SteelSeriesArctis 5 - RGB Illuminated Gaming Headset with DTS Headphone: X v2.0 Surround - for PC and PlayStation 4 - Black

Grandson happy with the fit and design

After vacuuming up the cord of my very old Razer Cacharias (?) headset, it finally declared its death when my Discord group mentioned I was cutting in and out, and so it was time to replace my headset. For a very terrible 3 months, I bought a discount headset with plasticized ear cups, and while I could hear and communicate, it was very uncomfortable. I was looking into other Razer alternatives but didn't really feel as if their features were as interesting as the Steelseries, and I also had a few recommendations for Steelseries from others. Attach to it RGB function (my tower is needlessly fluorescent) and I decided to plop down the funds for this wired version. I've never been a fan of wireless, just something about connection and not having to worry if the wireless is up in a clutch moment is just my style.The headset is very stylish. I'm a small person, with an average size head and average but slightly pokey-outey ears. The fabric and the stretch fabric on the headset is very comfortable and breathable. It angles just a touch forward when I wear it, which is not noticeable after a few minutes. The retractable microphone works very well, and my raid leader says I'm very crisp - definitely not the case with my knockoff cheapo headset.Length of the plug leading from the headset to the dial toggle is very generous, as well as from the dial toggle to the computer. Due to USB hogging I have to use the top of my tower USBs, but no problem at all, very forgiving in length. I haven't had it fall out yet but I'm not headbanging while raid healing. The dial toggle is very cool! I can use it to easily mute out game noise if there's an issue, or vice versa if everyone is just talking about nothing and I want to tone them down. At neutral, it's equal for both.RGB functionality is initially a bit complicated looking but is through Steelseries' app that you can download, and you can make separate profiles. I have a violet/blue shifting thing for my Tauren Shadowpriesting and have several other profiles - glowing gold for my paladin, green for druid, etc. And there are sound function toggles.Sound is great, crisp, and no reverb at all. The surround function at least in World of Warcraft is excellent and positionally is usually great, although for some reason sometimes when I'm mounting up on a specific mount the sound will originate more to the left, but, this isn't always, and maybe is a function of my setup.I especially like this for Youtube progressive house mixes, bass turned up! The noise cancellation is not really cancellation, but the muffling is enough that it takes out more ambient noise. I live by a freeway though, so there's nothing killing that noise. Definitely softer.I really like this headset. I would recommend if you're in the market, give this a good try, I hope mine has a lot of life left in it. It's a lightweight headset and the cords are fairly lightweight but give you great range.Also a good wow factor, if anyone is watching you game, and I can make it match my tower RGB, hah hah. The little things, eh?

EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED!!!

I got this headset hoping to upgrade from my ASTRO A10 headset.Generally, there are more benefits than there are drawbacks.While the headset audio quality is nowhere near that of ASTRO gaming, the Arctis 5 headset audio quality gets the job doneThe microphone quality on the Astro A10 headset is mediocre, but the Arctis 5 build-in microphone quality and muting functionality are superb.While the ASTRO A10 headset is bulky, durable, and very heavy, the SteelSeries Arctis 5 headset is comfortable, light, and disadvises any heavy-duty handling.The product promises 7.1 Digital Surround Sound through its surround sound simulator software "SteelSeries Engine 3".The software offers terrible "surround sound" as it just hampers the audio, so I just leave it off.However, the software is more useful than most people review!It offers a wonderful equalizer, microphone volume tuner, RGB-lighting earcup customizer, and microphone sidetone (which lets you hear yourself as you talk in the mic; it isn't ideal but it's there if you want to use it)(I recommend the following equalizer settings:)(62.5 = 4.1) (250 = 1.9) (1K = 0) (3.6K = 1.7) (12K = 1)If there are two things that the Astro 10 headset does considerably better than the Arctis 5 Headset, it would be providing surround sound capabilities and in-line volume control.I play a lot of shooters, and it is much easier to determine where sounds are coming from in the 3D digital space with the Astro A10 headset than the Arctis 5 headset.The in-line volume control on the Astro A10 headset is more rigid and secure, while the volume control on the Arctis 5 left earcup is so sensitive that even picking up the headset would be enough force to turn the volume control wheel.The delicacy of the game-chat audio mixer is ludicrous; just about any amount of force could turn the mixer wheel!Finally, the way that the earcups on the Arctis 5 can turn inwards but can never outwards is a little disappointing as this headset has some serious personal speaker potential with its volume capabilities.Now for my most favorite part of using the Arctis 5 headset! The Arctis 5 headset is great for listening to music!This headset comes with two ports: the custom mini-USB and the 3.5mm audio jack ports.I love that I can be able to 3.5mm Bluetooth Adapter, and it becomes a wireless headset!It doesn't have the best audio quality, but this is a major upgrade from the Astro A10's incompatibility with anything less than 5-pole 3.5mm audio jacks in the earcups.Granted that you also have a headset case, you can take the Arctis 5 headset and a 3.5mm Bluetooth adapter on the go!You can wear these for much longer periods of time than any Astro headset, which is always a plus!

The Arctis goes strong for years. Amazing comfort and plugs right in for instant play. Comfort around the ears and also over the head is unmatched—I’ve worn it for hours and had no pain. Mic quality and sounds quality are also great.