SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wired Headset Rapid Review

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We’ve been fortunate enough to have reviewed some fantastic gaming headsets at Rapid Reviews since we launched the site. This time, we take a look (and a listen) at the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wired Headset. At £49.99, how much value for money does it provide? Read on to find out.

Key features

• Made for all gaming platforms, including PC, PS4, Xbox, and Switch
• Featuring the same signature soundscape of the award-winning Arctis line
• Detachable ClearCast noise canceling microphone for Discord-certified natural sounding clarity
• Steel-reinforced adjustable headband for a perfect fit and lasting durability
• Perfect for on-the-go with a compact, portable design

Design and Comfort

I liked the no-nonsense design of this headset. Sometimes gaming headsets can look a little garish when the colours of specific consoles are used.

The aesthetics of the Arctis 1 is a mainly a matte black affair, with some white/silver accents in the earcups, and the name of the brand on the earcups. As this is a headset that is targeted towards users of many devices, this design choice made complete sense.

The headset is extremely light, and therefore it allows you to wear it for extended gaming sessions in comfort. A major complaint I have with some headset headbands is that I feel a pressure spot when wearing them for long periods. Luckily, this was not the case with the SteelSeries Arctis 1.

The Arctis 1 comes with a detachable microphone boom, which is perfect if you’re going to be using the headset when in the gym or out and about.

Speaking of the microphone, I was impressed with by clarity that it provides. I use Discord to manage my team of writers, and they have commented on several occasions about how clear my voice was. This was also the case when speaking to team members when playing online games.

Sound Quality

For £49.99, the 40mm drivers inside the Arctis 1 provide more than enough of a punch. Combined with Dolby Atmos on my Xbox One X, I was very impressed with the sound quality. Shooting a lancer in Gears 5, or accelerating around a race track in Forza Horizon 4, all sounded great and made for an immersive experience.

I also used this headset to listen to podcasts and music on my phone. Similarly, I was quite impressed with the sound quality. Songs that were base heavy sounded punchy and hit the right notes, and voices on my favourite podcasts had excellent clarity.

Rapid Reviews Rating

You can purchase the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wired Gaming Headset from Amazon using the button below.