial installation is done. just mount the rears up on the wall.

it just depends on how much you want to spend on it. cause a good 2.1 setup owns a crappy 5.1 setup, but a good 5.1 setup owns a good 2.1 setup.

 

[MentalIlness]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Logitech Z-5500's going on 8 years now.

 

[pw38]

Improved visuals aren't necessary either. I appreciate better quality audio though so to me multi channel surround sound is about as necessary as are better graphics. The two go hand in hand.

 

[exar333]

Been enjoying 5.1 sound for 10+ years. Yeah, it's pretty nice, especially for games where sound plays a big part in the experience.