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Pro gamers aren’t just playing with high-end gear – they’re optimizing every detail, including their sound. Custom EQ settings help players hear what matters most, when it matters most. Here’s how tailored audio settings can provide a serious competitive edge:

1. Better Spatial Awareness

In fast-paced games like Valorant, CS2, or Call of Duty, spatial cues like footsteps or directional gunfire are everything. Custom EQ enhances the frequencies where those sounds live, making it easier to pinpoint enemies based on sound alone, even before they appear on screen.

Why it matters: Hearing footsteps from the correct direction can give you a full second’s advantage. In esports, that's huge.

2. Reduced Audio Clutter

Games are filled with layered sounds: explosions, music, dialogue, and ambient effects. EQ settings allow pros to strip away non-essential noise, like heavy base from an explosion, so it doesn’t drown out important cues like enemy movement or ability usage.

Why it matters: Removing distracting or overpowering sounds helps critical audio cues cut through the mix more clearly.

3. Faster Reaction Times

A split-second delay in hearing an enemy reload or a door creak can cost the round. By boosting the mid-to-high frequency ranges where these sounds typically sit, pro players ensure they hear them loud and clear and react quicker.

Why it matters: The clearer the audio signal, the faster your brain can respond. Sound becomes a tool, not background noise.

4. Game-Specific Optimization

Each game has a different audio mix. What works for Call of Duty might not be ideal for Apex Legends. That’s why many pro players create custom EQ profiles for each game, tailoring the audio experience based on which sounds are most crucial for success.

Sonar features over 200 presets now, and very often game developers themselves create these presets in consultation with SteelSeries. Therefore you'll rest assured that these presets were done professionally.

If you're playing on console, you can take advantage of these presets too with the Arctis Companion App.

5. Personalization for Gear & Hearing

Pro players often adjust EQ based on the specific headset they’re using or even their own hearing preferences. One headset might naturally have more bass, while another may be too bright. Custom EQ ensures the final sound mix is balanced for both hardware and player.

You can make your own presets in Sonar, customize them to your heart's content, and Favorite them, and even share with others in the community. Or import someone else's.