45

out of

56

Gaming Headset

True Score Methodology v1.0

Steelseries Arctis 9 Review

Name: Steelseries Arctis 9
Brand: Steelseries

By

Nikshep Myle

12/5/2023 6:12 PM

True Score

77

Mixed Reviews

76

8

Experts

82

874

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

(

8

)

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 has comfort, extensive controls and customization, and great connectivity and battery life. However, it lacks performance in key areas like sound and mic quality.

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot
Overview
Consensus
- {post.0.post_title} Specs
- Test Results
Product Comparison
All Stores
Score Card
Expert Score Breakdown
Customer Score Breakdown
Learn More About Gaming Headset

Product Snapshot

Overview

First launched in 2021, the SteelSeries Arctis 9 headphones are an entry-level variant that feature a retractable boom microphone, and their sound output can be easily configured through the SteelSeries Engine app. The headphones can last up to 20.3 hours, but they’ll take up to 5.6 hours to get to a full charge.

Fortunately, they can be used while charging – just like many of the highest-rated gaming headsets. They have a ski band headband, a nice range of adjustability on the ear cups, and are well-padded for added comfort. The headphones don’t support NFC pairing. They also have 40mm drivers and controls for the volume and microphone.

Best For

Wireless Microphones

Consensus

our Verdict

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 headset ultimately stumbles when it comes to key gaming elements. Its audio production is imbalanced, producing strong, overpowering bass and treble that can drown out mids. However, users can access the company software to customize sound to make up for the subpar drivers. Another large drawback is the microphone recording quality. The mic was rated 5.9/10, as it failed to pick up the voice clearly and naturally.

The headset does have some positives, like comfort. Its thick cushioning makes it ideal for long listening sessions and has significant adjustability to help distribute pressure. On top of this, the 20.3 hours of continuous playback and 303 ft line of sight connectivity range.

Reason to Buy

Comfortable Design
- The headset works well for long gaming sessions, given its impressive padding on the headband and earcups. It has good adjustability. However, the headset runs on the smaller side, so those with larger heads should exercise caution.
Robust Companion Software
- Users can alter sound and mic settings through the SteelSeries Engine Companion software, which comes with tools such as audio presets, graphic EQ, surround sound, and mic volume adjustment.
Intuitive Controls
- Gamers can easily access a range of controls to set up and adjust for gameplay. The headset has controls for volume, mic muting, Bluetooth connectivity, and chat mixing.

Reason to Avoid

Unbalanced Audio Quality
- The speakers don’t produce the most accurate sound environment, given they produce clear mids but imbalance bass and trebles. Additionally, the sound quality depends largely on correct fit and positioning.
Microphone Quality Issues
- The mic struggles to record sound that picks up deeper bass and higher mids, as the frequency extension is limited to 88-6,500 Hz. Also, overall mic quality was rated 5.9/10, placing it at the bottom 25% of gaming headsets.
Some Noticeable Latency
- Gamers experience some synching issues between audio and visuals. The headset tests in at 28 ms latency via the USB dongle connection, which isn’t terrible but slightly below average.

Steelseries Arctis 9 Specs

	Adjustable Headband	Yes
	Auto-Adjusting Headband	Yes
	Battery Life	20 hrs
	Compatible Platforms	Android, iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
	Connector Size	3.5mm
	Detachable Mic	No
	Driver Size	40mm
	Earcup Foam Material	AirWeave Fabric
	Headphone Fit	Over-ear
	Max Frequency Response	20,000 Hz
	Min Frequency Response	20Hz
	Noise Canceling	No
	Product Weight	0.81 lbs
	Programmable Buttons	No
	Wireless	Yes
	Wireless Connectivity	2.4GHz Wireless, Bluetooth

All Specs

Test Results

Max Volume (dB)	0
Microphone Sound Quality Rating (out of 10.0)	7
Speech To Noise Ratio (dB)	32.44
BT Latency (ms)	194
Non-BT Latency (ms)	0
Low End Roll Off (Hz)	59.932
High End Roll Off (Hz)	8,487.328

All Tests

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$199.99
$117.00
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Score Card

E

Expert Score

76

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

82

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

77

Expert Score Breakdown

Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight.

101.8
Category Trust Score
71
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 are passable for neutral sound. They struggle to deliver audio consistently… read more
By:
62.71
Category Trust Score
80
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 feels great and sounds good, although it’s quite expensive, even taking… read more
By:
67.47
Category Trust Score
73
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 is well-made headset you can wear for hours without issue, and… read more
By:
60.08
Category Trust Score
70
SteelSeries brings forward the same award-winning design of previous Arctis headsets with the Arctis 9… read more
By:
50.31
Category Trust Score
90
SteelSeries proves with the Arctis 9 Wireless that a cordless headset can still deliver excellent,… read more
By:
66.11
Category Trust Score
NR
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless is a very capable headset. Its design, comfort, and performance… read more
By: