My Comprehensive, Long-Term Review of the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox Headset
Intro:
As of this writing, I have owned the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox Headset for about 8 months, and I’ve enjoyed using them immensely! Out of the box, the Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox Headset includes: the headset itself, the detachable boom microphone, one 2.4ghz USB-C dongle for wireless audio, a 3.5mm aux cable for wired audio, a Micro-USB charging cable, and a lengthy USB-C to USB-A cable adapter (so that you can plug in the usb-c dongle to the Xbox, since the Xbox One and Xbox Series family of consoles both lack a built-in usb-c port).
I have personally used this headset with my gaming laptop (MSI GS66 Stealth), Nintendo Switch (both docked and undocked), Android smartphone (Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2), and the Xbox Series X. I’ve also used this headset with an Xbox One X, and it functions identically as it does on the Series X (and presumably the Series S, as well). Additionally, this product should also work with other USB-C devices, including the PlayStation 4 (all variants, including the base / launch model, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro) and PlayStation 5 consoles (both disc and disc-less models; you can directly insert the usb-c dongle into the one built-in usb-c port featured on on each of these machines instead of having to use the included cable adapter, if you so choose).
Audio:
The Arctis 1 Wireless headset renders great audio, whether for gaming, working-from-home purposes (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.), and music/entertainment. This headset truly immerses you whenever you are playing any genre of game, including single-player stories and competitive shooters. You hear acute details that are normally lost when using super cheap headphones or even the built-in speakers on most televisions. Whenever I’m gaming with this headset on (regardless of platform), the audio quality my ears receive is amazing. Actually, I’ve set up Dolby Atmos on my Xbox Series X and it takes the spatial audio performance of the Arctis 1 Wireless to a whole ‘nother level.
Features:
I love the versatility this headset possesses. It is one of the key selling points of this product, in my opinion, and one of the big reasons why I purchased it myself. It works beautifully across all modern-day devices and platforms that utilize USB-C.
Whenever you want to use the headset on the Xbox One, One S, One X, or the new Xbox Series X or S machines, just switch the physical toggle on the usb-c dongle to Xbox mode. Alternatively, if you want to use the headset on any other device (Nintendo Switch, PC, etc.), then switch the dongle to the USB mode.
The uniquely shaped 2.4ghz USB-C adapter fits perfectly when attached to the bottom of the Nintendo Switch when used undocked, and also can be used wired on any device via a 3.5mm aux connection (which does come in the box).
However, it fits cumbersomely when connected to my MSI GS66 Stealth gaming laptop. The usb-c dongle gets in the way of the other ports. You can use the included cable adapter (or virtually any other usb-c to usb-a adapter) to circumnavigate around this issue, however. How my particular laptop looks when the usb-c wireless dongle is not plugged in.
It’s no big deal, as everything works as it should; just something to keep in mind. If you want to have this dongle plugged in while simultaneously using additional peripherals and connections adjacent to it, it’s going to cover up some of those useful ports that you may want to connect additional peripherals with while using this headset wirelessly.
The SteelSeries Engine software, available from the SteelSeries website, is a desktop application (available for both Windows and MacOS) that you should download immediately to update the firmware on the headset and to adjust the EQ and other features with the headset. By the way, the alterations you make to the headset via software downloads itself directly onto the device, so your customizations stay on the headset while using other platforms aside from the PC.
Design and Aesthetics:
The design of this headset is clean, minimal, and understated, and can be used in a professional work environment without appearing out-of-place. Yet, this headset still has some flair to it thanks to the green pattern embossed inside of the earcups. This is a nice touch. The headset has a soft touch padding underneath the top of the headband, along with breathable and comfortable earpad materials used on the earcups themselves, which have served me well for long hours of use.
Microphone Quality:
The detachable boom microphone that’s kitted with the headset isn’t exceptional (aka podcast/streaming-tier), but it does works very well for regular phone calls and VoIP communications (aka WhatsApp Voice / Video Calls, Google Duo, Viber, etc.).
In fact, due to the global pandemic, I have been working from home every day and I love using these headsets for this reason. I give lectures daily to my students online and these headsets stay comfortable for hours on end. My students can hear me clearly, and I can also hear them clearly.
Cons:
The overall sound quality is quite nice, but it is not audiophile level; yet, that is to be expected with headphones that retail for just $100. There is also a break-in period with these headphones; out-of-the-box, the clamping force on this headset is a bit tight and discomforting, but it does wear in after just a few uses, and becomes super comfy then after. Although the included dongle is USB-C, the headset itself charges with an antiquated Micro-USB connection, which is not that big of a deal, but still kinda sucks. Also, do NOT lose the dongle or else you’re screwed and must either use this headset only wired or order a replacement dongle from SteelSeries, as these will not work wirelessly without the adapter. Also, at the beginning of my ownership with the Arctis 1 Wireless, I had very occasional intermittent cut outs when using them via the wireless dongle, but once I updated the firmware of the headset, it has thankfully not happened again since.
Other, more expensive headsets probably sound even better or have extra utilities and perks that the Arctis 1 Wireless lack, such as a dedicated mobile application or simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4ghz wireless connection to several devices, or implement niceties such as goggle-style headband (that other SteelSeries headphones use, in fact) for added comfortability.
End:
If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive, functionally reliable, durable, simple-to-use headset, the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox is a wonderful choice because they perform solidly across virtually all platforms, including Xbox, Switch, smartphones, and PC. In fact, I think most people should just buy these headphones instead of spending the extra money on the SteelSeries Arctis 7X or 9X. To conclude, the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox is a product that I wholeheartedly recommend!
