Steelseries arctis pro mic

SteelSeries has been a gaming peripheral mainstay for years, and a big part its appeal comes from its headsets. The SteelSeries Arctis Pro offers mores features than you can shake a stick at, and it’s the first gaming headset to be certified for Hi-Res audio.

The landscape for premium gaming headsets that work on multiple platforms is a crowded one. How does the Arctis Pro hold up?

Editor’s note: this SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC review was updated on July 30, 2021 to include new scores and charts after being testing with our new standard.

Who’s the SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC for?

• PC and PS4 gamers will find the most use out of the The SteelSeries Arctis Pro, especially those who prefer to customize their experience with hardware accessories instead of clunky software.

What is the SteelSeries Arctis Pro like to use?

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro is a sturdy, comfortable headset. It has an aluminum frame and suspension band that’s elastic like a pair of ski goggles. Unlike the many suspension bands that require no adjustment, you can set the tightness of the Arctis Pro using a velcro patch. I adjusted the band tightness once, and never had to think about it again. It sat just tight enough to fit snugly on my head, without any uncomfortable pressure.

The headphones sit on slightly offset hinges and feature pads made of something called airweave fabric. Think of it somewhere between leather and velour, it’s a little more flexible than leather, but stiffer than velour. All the same, it’s very comfortable and I never had any issues wearing them for long stretches of time.

The airweave pads don’t get as hot as leather, and they’re large enough to comfortably fit around my ears. However, they may not work as well as velour with glasses, and so might be worth replacing.

The left headphone houses a retractable mic, which extends about four inches on a flexible wire and sits almost flush when not in use. It also features a mute button, volume dial, a port for the cord going to the Game DAC, and a 3.5mm jack.

These headphones are wired only, but there’s still a decent amount of connection options. You can connect the Game DAC unit to a PC via USB, or to a Playstation 4 using the optical cord (in addition to the USB cord), or even to a phone or other device’s headphone jack with the included 3.5mm dongle.

You can customize the look of the SteelSeries Arctis Pro to a degree, but it is undeniably a gaming headset in its aesthetic. When connected, LED lights ring both headphones, and a bright light shines from the mic when it’s muted.

Black matte panels sit on the sides of the headphones, held in place magnetically,  and you can take them off or replace them. SteelSeries sells panels and straps of different colors and designs, if you want to change the headset’s look even more.

Thankfully, there’s no necessary software component to using the SteelSeries Arctis Pro to its utmost. Many gaming headsets offer a bevy of options, only to lock them in clunky, badly optimized software that sometimes doesn’t even work. Instead, the Arctis comes with a GameDAC, a small external console for controlling different settings and minutia.

Does SteelSeries provide accessories?

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro comes with its Game DAC hardware unit, and cords to connect the headset to the DAC and your computer or Playstation 4. There’s also a 3.5mm adapter, which connects to the headphone cable, should you want to use this with your phone. If you’re liable to shout, huff, or whistle while you game, there’s also a foam tip (wind guard) for the headset’s microphone, to prevent wind noise from reaching the mic.

What’s the GameDAC used for?

While we don’t typically recommend DAC units for most people, the one that comes with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro is very useful. Not only does it offer a bunch of cool ancillary features, but it takes the processing away from your computer or console and does the heavy lifting away from the remote possibility of interference. While nobody really needs Hi-Res audio to enjoy music or games, its inclusion here means you won’t find any audio your headset can’t handle.

The GameDAC unit is a handy little thing, letting you change the mix between game and call audio, as well as volume, on the fly. A small button next to the main dial toggles surround sound, which is great when switching back and forth between audio sources.

Pressing and holding the main dial opens up the settings menus for the headset on the unit’s LED screen. In the audio settings, you can change mic output volume, whether surround sound is on, change equalization presets, and set the gain and side tone.

The GameDAC module lets you make adjustments mid-game.

You can also change input and output settings, the unit’s display brightness, and the color of the LEDs on the headphones and the mic, with options like Frost Blue, Purple, Rainbow, Heat Orange, and more. You can also just turn them off entirely, if you like.

The DAC offers quite a few options, but it’s simple enough to use and intuitively laid out—it kind of needs to be, with only two buttons.

How is gaming with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro offers surround sound using DTS Headphone:X 2.0 tech, which creates a realistic 3D audio environment in game. This offered noticeably clearer surround sound than most of the headsets I’ve used. I never had much trouble picking out footsteps from gunfire and roughly gauging their direction and distance in Overwatch and Fortnite.

The quick toggle button on the Game DAC made it pretty easy to tell just how much more information you get using the surround sound compared to stereo mode. Though I didn’t necessarily get better at any game, the surround sound definitely offered plenty of useful and usable information.

How does the SteelSeries Arctis Pro sound?

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro has little trouble reproducing most sounds accurately. Its bass output is a little lower than we’re accustomed to seeing out of a gaming headset, but mid-range sounds are nicely emphasized. I never ran into issues with picking subtler sounds out from the booming bass of explosions in games—a common issue with gaming gaming headsets, which are often very bassy.

Listening to music, I found it sometimes difficult to hear some string parts with songs featuring particularly prominent bass lines. For instance, in Bonerama’s instrumental cover of Led Zeppelin’s The Ocean, the trombone completely drowns out the rhythm guitar at the beginning of the song.

The Arctis Pro manages average isolation among gaming headsets. It doesn’t compare very well to a pair of rubber tipped earbuds or headphones with ANC, but it’ll keep the distractions of home at bay. You shouldn’t run into any issues with noisy roommates or TV blaring in another room. If you’ve ever worn an Arctis headset with the same sort of earpads, you know what you’re getting into.

These headphones won’t isolate you very well from noise outside the home, but it’s not terribly portable anyway. You’d have to leave the DAC unit behind if you go out, and at that point you’re missing out on a big part of the Arctis Pro’s appeal.

How is the microphone?

The Steelseries Arctis Pro’s microphone offers decent enough audio output. While generally clear, it de-emphasizes bass significantly, so deeper voices can come across as a little tinny, as shown in the chart. If you’ve got a higher voice, you shouldn’t run into much trouble.

Additionally, the mic is a little quicker to peak than some, so turning down its volume in the Game DAC may be warranted. For reference, here’s how it sounds when I, a man of culture and taste, speak into it at output volume of five out of 10:

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Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Pro?

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro is a very good gaming headset. It’s extremely comfortable and it sounds great. It definitely seems like a product built to deliver as many options and features as possible in as convenient a package as possible. There are ample connection options and customizable features, all delivered in a streamlined and approachable package that doesn’t require installing any obnoxious software.

With that said, the headset’s not particularly affordable, and it doesn’t necessarily sound better than headsets of the same or lower price. Ultimately, it depends on whether you really want that GameDAC and the features it brings. Without a doubt it’s a useful device that works really well, and it’s definitely good to invest in great headphones. If you’re a PC gamer, you’ll have trouble finding a better wired option, though headsets like the Razer BlackShark V2 and the Logitech G Pro X get close for a lot less money.

What you should get instead of the SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC

However, there are potentially better options on both sides of the price spectrum. A headset like the HyperX Cloud Alpha will get the job done well without the bells and whistles for about $100, and the Audeze Mobius offers more, and often more meaningful features if you want something really premium.

You can also split the difference, and still save a ton of money without losing out on features—as long as you don’t mind software. Wired gaming headsets like the Logitech G Pro X, Razer BlackShark V2, and Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 are all comfortable gaming headsets with tons of features, but you need to use a companion app to get them, all of which work a little differently.

Also, while this headset offers almost every possible feature for a gaming headset, it’s missing one very glaring one—wireless connectivity. If you’re turned off by all the wires this thing will take, wireless gaming headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis 7 or the HyperX Cloud Flight S bring multiplatform support, and most of the same audio features for far less money.

Anyone who intends to buy a PlayStation 5 should hedge their bets and get the SteelSeries Arctis 7P. Sony Spatial Audio supports the Arctis 7P, so you get surround sound on the latest flagship console. Otherwise, the Arctis 1 is a a great option for a lot less.

Related: SteelSeries Arctis 1 vs SteelSeries Arctis 7P

If you’re looking for something that splits the difference between the uber premium and reasonably priced, this is a great option. It’s just by no means the only one.

Arctis Pro sounds as amazing as it feels. But if you find your SteelSeries Arctis Pro has no sound or the mic is not working, we’ve put together all the troubleshooting methods for you in our post.

Why your headset mic is not working

The reasons why your SteelSeries Arctis Pro has mic problems are listed below:

• The mic is muted
• Poor positioning
• Your headset is not set as the default device
• The sound card driver is outdated/corrupted
• Your microphone cannot access your device

How to fix your mic issues

You may not have to try them all; just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.

1. Set up the microphone correctly
2. Allow access to your microphone
3. Set your headset as the default device
4. Update the headset driver
5. Make sure to use the correct Default Format

Fix 1: Set up the microphone correctly

Before you try the following fixes, please makes sure the mute button is not activated.

Also, the microphone is highly directional, so it must be placed properly to achieve the best sound quality.

Fix 2: Allow access to your microphone

The first thing you need to make sure of is that your device allows apps to access your microphone. This is especially true if you can’t be heard in any apps.

Here’s how to do it:

1) In the Windows Search box, type microphone, and select Microphone privacy settings.

2) Please be sure to turn on “Allow access to the microphone on this device” and “Allow apps to access your microphone“.

3) Scroll down to allow microphone access for the Microsoft apps and desktop apps.

Now you can test recording and see if your SteelSeries Arctis Pro mic is working right now. But if not, please move on to the next fix.

Fix 3: Set your headset as the default device

In most cases, when you plug your headset into the computer, it will be set as the default device on the computer. But sometimes it can bump into issues. If your SteelSeries Actis Pro mic is not working, it’s possible that your headset is disabled or not set as the default device.

Here’s how to do it:

1) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and the R key at the same time to open the Run box.

2) In the Control Panel window, view by Large icons, and then select Sound.

3) In the Sound windows, select the Recording tab.

4) Make sure your Actis Pro is Enabled (shows a green checkmark) and set it as the Default Device. If not, you can right-click it and select Set as Default Device and Set as Default Communication Device.

In your VoIP application, select Actis Pro Chat Audio as the default audio device.

5) Select the microphone and click Properties.

6) Click the Levels tab, and drag the slider to a proper volume.

7) Also go to the Enhancements tab, and check the box Disable all sound effects.

8) Click Apply > OK.

Now your SteelSeries Actis Pro should be working now, and if you still have problems with the microphone, you can try the next fix below.

Fix 4: Update the headset driver

The microphone on your SteelSeries Arctis Pro won’t work if you’re using an incorrect or outdated driver. So if the fixes above didn’t work, you should try updating the driver to see if it does the trick.

You can update your driver manually or automatically. The manual process is time-consuming, technical, and risky, so we won’t cover it here. Nor do we recommend it unless you have excellent computer knowledge.

Updating your driver automatically, on the other hand, is very easy. Simply install and run Driver Easy, and it will automatically find all the devices on your PC that need new drivers, and install them for you. Here’s how to use it.

1) Download and install Driver Easy.

2) Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.

3) Click the Update button next to the headset to download the latest and correct driver for it.

You can also click the Update All button at the bottom right to automatically update all outdated or missing drivers on your computer. (This requires the Pro version — if you don’t already have it, you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All, and you will get a 30-day money back guarantee. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. )

Once you’ve updated the driver for your SteelSeries Actis Pro, you can restart your computer and check if the microphone is working.

The Pro version of Driver Easy comes with full technical support.
If you need assistance, please contact Driver Easy’s support team at [email protected]

Fix 5: Make sure to use the correct Default Format

1) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and the R key at the same time to open the Run box.

2) In the Control Panel window, view by Large icons, and then select Sound.

3) In the Sound windows, select the Recording tab.

4)  Right-click the microphone you are using, and select Properties.

5) Under the Advanced tab, make sure the Default Format is set to 48000 Hz.

If unfortunately, the fixes above failed to fix the microphone not working for you, you should check if this is a hardware-related issue. You can connect it to another port or another device.

If it’s working properly on other devices, you can back up your files and use the Windows 10 reset guide to reset/reinstall the Windows.

But if none of these works, you can contact SteelSeries Support and let the professionals do the work for you.

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