[verdict pid=”1622″]
Steelseries has a significant presence in the gaming community because of its great gaming headsets. The Steelseries Arctis 5 is a budget gaming headset that provides a decent wired gaming experience. Apart from a top-notch microphone and RGB illuminated design, you get plenty of customization options that most budget headsets lack. Although you can use the wired headset for mixed usage, it is most suitable for console gaming. However, in terms of durability, it might not be as impressive as other Steelseries lineups. Let’s find out more about what it has to offer.
Steelseries Arctis 5 Key Features
The Steelseries Arctis 5 is the perfect blend of gaming and style. It is one of the few gaming headsets with a prism RGB illuminated design that looks absolutely premium. Also, the headset supports next genDTS Headphone:X v2.0 surround sound and is known for its Discord-certified Clearcast bidirectional microphone.
| Type | Over-Ear |
| Connectivity | Wired |
| Active noise cancellation | No |
| Drivers | 40mm |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Battery Life | No rechargeable battery |
| Weight | 363.01 g |
| Special features | 7.1 surround sound, ClearCast bidirectional microphone, ChatMix dial, Ski Goggle Suspension Band |
Sound Quality
The Arctis 5 has a well-balanced sound with a slight bass-heavy profile. This makes the overall sound quality quite bright and provides that extra thump you need with battle games. However, the frequency response is quite average and inconsistent. Also, the bass intensity would differ across users based on the fit and seal of the headset. While listening to music, the bass-heavy profile makes EDM and rock genres delightful.
The 7.1 surround sound support is pretty great and provides you with an immersive gaming experience. But because of the closed-back earcups, the audio still sounds not-so-natural and confined. You also get the ChatMix dial function which comes in handy to play multiplayer games or live stream. It lets you balanced out the game audio whenever you speak through the microphone. The Steelseries lacks ANC feature, thus providing mediocre noise isolation. So, using them in fairly loud environments is not a good idea. Overall, we found the sound quality of Steelseries Arctis 5 to be crisp, balanced, and bass-heavy.
Microphone
You get a non-detachable boom microphone that can be retractable into the earcup when not in use. It’s a Discord-certified Clearcast bidirectional microphone that delivers precise voice reproduction. The voice quality is so good that you might also use it for podcasts as the speech sounds clear and detailed. On top of that, it also does a great job of noise isolation. That’s right; the microphone can even perform well in pretty loud situations such as a gaming convention! You won’t get such a quality mic in most budget gaming headsets.
Design
The overall look and feel of Steelseries Arctis 5 look gorgeous due to the prism RGB illumination on the earcups. Especially if you get the black-colored variant, the illuminated earcups are a charm. You can get this headset in two monotone variants – black and white. So, if you are into flashy looks, the Arctis 5 has it all. However, the build material is all-plastic, including the headband and the durability is doubtful. Although it doesn’t feel as cheap, they don’t feel that solid either. Thus, we won’t recommend trying a free fall! Other than that, you get a ski goggle suspension headband that rests comfortably on the head.
The earcups are medium-sized and well padded with memory foam. Also, the airweave fabric covering the earpads feels nice on the skin. This makes the headset pretty comfortable for long hours of gaming, but they aren’t outdoor-friendly at all. Despite the snug fit, using them for sports and workouts isn’t suitable because they aren’t sleek. Overall, the Steelseries Arctis 5 carries a fancy yet sophisticated appeal with the average build quality.
Compatibility
The Steelseries Arctis 5 is compatible with most gaming consoles and devices like PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, MAC, and mobile devices. Thanks to the 3.5 mm adapter provided in the box, which enables easy plug-and-play.
Connectivity
This is a wired-only gaming headset that primarily comes with a USB connection. Although the USB connection works on PC and PS4, you need to use the 3.5 mm adapter provided in the box for other devices like Xbox One. The primary USB cable is detachable too and is 5 ft long, providing you ample moving space. As it is a wired gaming headset, there is no rechargeable battery.
Control & Comfort
You will get user-friendly controls on both, headsets as well as app customization support. Yes, you can access plenty of EQ presets and other customizations with the SteelSeries Engine App. Other than that, you get the usual physical controls on the headphones, such as a volume wheel and mute mic button. You also get a channel mixing knob which you can use to balance the game-chat audio.
The SteelSeries Arctis 5 is pretty comfortable about the comfort level due to its good quality headband and airweave fabric earpads. And, the overall headset is also lightweight, unlike most gaming headsets. So, if you are into marathon gaming, they are comfortable for long hours of gaming.
Warranty & Support
The warranty of Steelseries Arctis 5 varies according to the country and applies when purchased from its official website. EU countries offer a 2-year manufacturer warranty, whereas you only get a 1-year manufacturer warranty for countries outside the EU.
Is Steelseries Arctis 5 Worth Purchasing?
The Steelseries Arctis 5 is an absolute value for money. The exceptional mic quality, decent sound, and super-attractive design are some of the deal-breakers. Considering its affordable price range, the overall quality remains uncompromised and is suitable for gaming across devices. So, if you are looking for a wired headset for console gaming, it is indeed a great option.
I could not refrain from commenting. Exceptionally well written!
I actually was looking for a genuine review of SteelSeries Arctis5.
Thanks for sharing your personal openion.
Good to read this but you missed a few points. Can you please share your thought on its durability against humidity.
Well written. Thanks.
Good to see your content. Keep this pace and let us see some good articles on the way 🙂
Good article.