Introduction

It's no secret that SteelSeries makes some of the best gaming headsets on the market. The entire Arctis lineup was a great success the moment it launched back in 2017 and saw excellent reviews. SteelSeries essentially uses the same platform for all Arctis headsets, spanning from the fantastic $350 Arctis Pro Wireless all the way down to the $50 Arctis 1, the least expensive gaming headset they currently offer. That makes their gaming headsets instantly recognizable, although more experienced users will still be able to tell them apart.



Coming in at $50, the headset tested in our SteelSeries Arctis 1 review is one of the most affordable brand-name gaming headsets on the market. It's a simple, analogue device featuring an unobtrusive, almost stealthy design, a detachable microphone, and, according to SteelSeries, "the same signature soundscape of the award-winning Arctis line." In other words, as far as sound quality goes, it should perform the same in our review, as, say, the $150 Arctis 7—quite a feat for a $50 headset. It supports all traditional and mobile gaming platforms as it can connect to anything with a 3.5-mm audio port. Let's find out if this is the best affordable brand-name gaming headset on the market!

Specifications

• 40-mm dynamic drivers (neodymium magnet)
• 32 Ω impedance
• 20-20,000 Hz frequency response (specified by the manufacturer)
• Closed-back over-ear design
• Detachable bidirectional noise-cancelling microphone
• 1.3 m rubberized audio cable with a 4-pole (TRRS) connector + 1.7 m rubberized audio cable with dual 3-pole (TRS) connectors
• Built-in volume dial and microphone mute switch
• Weight: 255 g

The Package

The box the SteelSeries Arctis 1 comes in looks great. On its front and back, it depicts the headset and goes over its key features.


The sides of the box are covered in quotes from various glowing reviews of the entire Arctis lineup, the key specifications, and a simple breakdown of the supported types of connectivity.


Inside the box you'll find the headset itself, a user manual, a detachable bidirectional microphone, and a 1.7-meter audio splitter cable, terminated in a pair of 3-pole (TRS) 3.5-mm plugs. You'll need it to connect the Arctis 1 to your desktop PC, which almost certainly still uses a separate audio input (microphone) and output (headphones).