SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC Headset Review

Final Thoughts

Price

This is a premium grade headset, with the best hardware you could hope for today. With that in mind, the £249.99 retail price shouldn’t come as that much of a shock. Compare that to my (previous) favourite headset, the Astro A40 + MixAmp Pro, which is currently £199.99, I think the Arctis is worth the extra £50 and then some. The £299.99 wireless model is amazing, but without the wireless tech, the charging dock, or the extra batteries, it’s easy to save £50 and grab the wired Arctis Pro if you really want to.

Overview

Two headsets into testing the new Arctis range, and two times I’ve been blown away by their class-leading quality, performance and style. If anything, I think the two headsets are identically comparable in regards to their acoustic performance and build quality, however, I prefer the wired model!

Wireless or Wired

This is certainly a subjective quality on any headset. The Arctis Wireless is phenomenal, and the real king of gaming, movie, and music audio for desktop users or PlayStation 4. However, you get 100% of the audio thrills from the Arctis Pro + GameDAC, and save £50 in the process. If you can tolerate having a single wire to your headset, it’s a no-brainer. Of course, the larger dock on the wireless which comes with two quick-change batteries obviously justifies the price increase for those who want flawless wireless performance.

Surround and Beyond

The Arctis range certainly offers best-in-class performance when it comes to High-Res audio support. Sure, you can get that from sub £100 headsets such as the new Roccat model (which sounds incredible). However, the sheer acoustic range and EQ capabilities of the SteelSeries range give them a significant edge. Add to that the class-leading performance when used with Dolby Atmos for Headphones, or DTS Headphone:X, and you can enjoy the latest object-based audio processing in startling detail. I have a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos/DTS:X home cinema setup, and while that’s “better”, for headphones, you’ll be shocked how close it comes regarding sound quality.

Should I Buy One?

It’s a £250 headset, and for that reason, I can hardly expect everyone to go out and buy one. You can get some pretty amazing headsets for around £100 that would put a smile on your face. However, when only the best will do, expect to pay a premium. The Arctis Pro + GameDAC set a new standard today, one that will not be beaten until some freaking huge innovation happens in the consumer audio market. If you want the best, there’s nothing else I would recommend today.