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Michael
Greater than one weekI was on the hunt for a new headset after the one I had which used a flip up to mute system stopped working. I work fully remote, and generally wear headphones for 6-8 hours a day for music/meetings. I needed a pair that would meet my needs, all day comfort, quality mic and audio, a physical mute button, and wireless. It took me three tries, with different brands before I finally decided to bite the bullet and spent what was previously an unimaginably large sum for headphones for me. This model had by far the most reviews of any other, it had solid reviews across the board and I figured it was time to pay for some quality. I could not be happier. The fit is perfect (although it takes a few tries to get used to adjusting with this particular strap mechanism), the sound is great, the retractable mic is convenient and works well, its comfortable for long periods of time, and the wireless range is great (I can move from my office, through multiple walls into the kitchen without losing signal). Ill never go to another brand. Pay for quality, its worth it.
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Thomas Louzon
Greater than one weekFor those looking to purchase a good headset at a reasonable price (I managed to get these while they were at 99.99), you will be hard-pressed to do better. I have used it for quite some time now and feel comfortable reviewing it so heres some pros and cons: Pros: - Excellent sound quality. When I first purchased them the sound quality was excellent and hardly ever had any issues with it. The only thing I ever got which could be attributed more to the wireless connection rather than the actual sound quality is static that comes up very infrequently, Id say maybe once a month. - Incredibly comfortable. I have had a a lot of headsets and this one is by far the most comfortable I have ever had. The way it fits around my head is great and even when doing incredibly long sessions of having it on (8 hours +), my ears dont feel like theyre being crushed as I have had with other headsets. Whatever youre doing to keep these comfy SteelSeries, keep it up! - Easy to use. I have enjoyed the retractable microphone, the mute button and the adjustable volume dials on the sides of the headset. The only knock I would have on the design of this part is it has been very easy for me to accidentally adjust the volume dials while putting the headset on and make it too loud or too quiet. Not sure what could be done about that from a design perspective as I prefer it over buttons but maybe slightly adjusting the positioning to make it less likely. Cons: - Consistently turns itself off. So the biggest con I have experienced while using this headset is that it will fairly often just turn itself off. Sometimes I can go for a few weeks and not have a problem. Other times, I go a whole month of it randomly shutting itself off while audio is going through every half hour or so. It could just be my headset as I havent looked at other reviews prior to writing this but it is incredibly annoying. - The software for it is bad. Given the issue I had above with my headset, I had done my due diligence and made sure I had the latest software, the latest firmware and double checked any settings on the headset to make sure I wasnt causing the issue. At least, thats what I had hoped to do when I was having various issues with it but the SteelSeries software that ties into a lot of their other products just doesnt work consistently. I have had it constantly crash and bug out when attempting to use it and despite spending several hours trying different fixes both on their forums and not, I have been unable to get it working right. While it could just be my computer, during my research I saw a lot of other people having the same issues I described in regards to the software so I reckon it is more likely just bad software. That being said, I would be wary of that part of the product if you tend to dive deep into configuring settings for products such as headsets that you purchase. All that said, I would still highly recommend this product for anyone looking for a pretty reasonably priced headset (assuming you can get it at the 99 price point I did) but just be wary of it turning itself off every so often and the bad software. If you can get past that, its a great headset!
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Chris Kioone
> 3 dayI had my headphones for one year and today, the microphone snapped off, I tried to detach the microphone and only use the audio function because I have a mic on my PC but the wiring is all connected and I pulled the ear apart. This is great for audio but poor for talking. Keep that in mind when making this purchase.
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Olsonic
> 3 dayThe headset is just the right weight--it doesnt fall off your head if you dont wear a hat. The batter life and the range are incredible so you arent constantly charging or losing connection as you walk around the house. I have used other brands, but im never changing now unless the quality drops at some point.
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SobaUnnie
> 3 dayThe SteelSeries Arctis 7 is a well-made, wireless, and aesthetically pleasing set of headphones. I originally bought this because (1) I needed a new set of headphones, and (2) it was recommended by a friend. I am writing this review after four (4) months of almost daily usage. AESTHETICS/PACKAGING The packaging of the product and the aesthetic of the product itself is great. I have zero complaints as I have received the package in brand-new condition. I absolutely love the white colour of the headphones -- it is sleek, matte, and clean. There is no RGB feature, so if you are an RGB junkie, this product is not for you. FUNCTIONALITY (1) PC: I use a Windows 10 system, and so far the functionality has been fine for me for the most part. At first, I didnt know why it just turned off after 30 minutes of being idle. It took me a while to figure out the fact that I can set up the headphones to automatically shut off, or just to leave it on (although thatd drain my battery). The nice thing about these headphones is that if you forget to power it off after shutting down your PC, itll automatically power down after a solid 10-15 minutes, which is great for power-saving. I also love how I can go back and forth with Game and Chat mode on my headphones. At first it was confusing, but with some time and usage, I got used to it and became handy when I utilise Discord and whatever game that I am playing. The fact that I can mute myself without using a mute function on my software has to be the best thing. Sometimes my friends find me suspicious or weird when I mute myself (I... dont know why), or sometimes if I have to sneeze/cough a lot because Im sick, this is a quick and easy way to excuse myself from others during a voice call. As for usage with gaming, it is very smooth and does not break or disrupt. The only time when it will is if you have a connectivity issue with your wireless hub thats provided (probably with your wire or USB), or your Internet connection (for any voice calls). (2) OTHER ELECTRONICS: I have tried using this for my phone, but the only issue is that your phone will not work with the wireless functionality, as it must be wired (wire for 3.5mm jack is provided in the package). Ive used it for my phone once, and never again. The headphones are kind of bulky for me to carry it around unless if I bring it for conference calls in business trips. COMFORT As a female, my head is smaller than an average male head and so sometimes I find my headphones slipping off here and there. The ear cushions are soft and comfortable -- Ive never found an issue with the cushions regarding comfort. CONNECTIVITY The fact that these are wireless are life-changing. If youve never used wireless anything, its really time to change. I can go from my room to the restroom (which usually causes disruption) to another room thats at least 15 feet away, and there is no disturbance or disruption. In fact, I went outside (right by my back door to the back yard) and I can still speak and listen to music/audio clearly. COMPATIBILITY I can only speak for Windows 10 (PC). It works perfectly with the system and Ive had no problems with it so far. BATTERY LIFE Obviously with any system, the battery life is pristine the first time you use it. The headphones have lasted me about 3 days of an average of 4-6 hours of usage/day. I would say thats pretty solid for a set of wireless headphones. The great thing about this headset is you can tell when the battery is going low by the power button light (will not be green) and the sound it makes when you power on/off the headset (will have a slower sound when power is low). Currently, I use the headphones for 4-6 hours a day, for about 3 days of usage, with just a single full charge. I charge my headphones when I do not use my PC (with my PC on since it is USB charge). NOISE-CANCELLING FEATURES This is the one feature I dislike about this product, which is why Im giving this product 4-stars. Ive noticed that the noise-cancelling feature is the weakest point of this product -- the sound leaks A LOT from the headset to the point where if I were to just leave my audio running with my headset off with medium volume, I can hear the music from about a 5-10 feet distance. Id say, thats not a good sign if you want noise-cancelling features. Luckily I do not care so much about this feature and my rooms door does that job, so Im okay with it. OVERALL 4/5 rating, mostly because of the noise-cancelling feature and my grip with these headphones. Otherwise, the general functionality, compatibility, and aesthetic features of the product is very satisfying. Its a great overall product, and Id recommend it to anyone who isnt sensitive about noise-cancelling features.
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Richard Avirett
> 3 dayComfortable for long periods. 24+ hour battery life. The clearest mic Ive ever used short of prosumer/professional grade kit. All of that, and somehow the sound quality is also amazing. I could gush on end for an hour or more about these. I recommend them to anyone whos budget would afford them. I even bought a second pair because my girlfriend liked mine so much. Ive got 5 different sets of wired cans that are far more expensive than these. Audiophile-grade stuff. For most, there will be very little difference in sound quality. I actually prefer these over the others because they are comfy as well. The only set that actually rivals them is my Sennheisers, but those are on my desk at work. Before I got these and for a while after, I was using a Blue Yeti (one of the ones from before Logitech bought them) for comms with my friends and family. One day, the USB port broke off the Yeti so I started using the mic on these. Everyone said it was better. Said I was clearer than before and there was less background noise despite noise gates and filtering software used with the Yeti. I still bought a replacement, but only for table usage... for one-on-one I still prefer the Arctics mic. Did I mention theyre comfy? I have a fat head and mid-size ears. They fit and cushion perfectly. My Sennheisers feel better, but both of my Fostex sets are lacking in comparison. This is comparing to other, more expensive over-ears mind you. I make the above comparisons because if you go to a bunch of gaming enthusiasts and ask them what kind of gaming headphones you should get, they will ALWAYS tell you to get a good set of cans without a mic. Something youd listen to an album with. My observation is that before I tried these that was indeed what I would recommend. But now Im a believer. Ive use sets from Kingston (HyperX), Razer, Corsair and a few others and none of those could stand up to halfway-decent audiophile targeted cans paired with a standard desk mic. Steelseries made me a believer with the Arctic 7.
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Andrew
> 3 dayI had to give these things some time before I wrote a review. I have had several turtle beach headsets over the past couple years. And they all broke within the time I have had these Arctis 7. The physical build quality is beyond any headset I have ever had. I have gone through three sets of Sony ps4 (2 gold, 1 platinum) headsets in a year. All broke at the foldable hinges. I went through 5 turtle beach headsets (4 600 stealth, 1 elite pro) in 2 years. All broke at the cheap plastic extensions. Yes, including the elite pros. The Arctis 7 is made of metal. Even the rotating cups have metal hinges! These things are solid. I game a lot. I mean a LOT. And the metal frame hasnt even lost its grip on my head. The elastic headband is comfortable and adjustable. I have a larger than average head and they still fit me perfectly. Super comfortable for extended gaming sessions. I didnt believe the battery life until I got them fully charged and ran a 13 hour marathon one night. The next day they still have a good 5 hour charge left. So the battery life is no joke. Even after running them all the way down, the recharge time only took a few hours. Cant really remember how long exactly. It wasnt terribly long. Sound quality isnt what Im used to hearing however. The mids and highs are good, the bass is very flat. I wish they had a lot more oomph to them. I might be able to get more out of them through the equalizer. In order to use the equalizer you have to connect the arctis 7 to a PC or laptop and install the program. Its a simple program to use too. Be aware however, the DTS 7.1 setup is only compatible with PC, not ps4. There is virtually no noise cancellation. The foam around the ears is reasonable but not the greatest at shutting down outside sound. The microphone is very quiet. I had to turn up my mic level nearly all the way for anyone to hear me. And even then I still have to talk louder than I prefer. The range of the wireless receiver is awesome. I can go into my bedroom behind the wall and not lose connection at all. No wire connection to your game controller for microphone use either. Simple plug and play. I did have to change my sound/devices settings on my ps4 to all audio in order to get any sound. So you wont have any sound on your television unless you change it back to chat audio even with the headset shutoff. Overall I love this headset. The sound quality could be better for the price, but they are so comfortable and the super solid build quality wins my approval. If anything happened to these, I would buy another set no questions asked.
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Kilo
> 3 dayI got the Arctis 7 to replace my Arctis Pro Wireless and the white noise/hiss issue it has. I loved the Pro Wireless and I was hoping it would be similar enough headset wise to use but thats not the case. I give this headset a 3.5 / 5. Be warned that you cannot return this headset through Amazon. PROS: -Build quality is decent but its not aluminum like the Arctis Pro Wireless -Headset is lighter in weight than Arctis Pro -Fit is great and I love the ski goggle design, although my ears hurt after a long days working (9+ hours) -Steelseries headsets look very slick and not flashy or huge like the GSP670 -Retractable mic is a nice feature -Mic quality is good but sounds nasally -Connection distance is great and doesnt disconnect or distort when walking around -Battery life is great with 20+ hours of use NEUTRAL: -Sound quality is not good but not terrible either. You will definitely need to mess with the EQ to get it to sound right unless you like everything flat. Even setting the EQ to get things to my liking, the soundstage felt lacking. The sound signature is not the same as the Pro Wireless, which was to be expected. The bass is weak, which can strangely be remedied on the Pro Wireless with DTS 2.0, but not here. DTS 2.0 on the 7 muddies everything up. The headset doesnt handle higher frequencies well if you turn them up. They sound too harsh and clip. In games, things seemed quiet so I always had to crank the headset volume up. Then when I go listen to music or something else its blaring loud. The Pro Wireless wins in sound quality but has that white noise issue. CONS: -Headset does have a white noise/hiss issue but its nowhere close to the Arctis Pro Wireless. This only happens when the headset volume is set to the absolute minimum or maximum, regardless of the system volume setting. Setting the volume wheel 1/4 to 3/4 of the way wont trigger it. Even then, its not that loud. -Poor EQ settings. While you get 6 bars of EQ control vs. 5 on the Pro Wireless, they are not the same frequencies or normal EQ frequencies that you can control. For some reason, the Arctis 9 gets 10 bars. If you want full EQ control, you need a third party tool. -Like the Arctis Pro Wireless, there is a static sound when I stop/pause/mute audio regardless of media source, type, or volume. For some reason this only happens on Steelseries headsets. I cant recommend this headset if you are serious about your sounds in gaming. I can only recommend it if you are on a budget or dont care about sounds and just want a wireless headset. For me, I ended up going with the Audio-Technica ATH-G1WL which sounds better than both the Arctis 7 and Pro Wireless.
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Nick
> 3 dayI really wanted to like this headset and have it be the one I relied on for many years. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen. Ive recently switched to a Logi PRO X set and like it much better. Out of the box, they worked great. I am on a Win 10 machine, updated, nothing goofy about the setup or anything. Then, they started disconnecting randomly mid-game. This became predictable and happened 1-3 times per session, and I only game for a few hours at a time tops. I dealt for a while, relocated the adapter, checked for interference in my home to the best of my ability. It ended up just stopping one day randomly, kind of like how it started. Fast forward a couple of months of it working without issue. Suddenly disconnects again AND with the update to SSGG 22.0, the EQ broke. I tried every fix I could find online. Reinstalled, reset button on the unit, etc... I can only get the EQ and Sidetone (which I rely on) working if I do this goofy dance of powering it off/on/off/saving an EQ change/reverting the change. But, when they inevitably disconnect shortly after that - it undoes all that and EQ/Sidetone is broken again. Sigh.... Dont bother. I lament not having gone Logi initially, since thats my usual go-to brand for stuff like this.
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Alex
Greater than one weekThis headset is a neck killer! If you have an elevated monitor (where you look up at an angle all day) then you likely wont have the same discomfort that I did with this headset. If your desk setup has you looking down or at a decline, you will likely have more neck aches. I am only giving so many stars because the features are very good and the design seems more durable than what Ive had before. The chat mix feature (the volume knob on the right) is very helpful since Im in a voice chat almost every day. I also like being able to use an audio jack to pump audio from my phone or other device into the headset wirelessly through the dongle plugged into my computer. I have my Nintendo Switch hooked up to my desk, and when I use an aux cord, I can have audio from both my computer and my Switch going into this headset. I am giving this headset one star for noise cancelling because it does not have active noise cancelling. It will reduce noise passively, but not to a level that I would call this a noise cancelling pair of headphones.