With the SteelSeries Engine app, you can customize a few settings when the Arctis 9 Wireless is connected via the USB charging cable to your PC. The retractable mic sits on the front of the left earcup and a ChatMix dial is around the back that lets you adjust the volume between game and chat audio.

Below the buttons on the right earcup is a micro-USB port for charging along with a 3.5mm jack to share audio with another headset. “Most of the controls are located on the back of the right earcup, where you’ll find a volume dial, microphone mute button, power button and Bluetooth button. While comfort is top-notch, the large earcups tend to get warm over long stretches. Their large size minimizes the odds that your ear will be pinched against your headset and will likely fit inside the earcup. The large, oval earcups are heavily padded, and the padding is covered in a soft, breathable fabric.

There’s a Velcro fastener on the end of the ski-goggle strap that provides a minimal amount of size adjustment, but this large-headed reviewer had no trouble finding a comfortable fit. At 13.4 ounces, the Arctis 9 Wireless is a heavy headset but feels lighter than it is thanks to the ski-goggle strap that creates a suspension feeling that prevents the metal headband from pressing down on the top of your head. (The headset works with PS4 and will work with the PS5 at launch.) The Arctis 9 Wireless can also be used with a Nintendo Switch in docked mode. The wireless transmitter has a switch on its underside to toggle between PC and PlayStation use.

Even with a firmware update, I was updated and up and running in less than five minutes. The headset and transmitter come paired out of the box, but I needed to update the firmware from each after installing the SteelSeries Engine software. The Arctis 9 Wireless connects to your PC or PlayStation via a USB wireless transmitter. There’s also an LED light on the retractable microphone that glows red when the mic is muted. When there’s less than 10% battery life remaining, it blinks red. It glows yellow when it’s between 20% and 50% and red when it’s between 10% and 20%. When charging, the LED glows green when the headset has more than half of its battery life remaining. A small LED indicator on the right earcup blinks white when connected wirelessly and blue when connected via Bluetooth (and alternates white and blue when connected to both). The only lights on the Arctis 9 serve a function rather than simply adorning the form. Answer See ResultsIf you are looking for colorful, pulsing RGB lighting, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Steelseries wireless headset