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Gaming Headsets
Steelseries Arctis 9 Review
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The SteelSeries Arctis 9 has comfort, extensive controls and customization, and great connectivity and battery life. However, it lacks performance in key areas like sound and mic quality.
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Product Snapshot
Overview
First launched in 2021, the SteelSeries Arctis 9 headphones are an entry-level variant that feature a retractable boom microphone, and their sound output can be easily configured through the SteelSeries Engine app. The headphones can last up to 20.3 hours, but they’ll take up to 5.6 hours to get to a full charge.
Fortunately, they can be used while charging – just like many of the highest-rated gaming headsets. They have a ski band headband, a nice range of adjustability on the ear cups, and are well-padded for added comfort. The headphones don’t support NFC pairing. They also have 40mm drivers and controls for the volume and microphone.
Rankings (recommended in)
Best For
Wireless Microphones
Consensus
our Verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 headset ultimately stumbles when it comes to key gaming elements. Its audio production is imbalanced, producing strong, overpowering bass and treble that can drown out mids. However, users can access the company software to customize sound to make up for the subpar drivers. Another large drawback is the microphone recording quality. The mic was rated 5.9/10, as it failed to pick up the voice clearly and naturally.
The headset does have some positives, like comfort. Its thick cushioning makes it ideal for long listening sessions and has significant adjustability to help distribute pressure. On top of this, the 20.3 hours of continuous playback and 303 ft line of sight connectivity range.
ReasonS to Buy
- Comfortable Design
The headset works well for long gaming sessions, given its impressive padding on the headband and earcups. It has good adjustability. However, the headset runs on the smaller side, so those with larger heads should exercise caution.
- Robust Companion Software
Users can alter sound and mic settings through the SteelSeries Engine Companion software, which comes with tools such as audio presets, graphic EQ, surround sound, and mic volume adjustment.
- Intuitive Controls
Gamers can easily access a range of controls to set up and adjust for gameplay. The headset has controls for volume, mic muting, Bluetooth connectivity, and chat mixing.
Reason to Avoid
- Unbalanced Audio Quality
The speakers don’t produce the most accurate sound environment, given they produce clear mids but imbalance bass and trebles. Additionally, the sound quality depends largely on correct fit and positioning.
- Microphone Quality Issues
The mic struggles to record sound that picks up deeper bass and higher mids, as the frequency extension is limited to 88-6,500 Hz. Also, overall mic quality was rated 5.9/10, placing it at the bottom 25% of gaming headsets.
- Some Noticeable Latency
Gamers experience some synching issues between audio and visuals. The headset tests in at 28 ms latency via the USB dongle connection, which isn’t terrible but slightly below average.
Steelseries Arctis 9 Specs
 | Adjustable Headband | Yes |
 | Auto-Adjusting Headband | Yes |
 | Battery Life | 20 hrs |
 | Compatible Platforms | Android, iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 |
 | Connector Size | 3.5mm |
 | Detachable Mic | No |
 | Driver Size | 40mm |
 | Earcup Foam Material | AirWeave Fabric |
 | Headphone Fit | Over-ear |
 | Max Frequency Response | 20,000 Hz |
 | Min Frequency Response | 20Hz |
 | Noise Canceling | No |
 | Product Weight | 0.81 lbs |
 | Programmable Buttons | No |
 | Wireless | Yes |
 | Wireless Connectivity | 2.4GHz Wireless, Bluetooth |
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Gaming Headsets based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
| Max Volume (dB) | 0 |
| Microphone Sound Quality Rating (out of 10.0) | 7 |
| Speech To Noise Ratio (dB) | 32.44 |
| BT Latency (ms) | 194 |
| Non-BT Latency (ms) | 0 |
| Low End Roll Off (Hz) | 59.932 |
| High End Roll Off (Hz) | 8,487.328 |
All Tests
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Score Card
E
Expert Score
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
Expert Scores
Publications with higher Trust Ratings are given more weight.
99.8Category Trust Rating
71The SteelSeries Arctis 9 are passable for neutral sound. They struggle to deliver audio consistently… Read MoreBy:
82.1Category Trust Rating
73The SteelSeries Arctis 9 is well-made headset you can wear for hours without issue, and… Read MoreBy:
65.25Category Trust Rating
70SteelSeries brings forward the same award-winning design of previous Arctis headsets with the Arctis 9… Read MoreBy:
56.25Category Trust Rating
80The SteelSeries Arctis 9 feels great and sounds good, although it’s quite expensive, even taking… Read MoreBy:
68.65Category Trust Rating
NR“No bottom line found for this product” Read MoreBy:
43Category Trust Rating
90SteelSeries proves with the Arctis 9 Wireless that a cordless headset can still deliver excellent,… Read MoreBy:
Customer Scores
- NR
(
NR/5
)
Ratings
- 86
(
4.3/5
)
928Ratings
- NR
(
NR/5
)
Ratings
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