SteelSeries Arctis 9 Gaming Headphone [Review]

January 15, 2023 Modified date: January 15, 2023

Table of Contents

The Arctis 9 connects effortlessly with Personal computers, PS4, Move (docked), and cellular websites, along with a 3.5 mm audio cable, in addition, it connects with Xbox One, Switch (handheld), and more aged music gadgets of most stripes. In all other respects, it is much like the Arctis 7 — for better as well as for even worse.

Just like the Arctis 7, the Arctis 9 comes with a stunning, secure design, excellent in-activity sound along with a crystal-crystal clear mic. But in addition such as the Arctis 7, the audio quality isn’t quite what you’d anticipate for the price, particularly ever since the Arctis 9 fees a significant $200 rather than a more workable $150.

You’re essentially spending an added $50 for Bluetooth performance, which is useful, but perhaps not definitely worth the premium. It’s additionally that the Arctis 9 causes you to bounce by way of a few connectivity challenges, considering that another SteelSeries merchandise, the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox, has essentially solved the dongle issue for good.

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Style

Right from the start, the SteelSeries Arctis 9 generates kudos for doing what so a couple of other video game headsets do, and breaking up the complete volume and chat quantity dials. It is an over-ear headphone and with excellent quality material. The volume dial is around the proper earcup, combined with the mic mute switch, the Bluetooth switch, the charging you port, and the 3.5 millimeters audio jack. Around the left earcup, you’ll find a conversation mix dial, and absolutely nothing different. It can make revealing both the dials apart trouble-free, as opposed to many other game-playing headsets, which inexplicably put the two dials correct following each other. Above that, the Arctis 9 features the traditional Arctis design you’ve certainly observed just before: a basic, light in weight dark plastic-type material chassis with the elastic headband on top. There’s a retractable mic within the kept earcup, and never a lot in addition by way of adornment. You might very easily put on this headset out of the home without a solitary errant look. There’s no RGB lighting or artistic layout flourishes it’s just a classy, comfortable game-playing headset.

Comfort

Like other Arctis headsets, the SteelSeries Arctis 9 utilizes what SteelSeries telephone calls a “ski goggles” layout. As opposed to adjustable notches, the Arctis 9 comes with a stretchy headband that adapts to your head automatically each time you use it. This means there’s no tedious fiddling with notches, even if you share the headset using a loved one or housemate. I always said I wanted more video gaming businesses would take hold of this style, but as headsets like the Logitech G733 show, the style isn’t as trouble-free as SteelSeries can make it look. Basically that between its luxurious earcups and easy headband, the Arctis 9 seems comfortable for a long time at one time, and almost warranties a great in shape from the minute you add it on.

Performance

I evaluated the SteelSeries Arctis 9 with various video games for Personal computer, PS4, Switch and Android mobile phone, which include Chronilogical age of Empires II: Definitive Model, Ghost of Tsushima, Star Trek On the internet and Disaster Eternal. What I noticed was excellent across the table. I especially appreciated how subtle the directional sound was. This can be helpful when you’re dealing with down a horde of traveling by air demons in Doom, but it is surprisingly just like successful when you are able hear your villagers slicing hardwood using one aspect and mining precious metal on another in Era of Empires. Even though the Arctis 9 isn’t marketed for that Nintendo Change, it will indeed function in docked mode. The Bluetooth functionality operates just great for mobile game titles, and really helped show the fight cries in Stories of Crestoria along with the stunning orchestral soundtrack of Monument Valley 2.

My only problem about the Arctis 9’s online game overall performance is that the seem is not really markedly not the same as the SteelSeries Arctis 7, which itself didn’t get the most prosperous or most nuanced soundscape. The sound is great total, especially for online games. But in comparison to another $200 wireless network game playing headset, like the Logitech Pro X wireless, it’s deficient a little bit range and subtlety. This is certainly particularly accurate for songs, which has very little bass sounds as well as a toned, lifeless user profile across styles.

Features

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 can be a function-unique headset, without having less than four methods to connect with various gadgets, in addition to compatibility using the SteelSeries Generator software program. When SteelSeries Engine was not suitable for the Arctis 9 during our overview windowpane (it will be shortly), SteelSeries knowledgeable us that the functionality is largely similar to to the Arctis 7. This means you’ll have the ability to tweak equalizations, put in place user profiles for a person online games and so on.

The bigger package this period around is the Arctis 9 can handle Bluetooth, which is a very first within a wireless SteelSeries head set. Functionally, which means that you may set the Arctis 9 wirelessly with mobile phones. You can also use Wireless bluetooth for PC online connectivity while keeping the Arctis 9’s dongle hooked as much as a PS4, which is actually a small much less tedious than constantly inserting and unplugging the USB connector.

I’m of two mind about Bluetooth connection. On one side, it is great for the Arctis 9 to offer wi-fi connection with smart phones. On the other hand, the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wifi arguably sorted out this challenge in a much more stylish way: using a USB-C dongle. Without having stepping into an intensive assessment, the USB-C dongle is both smaller sized and more functional in comparison to the USB-A dongle that accompanies the Arctis 9, specifically ever since the Arctis 9 dongle demands anyone to flick a switch between PC and PS4 online connectivity.

The mic can also be well worth going over here. The speech high quality is really clear, as well as the mic is very easy to retract, easy to expand and extremely hard to lose. I wish more video gaming headset mics were as simply and intelligently made.

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Verdict

In our SteelSeries Arctis 9 review, we reviewed the device’s excellent in shape, great quality of sound and amazing Bluetooth connectivity. Nonetheless, at $200, it’s one of the more expensive well-known game playing headsets out there, and it’s tough to shake the experience that this should seem slightly bit much better, specifically tunes. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed using the Arctis 9 both for video gaming and productivity, specifically since it is so easy to put on. From the same range of prices, I would personally consider (and maybe even select) the Logitech G Pro X Wireless, however it depends on whether you like comfort (Arctis 9) or audio quality (Pro By Wi-fi). You can’t fail with either option. And the noise-cancellation is pretty good!