When comparing gaming monitors, built-in speakers often appear as a checkbox feature, and it is easy to assume they are a nice bonus worth having. But monitor speakers vary wildly in quality and usefulness, and for many gamers they are irrelevant. Whether you need them comes down to how you already get audio and how much desk space and money you want to spend.
What monitor speakers are actually like
The small drivers crammed into a slim monitor chassis are physically limited. Most output between 2 and 5 watts per channel, with little bass and a thin, tinny character. They are fine for system sounds, a YouTube video, or a voice call, but they cannot reproduce the impact of explosions, the directional cues of footsteps, or the fullness of a game’s soundtrack the way even budget dedicated speakers or a headset can.
Who benefits from them
Built-in speakers make the most sense as a convenience or backup. They are genuinely useful for a clutter-free secondary setup, a living-room or dorm space where you cannot fit external speakers, or as a fallback when your headset battery dies. If you value a tidy desk and only need basic sound, they save space and a cable.
| Audio option | Typical quality | Best for | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor speakers | Basic, thin | Casual, backup, tidy desk | Included |
| Gaming headset | Good, immersive, private | Competitive, directional audio | $40-150 |
| Desktop speakers | Good to great | Shared/immersive listening | $50-200 |
| Speakers + subwoofer | Excellent, full bass | Enthusiast setups | $150+ |
Why most serious gamers skip them
Competitive players rely on precise positional audio to locate enemies, and a headset delivers that far better than monitor speakers while keeping the sound private. Immersion-focused players usually prefer dedicated 2.0 or 2.1 desktop speakers with real bass. In both cases the monitor’s own speakers go unused, so paying extra specifically for them makes little sense if you already own good audio gear.
The connectivity angle
Monitor speakers only work if the display receives audio, which it does over HDMI or DisplayPort (both carry sound), or via a headphone/line input on some models. A handy related feature is a headphone jack on the monitor itself, which lets you plug headphones into the screen and route game audio there, useful for cable management even if you never use the built-in drivers.
Should it affect your buying decision?
Treat built-in speakers as a minor tiebreaker, not a priority. Do not pay a meaningful premium or compromise on panel quality, refresh rate, or response time to get them. If two otherwise equal monitors are close in price and you want occasional convenience sound, the one with speakers wins; otherwise, ignore the feature and invest in a headset or dedicated speakers instead.
FAQ
Do monitor speakers add input lag to audio?
There can be a small audio delay when sound travels over HDMI/DisplayPort and through the monitor’s processing, but it is usually minor. For competitive play where precise timing matters, a wired headset connected to your PC is the more reliable low-latency choice.
Can I use a monitor’s headphone jack instead of its speakers?
Yes. Many monitors have a headphone or line-out jack that passes through the audio received over HDMI or DisplayPort, letting you plug in headphones or external speakers at the screen for cleaner cable routing, regardless of built-in speaker quality.
Bottom line
Built-in speakers are a low-quality convenience, fine for casual sound, system audio, and tidy or space-limited setups, but no substitute for a gaming headset or dedicated speakers. Do not sacrifice panel specs or pay extra for them. Buy the best display for your needs first, and treat speakers as a minor bonus rather than a deciding feature.
