As a gaming audio engineer who has tested over 50+ headsets in the past decade, I‘ve developed plenty of strong (and contentious!) opinions around what separates an average headset from a truly elite one. But I have to say, SteelSeries impressed me with the Arctis 9X.
Combining slick aesthetics, rich spatial audio and marathon battery life, the Arctis 9X gets so much right as a $200 wireless headset purpose-built for Xbox consoles and Windows gaming PCs. But there‘s still a few audio quirks I‘ve discovered that competitive gamers should consider.
In this hands-on review, I‘ll cover everything from sound quality benchmarks to microphone tests so you can decide if the Steelseries Arctis 9X wireless headset deserves a permanent spot on your gaming setup. Let‘s take this deep dive together!
Overview: Meet the Arctis 9X Wireless Gaming Headset
First off, what exactly is the Steelseries Arctis 9X? Simply put, it‘s one of the most advanced wireless headsets designed specifically for Xbox Series X|S consoles and Windows PCs. It connects directly via Xbox Wireless (Microsoft‘s custom 2.4Ghz protocol) rather than Bluetooth.
This allows the Arctis 9X to tap directly into the Xbox‘s audio processing capabilities for features like Windows Sonic spatial surround sound. It also enables headset firmware updates through the console itself.
So by using a proprietary wireless standard instead of Bluetooth, the Arctis 9X unlocks platform-exclusive features and tighter integration for Xbox gaming. That‘s a big perk…in theory.
But marketing is one thing – real-world audio performance is what matters. So keep reading for plenty of objective measurements and subjective listening tests across a range of games.
Audio Quality & Performance Benchmarks
Let‘s kick things off with some audio quality benchmarks compared to rival wireless headsets from brands like Razer, Corsair and HyperX:
Frequency Response
Frequency response measures how evenly a headset reproduces different sound frequencies rather than over-emphasizing specific elements like bass or treble.
The Arctis 9X puts up extremely solid numbers here with a neutral, balanced sound profile. Instead of overblown bass, you get nice clarity across mids and highs:
For reference, the similarly priced Razer Blackshark V2 Pro has heavier bass bias and a less consistent mid-range:
Judging purely by frequency response charts, the Arctis 9X easily bests more colored headsets like the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro and the bass-heavy Corsair Virtuoso.
Sound Profile Subjective Analysis
So that‘s what the charts say, but how does the Arctis 9X sound for actual games, music and movies? Here‘s my hands-on analysis after extensive testing:
For Xbox games, I heard extremely balanced and nuanced audio across everything from lush open-worlds in Elden Ring to chaotic gunfights in Call of Duty. While bass doesn‘t QUITE rattle your skull on explosions like some headsets, you gain outstanding mid-range clarity perfect for spatial awareness.
Music playback reveals similar sonic strengths – vocals sound clear and instruments retain separation across rock, orchestral game soundtracks, electronica and more. Again bass lovers may want more thump, but acoustic and vocals especially shine on the Arctis 9X.
Movies and video surprisingly fall a bit short however. Perhaps due to lacking wider frequency range, action movie effects don‘t deliver as much visceral impact vs. music clarity. Still very listenable thanks to vocal-focused tuning.
Spatial Surround Sound & Positional Accuracy
Here‘s where Xbox gamers get a legitimate edge from platform integration. Thanks to direct wireless links to Xbox consoles, the Arctis 9X fully supports Windows Sonic – Microsoft‘s surround sound standard for headsets.
Through hands-on testing across over a dozen spatial surround games, I can confirm that Windows Sonic grants the Arctis 9X fairly convincing 3D spatialization and positional accuracy.
While it can‘t compete with true Dolby Atmos-enabled 7.1 surround headsets, the Arctis 9X provides excellent directional awareness and distance cues in supported titles. Whether judging enemy locations in Fortnite or hearing environment ambience in Forza Horizon 5, Windows Sonic gets the job done better than most virtual surround solutions.
Just don‘t expect massive benefits for music or movies. Windows Sonic is optimized purely for spatializing game audio rather than full virtualization across all content. Still, it‘s a big value-add for Xbox gaming.
Comparison Chart: Steelseries Arctis 9X vs. Competing Wireless Gaming Headsets
To sum up audio performance, see how the Arctis 9X compares to similarly priced wireless gaming headsets across some key metrics:
| Headset | Frequency Response | Surround Sound Method | Battery Life | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelseries Arctis 9X | Neutral | Windows Sonic | 20 hrs | $199 |
| Razer Blackshark V2 Pro | Bass-heavy | Synapse 3D | 24 hrs | $179 |
| Corsair Virtuoso RGB | V-shaped | Dolby Atmos (7.1) | 20 hrs | $269 |
| HyperX Cloud Flight | Warm, smooth | Virtual Surround | 30 hrs | $159 |
For $200, the Arctis 9X competes very strongly on audio clarity and spatial performance while keeping up with premium specs like 20+ hour battery life. Just depends if you prioritize bass impact or competitive clarity.
Microphone & Chat Performance
Beyond great game audio, crystal-clear communication is essential. So how does the Arctis 9X‘s retractable microphone stack up?
In my Skype calls and Xbox live chat tests, both incoming and outgoing voice came through perfectly crisp thanks to the mic‘s bi-directional polar pattern and background noise cancellation. No fuzziness or sibilant "esses" to be heard.
I did compare the mic input to my Blue Yeti X standalone microphone just to benchmark fidelity. As expected for a built-in mic, the Arctis 9X lacks some richness and bass response compared to an XLR mic. But friends reported zero issues hearing me clearly across game chat sessions.
For convenience alone, the discretely hidden mic is vastly preferable over a boom mic for Xbox parties and multiplayer. And voice reproduction meets or exceeds any wireless gaming headset mic I‘ve tested. Well done SteelSeries!
Connectivity Options & Features
While Xbox Wireless remains the ideal connectivity method to unlock platform features, let‘s break down the various wired and wireless connectivity options the Arctis 9X supports:
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Xbox Wireless – Leverages 2.4Ghz wireless signal for lag-free game audio plus enables Windows Sonic surround processing and firmware updates. Provides the richest feature set and highest performance.
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Bluetooth – While you lose Xbox exclusives like Windows Sonic, Bluetooth lets you use the headset wirelessly with Switch, PlayStation, mobile devices and PCs. Basic stereo audio connectivity.
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3.5mm Analog – There‘s a headphone jack on the earcup for passive wired use, but no mic support. Battery charge IS still required for analog input.
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USB-C – Connect to Windows 10 via USB cable to access DTS surround sound processing and the SteelSeries Engine desktop app for custom EQ settings.
So in summary – Xbox Wireless is ideal for Xbox consoles while Bluetooth provides more universal wireless compatibility. Wired functionality is limited without passive mode though.
Verdict – Who Should Buy the Steelseries Arctis 9X Wireless?
The Arctis 9X positively excels as a wireless headset custom-built for the Xbox ecosystem. Its slick aesthetics perfectly complement Xbox Series X consoles while Windows Sonic grants competitive spatial awareness. And best-in-class comfort ensures fatigue-free marathon gaming sessions.
Compared to more universally compatible headsets, you trade wireless functionality with PlayStation consoles for tighter platform integration with Xbox and Windows. There‘s also few wireless headsets that match the Arctis 9X‘s rich spatial audio performance at this $200 price point.
Here‘s my final recommendations on ideal buyers for the Steelseries Arctis 9X Wireless:
Buy it if…
- You play competitive multiplayer Xbox games that support Windows Sonic
- You value long-term comfort for extended gaming sessions
- You play narrative-driven singleplayer Xbox games like Elden Ring
Don‘t buy if…
- You primarily play on PlayStation consoles or Nintendo Switch
- You play action games mainly for visceral bass impact
- You dislike snug-fitting, closed-back headset designs
So in conclusion, I can enthusiastically award the Arctis 9X Wireless my Editor‘s Choice badge for Xbox gamers seeking incredible spatial awareness to gain competitive edges. When paired with Xbox consoles, the SteelSeries Arctis 9X complete wireless package.