Yet, while gamers invest heavily in large high-definition screens and high-frame-rate graphics cards, the audio experience is often relegated to headsets or underwhelming TV speakers. If you are looking to improve TV sound and transcend your gaming experience, a high-end soundbar is the perfect space-saving solution that can transform your gaming environment.
Featuring technologies like Dolby Atmos capability, a soundbar like the KEF XIO delivers the precise and immersive visceral performance required to not just play the game, but to inhabit it.
Why Sound Matters in Modern Gaming
Within gaming, sound is a form of information. In a competitive shoot-out, the subtle crunch of footsteps on gravel tells you an enemy is flanking. In a survival horror, the directional creak of a door builds necessary tension. In an open-world RPG, the ambient swell of wind and wildlife creates a believable world. Relying on TV speakers compresses this information, flattening the dynamic range and muddying directional cues.
If you have ever wondered if soundbars are worth it for gaming, the answer is yes. A premium soundbar separates high-frequency details, such as the reload of a weapon, from the low-frequency impact of an explosion, ensuring that visceral power never comes at the expense of clarity. This allows you to react faster and feel more in the moment.
The Role of Dolby Atmos in Immersion
The biggest leap in gaming audio is the move from channel-based sound (Left/Right) to object-based audio, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Instead of assigning a sound to a specific speaker, these formats treat sounds as individual "objects" that can be placed precisely in 3D space.
For a gamer, this means verticality. If a helicopter flies overhead in Call of Duty, or a dragon swoops down in Elden Ring, a soundbar with upward-firing drivers (like the 5.1.2 configuration found in the KEF XIO) bounces sound off the ceiling to replicate that movement physically above you.
Learn more about how soundbars work and differ from traditional home audio in our blog.
How to Connect and Configure Your Soundbar for Consoles or PC
To get the full bandwidth required for uncompressed Dolby Atmos, the connection method is simple. The optimal method for consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X is to use the HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) connection.
1. Connect Console to TV: Connect your console directly to your TV's HDMI 2.1 port. This ensures video features like 4K, 120Hz, and VRR are handled without interference.
2. Connect Soundbar to TV: Next, connect the soundbar’s HDMI eARC port to the TV’s eARC port.
3. Configure Settings: Finally, ensure your TV audio output is set to "Pass-Through", and your console audio is set to "Dolby Atmos" or "Linear PCM". This allows the soundbar to decode the high-quality signal directly.
For PC gamers using a TV as a monitor, the setup is straightforward. Connect an HDMI cable from the desktop GPU’s HDMI output directly to the TV or monitor. Then connect a second HDMI eARC cable from the TV’s HDMI eARC port to the soundbar’s HDMI-in (eARC) port. As XIO does not support USB audio, all audio must be passed via HDMI eARC from the TV to the soundbar. In Windows sound settings, enable Dolby Atmos for Home Theatre to ensure spatial audio metadata is correctly output.
The Best Soundbar Settings for FPS, Racing and RPG Titles
Different genres require different acoustic profiles, and a premium soundbar enables you to tailor the performance to the specific gameplay.
For First-Person Shooters (FPS), clarity is king. Using a Dialogue Mode boosts the mid-range frequencies, ensuring voice comms from teammates are crisp and distinct from the chaotic background noise, while also sharpening the "crack" of gunfire and footsteps.
For Racing Simulators, where visceral power is essential, a Movie Mode or standard setting utilises the full width of the soundstage. The KEF XIO’s Velocity Control (VECO) technology - an audio innovation that was named as What HiFi?’s Innovation of the Year for 2025 - ensures bass is deep and tight, letting you feel the rumble of the engine and the road surface without distortion.
For RPGs and Adventure games that rely heavily on atmospheric immersion, sticking to a neutral "Standard" profile allows the orchestral score and ambient world effects to breathe naturally.
Balancing Performance and Style in Your Gaming Room
A dedicated gaming room requires a balance between high performance and clean aesthetics. Traditional systems involve trailing wires and bulky receivers that clutter a desk or media unit.
A soundbar offers a minimalist alternative that fits seamlessly under a monitor or wall-mounted TV. The KEF XIO, for example, features a sleek aluminium top plate and splash-proof fabric, designed to complement modern interiors rather than dominate them.
For those craving extra bass, using a soundbar and subwoofer to elevate your experience eliminates cable clutter, allowing you to place the sub in the optimal acoustic position without worrying about trip hazards.
How KEF Soundbars Elevate Every Game
The KEF XIO soundbar brings true HiFi performance to your gaming setup through unique technologies. Uni-Q MX Technology disperses sound evenly throughout the room, ensuring that whether you are sitting dead centre or playing split-screen co-op, everyone hears the same detailed, consistent sound.
Our proprietary Music Integrity Engine® uses DSP algorithms to correct phase and timing anomalies, ensuring that the sound of a gunshot snaps with instant, lag-free precision. With support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the XIO creates a 5.1.2 channel experience that wraps you in the game world, from the deepest dungeon to the highest sky.
Ready to transform your gaming experience? Explore the KEF Soundbar.
