SteelSeries Arctis 9 review

Our Verdict

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 feels and sounds great, although it's quite pricey, even taking into account all of its features.

For

Comfortable fit

Compatible with many systems

Great mic

Good game sound

Versus

Lower musical performance

Expensive

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The SteelSeries Arctis 9 demonstrates that the Danish audio manufacturer still has ambition to spare. While the

SteelSeries Arctis 7

is our

best gaming headset

chosen for years, it also came out at a time when smartphones still largely had headphone jacks. Now, Bluetooth is often the only way to get audio from a mobile device without a dongle, and the Arctis 9 is one of the few gaming headsets with built-in Bluetooth connectivity.

The Arctis 9 connects effortlessly with PC, PS4, Switch (docked) and mobile platforms, and with a 3.5mm audio cable it also connects to Xbox One, Switch (handheld) and to older audio devices of all persuasions. In all other respects, it's very similar to the Arctis 7 - for better and for worse.

Like the Arctis 7, the Arctis 9 features a beautiful and comfortable design, good in-game sound, and a crystal-clear mic. But also like the Arctis 7, the sound quality isn't quite what you'd expect for the price, especially since the Arctis 9 is $200 instead of the more manageable $150.

You're essentially paying $50 more for Bluetooth functionality, which is handy, but might not be worth the price. It's also that the Arctis 9 knocks you through a few connectivity hurdles, given that another SteelSeries product, the

SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox

, basically solved the dongle problem once and for all.

I'm not convinced the Arctis 9 is the best headset you can get for $200, but with good performance and a great design, it's at least on the run. Learn more in our full SteelSeries Arctis 9 review.

SteelSeries Arctis 9 (Black) at SteelSeries for $199.99

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Design

Right off the bat, the SteelSeries Arctis 9 deserves kudos for doing what so few other gaming headsets do and for separating the dials for overall volume and chat volume.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

The volume dial is on the right earcup, along with the mic mute button, Bluetooth button, charging port and 3.5mm audio jack. On the left earcup, you'll find a talk mix dial and little else. This makes it effortless to distinguish between the two dials, unlike many other gaming headsets, which inexplicably place the two dials next to each other.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

Beyond that, the Arctis 9 features the classic Arctis design you've almost certainly seen before: a plain, lightweight black plastic chassis with a bungee band across the top. There's a retractable mic in the left earcup, and not much else as an adornment. You can very easily wear this headset out of the house without a single wandering glance. There's no RGB lighting or inventive design; it's just a stylish and comfortable gaming headset.

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Comfort

Like other Arctis headsets, the SteelSeries Arctis 9 uses what SteelSeries calls a “ski goggle” design. Instead of adjustable notches, the Arctis 9 has an elastic headband that automatically adjusts to your head every time you wear it. That means there's no tedious fiddling with the notches, even if you're sharing the headset with a spouse or roommate. I've always said I wish more gaming companies had embraced this design, but as headsets like the

Logitech G733

, the design is not as simple as SteelSeries makes it seem.< /p>

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

The bottom line is that between its plush ear cups and effortless headband, the Arctis 9 is comfortable to wear for hours and almost guarantees a perfect fit from the moment you put it on.

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Performance

I tested the SteelSeries Arctis 9 with a variety of PC, PS4, Switch, and Android games, including Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Ghost of Tsushima, Star Trek Online, and Doom Eternal. What I heard was very good overall. I particularly appreciated the subtlety of the directional sound. It's useful when dealing with a horde of flying demons in Doom, but it's surprisingly equally effective when you can hear your villagers chopping wood on one side and mining gold on the other in Age of Empires. .

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

Although the Arctis 9 is not announced for the Nintendo Switch, it does indeed work in docked mode. The Bluetooth functionality works very well for mobile games and was used to transmit battle cries from Tales of Crestoria and the beautiful orchestral soundtrack from Monument Valley 2.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

My only complaint about the Arctis 9's gaming performance is that the sound isn't much different than the SteelSeries Arctis 7, which itself didn't have the richest or most nuanced soundscape. The sound is good overall, especially for video games. But compared to another $200 wireless gaming headset like the

Logitech Pro X Wireless

, it lacks a bit of depth and subtlety. This is especially true for music, which has very little bass and a flat, lifeless profile across genres.

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Features

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 is a feature-rich headset, with no less than four ways to connect to various devices, as well as compatibility with SteelSeries Engine software. While SteelSeries Engine was not compatible with the Arctis 9 during our review window (it will be soon), SteelSeries has informed us that the functionality is essentially the same as for the Arctis 7. This means that you will be able to adjust equalizations, configure profiles for individual games and so on.

The biggest issue this time around is that the Arctis 9 supports Bluetooth, which is a first in a SteelSeries wireless headset. Functionally, this means you can pair the Arctis 9 wirelessly with mobile devices. You can also use Bluetooth for PC connectivity and keep the Arctis 9's dongle plugged into a PS4, which is a little less hassle than constantly plugging and unplugging the USB connector.

(Image credit: SteelSeries) p>

I am shared by bluetooth connectivity. On the one hand, it's great for the Arctis 9 to offer wireless connectivity with mobile devices. On the other hand, the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless arguably solved this problem in a more elegant way: with a USB-C dongle. Without going into an exhaustive comparison, the USB-C dongle is both smaller and more versatile than the USB-A dongle that comes with the Arctis 9, especially since the Arctis 9 dongle requires you to switch between connectivity PC and PS4.< /p>

The mic is also worth discussing here. Voice quality is crystal clear, and the mic itself is easy to retract, easy to extend, and impossible to lose. I wish more gaming headset mics were designed so simple and smart.

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Verdict

In our SteelSeries Arctis 9 review, we discussed the perfect fit, good sound quality, and impressive Bluetooth connectivity. Still, at $200, it's one of the most expensive mainstream gaming headsets on the market, and it's hard to shake the feeling that it should sound a bit better, especially for music.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

Even so, I really enjoyed using the Arctis 9 for gaming and productivity, especially since it's so easy to wear. In the same price range, I'd consider (and maybe even go for) the Logitech G Pro X Wireless, but it depends on whether you prefer comfort (Arctis 9) or sound quality (Pro X Wireless). You can't go wrong with either option.

Marshall Honoroff

Marshall Honorof is an editor for Tom's Guide, covering gaming hardware, security, and streaming video. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or taking deep dives on classic sci-fi.