SteelSeries Arctis 7 - Lossless Wireless Gaming Headset with DTS Headphone: X v2.0 Surround - for PC and PlayStation 4 - Black

The headset materials do not feel cheap, they feel well made and sturdy with the metal band on the top with a rubber matte under side which your head never hits due to the comfortable ski goggle band. The ear cups on this 2019 version are super soft and provide enough cushioning so my ears arent bothered by the speakers and the whole headset is nice and light along with the Arctis 7 being wireless, makes this headset nice and comfortable for long gaming sessions. The mic is great quality and has been notably better than my previous headset (Razer Kraken 7.1 Chroma) as noted by my friends through discord (Also the headset is detected up by discord as a certified input/output device). One of the things I dislike (which is also helpful) about the headset is that if you turn the volume wheel above 90% there is a slight static that I hear. This isnt a problem for me as the headset is loud enough where I keep the volume wheel around 70-80%. The static sound actually helps me if I accidentally slide the volume wheel to 100% when I put the headset on I can hear the static and know to reduce the volume under 90% until the static goes away so I wont get blasted by audio when I watch a youtube video or start a game. There is also a Program you can download called the SteelSeries Engine 3 (which isnt needed for the headset to work) to change settings such as mic sidetone, power options, bass enhancement, equlizer, dynamic range compression, surround settings (although the surround sound wasnt as good as my previous Razer Kraken 7.1 headset) and more. There is also apps in the SteelSeries Engine 3 that work along side other SteelSeries devices Such as PrismSync, AudioVisualizer, ImageSync and apps for games and programs like CSGO, Minecraft, iFeelPixel, Tidal (Coming soon), Dota 2, Utopia 9 and Discord. Overall this headset exceeds my expectations and is worth the price. I have only been using the headset for about a week now so I will keep this review updated if I have any problems with it. :D

WARNING: Not Plug and Play. Do NOT buy this headset if your system is not administered by you. tl;dr: arrived with a non-functioning mic, otherwise as described. after trying the usual techsupport options (off then on again, settings, hardware reset, change port, change pc, etc) the fix was (seemingly) installation of the companys bloatware. If you dont have install privileges and/or dont want to install bloatware you should look for a different product. This product is decent, with a nice design and good fit. The strap that sits on your head is comfortable and provides a better wear experience than others Ive used. They feel lighter than they are, more like a AKG M220 and (thankfully imo) less like a ASTRO A50. Noise isolation is decent like any closed back headphone, enough that you will want to push one cup behind your ear to have conversations with someone. The mics audio quality is above average for a headset mounted mic, though below average for a stand alone one. The retractable mic seems like a plus, assuming it doesnt become a point of failure. The mute and volume/mixing controls are fine, the audio jack is a nice inclusion but the USB audio jack and cord are fragile. Id be wary of using it daily or for anything important. Look and feel are good, better than a Turtle Beach and on pad with Astros. The hinges and controls feel decent. The only thing that comes of as cheap to me are the USB ports and USB audio cable. Honestly a single USB C solution (or a robust USB B failing that) would be better than going with frail mini/micro options. Packaging and documentation was spartan but fine. The box protected the headphones and was easy to open. Included documentation was spartan but fine. The major failure here was nothing written about the mic needing the companys bloatware to work. Manufacturer support is minimal, web based CS portal and links to their bloatware. No standalone drivers, no forum or faq. The final verdict is that this headset is decent enough once the mic is fixed (see above). If you can get it on sale and handle the mic issue the 7 is an option to consider.

Overview - the SteelSeries Arctis 7 (2019 edition) has a good quality set of drivers and microphone, plus is made from very high quality materials and includes lots of extras which leaves very little to be desired. The Good: Build Quality - 5 out of 5 These headphones are made from very durable and quality materials, and overall feel very solid. I especially like the ski goggles headband style since you only have to adjust it once for your head and then never have to worry about readjusting it, unlike the traditional telescoping headband that most headphones have. The headband is made of steel and plastic with an elastic band for support, and the earphones are made from high quality plastic. The ear cups are made from memory foam covered with an interweaved material which is light and breatheable, but still keeps external noise out well. There are very few points of articulation in this headset which I like because that means there are less potential points of failure. Sound Quality - 4 out of 5 Overall the sound quality is solid, and these headphones have a generally flat frequency response, with a slight bump in the mid-lows. Its taking me some time to adjust to this flat EQ because the headset that I was using previously was excessively muddy and boomy in the lows (Kingston HyperX Cloud), however the sound is very balanced across the frequency spectrum. Connectivity Options - 5 out of 5 This headset includes a ton of connectivity options right out of the box, and you can tell that the engineers who designed it took interoperability and ease of use into consideration when building it. It includes a wireless dongle which plugs into your computer via USB and is used to sync to the headset wirelessly, as well as a USB charging cable for the headset and a 3.5 mm headset jack to mini usb cable for use with non-bluetooth enabled devices (such as the Xbox One). I especially like that the wireless dongle includes an audio in and audio out headset jack, so you can run an alternate line in (like a music player) or line out (to a secondary set of speakers). The best part is that the wireless dongle will automatically switch over to the line out when the headset is powered down or disconnected, so you can run the line out cable to a set of external speakers and can switch between your wireless headset and the external speakers by just turning the headset on and off. The included configuration software is also very nice and has many options for adjusting the input sound, frequency levels as well as saving various profiles for different uses. The Bad: Comfort - 3 out of 5 Unfortunately, these arent the most comfortable headset Ive ever tried or owned, and due to their design they are very limited in terms of adjustability (more of a 1 size fits all approach). Many people complain that the headband was too tight or too loose for their head, but luckily it seemed to fit me perfectly. My problem lies with the earcups themselves. While the cups are soft and very breatheable, they are quite thin and the inside of the cups dont offer nearly as much padding as other headphones that Ive owned. I also wear glasses and have large ears, which ultimately means that these headphones cause fatigue in longer wear sessions. I have found that I can only wear them for a few hours at a time before my ears start to get sore and I need to take them off for a bit. If comfort is the most important feature for you then you are probably better off looking for a more adjustable headset, however I find these to be as good or better than most so ultimately it wasnt a deal breaker for me.

I purchased the SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless headphones after a disappointing experience with a Logitech G903 and I have to say there is no comparison. For sound quality these are great at the 100-150 price-point these do well compared with other options. It is important to note that these are not noise canceling so if you are in a noisy environment they will not isolate you that much from your surroundings. The real selling point with these though is the battery life; I still get 15-16 hours out of a single charge after a year of constant use. This is dramatically better than any other wireless headset I have ever used and really makes this product for me. The only issues I have with this product are relatively minor. First the charging is done via a micro-usb cable and I would like to see this updated to use the more modern usb-c. Second the strap that sits between the top of the headset and the users head makes a relatively poor method for securing the device to your person and makes it unusable in anything more intense than a VR experience Seeing as micro-usb is still somewhat relevant and this is not marketed as a sports headset I do not see either of these as serious issues. TLDR: Great battery, good price and quality.

So from a technical perspective, this headset does what its supposed to do: Play sound, wirelessly. The range is decent. The buttons are fine. The mute indicator on the mic is nice. But heaven forbid something goes wrong with your headset like something did to mine, and nothing matters anymore. My headset stopped charging abruptly one day, so I filed a service ticket through their purposely obtuse service system. Heaven forbid I actually want to speak to a human. After a few back and forth exchanges, they decided my headset was indeed defective and worthy of RMA. HOO BOY THIS IS WHERE THE FUN STARTS. You want to know what its like filing an RMA with the Vogons? This is what its like: SS: File this paperwork, include your receipt, picture of headset, serial number, PICTURE of serial number, and mail a blood sample. ME: DONE SS: OK, now PHYSICALLY DESTROY YOUR HEADSET, but you have to do it EXACTLY THIS WAY or we void your RMA. ME: DONE SS: OK, now you have to take EXACTLY THESE PICTURES of the front, back, left, and right side of the headset, the serial number must be showing in EVERY PICTURE and you have to also print out this QR code and also have that visible in EVERY PICTURE or we void your RMA. ME: Thats....almost not physically possible due to the location of the serial number but Ill do my best, here you go. SS: WARNING WARNING WARNING THERE IS A DISCREPANCY IN YOUR RMA. WE CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF DISCREPANCY BECAUSE IT IS A SECURITY RISK BUT NOW YOU CAN MAIL US ALL THE CUT UP PARTS OF THE HEADSET. ALSO SHIPPING IS AT YOUR EXPENSE BECAUSE WE ARE IDIOTS. ME: Security risk...for an RMA? Now I have to fish this thing out of the trash. Here you go. Sent. SS: Thank you, also we dont actually track shipments or have any accountability in our receivables department, so its UP TO YOU to let us know when the item has been delivered, failure to EMAIL US TELLING WE RECEIVED YOUR ITEM will delay your request. ME: JFC. Okay, done. SS:We received your item, and verified everything but will still inexplicably take another 3 days to email you a coupon code for a new headset, and by the way heres another 30 rules to follow which, if violated, void your coupon and RMA. Look guys - I understand you want to reduce the risk of people abusing your RMA process, but I really, really cant get behind a company that automatically treats every one of their clients like a criminal. Ive had better luck helping someone file for social security disability through the court system. If Steelseries was less insane about their warranty process, Id give this 5 stars. But as it stands, it COST ME MONEY to replace something under warranty and Ive been without a working headset for 3 weeks, so sorry you get to stick with 1-star.

I spend multiple hours researching wireless over-the-ear headsets and finally came down to the Arctis 5 and the 7. I however did not put the 9 or Pro series in the mix due to my use-case and cost. From a gaming perspective, the audio switching from game to discord voice chat is amazing, given that I select the correct audio option (there is a Game and Chat option for audio to make this work correctly). Its so convenient to fade out the game audio to hear voice chat a little better rather than digging through game options mid game and wasting time, especially when seconds matter. Same with when my friends are talking too loud and I need to focus on the game. From a music/audio perspective, this headset offers a very good audio mixer to adjust playback to the exact way I like to listen to music. The 7.1 surround makes movies sound exactly as they were intended to be watched. Battery life is amazing, Im able to use the headset all day and then some on just a single charge, which was a huge deal for me. I had a pair of wired Razer Megalodons before this and was worried that battery life was going to be an issue, but so far Ive been blown away by the 7s performance. Ive used the mic one time during a voice chat session and was immediately told it sounded terrible when compared to my Blue Snowball. So if you do not have an external mic, do not expect perfection from this headset. But, this is common among headset mics.

This headset good for gaming. The audio is clear and I never had any connections drops using this. Battery life is great, usually lasting me 2 days before it needs a charge. Software is fairly customizable using the steelseries engine and dts can be unlocked via their separate software as well. Wireless is achieved through their receiver which uses usb. It even has an option to make a wired connection wireless through a Line In and Line Out connection. If you lose connection theres a pairing button on the side. You can even run your speakers through the Line Out for a seamless headset to speakers transition. The Build design is minimal with a mostly plastic body. You cannot adjust the ear piece length as it is designed much like a ski mask. It will have a little weight to it. I didnt find any issues with comfort or any signs of wear over 3 months. Your options on the headset range from your usual power, volume, charging port and even an option to use the headset wired. Battery life is also indicated by leds as well. Now this is where it became a hit or miss. Using this wired for Xbox would only work with their proprietary jack, the 3.5 option wouldnt pickup the microphone. It still worked fine as long as you used their proprietary connection limiting its versatility. Otherwise Volume controls are easy to adjust such as game and chat. Last is microphone mute button, no problems their. With that said the microphone is okay for chat. Its not the best in quality, but it is very easy to adjust both physically and through the software. Mute works as intended, even has a red led indicator when your muted. Its not in the way and picks ups with no problem. The software is fairly customizable. Nice features like a Equalizer, profiles, Microphone monitor levels, dynamic range levels, and this is where you can enable the 7.1 Surround. Dts surround will have it separate app, I founds this on the Windows app Store, and it automatically picks up as Dts enabled device. With the Dts Surround, it was another hit or miss scenario at least in gaming. It was noticeably more spacious than windows sonic, but it would also sometimes completely mute directional sound in games but this wasnt consistent between games. This also took me 2 months to realize I wasnt using Dts surround because I didnt have the app. After a month of Dts use, it sound okay Ive been using turtle beach headphones for so long, that its a adjustment for me. Overall this headset is feature rich if you can get it on sale. Build quality nice, sound is solid, and its quite versatile for a wireless set. Its does seem better suited for Windows 10 in my case, but a solid choice for decent audio quality.

I REALLY enjoyed this product for the first couple of weeks I used it, save one or two small complaints, but as time has progressed it has become more of a hassle. They aren’t bad headphones and they work flawlessly with my PS4, but have given me persistent issues with my PC. The good: -The software on PC allows you to customize profiles for different listening applications which is nice (and necessary). -These headphones worked super well with my PS4, which has been super cool. -when they work on my PC I love being wireless and the battery life is pretty good and the headphones are super comfy. The Bad (long because I want to be fair and specific): -out of the box, the sound quality is ROUGH. I mean, sound profiles for headphones are definitely a matter of taste but out of the box I found the high frequencies to be PAINFUL, and there was a severe lack of bass. Any budget Bluetooth headphones is going to struggle to achieve wired levels of sound quality but the shrill and piercing highs almost made me immediately return them. (Definitely had to alter the sound profile with the software in order for them to be usable) -for PC, these headphones have so much happening in the audio drivers/devices side of things that your computer will become confused and stop delivering audio correctly. Sometimes these headphones work perfectly but for me it’s been a coin flip. It creates a proxy “discord” audio device for the discord volume dial feature which is fine if you are only running game audio and discord. I had to disable this feature because I would often listen to music while I listen to discord and game, the discord dial can sometime start effecting volumes of programs you don’t want it to, or may not work at all. Aside from The discord features, of these headphones die while your playing a game, sometimes you have to restart the game for it to re-register the headphones as the appropriate audio device, but sometimes it works fine. Sometimes, my Spotify won’t recognize the Arctic 7 audio device as a valid output and won’t play music through them unless the headphones were on when booting Spotify. Sometimes game sounds just stop and for seemingly no reason. Sometimes your computer wont recognize the Arctic’s 7 at all and aside from restarting your computer there’s not much you can do. There’s all sorts of fixes online for stuff like this online, but unless you enjoy uninstalling and reinstalling drivers and making sure weird caches are cleared it’s been easier in my experience to just restart my computer. Maybe it’s from windows updates, or bad software updates, my own personal setup, or whatever, but I’ve checked most of those things and sometimes there’s no clear reason for a glitch. All that being said, if it is working, it will work great for, usually, an entire session (keep in mind, never had ANY issues on PS4). If your audio setup on your PC is super basic (no speakers, no alternate outputs, just running game sound and discord through these phones) then maybe this is perfect for you. Overall: - I use these headphones all the time, but the 3/5 star rating is ultimately because I still have to keep my wired headset around for when these start to glitch out. The sound quality is rough at first but can be evened out, and I bought these headphones to try out a different sound profile then normal. I knew they would be kind of shrill with less bass, and I don’t ultimately fault them for that but with that in mind, if you like bass heavy profiles, look elsewhere. The directionality is spot on and the mids and highs are so sharp it makes in game sound cues like footsteps or gunshots stand out like crazy. However the highs are so powerful that gunshots are so loud you have to active the sound compression algorithm on the headphones in order to keep your ears from (bleeding?) ONLY hearing explosions or gunshots. These headphones have been a joy at times and a source of frustration as well. For 110$, your expectations can’t be too crazy, if you were to buy a high end mic and high end headphones, all with with a built in high quality Bluetooth DACs with software support for listening profiles you would expect to spend 10x that amount. So it’s a solid deal, but what your buying is wireless-ness not audio quality or reliability. If I had to buy another Bluetooth headset I’d probably spend a bit more money and try a different brand, with less features, more reliability, and better ootb sound quality but that’s my personal preference. TLDR: 3/5

These worked great for a little over 2 years before they started getting a lot of static when adjusting volume and having overall sound issues. Id expect something with this price to last longer. But while they worked they were fantastic headphones.