Like previous Arctis iterations, the Arctis Pro is a delight to wear. The headset once again features SteelSeries' signature ski-goggle headband design, which automatically conforms to your dome for a snug but cozy fit. For all of its great functionality, however, the GameDAC has one big flaw: The cables are way too short. The Arctis Pro + GameDAC is designed to be used at a desk, which is great if you're a PC gamer or keep your PS4 in your command center, but a bummer for everyone else. You can dig into the GameDAC's equalizer and switch between various presets that emphasize bass or treble, or even tweak all 10 frequency bands yourself. Sonar Nova exclusive feature Advanced Spatial Surround Sound. Adjust virtual speakers in any direction to match your individual ear size and placement. I have set the preset to 'Music' as this gives me a good punchy bass and immersion feel at the FPS games I play. By tweaking the EQ manually, I notice that the sounds are a bit more crisp and warm. A low Dynamic Range Compression allows me to filter out those 'peaks' in volume which gives me a nice and even sound in my ears throughout my streaming sessions. GubbaTV:

Does the DTS button on the GameDAC improve it? In our tests, it doesn’t really improve this existing 360-degree audio image; at least not in an obvious way. It does, however, act as a compression feature with a high-mid bump that pushes voices to the forefront, makes music sound better, and helps with modern movies with terrible sound mixing. I basically use the “Immersion” preset but tweaked slightly to bring out a little more in Rainbow Six: Siege. I also have the compression on low so footsteps are a bit louder and explosions are a bit softer. The settings I’ve screenshotted here have the compression just right for me so it doesn’t come out too muddy. DJTechLive: The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless features an upgrade multi-system connection. This headset features two USB-C ports to connect to two different devices, instead of using an optical cable and a Mini-USB to USB-A cable. When I listened to Wilco's "Impossible Germany," I felt like I was in the room with the band. The song's guitars sounded bright and full in a way that most headsets simply aren't capable of producing, and Jeff Tweedy's smoky vocals came through clearly above the solid bass and breezy drums.As an extra perk, it also has its own amplifier circuit. We noticed that this feature doesn’t necessarily give the headset a punchier sound than its competitors. However, it does help deliver extremely low distortion at even the highest output levels. When it comes to playing games, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless really shines, giving us a great feeling of immersion and all the oomph that should come with big on-screen explosions.

This gaming headset produces an impressive EQ frequency curve. There are no weird bumps in the highs, mids and lows. There are no cuts so whether you’re gaming or listening to music, you won’t feel like there’s something missing. The bass is not overwhelming either (though if you really want to, it can be pushed up through the EQ). The Arctis Pro’s best feature is its digital to analog audio converter designed specifically for gaming. . While most gaming consoles and PCs have their own built-in converters, the Arctis Pro’s included GameDAC will override them as it offers higher quality audio performance. As far as sound goes, Arctis Pro is a majestic siren. Its sound performance is of the audiophile variety, whether you choose to go analog or digital. This GameDAC, ergonomically speaking, feels kind of in the way. Like an anchor it’s big, bulky,heavy and requires a USB power source. So you’ll never be able to just take the whole Arctis Pro setup and plug it into a phone to get the best audio it can deliver.. But it’s another minor detail we can overlook, especially because of its capabilities. By extension, H7’s wider soundstage makes its virtual surround sound more natural; but not by much. Arctis Pro’s virtual surround sound is pretty convincing , making up for another one of Arctis 7’s shortcomings. While playing Hitman, we could hear voices passing and from behind us; with Dishonored 2, we could hear the guards running up to us before we even see them.

Use on the go with Bluetooth devices. The Bluetooth function on this headset is able to be used in and out of the house, with no limitation to only being able to be used when connected to the Base Station. The Arctis Pro Wireless is by far the best sounding wireless gaming headset we’ve used – arguably even better than many of the wired peripherals we’ve listened to in the past. Thanks to its 40,000Hz-capable, high-fidelity speaker drivers, we can hear new nearly silent vocal elements in Franz Ferdinand’s You’re The Reason I’m Leaving. Not much has changed about the USB Wireless Transmitter compared to the one that came with the Sibera 840 aside from a slightly more prominent dial. On top of featuring a clear OLED screen and easy to navigate UI, this transmitter box acts as a charger for your spare headset battery.

The Pro Wireless offers surround sound, but Hi-Res audio is exclusive to the GameDAC variation. Otherwise, both the Arctis Pro + GameDAC and the Arctis Pro Wireless sport the same attractive, cozy design and premium speaker drivers. Bottom Line

How is gaming with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC?

I use the default EQ settings because they're simply perfect out of the box! In a game like PUBG, I can hear every footstep, gunshot, or blade of grass blowing in the wind! Not to say that Arctis Pro is faultless. It’s soundstage, for example, isn’t as wide as some top headsets in the market— Creative’s Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition, for example, has an even more impressive one. Still, it has a very good stereo image and every sound seems to come from the right place. However, the distances of the different elements in a game are not as palpable as they are with the H7. Upgraded the adjustment settings to comfort max, meaning it has 4-point adjustability and an elastic suspension band. In terms of setups, we were able to connect the Arctis Pro Wireless to a PS4 Pro and PC at the same time through optical audio and USB connections, respectively. However, if you want wireless voice chat on your PS4, you’ll need to connect the system via its optical and USB port, sacrificing your PC setup. When I first unboxed and set up my SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC I was instantly comparing it to my Arctis 7's in sound quality. I said to myself "I dont seem to hear a difference", plus the fact that the Arctis 7 were wireless I needed a lot of convincing in the sound department to make me fully switch. Then I found the custom equalizer and my goodness did the sound pour through once I set my custom setting to my liking! I am a fan of good mids, little above average bass boosting and solid mids. When gaming with games such as Fortnite, MMO's, and single player games that have sound play an important role, I wanted to make sure I customized my settings so I can hear the slightest movement in game. Loving this headset and the control base that comes with it is amazing providing sound above my expectations! ToastmanGames: