Its Xbox stylings might make you imagine the SteelSeries Arctis 7X is just good for Microsoft’s line of consoles – however whether or not you’ve acquired an Xbox Series X / S, PS5, Nintendo Change, a gaming PC or a cell phone with USB-C, the Arctis 7X is a good headset.
Versatile help for a number of units, stable sound and dependable connectivity add as much as a snug and easy-to-recommend gaming headset – even when its musical capabilities aren’t fairly as sharp.
Worth and availability
The SteelSeries Arctis 7X is accessible now, and is priced at $149 / £174.99, making it a good chunk of change costlier for these within the UK than throughout the pond stateside. Its characteristic set make it well worth the expense although, particularly within the US the place its cheaper price ticket makes it extremely aggressive.
Notice that there’s a PlayStation-focused SteelSeries Arctis 7P mannequin obtainable too, however it’s truly rather less fully-featured than the 7X, because it doesn’t help any Xbox fashions, whereas the 7X stays completely appropriate with PlayStation too. As long as colour matching units aren’t a giant deal for you, be sure to select up the 7X as a substitute.
Design and efficiency
When you’re aware of earlier SteelSeries Arctis headsets, notably the Arctis 7, you’ll really feel proper at residence with the Arctis 7. The design may be very comparable, with a black plastic construct connecting to a versatile metal band.
The match clamps comfortably to your head, with a stretchy velcro material strap used to loosen or tighten the match. A smattering of neon inexperienced traces are the one prospers on the headset, making for a comparatively smart-looking headset, and a light-weight one too at about 340g.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7X has neatly positioned onboard controls. The correct cup homes the facility button and chat combine dial, balancing buddies and social gathering audio with recreation audio.
The left cup homes a normal quantity dial, a mic mute button, micro USB, a 3.5mm headphone jack for direct connection to a controller or telephone, and a proprietary port to accompany an included cable which SteelSeries believes offers you a greater 3.5mm connection.
A versatile and retractable mic arm can be housed within the left cup, full with LED mute indicator. It’s a pleasant, tidy arrange, and conserving the 2 dials on separate cups helps to keep away from confusion mid-game. The cups are nicely padded too, with a breathable material masking conserving your ears cool throughout lengthy play periods.
Connectivity is straightforward, however doesn't make use of Bluetooth. As an alternative, a USB-C dongle is used to hook up with your gadget of alternative, with SteelSeries offering a USB-A adaptor for units not outfitted with a USB-C port.
A small swap on the dongle lets it swap between Xbox and all different platforms. Whereas it does necessitate you are taking the dongle with you between units, and {that a} port is used on whichever machine you pair the headset with, it does present a dependable, versatile connection, and a simple pairing course of.
Battery life is spectacular, too – SteelSeries claims 24 hours of battery life per full cost of the headset, and that appears roughly consistent with our testing. Anticipate to eke a couple of hours much less per cost when you’re enjoying at full quantity, however regardless, you shouldn’t be caught quick too typically in relation to battery.
Audio and microphone efficiency are exemplary in relation to gaming. With an important max quantity stage, it balances booming explosions and sharp dialogue with correct and pleasing outcomes, giving a cinematic combine to motion video games and sports activities titles alike.
It handles directional audio nicely too – enjoying a preview of the brand new Aliens: Fireteam Elite recreation on Xbox noticed the SteelSeries Arctis 7X keenly spotlight any creeping xenomorphs able to pounce from behind our marine. The mic, comfortably and adjustably positioned, was wonderful too, clearly delivering chat to friends with out an excessive amount of sibilance or pop.
The place the SteelSeries Arctis 7X is a bit weaker is with music. Complicated layering on tracks can see the 7X wrestle a bit, with out the width and element wanted to drag out all sides of a tune. It’s not a dealbreaker in any respect when you’re after only a gaming headset, and the tunes sound positive. However don’t anticipate the 7X to compete with the most effective wi-fi headphones for music.
Ought to I purchase the SteelSeries Arctis 7X Wireless headset?
Purchase it if...
You need a headset to work with (almost) all of your units
The SteelSeries Arctis 7X works with all main consoles, PC and Android telephones, regardless of its Xbox branding. Apart from Apple units, this may very well be a go-to headset for all units (offered they've USB-C help).
You recognize devoted chat combine controls
When Xbox gaming, it’s nice to have the ability to use the SteelSeries Arctis 7X ChatMix dial to fine-tune the stability between gameplay and social gathering chat sound ranges.
You want a totally featured headset that doesn’t break the financial institution
It’s not an affordable headset, however it isn’t fairly the bank-breaker that its assorted characteristic listing would in any other case counsel.
Do not buy it if...
You want Bluetooth performance
The SteelSeries Arctis 7X can solely join through a USB-C dongle wirelessly. There’s no Bluetooth here, nor help for the Xbox Wireless customary.
Music is your jam
There are higher headsets in relation to musicality. The SteelSeries Arctis 7X is positive for tunes, however lacks the element and depth that some pricier hi-res headsets ship.
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