Steelseries is stealing the show. It doesn’t take much more than a mention of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset to get the gaming world excited. However, a lesser-known peripheral is making a splash in the ocean of PC options. Steelseries recently released their latest Arctis Gamebuds (Xbox or PS options). If you don’t want to read – know this – you can’t go wrong with them. For those that need to know more, let’s break it down.
Steelseries Arctis GameBuds
I’ve tested a lot of earbuds in my day. I’ve tested several pairs of “gaming” earbuds. There is a reason I no longer have the other ones. They weren’t that good. Most of the time I didn’t like the fit or found they just didn’t bump like other buds. “Gaming” earbuds felt like a marketing scheme. To some degree it is, but for those that aren’t into headsets, earbuds make a ton of sense. Why? They are so much more versatile and don’t label you a gamer if you want to just wear them for any purpose. I can’t imagine wearing certain gaming headsets out in public – some are just gigantic.
When it comes to gaming earbuds – as with most of their products, Steelseries gets the right things right. Let’s start off with the fit.
Best in class comfort
I think my ears are weird. Earbuds either don’t like me or most companies just don’t design them to perfection. I’ve always ended up liking buds with some type of wrap around on my ear to keep them in place. For example, my old go-to was a set designed for workouts from Dottir. Then Status Between 3ANC earbuds tried to woo me away. I was never truly satisfied with the fit from the Status buds. They slid out of my ears too easily. The Arctis Gamebuds do not. From the moment I put the earbuds to my ears they fit so ergonomically precise, that I am a bit shocked. They don’t stick way out. Instead, a low profile allows this daily carry to seal and block out external noise.
Oddly enough, my first test with the Arctis Gamebuds did not start with gaming. It didn’t even start with music. My first test was to block the noise of a battery powered circular saw while installing new floors. So, yes, I guess I used them as a bit of an earplug. Powered on, the ANC on the Arctis Gamebuds is impressive if not a bit shocking. Without music playing I can obviously still hear the now dull hum of a saw, but voices are tough to hear for sure. Perhaps I won’t be dragging my Sony Noise Cancelling headphones on my next flight.
Great Sound
Alright they’re comfortable, which is all well and good. Do they sound good? Um – yes. They sound great. Though not necessarily immediately. Out of the box they’re decent. Where the sound really hit me was after I download the Steelseries EQ app on my Galaxy Ultra. I try to adjust the EQ manually – and that is one issue with Arctis GameBuds. There is no manual EQ. However, there are hundreds of EQ presets I can select from. I pick the Apex preset and boom. What a change in the dynamics.
The Arctis Gambuds give off decent bass and explosions, booms, and the like certainly don’t distort even at high volumes. On the treble side of things, the sound is just well rounded and “full”. If something feels heavy on one side or the other, I simply adjust the EQ with a new preset.
Gaming with earbuds is fun now, and Steelseries makes it happen. The buds come with a USB dongle tucked right in the back of the charging case, and once I plug it into my Series X (or PC), they are ready to go. You can’t go wrong with using these, in particular for games like Fortnite or other FPS style games. The environment makes all the difference and using headphones changes the game. I can tell where people are shooting from or running. Footsteps matter, and if you want to up your game here the Steelseries GameBuds are an excellent choice.
Final Thoughts
Steelseries made waves with the Arctis Pro Nova. Now they’re making waves with the Arctis Gamebuds, their latest gaming earbuds for Xbox/PC and PS5. These buds excel in comfort, noise cancellation, and sound quality. The ergonomic fit ensures they stay secure without discomfort, while active noise cancellation (ANC) effectively blocks external noise.
Sound quality is impressive, especially with EQ presets via the Steelseries app. While there’s no manual EQ, the numerous presets enhance audio performance. Now, explosions and footsteps in games are that much more immersive. A USB dongle allows for seamless gaming connectivity.
One minor drawback for me is the auto-pause when an earbud is removed, but this can be disabled. Overall, the Arctis Gamebuds are a top-tier choice for gamers looking for versatility and great sound.
