If you want wireless headphones that you can use at all times, and with all your day-to-day devices, or you just bought a Playstation 5, the Arctis 9 Wireless are one of the best options on the current market. Update November 2019: SteelSeries Arctis 7 has released a new version of these helmets with minor design improvements.

General

Features

SteelSeries Arctis 9

In terms of performance, we had no problems of interference or loss of connection; except when we were at great distances (> 10 meters) with walls in between. On the other hand, when it comes to battery, the brand advertises 20 hours of continuous use, something that in fact seemed to correspond to us.

Finally, another interesting feature of this headset is that we can use the 2.4GHz connection at the same time using the Bluetooth connection. This allows you to be connected to the PC and the mobile phone at the same time, listening to the audio of both simultaneously.

SteelSeries Arctis 7

According to SteelSeries, the headphones have the same technology as many other headphones that cost $ 220. We don’t know, but what we can tell you is that its quality is impressive. Great sound, in all respects, and the best: fully customizable. Its battery is very durable, they are wireless and the position of the buttons is ergonomic.

In addition to its sound, its design is also customizable. If you want you can buy different ski bands, ear muffs, bags to carry headphones and even a stand. Extras that not all brands have for their devices. In short, one of the most complete and customizable headphones that exist at the moment.

The Arctis range of headsets is made up of three models: Arctis 3, Arctis 5 and Arctis 7. The Arctis 7 are the only wireless helmets of the three, but also the most resistant, once they have the upper part in aluminium. So the question you must ask yourself is: is it worth paying more for these headphones when they all have the same sound quality?

The answer is yes, if you want wireless headphones, with better finishes and with ChatMix. They are somewhat expensive, to be honest, but perhaps they will suit you, especially if you are an online game player and you usually play as a team with active chat.

Design

SteelSeries Arctis 9

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless gaming headset maintain the characteristic design of the more expensive models of the Arctis line; which hasn’t evolved much since 2016. Like the brand’s wireless headphones, the build quality of these is superior to wired ones. Since they use top quality materials, such as metal on the upper edge.

Fans of RGB lighting will be disappointed to learn that it doesn’t exist on the Arctis 9. Something as it saves battery life, saves weight, and makes them look even “cleaner.”

On the back of the left earpiece we find the volume control for the ChatMix function, and on the front, the retractable microphone.

The edge of the upper part of this gaming headset is metal, which gives a very pleasant feeling in terms of quality and robustness. In addition, the pressure exerted on the head is not exaggerated, which is usually a problem in helmets with this construction. There is also a rubber strap that covers the interior for added comfort.

The head suspension system is something SteelSeries has been using since its first headset; So it is not surprising that the Arctis 9 Wireless gaming headsets are very comfortable. So much so that you will forget that you have them in your head, even after long gaming sessions. The elastic band can be adjusted according to the user’s preferences, And it can also be purchased with other patterns and colors on the brand’s website.

The pads used are made of a material that the brand calls “airweave”. These are the same that are used in all the other headsets of the brand. They are good pads that do not heat the ears and maintain a good level of acoustic insulation.

SteelSeries Arctis 7

Let’s start with the first thing that caught our attention, its design. They are the beautiful headset, not only because of their metal construction and curved design but also because of the immense customization. If you wish, you can change the earmuffs for leather ones, for example, or change the Ski goggles band (headband) for another that more represents your style. You can also buy a bag to carry the helmets, a filter for the microphone and even a holder for the helmets. Many things that other brands do not put at your disposal.

The headset is very round, space is very well used and they are ergonomic. The left hull is the same as the Arctis 5, with the exception that it does not have RGB lighting. But in relation to the position of the buttons, it is identical: button to activate and deactivate the microphone, increase or decrease the volume, connector for mobile devices, 3.5mm Jack to share audio and the micro-USB connector. On the right side, we already have the first differences between these models: the button to activate or deactivate the helmets and the Chat Mix Dial.

The headphones weigh 371g, which isn’t much really. The weight is balanced, and you don’t feel a lot of weight on your head.

Connectivity

SteelSeries Arctis 9

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless gaming headsets are equipped with 40mm drivers, with a response frequency of 20 to 20,000 Hz. These are the same as those used in the rest of the Arctis line.

Being a wireless headset, there is always the fear that the audio quality and overall performance will be inferior to the wired versions. However, we use the Arctis 9 Wireless gaming headsets in various scenarios and find the audio quality to be good and fairly balanced overall. Although the EQ profile that is configured by default may not be the preferred one for some people.

As for the 7.1 audio (DTS Headphone: X v2.0), it is a feature that only works on the PC and we do not use it most of the time. Even so, we believe that it can be useful in some specific cases, such as in the games of the Battlefield saga; where we get to make the audio a little more enveloping.

SteelSeries Arctis 7

The sound is loud, but the quality is surprising. Its bass is very good, something doesn’t usually see in low / mid-range wireless headphones. The SteelSeries Engine 3, the brand’s peripherals management program, allows many parameters of the Arctis 7 to be modified. Modifying different parameters allows the audio emitted by these headsets to shine and be distinguished from other gaming helmets.

If you want to listen to music, you can alter many parameters, or choose one of the SteelSeries defaults. You can change different parameters in the equalizer, modify dynamic range compression, activate mic feedback, change mic volume, and activate mic preview. After changing them, you can save the settings and create as many profiles as you want.

Conclusion!

SteelSeries Arctis 9

The Arctis 9 Wireless are basically an upgrade from the Arctis 7, offering Bluetooth connectivity for a small price difference.

They are very balanced gaming helmets in all aspects: they have an excellent build quality and comfort, a very balanced audio quality. They also incorporate a good microphone and are compatible with practically all types of devices. On the other hand, they also have additional hard-to-find features, such as the automatic transfer of audio from a device to the headset, the Chatmix (on the PC); or even the possibility of using both means of connection at the same time.

If you want a wireless headset that you can use at all times, and with all your day-to-day devices; Or you just bought a Playstation 5, the Arctis 9 Wireless are one of the best wireless options on the market today. And the best thing is that they come at a price of 235 USD. However, if you think that this is the ideal headset, but you don’t need Bluetooth connectivity, you can always opt for the Arctis 7, at a slightly lower price of 212 USD.

SteelSeries Arctis 7

They fit very well on the head, perhaps too much for some people, that will depend on the tastes of each one and the type of headphones that you are used to.

They are, without a doubt, one of the best gaming headsets of 2017. Its sound, its customization and its microphone are perfect. 

The SoundPeats Sonic are impressive headphones that have arguably the best sound quality under $ 50. In addition, they have 15 hours of autonomy, Bluetooth 5.2, and the latest Qualcomm QCC3040 chipset.

The SoundPeats Truengine 3 SE is the third generation of one of the most interesting TWS headphones on the market and for less than $ 60 they get a sound that rivals other headphones that cost 3 or 4 times more.

General

Design

SoundPEATS Sonic

The SoundPEATS Sonic are wireless headphones that have a relatively compact, low-profile design. They have some shapes worked to adapt to the ear, which means that they do not fall or move too much from their position while we use them.

Of course, they come with 3 pairs of different-sized silicone ear cushions for the perfect fit. This is important so that the headphones do not move, but also to achieve a good seal that enhances the sound produced by the headphones.

Although they are not the best fit for me either, they work quite well for me and I have no problems using them while walking or running. The headphones are certified for IPX5 water resistance so they are resistant to sweat and splashes of water.

The headphones are made of an original grayish color that contrasts with some details of rose gold. They are pretty, but they are not too flashy on the ear.

SoundPeats Truengine 3 SE

The SoundPeats Truengine 3 SE has a design very similar to the original SoundPeats Truengine SE, however, they have improved some very important aspects:

• Touch controls instead of buttons
• Better sound
• Improves water resistance from IPX4 to IPX5
• They use USB-C instead of micro USB

As we can see, both the case and the headphones are made of plastic and have a very soft rubbery finish that is pleasant to the touch. The box also does not convey a premium build quality, but keep in mind that we are talking about 50 euro headphones that sound better than many 150 euros.

The headphones are relatively large and are somewhat bulky in the ear. Even so, if they fit you well, they are quite comfortable and do not move or do sports. Something that is very good because they have the IPX5 certificate of resistance to water, which means that they resist sweat and rain without problems.

The headphones come with 3 sets of rubber ear pads and a pair of earpads made of foam rubber. These pads have the advantage that they isolate more from outside noise, are more comfortable, and give a slightly warmer tone to the sound, however, they do wear out over time and we will have to replace them.

Features

Battery

SoundPEATS Sonic

The headphones have a generous 70 mAh internal battery which together with the efficiency of the QCC3040 chip offer an impressive 15 hours battery at medium volume. The TWS earphones with the longest autonomy I’ve tried so far.

The transport box has a 400 mAh capacity and allows you to charge the headphones two more times, so the total autonomy is around 45 hours. One last.

Connectivity

SoundPEATS Sonic

The headphones have the latest technology of the moment: Bluetooth 5.2 and the Qualcomm QCC3040 chip. The connection is completely stable and there are no micro-cuts at reasonable distances. We can use one or both headphones in a totally transparent way for the mobile.

In addition, they are compatible with SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codecs (not compatible with LC3 ). Of course, the latency is not excellent even using them in gaming mode (around 300 ms in game mode with my mobile, a Mi 10T-Lite).

SoundPeats Truengine 3 SE

They use Bluetooth 5.0 and Qualcomm chip QCC3020 able to work with the codecs SBC, AAC, and aptX. In addition, the headphones work in dual host mode so we can use one or both headphones in a transparent way.

The signal stability is very good and I have not experienced micro-clipping or signal dropouts while using the headphones over reasonable distance ranges.

In terms of sound quality, the SoundPeats Truengine 3 SE is fitted with two enhanced dynamic drivers that provide simply spectacular sound for its price.

The advantage of having two drivers is that each driver can be designed and tuned to better represent specific frequencies. For example, in this case, a driver takes care of the bass and another driver takes care of the mids and treble, achieving a high-quality overall sound.

Conclusion!

SoundPEATS Sonic

The SoundPEATS Sonic Wireless Earbuds have spectacular value for money. The audio quality is far superior to most headphones in its price range and the autonomy is the longest on the market for such compact headphones. The hands-free is quite good, you can control the volume and change songs with the buttons and it also has Bluetooth 5.2 and the latest Qualcomm chipset.

Honestly, there is not much to improve. Maybe I would have preferred that the buttons were tactile or at least that they were softer and that the case was a little more compact, but there is not much more to improve.

SoundPeats Truengine 3 SE

The SoundPeats Truengine 3 SE is TWS headphones with quality well above its price. In addition, they perform very well in the rest of the characteristics such as autonomy, touch controls, water resistance, connection stability. Their greatest and, perhaps, the only disadvantage is that, due to their size, there will be people to whom headphones do not fit well and bother or fall off.

The Haylou GT5 are very inexpensive headphones, but also very complete. They have the good build quality, they are light, comfortable and the sound quality is very good for what they cost.

In addition, the headphones incorporate a proximity sensor with which they detect if we are wearing the headphones in our ears to automatically pause or resume playback. As if that were not enough, its box can be charged using Qi wireless charging, something that only the most expensive models usually carry.

The Haylou GT1 XR take the box of the GT1 PRO and the headphones of the GT1 Plus. The result is very complete headphones with a total autonomy of 36 hours, quality sound and good hands-free.

General

Design

Haylou GT5

The Haylou GT5 have a design very similar to other headphones of the brand such as the GT1 series range or the GT2. All of them have a similar size and a weight of around 4 grams.

The headphones are medium in size and are generally comfortable for most people. Perhaps people with very small ears or ears have a problem and they do not fit perfectly. As you already know, these are in-ear headphones in which the tip is inserted into the ear. Of course, they come with 3 pairs of silicone ear tips of different sizes to better fit each one’s ear.

Thanks to their good fit and lightweight, the headphones are very comfortable and once you are wearing you will practically forget you are wearing them. They stay in position even running and playing sports. And, although they are not officially certified for water resistance, they will resist sweat and raindrops without problems.

On the outside of the headphones, we have a differentiated area that turns out to be the touch surface. I like that this one stands out because it is easier to click on it correctly. With the touch buttons we can:

• Pause and resume playback: one tap on any headset
• Next song: two taps on the right earbud
• Previous song: two taps on the left earphone
• Pick up or hang up a call: two taps on any headset
• Reject call: press any headset for 1 second
• Call the mobile assistant: three taps on the left earbud
• Activate game mode: three taps on the right earbud

The touch controls work perfectly and very rarely do I miss the press or accidentally touch the button, something that happened to me frequently with the GT1 because the touch surface was not differentiated. Of course, these GT5 do not allow you to control the volume with headphones.

Features

Battery

Haylou GT5

Each headset has an internal 40 mAh battery with which it is capable of playing music for about 4 and a half hours at medium volume. Not bad, but there are many headphones that have greater autonomy.

The headphones charge in about 2 hours using the charging case. In turn, this case has an internal 580 mAh battery with which the total autonomy of the set is about 24 hours. The box charges in about 3 hours using a USB-C cable or via a Qi wireless charger, which is very rare at this price.

On the front of the box we also have 3 LEDs that indicate the battery level:

• Three LEDs on the charge is greater than 80%
• Two LEDs on the load enters between 30 and 80%
• One led on the load is less than 30%

Haylou GT1

Thanks to the low consumption Qualcomm chip, the 43 mAh internal battery of the headphones achieves a range of 5 hours at medium volume.

If we add to that that the box has an 800 mAh battery, we have as a result that we can enjoy up to 36 hours of music before having to recharge the box.

In addition, the box has 4 LEDs that indicate the battery level so that we always know how much charge we have left. Another positive point is that the box is quite compact to have so much capacity. I have tried many headphones that have much larger boxes and only have 500 mAh of charge.

Connectivity

Haylou GT5

The headphones feature Bluetooth 5.0 and are compatible with SBC and AAC codecs. Of course, the connection is very stable and there is no micro-cut at reasonable distances. They also work in dual-host mode and we can use both headphones at the same time or anyone in a mono mode without having to configure anything on the mobile.

Haylou GT1 XR

They have Bluetooth 5.0 and use the Qualcomm QCC3020 chip. Thanks, they work in dual-host mode and have a very stable connection with a long-range. In addition, the headphones are compatible with SBC, AAC and aptX codecs.

Conclusion!

The Haylou GT5 are one of the best headphones you can buy at value for money. They are better built than past models and have incorporated advanced features (proximity sensor and wireless charging). In addition, the touch controls work perfectly and the audio quality is quite good for what they cost. The only thing that would improve is that you could control the volume with the touch buttons.

The Haylou GT1 XR are nothing more than a mixture of the best qualities of the past and so successful models. From the Haylou GT1 PRO they have taken the box and from the Haylou GT1 Plus the headphones.