For anyone that has just started to try out PC Gaming, it can be a little bit overwhelming to choose your go-to gaming headset, especially when there are so many different models available on the market to choose from. That said, for any gaming enthusiasts out there that are just starting to get their feet wet on PC gaming and are looking for an affordable, yet still reliable gaming headset, consider going with the SteelSeries Arctis Prime.
The SteelSeries Arctis Prime is a comfortable and durable tournament-level esports gaming headset that comes equipped with high-fidelity audio drivers and featuring great noise-isolation.
The Arctis Prime is mainly focused on competitive play, as this esports gaming headset packs some of SteelSeries’ most premium elements from its Arctis line of headsets, but, unlike many of the headsets from that line, the Arctis Prime comes at a reasonably lower price point.
Now, note that while this high-fidelity gaming headset doesn’t integrate any flashy lights, some of the typical audio features like surround sound that more competitive gamers would look for, or even any SteelSeries Software integration, it still makes for a great entry-level gaming headset for gaming enthusiasts and competitive professional esports pros alike.
So, without any further ado, let’s have a more detailed look at the SteelSeries Arctis Prime and check out everything that makes this esports gaming headset so special.
DESIGN
So, starting with the Arctis Prime’s overall design, this esports gaming headset features a very simple and minimalist design. As mentioned before, this gaming headset also borrows a lot its visual features (as well as some of its audio features) from SteelSeries’ Arctis line of headsets.
Now, keep in mind that since the SteelSeries Arctis Prime is designed as a entry-level esports gaming headset, the two main focus points of its design are competitive gaming and comfort.
On that note, let’s talk about each of the headset’s several components. Starting with its ear cups, this esports gaming headset comes equipped with a set of leather-like Ear Cushions that are designed to offer you both long-lasting comfort as well as great noise-isolation.
The headset’s leather-like Ear Cushions are reasonably large, which makes them very comfortable to wear both on top and around your ears, all without any discomfort whatsoever.
Not only that, but the headset’s ear cups can also be rotated both inwards and outwards to a reasonable extent, which just further ensures a more comfortable wearing experience.
In addition to all of that, the SteelSeries Arctis Prime Headset is also built for extreme durability, as it features a Steel Frame Construction that’s based on other gaming headsets from that same Arctis line of gaming headsets from SteelSeries.
That said, this esports gaming headset is mainly constructed of aluminum alloy and steel, which not only ensures that you get a lightweight performance while wearing them for your gaming sessions (even during longer periods of time), but also helps to ensure that your comfort is never lost, meaning that you ears won’t end up hurting after longer gaming sessions (and that also goes for people with glasses).
Last but not least, note that the headset’s Steel Headband is the same one found in SteelSeries’ Arctis 7, 9, and Pro headset models. As such, the Arctis Prime also integrates the same Ski Band Suspension System that’s found on those headset models.
AUDIO SPECS & AUDIO QUALITY
Now, moving on to what every gaming enthusiast would really like to know, which would be none other than the headset’s Audio Specs and Audio Quality.
So, as mentioned earlier, this esports gaming headset comes equipped with a set of Advanced High-Fidelity 40 mm Neodymium Audio Drivers, which integrate the same premium hardware and tuning from the company’s Arctis Pro Gaming Headset.
That said, I’d like to point out that the headset’s High-Fidelity Neodymium Audio Drivers feature a great Frequency Response that goes between 10 and 40,000 Hz with a Total Harmonic Distortion of just less than 1%, a Sound Impedance of 32 Ohm, and a Maximum Noise Sensitivity of 92 dB SPL.
In addition, this high-fidelity Esports gaming headset also comes equipped with a built-in Retractable ClearCast Boom Microphone that’s Discord-Certified, meaning that it offers your teammates exceptional Voice-Capture and Voice-Quality for your capture “Voice-Comms” and “in-game Callouts”.
On that note, it’s also worth to mention that the headset’s Discord-Certified ClearCast Boom Microphone uses a unique Bi-Directional Noise-Canceling design that ultimately gives it a superior noise-cancellation capability, all just to ensure that your “Voice-Comms” are easy to hear and also sound perfectly crystal-clear and natural at all times.
The headset’s Retractable ClearCast Boom Microphone features a Frequency Response that goes between 100 and 10,000 Hz, a Sound Sensitivity of -38 dBV/Pa, and a Sound Impedance of exactly 2200 Ohm.
INTERFACE / CONTROLS
For the headset’s Controls, we have a very simple set of On-Headset Controls that come built directly into the Arctis Prime’s right-side ear cup.
These can be used to easily adjust the headset’s volume on-the-fly, as well as to mute the headset’s built-in Retractable Boom Microphone without having to fumble with the cable or any audio settings in the heat of battle.
That said, and as specified at the begging of the article, this esports gaming headset doesn’t feature any SteelSeries Software integration.
That basically means that if you’re looking to use these for more competitive gameplay to progressively climb a ladder system on games where you constantly need to listen the overall position, as well as footsteps, actions, and intentions of your opponents (for FPS games like CS:GO, Valorant, PUBG, or even Overwatch), the headset doesn’t really allow you to fine-tune its Audio Settings due to that already-mentioned lack of SteelSeries Software integration, which, for very competitive gamers, might ultimately be a disadvantage.
Still, for more casual gameplay, the Arctis Prime makes for a great entry-level gaming headset.
CONNECTIVITY & COMPATIBILITY
Last but not least, we’ll talk about the headset’s Connectivity options, which, for this case, is only one. That said, know that the Arctis Prime comes together with its dedicated Detachable 3.5mm Cable.
That ultimately makes this gaming headset compatible with all gaming platforms, including PC, as well as Xbox and PlayStation, and even the Nintendo Switch.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Inside each package, users will find: their Arctis Prime Headset, a 4-Pole 3.5mm Adapter, the headset’s Dual 3.5mm Extension Cable, a Microphone Windscreen (to cover up breathing sounds, etc.), and the headset’s Information Booklet.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The SteelSeries Arctis Prime is a comfortable and durable tournament-level esports gaming headset that comes equipped with high-fidelity audio drivers and featuring great noise-isolation.
While this high-fidelity gaming headset doesn’t integrate any flashy lights, some audio features like surround, or even any SteelSeries Software integration, it still makes for a great entry-level gaming headset for gaming enthusiasts and competitive professional esports pros alike, especially when accounting for its very affordable price.
If you’re looking to buy this gaming headset, know that the Arctis Prime headset is currently going for just $99.99, which makes it fairly affordable. You can order yours online right now, directly from SteelSeries’ official shopping page, which you can access via this link here.
