Sophisticated

SteelSeries' new gaming headset offers pro quality at a reasonable price

Our Arctis Prime review.

by Corey Plante
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

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SteelSeries announced the new Prime franchise of peripherals on May 25. Designed with input from pro gamers, the Arctis Prime headset feels built for competition.

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Described by SteelSeries as the “rally car of headsets,” the Arctis Prime feels more like a Buick Grand National: straightforward in style with a lot of power under the hood.

The Arctis Prime headset is stunning in its simplicity and efficiency — just like the Buick Grand National from Fast & Furious.

High-fidelity 40mm audio drivers are tuned for maximum sound and “detail separation” so you can pinpoint the direction of any sound — and the distance — up to 40,000 Hz.

The retractable ClearCast microphone offers the same bidirectional design used by aircraft carrier deck crews.

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Right out of the box, the elastic ski band is a bit cumbersome to adjust, but once you get it just right, it’s easy to forget you’re even wearing a headset.

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The leatherette ear cushions are comfortable and effective at canceling out some noise, even if they sit a bit firm on your head.

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On-headset controls allow you to mute the mic or adjust the volume on the fly, which sets the Arctis Prime apart from most of its competition. There’s also a 3.5mm port for sharing audio.

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The aluminum and steel alloy frame weighs only about 3/4 of a pound, and with the weight so well-distributed on your head, it’s barely noticeable.

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The Arctis Prime lacks some of the bells and whistles of higher-end headsets, but at this price point, it beats out all of its direct competition with crisp sound and a clean design.

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The Arctis Prime headset is available for $99.99 from SteelSeries