SteelSeries Arctis Pro + Gamedac Gaming Headset

Constant radio static:Steelseries support claims this is an unavoidable part of wireless audio. Im not sure if they are dumb or think we are. This is the only wireless device i've owned, besides a cheap kids walkie talkie set, to have static.They sound awful:The have almost no base at all. As in when you run the sound test from windows sound menu, you almost cannot hear the base voice line at all. Same for the steelseries GG softwares audio test.The software is severley lacking:The equalizer is missing most of the sound range, giving you very few options for improving the sound.They have a beta software called sonar, which has some of the best features iv'e seen and drastically improved the quality of the headset to atleast match cheap earbuds. But this ... MoreConstant radio static:Steelseries support claims this is an unavoidable part of wireless audio. Im not sure if they are dumb or think we are. This is the only wireless device i've owned, besides a cheap kids walkie talkie set, to have static.They sound awful:The have almost no base at all. As in when you run the sound test from windows sound menu, you almost cannot hear the base voice line at all. Same for the steelseries GG softwares audio test.The software is severley lacking:The equalizer is missing most of the sound range, giving you very few options for improving the sound.They have a beta software called sonar, which has some of the best features iv'e seen and drastically improved the quality of the headset to atleast match cheap earbuds. But this software works with any audio device from any brand. So your still better off starting with a better headset.The construction is flimsy, impossible to repair and uncomfortable:The ear cups are connected by a single hollow rotating joint. Any drop or big bump threatens to turn this $500 headset into a useless lump of plastic.The weird way they connect to the headset makes it nearly impossible to tape or glue it back together if it did break.The headband design is bewildering, the single thin unpadded strip is guarenteed to start causing pain in any extended gaming session. The solid arching piece connecting the ear cups, seems to just add unnecassary weight and barley holds tension.The cups are only just wide enough for my above average ears. But not nearly deep enough. if your ears stick out these will likely be painful for extended wear.

Better than expected

After having relied on studio monitors for a fair while, I was shocked to hear these headphones! For music purposes you'll find a beautiful flat EQ, attack on the drums is present and clear and the soundscape is very wide. Every individual instrument is present and clearFor gaming uses, I find that I can hear enemy footsteps very clearly in Counter-Strike and can pinpoint locations far more accurately than I've ever been able to with any other headset. Gunshots and explosions won't be overbearing and drown other sounds out which is a massive bonus.I can't comment on the microphone as I use a standalone microphone but so long as you don't require it to be broadcast quality it would absolutely be serviceableDefinitely the best gaming orientated headphones I've ever ... MoreAfter having relied on studio monitors for a fair while, I was shocked to hear these headphones! For music purposes you'll find a beautiful flat EQ, attack on the drums is present and clear and the soundscape is very wide. Every individual instrument is present and clearFor gaming uses, I find that I can hear enemy footsteps very clearly in Counter-Strike and can pinpoint locations far more accurately than I've ever been able to with any other headset. Gunshots and explosions won't be overbearing and drown other sounds out which is a massive bonus.I can't comment on the microphone as I use a standalone microphone but so long as you don't require it to be broadcast quality it would absolutely be serviceableDefinitely the best gaming orientated headphones I've ever used.

Dissapointed

I have had this headset since November 2018 and It's an ALRIGHT headset but definitely not worth the price.PROS- 2 batteries so you can quickly switch between them so you can charge one while using the other- Wireless- Good mic- Good sound- volume wheel on headset is good- Wireless base station with a good screen- Bluetooth connectivity so I can talk to someone on the phone while simultaneously having game sounds coming through the headset- Mic retracts to be nearly invisibleCons- The on button. You have to hold it for what feels like 5-10 seconds before it turns on.- The headset turns off when you switch the batteries so you have to turn it on again when you put the new one in.- The mute mic button is really sticky and doesn't feel high quality. ... MoreI have had this headset since November 2018 and It's an ALRIGHT headset but definitely not worth the price.PROS- 2 batteries so you can quickly switch between them so you can charge one while using the other- Wireless- Good mic- Good sound- volume wheel on headset is good- Wireless base station with a good screen- Bluetooth connectivity so I can talk to someone on the phone while simultaneously having game sounds coming through the headset- Mic retracts to be nearly invisibleCons- The on button. You have to hold it for what feels like 5-10 seconds before it turns on.- The headset turns off when you switch the batteries so you have to turn it on again when you put the new one in.- The mute mic button is really sticky and doesn't feel high quality. Plastic rubbing against plastic and not pushing in smoothly.- The "game audio" and "chat audio" thing is horrible. My chat audio always comes through with a high pitch wine. I have all my audio running through "game audio"- The headset sometimes switches on and off when I put the headset down and pick it up.- Head band does not have enough range for different sized heads.- The small nail cut out for taking the side panel off is difficult if you have short nails.- Ear cup "leather" degraded and disintegrated, leaving black stuff on the side of my face.- Part where the metal head band arm met the ear cup broke on the ear cup plastic.- It can connect to your computer via a cable but not USB C.-

Excellent comfort & sound

Excellent comfort and sound (I listen with its DAC that I bought previously).Wire sometimes gets in the way but it's worth it to get the higher quality sound that you get with wire; I just loop the wire over my shoulder and it's not a problem and not distracting while gaming.Like a lot of reviewers also experienced, my first pair broke at an ear-cup hinge after one year! I don't think it's fair to blame this on SteelSeries though because this same break happened to two of my Sony headphones too, so two take-away lessons learned:1. Hold all headphones by the head-band, not the ear-cups, when putting them on and taking them off.2. Consider an extended warranty for any brand headphone if you don't think you'll always remember to hold them by the head-band not the ... MoreExcellent comfort and sound (I listen with its DAC that I bought previously).Wire sometimes gets in the way but it's worth it to get the higher quality sound that you get with wire; I just loop the wire over my shoulder and it's not a problem and not distracting while gaming.Like a lot of reviewers also experienced, my first pair broke at an ear-cup hinge after one year! I don't think it's fair to blame this on SteelSeries though because this same break happened to two of my Sony headphones too, so two take-away lessons learned:1. Hold all headphones by the head-band, not the ear-cups, when putting them on and taking them off.2. Consider an extended warranty for any brand headphone if you don't think you'll always remember to hold them by the head-band not the ear-cups when putting on and taking off.After a lot of research (and because I already had its proprietary DAC) I bought another pair of the Arctis Pro Wired after the ear-cup broke off my first one because of the excellent comfort and sound quality.

Great, but not necessarily made for Xbox or PS

If you are a PC player, this pair of wired headphones is going to be amazing quality and durability, especially with the aluminum headband that as long as your head is not enormous like mine, you will not have any issues fitting this.I mention my long big head, because after about three or four months of using them, they got a little loose enough that it is comfortable with no issues for long sessions of about four or six hours of gaming. They are not as comfortable as the official Xbox steel series X9 headset, which accommodate my big head much better so be aware.The RGB lighting is not compatible with consuls in an easy manner that you can use voice chat on Xbox and still listen to the game Audio. On PlayStation, you pretty much have no issues if you want to ... MoreIf you are a PC player, this pair of wired headphones is going to be amazing quality and durability, especially with the aluminum headband that as long as your head is not enormous like mine, you will not have any issues fitting this.I mention my long big head, because after about three or four months of using them, they got a little loose enough that it is comfortable with no issues for long sessions of about four or six hours of gaming. They are not as comfortable as the official Xbox steel series X9 headset, which accommodate my big head much better so be aware.The RGB lighting is not compatible with consuls in an easy manner that you can use voice chat on Xbox and still listen to the game Audio. On PlayStation, you pretty much have no issues if you want to utilize the RGB lights.I would say that sound quality is worth it on a sale for Consol gamers like PlayStation or Xbox and if you are a PC player, then go ahead at full price you will not regret it because you are getting the full package with no limitations.Richie, Rich labs

Please Review..Could save you money

I don’t want to sound like the grumpy ole fart who leaves reviews that doesn’t help anyone so I will be as honest as possible when reviewing this microphone in hopes that this messages spreads and reach more people. Let me start off by saying I play a lot of FPS on PC anywhere from escape from Tarkov, apex legends, COD, and soon battlefield 2042. I can clock roughly 4-5 hours a day after work so I’m mostly on. I purchased this headphones the beginning of December 2020. First impressions:Loved the headset. Audio wasn’t spectacular but It still got the job done with hearing footsteps in game and being in the moment. The chat/game mix is one of the easiest I have ever dealt with and I’ve had A50’s (gen 3) as well. The replaceable batteries are really good as well. I ... MoreI don’t want to sound like the grumpy ole fart who leaves reviews that doesn’t help anyone so I will be as honest as possible when reviewing this microphone in hopes that this messages spreads and reach more people. Let me start off by saying I play a lot of FPS on PC anywhere from escape from Tarkov, apex legends, COD, and soon battlefield 2042. I can clock roughly 4-5 hours a day after work so I’m mostly on. I purchased this headphones the beginning of December 2020. First impressions:Loved the headset. Audio wasn’t spectacular but It still got the job done with hearing footsteps in game and being in the moment. The chat/game mix is one of the easiest I have ever dealt with and I’ve had A50’s (gen 3) as well. The replaceable batteries are really good as well. I never had to worry about my wireless headset dying which is really good if you game a lot or forget to charge one of the batteries. The software interface wasn’t bad, I had small issues with the display when enabling the discord features on the station.8 MONTHS LATER “Premium Headset”:Please note the headliner for this section still pisses me off because for a $330 headset I would expect it to last a year maybe more? The base where it connects to the ear pieces are cheaply made, the ONE point of contact (which i wished I paid attention to before) causes this headset is easily degrade in durability. Let me note, I have never been rough with this headset. It sits on a stand in my gaming room. The only time it is in use is if I’m playing the game. So for the headset to simply fall apart after 8 months in the way it did, is unacceptable for $330 headphones. When trying to bring this issue to the manufacturers attention, as you can see, they simply gave me a generic answer. The crazy THING is I even OFFERED TO PAY for just the headset. They denied my request which led me to believe they would simply prefer to have you buy the whole thing again. I personally believe this company doesn’t stand behind their product. I’ve spoken to audio headset engineers who have also expressed this could very well be a design flaw but they will not admit that. (That’s how far and mad I’ve become to go that far). I’ve had A50’s, A40’s, Turtle Beaches, and have never been more upset. Furthermore, if you look at their other models, I believe I saw a artic 7 In Best Buy, sams design but different frame used for the connection where the ear pieces meet. They look more stable and secure than its expensive counterpart. Suggestion: If you do buy an artic headset, specifically these ones, get it from Best Buy and get there 2 year warranty so WHEN this happens to you, you can return it for another one because the company will not help you what-so-ever.I have officially became one of the negative comments on Google that looks fake as hell and dissatisfied with life. You’re all welcome.

Pretty good sound quality, but with some glitches and high price.

The comfort is good and the overall sound quality and mic is pretty good.That said, i believe it is way overpriced for what you are getting, and the HiFi aspect is a bit of a gimmick considering what these are made for.Some games don't play well with the HiFi 96hz mode enabled (I also have a MOTU M2 audio interface that can run at 192KHZ with my 250 ohm Beyerdynamic DT770 Pros). The problem with Hifi mode in games with the Steel Series DAC mostly has to do with the directional quality as the sound isn't fluid as you pan around. It randomly jumps sometimes instead of panning smoothly when orienting your character in a video game. That isn't the case with HiFi mode off, but there is also an issue the appears when running these in the normal "PC" mode.There is a ... MoreThe comfort is good and the overall sound quality and mic is pretty good.That said, i believe it is way overpriced for what you are getting, and the HiFi aspect is a bit of a gimmick considering what these are made for.Some games don't play well with the HiFi 96hz mode enabled (I also have a MOTU M2 audio interface that can run at 192KHZ with my 250 ohm Beyerdynamic DT770 Pros). The problem with Hifi mode in games with the Steel Series DAC mostly has to do with the directional quality as the sound isn't fluid as you pan around. It randomly jumps sometimes instead of panning smoothly when orienting your character in a video game. That isn't the case with HiFi mode off, but there is also an issue the appears when running these in the normal "PC" mode.There is a well known glitch i quickly discovered when running this headset on the default "PC" mode which gives you separate controllable channels (thru the DAC) for both your chat and game audio. They are called "GameDAC Chat" and "GameDAC Game". If you do not put your PC to sleep with the "GameDAC Game" set as the audio solution currently being used "GameDAC Game" will disappear in the audio menu when you wake your PC. You will have to either unplug and re-plugin the DAC, or go into the DAC menu and turn on "HiFi" mode for a second, then turn HIFI mode off. Windows 10 will display the "GameDAC Game" audio selection again.Just Google "GameDAC Game disappearing" and you will see what I am talking about. It is an issue that has been going on since release of this headset, but hasn't been fixed for some reason.

Short warranty for an expensive item

This was a great headset. Amazing features, second battery made battery life a non-issue, sound quality was fine, software is passable.Then the left ear shorted out less than two years after purchase. Warranty is for one year. I should have paid more attention to the warranty length before buying an item with such an ungodly price. I guess I assumed something so pricey would have better support--lesson learned.Generally when it comes to hardware, appliances, electronics, etc. I prefer to purchase the expensive option and take care of it rather than rotate through cheap options every few years. As such I treated this thing like it was made of glass but I guess at the end of the day it's just overpriced for the quality.Great headset if you can afford to throw ... MoreThis was a great headset. Amazing features, second battery made battery life a non-issue, sound quality was fine, software is passable.Then the left ear shorted out less than two years after purchase. Warranty is for one year. I should have paid more attention to the warranty length before buying an item with such an ungodly price. I guess I assumed something so pricey would have better support--lesson learned.Generally when it comes to hardware, appliances, electronics, etc. I prefer to purchase the expensive option and take care of it rather than rotate through cheap options every few years. As such I treated this thing like it was made of glass but I guess at the end of the day it's just overpriced for the quality.Great headset if you can afford to throw $300 at a new headset every year. I, however, will not be purchasing any more SteelSeries products.

Steelseries Arctis Pro: After 7 months of use, hinge snapped like a twig.

At first I was blown away at how good this headset was since it had the best sound quality and mic I've ever heard and it's relatively comfortable. Though being a "premium" headset that cost me $170, it has a big flaw in the structure of the hinges, in which they're badly engineered. After 7 months of use, the connection to the hinges and headphones itself, cracked and then snapped off even though I had never handled it aggressively. I then tried contacting customer support for a replacement but was told that because my serial number on the headset was worn out despite me have pictures of the broken headset, my receipt and the serial number on the product box, they're unable to send me one. So now here I am, -$170 less and deeply disappointed. For how good the audio ... MoreAt first I was blown away at how good this headset was since it had the best sound quality and mic I've ever heard and it's relatively comfortable. Though being a "premium" headset that cost me $170, it has a big flaw in the structure of the hinges, in which they're badly engineered. After 7 months of use, the connection to the hinges and headphones itself, cracked and then snapped off even though I had never handled it aggressively. I then tried contacting customer support for a replacement but was told that because my serial number on the headset was worn out despite me have pictures of the broken headset, my receipt and the serial number on the product box, they're unable to send me one. So now here I am, -$170 less and deeply disappointed. For how good the audio and mic was, there's no point if you cannot wear it so stay clear of this headset, because it sure isn't durable unless you treat it like a baby.

They aren't great... Just ok.

I have been a long time customer of SteelSeries peripherals. I have owned many different models of there mouse and keyboards, mousepads, and even the old racing wheel they used to sell. I was looking into buying a headset around the time that these came out and was really excited to check them out. I originally wanted the wireless version or the ones that comes with the gamedac, but they were constantly out of stock so i settled on these instead. For the price you pay though, they really are not worth it. First the aluminum band sockets into a plastic housing which has been known for a long time to break convienently right after the warranty period ends, the audio quality really isnt that great for the amount that you pay. The only positive that I can give this ... MoreI have been a long time customer of SteelSeries peripherals. I have owned many different models of there mouse and keyboards, mousepads, and even the old racing wheel they used to sell. I was looking into buying a headset around the time that these came out and was really excited to check them out. I originally wanted the wireless version or the ones that comes with the gamedac, but they were constantly out of stock so i settled on these instead. For the price you pay though, they really are not worth it. First the aluminum band sockets into a plastic housing which has been known for a long time to break convienently right after the warranty period ends, the audio quality really isnt that great for the amount that you pay. The only positive that I can give this thing is that the mic is great, almost too good as it picks up basically everything around you. If you are like me and tend to buy really clicky and loud mechanical keyboards, I would definitely think about getting something else as your teammates will hear your every keystoke in game. I am really kind of disappointed in this headset. I recently just picked up a pair of Corsair HS70 pros, they are wireless, far cheaper, and the overall sound and build quality are much better if you are in the market I would look into alternatives. Astro is also another you may want to consider before these.