For the past 5 years, I’ve owned a pair of SteelSeries headphones, mostly corded. The last wireless headset I bought for my PC was the Arctis 3 Bluetooth. They were a monster and allowed me to connect to virtually anything I owned; in the event I couldn’t use Bluetooth, I was able to use the 3.5mm headphone jack cables.
It left a very good impression on me and made me look at other devices they owned, including mice. The first newest thing I’ve used since the mouse is this headset, the Arctis 7P+. The Arctis 7P+ is boasted to not only be compatible with the PlayStation 5’s Tempest 3D Audio technology, but is the “Best Wireless Gaming Headset” by multiple competitors. Is it up to snuff? Read on in our Arctis 7P+ review!
SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless Headset
Manufacturer: SteelSeries
Release Date: October 29, 2021
MSRP: $169.99 USD
After opening the box, which has slimmed down since my days of the Arctis 5 headset, I was surprised how streamlined it was. The cold metal it uses for the top frame was immediately noticeable along with the outside layer of the headphones. Also included in the box was the USB-C dongle, USB-C cable for charging, and a USB-C to USB-A cable.
When I got to unwrapping and trying out what it could do, I was pleased with the ease it took to connect to anything. First impressions were met and maybe even exceeded; connecting to something like a PlayStation 4 was easy enough. Using the USB-C to USB-A cable with the dongle made for the easiest setup I’ve ever done.
The headband still holds as one of my favorite things about SteelSeries headphones. The comfort I get from it and the ear cushions are almost unmatched. I didn’t sweat with these on for long periods of time, a little warm but not sweaty at all. But now we’ll move onto what you really want to know: how it performs.
Again, plugging in the USB-C dongle was literally plug and play style for the PlayStation 4. Before I go further, it should be noted that this is only compatible with something that can receive USB-C and/or USB-A I/O. For example, you can use this on PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Android devices, and even on the Oculus Quest 2 natively.
You can still use the 3.5mm port for connecting to other devices, but its utility comes in at the wireless level. Speaking of, the wireless range is estimated to be around 40 feet (12 metes) and will last about 30 hours. My environment is fairly open for the signal to travel and it does in fact reach across my apartment (1,074 square feet) with very minimal distortion.
The built-in microphone sounds a bit worse than something like the Blue Yeti that I use normally, so don’t expect super clear audio from the headset microphone. “Echo-y” is one thing I’ve been told, which is typically normal for headset microphones. As far as uses outside of general gameplay, you won’t notice much of a difference from other headsets.
The upgraded battery life is slightly improved from previous models. This now holds an alleged 30-hour battery life. Through continuous use, I was able to get fairly close to 28 hours. Even better is the charging via USB-C gives 3 hours of use from 15 minutes of charging. Everything in the technical aspects work as advertised, give or take some small issues.
One big upside that makes me recommend this to my friends is the sound quality. Every headset I’ve owned from SteelSeries has great and clear sound, rivaling that of my Powerbeats Pro headphones. In addition to the sound quality, it has native connectivity through USB-C for PlayStation 5 for Tempest 3D Audio. This allows for 3D spatial audio to surround you with sounds above, below, behind, and in front.
Initially, the sound quality is still rich sounding and has options to change EQ settings. Without the Tempest 3D Audio for other devices, every detail is still noticeable and distinguishable. That, coupled with the comfort compared to competitors the Arctis 7P+ is amazingly comfortable and high quality. Wearing the headset for more than 3 hours at a time is more than not only doable, but enjoyable.
Bass hits fairly fairly normal but not too deep, from what I listened to. Some games have different EQ settings in-game, so that will play a factor in what you hear as well. Background sounds in music are more noticeable than other headphones of about the same price point. The headphones are already loud at just under 90 decibels, including dynamic EQ.
There is no doubt that if you’re looking for a high powered headset that will give you clear audio, the Arctis 7P+ is the one. The microphone issues negatable since my needs differ from that of a hardcore gamer. While I would love the ability to use this headset normally with all of my devices like an iPhone or iPad, it requires another adapter piece from the side of Apple.
For those looking to get someone a good headset to accompany their PlayStation 5 purchase, this is definitely it; Specifically for it’s ability to take advantage of Tempest 3D audio. It’s wireless with a good range on your consoles and then some.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless Headset was reviewed using a review unit provided by SteelSeries. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here.
