Sim racing fans tend to be some of the most well-equipped gamers in the world, but one equipment consideration tends to fall off of their radar sometimes – audio! Whether you’re hitting the track in Assetto Corsa, Forza Motorsport or any other racer, get the most of your racing experience by getting some of the best speakers sim racing could ask for!
The Top-Rated Speakers for Sim Racing
| Editor's Pick | Speakers | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best 5.1 | Logitech Z906 | 91% |
| Runner-Up 5.1 | Harman Kardon HKTS 16BQ | 91% |
| Best 2.1 | Logitech Z625 | 88% |
| Runner-Up 2.1 | Logitech G560 LIGHTSYNC | 87% |
| Best 7.1 | Samsung HW-Q67CT | 95% |
| Best Soundbar | Razer Leviathan | 89% |
| Best Headphones | SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless | 90% |
Best 5.1: Logitech Z906
A great surround sound system that does everything asked of it at a great price
The Logitech Z906 is the overall best speaker system for sim racing due to the unbeatable value proposition on offer. Featuring high quality 5.1 audio, these THX certified home theater speakers are Dolby Digital and DTS compatible and come with everything you need to install the system with your Windows PC or stereo system.
At 1000 peak, the speakers volumes are absolute overkill on max settings, so you can rest assured that they’ll meet your racing needs with ease. Included in the box is a control console for fine tuning and wireless remote so that you can make adjustments from the cockpit.
Perhaps most importantly, the system is ready to go out of the box with digital and analog sound systems, so you won’t need to buy any special cables or amp to connect to your rig. If you want to get a great system without investing a lot of time trying to nail down precisely what it is you want and need for your rig, this set from Logitech is a true no-brainer!
Runner-Up 5.1: Harman Kardon HKTS 16BQ
The Harman Kardon HKTS 16BQ is an amazing speaker set that features extreme bass as one of it’s main selling points. The down-firing subwoofer pumps out a massive 200w of bass, and includes separate volume control and switches to avoid phase issues, and each of the satellites provides 120w of highs and mids with masterful precision.
Harmon Kardon has always been known for their wonderful acoustics and handsome aesthetics, and these speakers continue that tradition with subtle grace. This system comes with wiring for the speakers, but doesn’t provide cabling necessary to connect to your receiver or soundcard, so make sure buy some cables if you decide to go with this one!
Best 2.1: Logitech Z625
The Logitech Z625 is a great alternative to surround sound systems that cost much more and require more laborious installation – but will nonetheless provide great sound quality for sim racing fans!
This THX certified set has 400w peak power, and users praise the crisp bass as punching way above this set’s price tier. One point of contention with this particular set is with the looks – the open-faced speaker design may rub some the wrong way, but it’s not especially garish or unsightly.
The real star of the show with this set is the sheer value – these speakers have sound quality and volume on-par with sets sold for twice it’s price! If you’re looking for the most boom for your buck, this is probably the best choice for you!
Runner-Up 2.1: Logitech G560 LIGHTSYNC
The Logitech G560 LIGHTSYNC is an extremely powerful 2.1 speaker set that has simulated DTS-X Ultra surround sound, giving the illusion of speakers emitting audio from behind and above you – making this a great choice for gamers in small spaces who want to get the biggest sound possible from their speaker purchase.
Speaking of big sound, this set outputs 240w peak of crispy audio, and the subwoofer is especially loud and impactful. Another great part about this set is the aesthetics – the round speakers feature four zones of RGB lighting, and can be controlled by compatible games or configured with Logitech’s software to create ambient lighting to taste.
The big caveat here is, as has been alluded to – this set is only really a great deal for PC racers; the lighting and surround sound both requires software running on Windows in order to control. You can certainly use the speakers with your PS5, Xbox Series or other console of choice, but you’re better off buying a lower-priced set that doesn’t charge a premium for features you can’t take advantage of!
Best 7.1: Samsung HW-Q67CT
The Samsung HW-Q67CT takes a relatively unique approach to providing 7.1 surround sound, and it does so extremely well. Unlike traditional 7.1 sets, this one only has two (rear) satellite speakers, a subwoofer – and packs the other five speakers into a three-foot-long soundbar.
This approach allows for an expansive, all-encompassing soundstage – without the need for as many wires, mounts and the associated time and energy required to get everything installed properly. This is especially great for sim racers who have rigs that don’t have mounting space to the sides of their cockpit.
While it could certainly be argued that this set doesn’t offer true surround sound, it can’t be said that the price isn’t great for what it offers. DTS-X, wired and wireless (Bluetooth) connection options and remote control via smartphone app.
Best Soundbar: Razer Leviathan
The Razer Leviathan is a perfect example of a good thing in a small package. At less than 20 inches long, this little bar manages to fill your room with great 5.1 simulated surround sound that user praise as being better than other, larger soundbars.
The subwoofer is also tinier than most, at just over a foot and a half tall, and pumps 30w of deep bass. The only real knock against this set is that it lacks a remote or ability to remotely control, making it a bad choice for those who are playing on console as opposed to PC, where you’ll have audio controls at your fingertips anyway.
Note that the soundbar uses a standard 3.5mm audio jack, and the sub connects via Bluetooth. If you want the biggest sound possible from a tiny soundbar footprint, you can’t do better than Razer Leviathan.
Best Headset: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless
The =SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless is a great gaming headset that packs all of the features you could ever want into an attractive package. In fact, the feature list is too long to list here, so we’ll focus on the most important aspects for racing sims.
The transmitter sends 2.4 ghz wireless with nearly zero latency, and optional Bluetooth allows simultaneous connection to your mobile. The each of the two included batteries last up to 20 hours on a charge, and can be swapped at any time. The hi-res speakers and microphone have won numerous awards and are arguably the best in any gaming headset.
We could dive into tech specs and discuss details all day, but the fact of the matter is that a great gaming headset is harder to come by than one might expect, and if you aren’t considering one, it’s probably because you haven’t used one as great as the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless!
What to Look for in Speakers for Sim Racing
Here are three main factors to bear in mind when choosing sim racing speakers?
Surround Sound or Stereo?
Let’s start with surround sound: unless it is impossible due to having a small gaming space or budgetary reasons, it’s strongly suggested that you go with a surround sound system. The debate on this front is whether you should go with 7.1 or 5.1 for your surround sound setup.
A 5.1 surround sound system is comprised of a center channel speaker, two front satellite speakers, two side satellites and a subwoofer. A 7.1 surround sound setup features the same composition, with an additional 2 rear speakers for an additional sounds layer.
If your sim rig is in your living room, it’s probably best to get a sound system that will double as a home theater – and 7.1 is typically the best way to go in that regard as so much content will be compatible and take full advantage of your stereo. If the speakers will be used purely as gaming sound systems, it’s a bit harder to justify going 7.1 – as most sim racers do not feature full support for the extra channels.
That being said, your surround system or sound card will compensate for this and output sound from all speakers, so it’s not as if the extra audio channels won’t be doing anything! Racing games are an amazing surround sound experience, so it is a great investment to add a 5.1 surround set (or better) to your system.
Stereo (2.0 or 2.1) is a viable option for those who don’t have a lot of space or simply don’t want to spend a lot of money. Most soundbars fall into this category, and some are certainly worth consideration. Do get a subwoofer though, if at all possible – great bass is essential for a good racing experience!
Lastly, headphones are a great choice for those who want to keep things quiet for neighbors, or who want to mix in a voice chat channel for talking to teammates in games. Don’t skimp on some cheap junk though – get a great gaming headset or headphones with quality bass and surround sound!
Price
You’ve likely noticed by now, but there is a huge difference in price between the best and worst speakers out there – and it can be very difficult to determine what is and isn’t worth the asking price. Home theater speakers can range in price from virtually free to virtually unattainable, so where is the sweet spot?
That will come down to personal preferences, the form factor your choose to go with and plenty of factors. Racing sim fans who want to hear everything from road noise to cockpit sounds will benefit greatly from a surround speaker system, which will cost a lot more than a soundbar, for example.
At the end of the day, you can rest assured that every speaker system on this list is highly rated and loved by users all over the world for their value.
Aesthetics
One might be surprised that sound quality isn’t on this list of important factors – but that consideration goes without saying! Rest assured that every set of speakers on this list has great range, volume and overall superior audio versus the competition.
With such primal considerations out of the way, we can consider something a bit more esoteric – aesthetics. Everyone wants a good-looking set of speakers, right? Maybe not! If you don’t care about such things (they’re meant to be listened to, after all) then feel free to save some money on a set that’s built for purpose.
If aesthetics are important to you, there are plenty of good-looking speakers on this list that deliver audio with style to spare. Whether you want to impress guests or simply create a more pleasant racing environment, grab speakers you’re happy to look at as well as listen to!
Last Updated on July 11, 2021