SteelSeries announces Arctis 3 Bluetooth (and wired) headset

by Mark Tyson on 7 November 2017, 12:31

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SteelSeries has announced the new Arctis 3 Bluetooth (and wired) headset. The gaming peripherals specialist describes the headset as “wired for gaming and Bluetooth connections for everything else.” That highlights what SteelSeries thinks will be a popular feature; listening to gaming audio while simultaneously handling chat or music via VOIP or music streaming apps.

In an email to HEXUS, Brian Fallon, SteelSeries Audio Category Manager, said “This is the first time that you can simultaneously have wired gaming audio and wireless Bluetooth.” Fallon then highlighted an even better USP: “Bluetooth is incredibly useful for connecting wirelessly to mobile devices for chat and music, but as most gamers know, Bluetooth has too much latency for gaming. That is why this is a wired headset for gaming and Bluetooth for everything else.”

Turning our attention towards the sonic hardware, the SteelSeries Arctis 3 features:

  • 40mm neodynium drivers with 20-22,000Hz frequency coverage and sub 3 per cent total harmonic distortion
  • Headphone volume control on ear cup
  • Bi-directional retractable noise cancelling microphone with 100-10,000Hz frequency coverage and sensitivity of -48db
  • ClearCast microphone mute toggle on ear cup
  • 4-pole, 3.5mm; Dual 3.5mm for PC with 1.2m and 3m cable lengths supplied, plus a built-in share jack
  • Bluetooth 4.1 with range of 30ft (10m)
  • Wireless listening time of 28 hours
  • Compatible with: PC wired or wireless with SteelSeries 7.1 Surround and SteelSeries Engine 3 support, Xbox wired, PlayStation wired, Nintendo Switch wired, VR wired or wireless, mobile wired or wireless

Other features that SteelSeries would like to draw your attention to are the headset’s claimed microphone broadcast-quality sound which uses ‘True Acoustic Noise Cancellation’ without need for software or DSP processing – so it works on all platforms. On the other side of the functionality equation SteelSeries boasts of the “amazing” balanced sound produced by the headphones – which use the same drivers as on the flagship $300 headset. On the PC the SteellSeries Engine can be used for personalised audio settings.

SteelSeries reckons the new Arctis 3 Bluetooth is both supremely comfortable and attractive to look at. It uses a lightweight ski goggle suspension design with “athletics-inspired fabrics,” for long term gaming comfort. A comfortable and broad headband is complemented by the fabric AirWeave ear cushions.

The new SteelSeries Arctis 3 Bluetooth /wired headset is available immediately online for £134.99 / $129.99. If you don’t need the dual audio connection feature the regular wired Actis 3 is relatively cheap at $79.99.



HEXUS Forums :: 1 Comment

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I like the concept of being able to stream music from a device and play games on another, but it is a rather niche feature isn't it?

As an Arctis 3 standard owner, for anyone who is interested, it's a very solid pick. Audio quality is good, mic is a definite improvement over my last, relatively comfortable, etc. If I had any complaints it's that: the special ear cushions they use don't like the arms of glasses much at all and you will almost certainly lose lower frequencies as the cushions push the output away from your ears and leave a gap. (I replaced them with the cushions from my ex-headset). Also it's too easy to breathe into the mic and deafen whoever you speak to. The software registration process also isn't great, though it offers virtualized surround (q. good) and some EQ / volume manipulation stuff for free, effects of which layer over native driver controls.