STEELSERIES ARCTIS 7P REVIEW FOR PS5, PS4, PC, NINTENDO SWITCH, ANDROID, AND GOOGLE STADIA. The new 7P and 7X from SteelSeries are aimed at providing awesome wireless audio for the upcoming PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, respectively. This review focuses on the PS5 variant, which has been tested using PS4 and PC hardware.
Box of goodies
Inside the box there’s the Arctis 7P wireless headset itself, a USB-C wireless transmitter, a 3.5 mm mobile audio cable, a Micro-USB charging cable, and a USB-C to USB A adapter. It might be more cables than users are expecting for a “wireless headset” but SteelSeries has simply covered all bases here, allowing the headset to not only be used by the PS5 and PS4, but also with PC, Switch, Android, and Stadia.
Buy the SteelSeries Arctis 7P wireless headset here
It’s a little jarring to still see Micro-USB charging for the 7P, especially when you consider the upcoming PS5 DualSense controller charges with USB-C, so hopefully SteelSeries can soon move away from that. However, with up to 24 hours of non-stop wireless usage, the 7P will only need charging once a week with mid to heavy use, so it’s ultimately a minor issue. And yes, the 7P can be used wirelessly while it’s charging, so users won’t need to take a break from gaming to charge the headset.
I love that the wireless transmitter is detachable from the adapter cable, as it allows for clean and easy compatibility with Android phones and the Nintendo Switch. That transmitter is capable of sending audio to the 7P over an up to 40 ft wireless range. It’s the same 2.4 GHz low-latency wireless connection that we’ve come to know and love, too, making it a worthy competitor to wired devices.
Tried-and-true comfort
I’ve reviewed a bunch of SteelSeries Arctis headsets at this point and comfort is always fantastic. The breathable fabric used for the removable pads is great for keeping ears cool, which can be a problem for users of leather-ish materials, and the clamping force is optimal, too. The earcups rotate to lie flat which is great for when users want to rest them against their chest. A small thing, but it’s nice to not be choked out by headphones when taking a break!
The headband is the tried-and-true Arctis headband, which is simple but effective. Even though it’s wireless, it’s still lightweight and perfectly balanced. Comfort is a huge factor in picking a headset, especially for gaming marathons where the hours can quickly pass by, and the Arctis 7P delivers.
Built to last
It’s pretty important for a $149.99 headset to feel premium, and the build quality of the Arctis 7P is solid. I’ve never had a SteelSeries product break and I’m confident that the 7P will last the test of time for the next generation of PlayStation gaming.
The white, black, and blue colors match the PS5 color scheme well, making it look the part when sitting next to the console. However, it’s worth noting that a black version of the 7P is available exclusively on the SteelSeries website, which is a nice option to have.
Full functionality
The left earcup features most of the buttons. There is a lot going on here, but each button has a different texture or ridged/depressed position to make it easy to feel which is which. There’s the microphone mute button which also triggers a red light on the mic itself, which is cool. Then there’s the volume wheel for game or system sound, a connector for the 3.5 mm cable, another headphone jack for audio in and sharing, and the Micro-USB charging port.
The right earcup has the sidetone volume wheel, which is for microphone monitoring. For me, sidetone is a must-have feature of any headset. This well-placed wheel allows users to increase and decrease the volume at which they are hearing their own voice.
Sound you can trust
As we saw with comfort, SteelSeries is sticking to its guns with the audio coming out of the Arctis 7P. There’s no excessively forced bass or overly crispy treble. I’d call the balance pretty damn perfect for the games that I play. Call of Duty: Warzone and Apex Legends sounded fantastic with a wide-enough soundstage to easily distinguish the direction of enemy footsteps and gunfire. The 7P leans more towards clear representation of the game’s actual sound, rather than trying to enhance it to be more blockbuster-like.
As someone who leans more on the side of neutral sound for my everyday listening and audio editing work, I’m always happy to switch to an Arctis headset for when it’s time to game. The 7P again delivers on the consistently satisfying and accurate audio. This headset can also be used for music and movies with no issues, either. Sometimes vocals and subtleties can get lost by bass-heavy sets, but that isn’t the case here.
The 7P gets loud, too. I like to crank things up when it comes to competitive gaming and this headset goes beyond that. I’d say I was at 80-85% on the volume wheel when testing on PS4 and PC.
I can’t yet test the PS5’s Tempest 3D Audio Tech with the 7P, but SteelSeries promises that it will be fully compatible. This means players won’t be missing out on any of the fancy next-gen audio tech.
Microphone quality is fine for chatting with friends in the PS4 and PS5 party chats, or for use with apps like Discord, but it’s not broadcast-worthy. Users who are just starting out with livestreaming may get away with it, but an upgrade would be needed to be taken more seriously. The 7P mic leans more towards inoffensive audio with noise cancellation, as opposed to capturing nuanced vocal performances. I feel like this is the case with all gaming headsets, though, so it’s as expected.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P Review | The Final Verdict
At $149.99, the SteelSeries Arctis 7P wireless headset is a significant step down in price from the $199.99 Arctis 9 Wireless. While it doesn’t boast the dual wireless feature, it does still pack a punch in the sound quality and comfort department. And I actually prefer the small USB-C dongle for quickly connecting to my Android phone.
Those looking for a mid-priced headphone that will take them through the next generation and beyond will definitely want to consider the Arctis 7P. And, again, if the white color isn’t your style, then there’s the black version available exclusively on SteelSeries.com.
Arctis 7P Wireless review unit was provided by SteelSeries.
