Speakers for gaming

What do I need to look out for when buying speakers for gaming? Any specific recommendations? I don't really want to spend too much but I want something that will give me decent enough sound output.

Microlab Solo 3C is my best warm recommendation.

Don't buy computer speakers, buy proper hi-fi speakers and an amp/receiver or active studio monitors if you want good sound. Size matters.

What's your budget?

Sound quality is a very subjective category (as well as too much money). I couldn't find speakers that I considered good for "not too much money" for my standards, so I ended up with a used hi fi set for around €100 and I'm more than happy with it. But it's a stereo system and it's quite big (not an issue for me). If you want surround I think you can get better quality for less money if you choose a 5.1 headset. Hope this helps :).

These if you can get them cheap (you sometimes find them on special), they sound amazing for the price:

http://www.logitech.com/en-au/product/speaker-system-z906?crid=47

Real 5.1 headsets sound terrible. You also can't get a good surround image from multiple drivers if they're essentially all in the same place.

TC give us a budget, but if it's under $200 there is no point attempting surround, and if it's less than $100 you either need to buy used or save more.

Decent soundcard/headphones imo is a better option....

Agreed. Some will really notice a difference in the sound quality. To others, there isn't a big enough difference to spend the money or time on speakers and an amp.

So, unless the OP is willing to spend a couple hundred, the best thing he can do is just go listen to some speakers. I've personally liked my little 2.1 set by Creative. I've had it for a while now though and it's no longer available.

I don't really have a specific budget by I would preferably like to spend less than $100 if thats possible? I'm not after anything overly extravagant in fairness. Would you guys recommend 2.1 or 5.1 surround sound for gaming? Is 5.1 really necessary?

- If you want to spend less than $100, don't bother looking for 5.1. Spend as much as you can on a good 2.1 Speaker set like Creative or Logitech.

- As for your second point, once you go true 5.1 with good speakers (not headset 5.1 which is all BS), you will never go back to 2.1. I know I won't, but you need to spend good money on the speakers and have a good sound card.

@FelipeInside: AVR master race reporting in :P

If you happen to have an old receiver (or preferably a slightly newer one with HDMI or another digital signal input) lying around, you could skip the sound card and amplifier all together as the signal would be processed through the receiver instead of the computer. You could hook it up and use however many channels you feel you need. It would also give you a lot of room to upgrade later on. I'd check CL or something, as buying a receiver used would be a must.

However, as others have said, if you are going the headset route, a nice sound card would be required to properly drive them. If going this route and you really need sound now, you could just buy a nice ~$100-150 (preferably stereo) headset and pick up a sound card later on. Surround sound headsets may have cool effects, but in terms of sound quality, they sound muddied and distorted and often too boomy compared to reference-like headphones. A long-lasting, crisp-sounding sound system, whether headphones or speakers, will pay for itself in the long run, so saving a little bit more or buying in increments may be your best bet.