SteelSeries is one of the leaders in high-quality gaming peripherals. The Prime series is their latest line of gaming mice and headsets developed for specifically for competitive esports players. The SteelSeries Prime lineup includes the Arctis Prime headset and a mouse trio: Prime, Prime +, and Prime Wireless.
SteelSeries co-developed the Prime series with some of the top esports players to help give gamers what they want. The win. The Prime line’s minimalist design allows gamers to focus on achieving victory.
What’s in the Box?
- Arctis Prime Headset
- 4-Pole 3.5mm adapter
- Dual 3.5mm Extension Cable
- Microphone Windscreen
- Product Information Guide
SteelSeries Arctis Prime Specifications
The SteelSeries Arctis Prime is compatible with PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile Phones. To connect the headset to PC and Mac, use the 3.5mm analog. For PlayStation and Xbox, connect the 3.5mm to the controller. To connect to Nintendo Switch, connect the 3.5mm to the tablet. And to connect to your mobile phone, plug the 3.5mm into the jack.
Speaker Drivers
- Neodymium Drivers: 40 mm
- Frequency Response: 10–40,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 92 dB SPL
- Impedance: 32 Ohm
- Total Harmonic Distortion: < 1%
Microphone
- Type: Retractable Boom
- Polar Pattern: Bidirectional Noise-Canceling
- Frequency Response: 100–10,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: -38 dBV/Pa
- Impedance: 2200 Ohm
Design
The Arctis Prime is a sleek, more minimalist version of the ArctisPro. The Arctis Prime has a black, aluminum alloy, and steel frame. The metal headband is accompanied by a stretchy headband that wraps around the top. The band goes down through the base with a fastener that comes up on the upper left side for adjustability.
The Prime headset has metal, rotating earcup mounts with faux-leather cushioning. The rotating earcup mounts allow you to lay the headset flat on your neck. It’s a very tight fit, though. One of the bells and whistle features SteelSeries did away with on the Prime design is the RGB on the earcups. But the earcups have removable, speaker plates for customizability, should you want to replace them with RGB plates.
The volume indicator and mute button are both located on the back of the left earcup. Though there is no mute indicator, you can still easily determine if you are muted or not. Press the button once to unmute the mic. Press the button to extend outward to mute. Button in = mic on. Button out = mic off.
While it’s easy to determine if the mic is muted, it’s also easy to accidentally mute the mic. When adjusting the headset or taking it off, I hit the mute button about 70% of the time. A minor inconvenience, but an inconvenience, nonetheless.
Are they Comfy?
The SteelSeries Arctis Prime gaming headset is super comfy on my ears. I didn’t feel as if it were squeezing my head. I was able to stream 8 hours on Twitch comfortably wearing them. Though they are a metal frame, the metal is very lightweight and didn’t weigh my head down. And the leatherette ear cushions sealed in the comfort factor.
The retractable mic boom is always a favorite feature of mine when done right. And SteelSeries did a masterful job of creating convenient flexibility without sacrificing durability.
How’s the Sound Quality?
The SteelSeries Arctis Prime was designed with the same supreme audio drivers and technology used in ArctisPro. The directional sound was crisp and clear. I could hear more clearly the direction and distance from which Genji spammed “I need healing”.
The 10–40,000 Hz frequency response delivers an incredibly well-balanced audio experience. While I could hear all the nuances of footsteps, directional sounds, and ambiance of various games, external noises were minimal.
How’s the Mic Quality?
SteelSeries Prime combative lineup is designed for maximum performance for pro gamers, and clear communication is a must. The Discord-certified Arctis Prime is equipped with its signature ClearCast microphone that captures audio straight from your mouth. The beauty of ClearCast technology is that it “uses the same bi-directional design” used by crews on noisy aircraft carriers.
While streaming and playing competitive Overwatch, both viewers and teammates said my sound was crystal clear. My viewers said the Prime headset mic was a huge improvement over my normal mic. When I reviewed the VOD, there was no loud key tapping. Just crystal clear me, my game, and vibes.
Conclusion
The SteelSeries Arctis Prime High-Fidelity Esports Headset seeks to deliver a premium, pro-gaming experience with a mid-range price tag. Excellent noise cancellation and sound isolation eliminated keyboard typing, my fan, and my pups whining for more belly rubs from my background.
This analog headset works very well with surround sound and DTS. Playing Fallout 76 using Arctis Prime was a treat. While the max level volume wasn’t loud as I’d have liked it was still a wonderfully immersive experience. The howling winds in the mountains, the subtle dust as I ran in Toxic Valley, and the rad storm. Every sound was more distinct.
The SteelSeries Arctis Prime is proof that less is more. It was designed not to detract from game focus, but its simplistic design is stylish enough to fit any gaming setup. Its chic, minimalist design made me like it right out of the box. Its performance, however, made it quickly become my new favorite headset.
