Audio

SteelSeries Arctis 1 & Arctis 1 Wireless Review

Matthew Hodgson
November 23, 2019 12 Min Read
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The SteelSeries Arctis 1 range is available wired and wireless, with the wireless version boasting compatibility for the Nintendo Switch. Today we look at both and evaluate their performance.


Product on Review: SteelSeries Arctis 1 & Arctis 1 Wireless
Manufacturer: SteelSeries
Street Price:
Arctis 1: GBP £49.99 / USD $49.99 / AUS $59.99
Arctis 1 Wireless: GBP £99.99 / USD $99.99 / AUS $119.99

Since starting out way back in 2001, SteelSeries have brought to market several innovations that we now take for granted, including mechanical gaming keyboards and suspended headband gaming headsets and today bring a new headset, based upon their excellent, award-winning Arctis range.

The SteelSeries Arctis 1 and Arctis 1 Wireless are, essentially, the same headset but with and without the wire, depending on your budget and personal preference.

The Arctis 1 is an all-platform wired gaming headset with detachable microphone and a compact, portable design. The 3.5mm 4-pole connection (with 2x 3.5mm -> 1x 3.5mm adaptor) affords total compatibility with all devices sporting a 3.5mm jack. Robustness and comfort are brought about with a steel-reinforced adjustable headband with a layer of leatherette-coated foam padding on the inside. Onboard controls are also present for convenient adjustments.


The Arctis 1 Wireless is largely the same, with clever wireless technologies also packed inside. SteelSeries claim a battery life of around 20 hours, and signal range of up to 9m/30ft. Wireless connectivity is provided by a USB Type-C dongle (with a Type-A adaptor included) that’s touted to work with a PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Android mobile phones. There’s also a 3.5mm adaptor for compatibility with ‘older’ devices or those still using 3.5mm jacks, such as the Xbox One controller.

SteelSeries on the Arctis 1 + Arctis 1 Wireless
With the same speaker drivers as the award-winning Arctis 7, the Arctis 1 Wireless features the same signature Arctis soundscape, which emphasizes subtle details to give you an audio advantage.

Technical Specifications

Arctis 1 Wireless
Compatibility:
PC
Playstation
Switch
Android
Xbox (Via 3.5mm cable)

Speaker Drivers:
Headphone Frequency Response – 20–20000 Hz
Headphone Sensitivity – 98 dBSPL
Headphone Impedance – 32 Ohm
Headphone Total Harmonic Distortion – < 3%
Headphone Volume Control – On Ear Cup

Microphone:
Frequency Response – 100–6500 Hz
Type – Detachable boom
Sensitivity – -38 dBV/Pa
Polar Pattern – Bidirectional Noise-Canceling

Wireless:
Type – Lossless 2.4 GHz
Range – 30ft / 9m
Battery Life – 20 hours

Box Content:
Product Information Guide
Arctis 1 Wireless Headset
USB-C Wireless Transmitter
USB-A adapter cable
4-pole 3.5mm audio cable


Arctis 1 Wired
Compatibility:
PC
Playstation
Xbox
Switch
Mobile
Mac

Speaker Drivers:
Headphone Frequency Response – 20–20000 Hz
Headphone Sensitivity – 98 dBSPL
Headphone Impedance – 32 Ohm
Headphone Total Harmonic Distortion – < 3%
Headphone Volume Control- On Ear Cup

Microphone:
Frequency Response – 100–10000 Hz
Type – Noise Cancelling Bidirectional
Sensitivity – -38 dB
Connection – Detachable
Microphone Mute Toggle – On Ear Cup

Connection:
Connector Type – 4-pole 3.5mm + Dual 3.5mm PC extension
Cable Length – 3 m / 10 ft
Cable Material – Rubber

Box Content:
Product Information Guide
Arctis 1 Headset
Dual 3.5mm Extension Cable

Packaging & Bundle (Arctis 1)

SteelSeries like to use bright white and orange packaging for their products which helps them stand out on the shelves. There’s a clear image of the headset on the front and a small amount of easy to understand information dotted in the corners.


The reverse side only really mirrors the front in terms of information. We found the RSJ to be quite funny when being used to depict the steel reinforcement.


One difference between the two headsets that we didn’t expect was a lack of instruction booklet, especially since the “Specifications” table of the headset clearly says that it’s included in the box. Instead, they ask you to scan the QR code with your mobile phone, or visit the web link. We’re all for this new idea and have seen other manufacturers do the same. It all helps to reduce waste.


Having said that, placing the headset and accessories are then tucked into a black plastic insert. It may or may not be common knowledge, but black plastic is one of the most difficult to recycle and typically ends up in landfill, we’d like to see this replaced with a cardboard insert which are typically just as effective but far easier to recycle or break down.


Included with the wired version of the headset is a 4-pole to 2x 3-pole 3.5mm splitter and the removeable microphone. Nothing more, nothing less.

Packaging & Bundle (Arctis 1 Wireless)

You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s the same packaging, but looking more closely, the wire has been removed and the information changed slightly. Again, bright and colourful packaging that’ll attract the eye without issue.


Round the back, the information on the front is echoed but with a few illustrations to help make things a touch clearer.


Just like the wired version, the black plastic insert is incredibly difficult for facilities to recycle so we’d like to see SteelSeries take steps to help reduce their impact on the environment by switching this out for a friendlier alternative.


Bundled in with the Arctis 1 Wireless is a Micro-USB charging cable, a USB Type-A (male) to USB Type-C (female) adaptor, a 3.5mm 4-pole to 3.5mm 4-pole cable, the removeable microphone and the USB Type-C wireless adaptor. Weirdly, the instruction booklet is included in paper form, instead of the digital version you get with the wired version.

Closer Look (Arctis 1)

The Arctis 1 headset is an all-plastic construction with a satin finish, featuring steel reinforcement within the headband for extra rigidity. The hinges just above each ear cup can be angled through about 100° of movement, allowing them to easily conform to the shape of your head or lie flat on the desk.


On the left ear cup is a volume control and microphone mute toggle, along with the 3.5mm wired connection.


Further round to the front is the removable microphone port; due to its shape, once the microphone is locked into position, it can’t rotate and stop picking up your voice.


The ear cups are made of a super soft fabric with foam inserts and leave plenty of room for most ear sizes. The internal size is 65mm x 46mm.


The headband is adorned with a leatherette style cushion that stops the hard plastic coming into contact with your head.


Measuring up at roughly 120mm, the stiff, rubberised microphone is removable so the headset can be used as a set of headphones if you wish. Thanks to the shape of the port, the microphone can’t rotate within its socket.

Closer Look (Arctis 1 Wireless)

Appearance-wise, the Wireless version is obviously from the same range of headsets. The cushioning inside the earcups is the same, as is the internal print. However, they are a bit heavier, as is to be expected with having a 20-hour battery and wireless technology onboard.


On the left earcup you’ll find the microphone mute toggle and volume control, but you also get a 3.5mm connection for pairing up with older devices or those that don’t play with the USB Type-C adaptor. There’s a Micro-USB port for charging the headset and the microphone jack. The right earcup has the power button and a small LED that indicates different states.


The microphone is identical on both models and is made up of a semi-solid stem with a plastic receiver at the end, it measures roughly 120mm when installed.


Looking inside the earcup, there’s a fancy SteelSeries-style design on the internal fabric and a thick cushioned ring of soft fabric around that, measuring at 65mm x 46mm internally.


Orientated horizontally, the USB Type-C wireless dongle uses the 2.4GHz network for lag-free audio and thanks to the adoption of Type-C connections on Android mobile phones, as well as the Nintendo Switch, there’s a broad range of compatibility.

Performance Testing & Software

Typical of SteelSeries is the excellent build quality, and the Arctis 1 and Arctis 1 Wireless are no exceptions. The satin finish on the plastic feels excellent, with no rough edges or soft plastics used. The hinges above each ear cup are solid and the headband’s adjustment mechanism locks into each step properly. Being able to lie the headset flat on your desk is advantageous from a storage point of view, if you wish to tuck it away on top of your games console for example.

In terms of style, SteelSeries have steered clear of the gaudy, in-your-face styling used by some headphone manufacturers and presented something that won’t look out of place while playing video games, but you could also feasibly wear these in the street without raising an eyebrow, especially thanks to the removable microphone that you can leave at home. That’s not to say they don’t look good, they just don’t smack you in the face.

Comfort is right up there, with plenty of space inside each ear cup so your ears don’t press against anything, helped along by ample cushioning along the inside of the headband. The clamping force exerted by the band wasn’t excessive either, allowing you to wear the headset without any kind of discomfort for relatively long periods. However, the closed back nature and thick cushioning did seem to trap some heat after time so it’s good to remove them for a few minutes every now and then, having said that, most headsets are the same so it’s difficult to avoid that.

Audio quality, particularly on the £49.99 Arctis 1 is excellent and well above what you’d expect for a headset in this price range; typically corners are cut and quality takes a hit but thanks to SteelSeries’ success in the higher-end market, technologies and expertise trickle down to the budget end of the market after time, resulting in affordable headsets that don’t sound awful. The two headsets, as far as we can tell, sound exactly the same, which is testament to the work they’ve done on their 2.4GHz network.

Speaking of the 2.4GHz, the wireless range far exceeded what we expected, easily spanning the entire room and even allowing you to walk into adjacent rooms with no distortion or interference at all.

Using the headset for around a fortnight, we found the battery tended to last between 15 and 20 hours, which is plenty long enough and matches with their claims, but when it comes to charging the headset, a USB Type-C connection would definitely have been preferred over the Micro-USB; not only is it more robust, easier to insert and being rapidly adopted, it’s used to charge the devices that this headset is designed to be used with.

The Arctis 1, with its 3.5mm connection, doesn’t use any kind of software, but the Arctis 1 Wireless does. Below, we’ve included a microphone and software demo. The microphone on both headsets are identical and sound as such, so also use this as a demo for the Arctis 1 microphone.

Conclusion (Arctis 1)

For your £49.99, or equivalent in your country, it’s tough to see how you can find a better headset for equal or less money.

Build quality is spot on with the steel reinforced headband, quality hinge mechanism and ample cushioning. It would be nice if they used a braided cable instead of rubber but when it comes to the £50 headset market, we really are nitpicking at that.

Styling, from our point of view, is about spot on. It’s not too boring that you’d not want to wear them but they aren’t shouty and in-your-face, a good balance of elegance and gamer styling, we feel.

Having the volume and mute controls on the headset instead of in-line on the cable is a thing of preference but having had accidental adjustments made by clothing in the past, we much prefer them on the headset.

Do shop around for a good deal on this if you’re interested, we’ve seen it with as much as 30% off on a limited offer.


The Arctis 1 presents excellent value for money, sounds fantastic, is built to a high standard by a reputable brand and won’t attract unwanted attention if you were them outdoors.

Pros
+ Excellent price
+ Good build quality
+ Headset-mounted controls
+ Cracking sound quality
+ Comfortable

Cons
– Rubber cable
– Black plastic insert in packaging


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Conclusion (Arctis 1 Wireless)

The Arctis 1 Wireless far exceeded our expectations not just as a wireless headset, but as a wireless headset sneaking under the £99 barrier.

As we’ve mentioned several times, the build quality is fantastic, we have zero concerns there at all, particularly after using several other SteelSeries products for lengthy periods with no problems. The steel-reinforced headband clicks into the adjustment options nicely and the hinges feel robust enough to last the test of time.

Comfort is also way up there with ample padding on the earcups and headband which allows you to wear them for lengthy sessions with little issue, heat buildup is the only real concern, but adding in venting also changes acoustics. The easy solution is to take a break every little while and allow some air in and out.

The styling, notably without the wire, is spot on. The basic, round cups with flat sides suit SteelSeries’ design language at the moment, going for a simplistic, elegant style. We really like the appearance and wouldn’t feel out of place in a public area wearing these.

Sound quality far exceeds almost any other wireless headset in this price range, the pops and bangs of war games were clear and boomy, yet balanced at the same time, nothing was overpowering or out of place. Music was a joy to listen to, and thanks to the freedom of the wire, an extra level of enjoyment was found possible.

The wireless dongle, while a little difficult to install directly into our test PC motherboard, was fine once connected to a short USB Type-C extension. Thanks to the horizontal shape it feels solid when inserted into a phone and shouldn’t be snapped off easily. Wireless communication was powerful enough to reach adjacent rooms with ease, so if you need to wander to the fridge, you might find you don’t even need to take the headset off.


The Arctis 1 Wireless is a very easy recommendation, easily worth the £99. It’s a simple design with lovely sound, a good microphone and easy to use software. Can’t ask for much more, apart from maybe a Type-C charging port.

Pros
+ 20 hours battery life
+ Comfortable
+ Simple, elegant design
+ Lovely sound
+ Solid build quality

Cons
– Micro-USB charger
– No Bluetooth


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Matthew Hodgson