SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds - Quality Product, Niche Use
Let it be known. I really like SteelSeries. In my opinion, they probably make the best audio gear for gaming out there, certainly the best I have ever used. High-quality products at a variety of price points that are held together by great software support. So when I heard SteelSeries were about to release a new set of earbuds I was certainly keen to check them out. Well check them out I have and once again SteelSeries has delivered a quality product, but this time around I feel it is a quality product with limited use.
I say this for a couple of reasons. No matter how good the sound quality is in a set of earbuds, they will never match what you can get out of a quality set of over-the-ear cans. So when these are advertised as PS5 game buds, I wonder, especially for the price, why anyone would choose buds over cans? Unless someone really doesn’t like headsets, there is no real reason to go the earbud route. Earbuds make more sense for travelling, walking and generally being out and about. I found these a much better match for my Rog Ally X than for my Playstation. The case is nice and small and includes a little slot for the 2.4 GHz dongle, meaning I won’t lose it. But there are still slight issues here. Firstly, with the Rog Ally X, the shape of the dongle means that you can’t really use the earbuds at the same time as charging the system, which is a slight pain. Also, I found that the earbuds weren’t shaped quite right for my ears, so while walking, they would constantly slip out, forcing me to readjust them often. This means the Arctis Gamebuds are no good for my daily walk, which is fine but for $360 I had hoped that this could be a set that would be an all-rounder, not a games-specific accessory.
Another thing that stops the Arctis Gamebuds from being an all-rounder is the music quality. I found that even after playing around with EQ settings music is not a strength of the Gamebuds. I use Tidal for my streaming and it can stream lossless audio. On my similarly priced BOSE earbuds, I can clearly identify the difference between lossless and compressed audio. That is not the case with the Arctis. Music doesn’t sound bad by any means, but it does lack some depth and clarity when compared to other earbuds in the same price bracket.
If, however, you are specifically looking for a set of earbuds that are designed with games in mind, first and foremost… well, you are in the right place. When it comes to gaming, the Arctis Gamebuds are top-shelf stuff. I have never used a better set of earbuds when it comes to either the console or portable experience. The first thing I noticed was the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC.) At home, not such a big deal, but when I used these on a plane, they blissfully blocked out the screaming kids, coughing seniors and toxic business folk that were sitting around me. It made for a pleasant flying experience while I sat there playing Balatro and Sleeping Dogs.
ANC is only important if everything else sounds great, and unsurprisingly, when it comes to games, these bad boys are fantastic. Crystal clear sound with no distortion is the order of the day. There is none of that “tinny” feeling that is often associated with earbud,s and they handle deep bass noises such as cannon fire without issues. The spatial audio also comes into play, improving the experience in fast-paced games immensely. I used them with Hellblade Senua’s Saga, a game that uses spatial audio beautifully and the Arctis Gamebuds rose to the occasion without an issues. Hearing the voices inside Senua’s head coming from all different directions is such a fantastic (if disturbing) experience and these buds are a great way to do it.
Connection-wise, the gamebuds feature both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz (via a dongle,) and the setup is super simple. The Bluetooth mode works just the same as any normal set of headphones and the 2.4 is as plug-and-play as it gets. The modes can be switched on the fly simply by pressing the button on the right earbud 3 times (this is great because it means accidental taps don’t switch modes, a sin many earbuds are guilty of) and either mode gives you access to all the great EQ settings that comes with all SteelSeries products through their GG software on both phones and PC. This software also includes over a hundred presets for games on both PC and Playstation that get the most out of the audio, saving the need for stuffing around with EQs to get the best sound.
The last thing I want to discuss is the build quality and engineering. SteelSeries has a reputation for high-quality products and the Artis Gamebuds carry on that tradition. Solid yet comfortable, the gamebuds feel like they can take a fair beating, which is important if these are going to get shoved in backpacks and purses while on the move. The case is simple yet elegant and because includes a home for the dongle, it is a little larger than most earbud cases. But in saying that, it hardly takes up a lot of real estate. Did I mention how handy I found the fact there is a slot for the dongle? Because without it I am sure I would have lost it 100 times over. The case also gives a charge of up to 40 hours, which is pretty impressive.
In all, the Arctis Gamebuds do exactly what they are designed to do perfectly; they just don’t extend beyond that mission. If you only want to play games from the comfort of your couch, I would suggest the SteelSeries Headset range first and foremost, the sound quality and comfort are better at the same price point. However, if you don’t like headsets or you are doing a lot of gaming on the go (especially with a handheld PC), the Arctis Gamebuds are the perfect addition to your gaming kit. The sound quality in games is excellent, the design is sturdy and sleek, and the audio features like ANC and spatial sound are perfectly implemented. In short, SteelSeries has, once again, met its own high watermark, keeping them at the top of the pile when it comes to game audio accessories.
Arctis Gamebuds Features:
- Instant 2.4 GHz Wireless
- Immersive 360 degree gaming audio
- 150+ super-custom game audio presets
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Small, comfortable form factor
- USB-C + Case Storage
- RRP $359
