There are so many options for gaming headsets out there these days that it’s becoming harder and harder to choose between them. Which one gives you the best sound quality and microphone for your money? Should you go wired or wireless? Do you need Bluetooth? And which headset will work best with your games and your particular style?
These are some pretty tough questions, but I’ll try to answer them all in my in-depth SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ wireless review. This is a midrange, wireless headset from a brand that is building in popularity. Let’s look at it in detail to find out if this is the best gaming headset choice for you.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless Overview
(4.5 / 5)The Arctis 7P+ is one of the mid-range headset models from SteelSeries. The numbers can be confusing (there’s also an Arctis 7, 7+, 7X, and 7X+), but the 2021 7P+ headset is an upgrade for the older 7P model with an improved battery length.
This is a wireless headset, using 2.4 GHz radio transmission to a USB dongle that you can plug into all sorts of gaming platforms. This specifically designed gaming headset for the Sony PlayStation 5, where it is compatible with that console’s Tempest #d audio.
However, it’s also fully compatible with PS4, Nintendo Switch, Oculus Quest 2 (VR console), PC, Mac, and Android. It also comes with an analog audio cable (3.5mm or 1/8”) that you can plug into an Xbox as well, though the performance will be a bit sub-par. Therefore, it’s one of the most versatile and compatible gaming headsets on the market.
As a wireless headset…
The Arctis 7P+ has to have a respectable battery life to make it competitive in today’s market. Luckily, it does. The manufacturer says the battery will last for 30+ hours of gameplay. However, this is under certain set volume levels. But, this headset surprisingly lasts longer than that, sometimes over 40 hours, still with decent volume for gaming.
Usually, you get less than what they advertise – not more!
The headset takes about 150 minutes or 2.5 hours to fully charge from flat. You can also get a lightning-quick charge that will give you three hours’ worth of playing time with just 15 minutes plugged in.
This is all done through the included USB-C charging cable, although you’re not provided with a power plug. You do get a USB-C to USB-A adapter in the package, and this can be used with the wireless receiver dongle to connect to your computer, or with the charging cable to use it with whatever plug you have handy. So, that’s convenient.
Design-wise…
The Arctis &P+ uses an on-ear headphone design. Still, for many users, you’ll find that small to mid-sized ears can fit into the fairly spacious ear cups. The construction is a steel frame with plastic coverings. But, between your melon and the steel strap, they use a wide, elastic, ski-goggle-type strap to keep your head from touching the steel band.
This strap supports the weight of the headset well and distributes it evenly for a comfortable fit. The ear cups are nicely cushioned and covered with a hextex somewhat breathable fabric. Still, you can swap these out for leatherette ones which block sound better, or velour for extra softness (replacements sold separately).
This is a headset – so where’s the mic?
Rather than having a flip-up mic like so many other headsets out there, the 7P+ uses a retractable bidirectional mic. You can pull it out when you want to chat and retract it to get it out of the way. But you can simply hit the mute button on the button of the left ear cup to turn the mic on and off.
You have a simple volume wheel on the left cup, and on the right, you’ll find a wheel to adjust your sidetone. This is your mic monitoring level, allowing you to control the level of your mic relative to your game’s sound level.
Top Features of the SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless Headset
Sound
I don’t care how flashy your headset is or how many awesome features it includes – if it doesn’t sound good, it’s not worth using. Especially when you’re going to pay over $150, which is what the SteelSeries Arctic 7P+ retails for.
Luckily, you’re in good hands with this headset…
The sound in these headphones is created by one big 1.5-inch (38mm) dynamic transducer in each ear cup. These drivers are capable of putting out frequencies from 10Hz up to 20,000Hz, which is the whole range of human hearing, plus a little extra in the bottom end. That’s OK because you can still feel sounds lower than 20Hz, even if you can’t hear them.
The low-end has a bit of a boost in these headphones’ standard EQ settings. This gives you bigger booms for your buck, although it can muddy over the mid-range a bit. Speaking of the mids, here they’re nice and clear and detailed. You can pick up subtle action and also hear voices very well.
The high end is very bright and crisp. There’s a boost in the mid-treble that can add excitement to your gaming, but it can also sound a bit harsh if you turn up your volume too high. All of this is based on a good fit to your ears. If you move around or if the headphones slip on your ears, your listening experience may not be as good as it can be.
But wait, there’s more…
The best part of the sound of the 7P+ headset is that it supports Tempest 3D Audio which is built-in to your PS5. This setting gives you a virtual surround sound experience when you’re playing your games.
Sounds indeed do seem to come from all directions, helping you get the drop on your competitors. As a result, this is one of the best surround sound gaming headsets you can buy for less than $200.
Connectability
Rather than using Bluetooth, SteelSeries opted for a dedicated 2.4GHz radio frequency signal instead. This is more powerful and more interference-resistant than Bluetooth. Although, of course, you need to use a dongle as a receiver for your connection.
The dongle here is USB-C, so it can plug right into consoles like PS4/5 and Nintendo Switch. But it also comes with a USB-C to USB-A adapter, so you can plug it into a standard computer USB port.
You’ll need to either plug into a PC or Mac to set up your headphones, or they won’t work optimally out of the box. You can download the SteelSeries GG app and then use this to install the latest firmware and configure your headset. A bit of a hassle, but it’s a one-time thing.
The app also allows you to adjust your presets or change your EQ…
As I mentioned, this headset can work with PS4/5, Nintendo Switch, Mac and PC, and even Android mobile devices. Sorry iPhone users, but not yet! However, you can use the provided analog cable to make this headset wired. You can plug into any 3.5mm audio port and use it like a regular pair of headphones, so that includes Xbox and iOS devices as well.
Using it wirelessly, this headset has a great range of over 40 feet (12m). And, the powerful connection has extremely low, basically unnoticeable, latency which is crucial when you’re gaming.
Mic
The mic on this headset is a bidirectional retractable boom. This allows you to get it out of the way when you don’t need it, though it’s not as convenient as a swing-up boom.
Additionally, the sound is very clear. It uses noise canceling to pick up your voice while blocking out room noises and does a pretty good job of it. And, with sidetone control, you can adjust your mic to input mix perfectly. That way, you don’t end up screaming in your teammates’ ears.
Battery
The previous version of this headset, the Arctis 7P, gave you only 20 hours of use. So, the Arctis 7P+ is a big improvement. While it boasts 30+ hours of user time, it can get up to 40 hours or more as long as you’re not blasting the volume.
That’s seriously impressive because it means almost double the performance of the previous model. You also won’t have to spend tons of time charging. A 15-minute charge gives you three hours of use which is plenty for the average gaming session. And 2.5 hours will have you charged to full, giving you enough power to last for days.
Construction and Design
The 7P+ comes in a sleek, modern design in either white or black, both with blue touches. It’s very well-built and seemingly quite durable, especially the cloth-lined steel headband.
As mentioned earlier, there is a ski goggle kind of strap that’s there to keep the actual structural headband off the top of your head. And, it does, creating a comfortable floating feeling – unless you’ve got a big/long head. Some users will find they have to push the sliders all the way to reach their ears and still stretch the strap all the way, so the headband doesn’t touch the top of their head.
The ear cups are nice and soft, and the fabric on them is breathable enough to keep you from sweating and overheating. However, this does let in a fair bit of sound, so this headset isn’t great in a loud environment.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless Review – Pros and Cons
Pros
- Great for 3D sound.
- Clear microphone.
- Generally comfortable fit.
- Strong wireless connection.
- Great battery power.
Cons
- Not great in loud environments.
- May be uncomfortable for big/long heads.
- No Bluetooth support.
Looking for a New Gaming Headset?
We can help. Check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Gaming Headset, the Most Comfortable Gaming Headsets, the Best PC Gaming Headsets, the Best Xbox One Headsets, the Best Nintendo Switch Gaming Headsets, and the Best Wireless Gaming Headsets you can buy in 2023.
Also, have a look at our detailed reviews of the Best Wireless PlayStation 4 Headsets, the Best Wireless PlayStation 5 Gaming Headsets, the Best Gaming Headphones Without Mic, the Best Gaming Headsets for Big Heads, and the Best Razer Gaming Headsets currently on the market.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless Review – Conclusion
SteelSeries is quickly building a name for itself in the gaming world. This Danish company makes dozens of models of headsets and, like the 7P+, is constantly trying to improve its latest models.
The Arctis 7P+ wireless headset is a solid choice for the gamer that has some money to invest in a mid-range headset. It offers good sound and 3D sound support. It has a lot of connectivity, though it was definitely developed for the PS5.
This headset is pretty comfortable to wear, looks good, and has great mic performance, too. It’s perhaps pushing the budget of a wireless headset without ANC, but I think the battery life makes up for that. So, if you’re in the market for an affordable gaming headset with good sound, superior battery life, and a comfortable fit, this just might be it.
Until next time, game on.