SteelSeries Arctis 7P Headset (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://steelseries.com/gaming-headsets/arctis-7p
SteelSeries already dazzled us before, with the original release of the Arctis 7, a wireless gaming headset that succeeded in most aspects. Two years later, they’re back, with a new and improved version of the Arctis 7: the Arctis 7P, a “next-gen” issue of the headset, designed to work with the PlayStation 5.
There are two versions of the new Arctis 7--a 7P and a 7X, with the letters denoting compatibility for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, respectively. For this review, we’ll be looking at the 7P, and how it works with the PS5, among other supported platforms. In fact, SteelSeries has done well in terms of making the Arctis 7P work with quite a few different devices; included in the box is a USB-C (plus a USB-A adapter) wireless transmitter which allows the headset to work with applicable Android phones, PC, and the Nintendo Switch, as well as its Lite variation. If you’re still rocking a device that has a 3.5mm aux jack, they’re also nice enough to include an adapter so that the Arctis 7P can be used with that, too. Unless you want to use the 7P with an Xbox, you’ll have everything you need for any modern device.
From the above information, you might have been able to ascertain that the Arctis 7P does not use Bluetooth; rather, it uses 2.4GHz wireless, which I’m glad to see. Bluetooth headsets are nice, but they can have serious latency issues, where the 7P doesn’t. Even when walking two rooms away from the PlayStation 5 to grab some chips, the headset didn’t even so much as stutter or drop its connection. Additionally, I wasn’t able to notice any lag or inconsistency in what I was seeing vs what I was hearing in-game. The only flaw with this setup is that the SteelSeries wireless dongle is so wide that it outright blocks the USB-A input on the front of the console. It’s not the biggest issue, but it can still be irksome that you have to fiddle with plugging something into the back of the PS5 when you want to charge your controller.
Sony's pumped-up marketing of the PlayStation 5's Tempest Audio is probably the most likely reason you'd want to pick up a "next-gen" ready headset, to which the Arctis 7P is. Directional audio is all the rage, which this headset handles well, especially in shooters, where positioning can make or break a match. Sounds were separated well, and it was easy to discern where they were coming from. As nearly every pair of gaming headsets tend to be, these go heavy on the bass, almost to the point of drowning out some higher treble sounds, though it tends to be fairly balanced, overall. Noise-isolation from the outside world left me a little wanting, though, because I could clearly hear everything going on around me, even though these are closed-back headphones.
Annoyingly, the Arctis 7P has great audio on the PS5, but PC is an entirely different story. Gaming sounds decent on Windows, so long as you grab SteelSeries's Engine 3 software to customize the sound profiles, but media and music, even when adjusted on the EQ sound horribly muffled. No amount of fiddling managed to improve the sound of the TV shows I was watching while wearing the headset. You also lose out entirely on any directional or surround sound features on PC, because it only works with the PS5.
Visually, SteelSeries tends to stand out because they don't use a traditional headband. Instead, they have an adjustable velcro strap that rests across the top of your head. I found that the weight of the headset was distributed a little more evenly because of this, to the point where I barely ever felt it on my head. It excels in comfort, but I can't help but wonder if the elasticity of the headband might wear out eventually after enough use, reducing the comfort. And while it happens to be nice to wear, the material of the earcups can really heat up and become noticeably warm after a while. If that isn't enough to bother you, then you'll be fine with the cloud-like feel of the headset.
Out of all the gaming headsets that I've taken out for a spin, SteelSeries's headset has the best battery life out of the bunch. Promising around 24 hours of battery life per charge, the Arctis 7P has double that of a lot of other competitors. Its microphone is also no slouch, though I found it did like to pick up on keyboard clacking and errant background noise a little often. Having a retractable mic is a great choice, letting you simply slide it back into the headset to get it out of the way of your sight, plus it's the most adjustable mic I've used yet.
SteelSeries continues to put out solid headsets, with the Arctis 7P. This one excels at having some useful compatibility options outside of the PS5, giving it utility beyond just PS+ Party chats and Tempest Audio. Comfy, versatile, wireless, and offering up some good mic quality, this headset is a jack of all trades, but with a hefty price tag of $149.99, for that cost, it's also sort of a master of none.
Verdict
- Wide compatibility
- Soft, super-padded earcups/awesome headband
- Impressive battery life
- Supports the PS5's audio features
- The dongle blocks the front USB-A on the PS5
- The velcro strap will fray the rest of the headband
- Directional audio features aren't available on PC
- Muffled media/non-gaming audio in general on PC