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We\u2019re at the tail end of the 25\/26 sporting season, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s all over yet. As we enter the latter half of May, there\u2019s still a host of competitions and finals to look forward to, including the NBA Playoffs, and a certain major global football competition beginning in June.<\/p>\n
As this season reaches its climax, however, it\u2019ll be difficult to catch these games live in person, not just because of the flight and accommodation, but also the exorbitant ticket prices for some of these matches. In that case, where else better to enjoy the game than in the comfort of your own home, particularly at your desk?\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\nWhat to consider<\/p>\n
<\/default:svg><\/button><\/p>\n\n1. Why watch at the desk?<\/li>\n 2. Audio<\/li>\n 3. Microphones<\/li>\n 4. Apps for statistics<\/li>\n 5. Secondary displays<\/li>\n 6. Ergonomic furniture<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\nWhy watch at the desk?<\/h2>\n\nIt\u2019s always best to watch the game with loved ones, but if inconvenient timings make that impossible, you might want to turn off the TV and head to the desk.<\/p>\n
Image: Pexels.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
First things first \u2013 if you can catch any of these games on your TV, that might be the more attractive option. Watching sports is a good way of bonding with the family (or with friends), so if you can, spend those two hours in the living room catching the game with loved ones.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, not all matches are going to be at family-friendly timings. You\u2019re probably well aware of this by now if you follow any competitions happening on the other side of the world. In those cases where the matches are in the wee hours of the morning, watching at your desk may be the easiest way to catch them. It\u2019ll certainly be the least annoying if your workspace \/ PC setup is in a separate room from sleeping family members.<\/p>\n
Watching at your desk also confers other benefits. If you are watching on a PC, it\u2019s easier to keep track of other things such as the latest news and stats. Thanks to the multitasking capabilities of PCs, it\u2019s possible to watch two (or more) matches simultaneously. For hardcore fans, we would make the argument that watching at the desk beats the TV.<\/p>\n
Now to help you out with setting up your desk, here\u2019s a list of tips and items you might need to enjoy those games to the fullest.<\/p>\n
Audio<\/h2>\n\nThe Edifier M90 is a recently-released set of bookshelf speakers that are great as a starter pair.<\/p>\n
Image: Edifier.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
You\u2019ll want to start with a good audio setup. Not only to hear the commentators (assuming you like them) or to hear the refs give a call you absolutely disagree with, but just because the game is always better when you can hear the crowd at the stadium \/ court \/ arena chanting, cheering or booing at everything that happens.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re watching at a time that doesn\u2019t interfere with other people\u2019s sleeping schedules or if there isn\u2019t anyone around you, you can invest in audio gear like speakers or even a sound bar. There are great options from names like Audioengine, Creative, Edifier, Kanto, just to name a few. One that looks really promising is Edifier\u2019s new M90 speakers, which offers rich connectivity so you could hook it up to your PC, TV, or even gaming console.<\/p>\n
If you need to keep it down, then you need headphones and earbuds, and there\u2019s certainly no shortage of options. You can get wireless headphones like Sony\u2019s WH-1000XM6 or earbuds like Creative\u2019s Aurvana Ace 3. You could also consider IEMs if you prefer something more discreet and that can double up as a high-fidelity personal listening device. Listing out all the options here would make this piece way too long than it should be, so I\u2019ll just leave you with this perennially relevant piece about how a good audio setup acts as a long-term investment, and a link to our Tech Awards Best Wireless Earbuds article below.<\/p>\n
Microphones<\/h2>\n\nThe AT2020 is a USB condenser microphone that\u2019s a notably affordable option amongst budget microphones.<\/p>\n
Image: Audio Technica.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Watching a game at your desk doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t have some company around. A call is a perfectly fine way to enjoy a match \u2013 or at least a better way than simply watching it on your own. In this case, the standard mics that come with your headsets or earbuds may suffice (though some microphones on TWS buds may not be of such great quality).<\/p>\n
As we mentioned above, though, the act of upgrading your audio gear can be a worthy investment for your setup, and decent microphones don\u2019t even have to be particularly expensive. You can find great ones starting at just over a hundred dollars. One thing to look out for is that more high-end mics might use an XLR connection, so make sure your system is ready for it.<\/p>\n
In addition, do take note of the polar pattern of microphone you\u2019re looking at, as well as whether it\u2019s a condenser or dynamic microphone. In short, the former dictates which part of the microphone is the most sensitive \u2013 a cardioid pattern indicates that the front of the microphone will pick up your voice the best, while an omnidirectional pattern means that your microphone is equally as sensitive from all directions. The latter, meanwhile, is concerned with how a microphone converts soundwaves to electrical signals. To put it very briefly, condenser mics are more sensitive, while dynamic mics are less sensitive, and more suited to picking up loud sounds as a whole.<\/p>\n
Apps for statistics<\/h2>\n\nApps like Sofascore (pictured here) can go pretty in-depth in the match stats it shows you.<\/p>\n
Photos: HWZ.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
It may seem a little overkill, but if you\u2019re a statistics nerd, it\u2019s not a bad idea to get some kind of secondary monitor\/display so you can stat-watch whilst watching the actual game. If you\u2019re a football fan, certain sites like FotMob and Sofascore shows you the key numbers like possession ratios, shots on target and player ratings, but also more in-depth statistics like Live xG, attacking momentum and passing maps, to show you which player is performing well and who isn\u2019t. The two above-mentioned sites are also available as apps.<\/p>\n
What doesn\u2019t come as an app, but is still useful all the same, is Basketball Reference for NBA stats. It shows you a play-by-play that\u2019s incredibly detailed given how fast a basketball game moves, shot charts, as well as a series of advanced stats for the performance of starting and reserve players for how they played in a single game.<\/p>\n
If you do need an app on your phone for basketball, the above-mentioned Sofascore, as well as LiveScore, also have analytics for basketball leagues around the world, alongside other sports such as tennis and hockey. Apple also recently made its Sports app available here and it\u2019s worth checking it out.<\/p>\n