The SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition are good wired gaming headphones that play sound very well. They have a good microphone for online gaming and can be used with the SteelSeries Engine software, which gives you a lot of control and customization options.
But these headphones feel less sturdy than some of the other Arctis headsets because they are made of more plastic. They also have a bit of a long delay when they are wired. On the plus side, they are a great deal, and their USB cable, which you need to use the app, has a dial for mixing channels.
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo hide=price]Specifications
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 KHz
- Design Style: Closed-ear design
- Microphone Type: Bidirectional, retractable, noise cancellation
- Connectivity: 3.5mm, USB Type-A
- Weight: 9.76 ounces (277g)
- Cables: 10 foot (3m) cable, ChatMix Dial USB cable
- Lighting: 1 RGB zone
- Software: SteelSeries Engine 3
Where to get SteelSeries Arctis 5 gaming Headset?
The SteelSeries Arctis 5 looks modern and simple. My review unit was black, but you can also get the headset in white for a more striking look. But since the Arctis 5 has RGB lighting around the edges of the cups, you might not need a white colour scheme for that.
By default, the lights change colours every 10 seconds, but you can change the speed and other effects in the Engine 3 software (more on that in the Features and Software section). As long as the headset is plugged in, the lights will stay on. It’s an elegant solution that won’t stand out as much as, say, the RGB on the JBL Quantum One, but it should still do the job.
The Arctis 5 is easy to use. It has a volume wheel and a button to turn off the microphone. The main cable connects to the ChatMix dial, which then connects via USB Type-A to a PC, Mac, or gaming console. With the 3.5mm adapter, users can connect to their phones and controllers.
When you use the 3.5mm attachment for handheld gaming, the ChatMix dial goes away, but the wire gets a lot shorter. The 3.5mm attachment is small and easy to lose, so putting it away when not in use is a good idea.
The Arctis 5 uses the SteelSeries Engine 3 software, just like other SteelSeries accessories. SteelSeries has made a lot of progress with its software over the past few years. Engine went from being a buggy “me-too” product to almost being as polished as Razer and Logitech’s software.
As mentioned above, you can use the software to turn on and off surround sound, choose different equalisation options (Immersion, Performance, Entertainment, Music, and Voice are some good ones), and change a lot of mic settings, such as side tone (how well you can hear your own voice during chat) and noise reduction.