SteelSeries Arctis 5 VS Arctis 3
There are lots of good gaming headsets out there depending on which seems to fit you the most. There are those that are going to fit you best and some may not so much but, for gamers who also listen casually to their favorite songs, the SteelSeries Arctis 5 Vs Arctis 3 are two favorite options among the collection. These headsets not only look good for the aesthetic but also sound good yet, not the same so let’s see below about what they can offer.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What to Look for in a Gaming Headset
- What are SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3
- How are the Design of SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3
- How are the Sound Quality of SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3
- How are the Control Functions in SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3
- How are the Comfort of SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3
- SteelSeries Arctis 5 Vs 3
Buying Gaming Headsets
Sound quality is one of the most important parts of your gaming experience because it gives you a different experience too. The core of your gaming is the PC itself and all the gaming peripherals that accompany it such as gaming mouse, keyboard, and headset. There are so many ways to improve the games and if you are here then we assume that you are looking for a gaming headset. The gaming headset is not a must but they are great for your gaming time.
When it comes to gaming headsets, the most important is probably their comfort because we are going to use them for a prolonged time and it is necessary to wear something we are comfortable with especially when our mind needs to focus on something. It is very subjective however because we don’t have the same head size and not all of us are having the same head shape or hair style. What you may want to notice are the shape of the ear cups, the weight, and how strong the clamp is.
The next factor is sound quality but this is also highly subjective. Different from typical headphones made for music listening purposes, the gaming headset is typically not reliable here so they are not the best option for enthusiasts. However, just like most entry-level headphones, most of them are boosted on the lower-frequency, making the sound good for gaming sound effects and music with boomy bass. But, if we can spend the time, there are also those that will be more versatile.
What many of us want from a gaming headset is sometimes the aesthetic since they come with prominent styling and if you are also liking this type of look, there are more than plenty of options to choose from. Some of them are more modest and look like regular headsets or headphones while some are blatantly saying that they are a gaming headset. The thing is gaming-style is also often larger and this may not be as comfortable for some people.
In addition, we want a gaming headset for their features and it is not just the aesthetic only like RGB lighting but also the built-in control such as volume and microphone. Microphone is one of the most important points because we are going to use this for communication with the team or if you are doing the live stream. Read also: SteelSeries Arctis 5 Vs HyperX Cloud Alpha here.
| SteelSeries Arctis 5 | SteelSeries Arctis 3 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 7.93 x 7.08 x 3.58 inches | 7.93 x 7.08 x 3.58 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 12.8 ounces | 10.4 ounces |
| Best Offer | click here | click here |
About SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3
If you are here then we assume that you are also currently looking for a gaming headset. There are so many of them out there and it can be quite confusing to choose one so it is wise to choose wisely based on the factors that you want to consider or what matters to you. You can shop based on the budget or brands too, especially when there is a budget limit, range, or a brand you have been loving lately.
For those who are focusing more on the comfort and sound quality, we recommend considering what SteelSeries can offer from their collection. We are sure most gamers are familiar with this brand because they are very popular and the reason why many love them too is the fact that they carry some of the most interesting options in the market. They are typically more expensive however but definitely worth it.
Some of the gaming headsets with the best sound quality and ideal for the regular music listening purposes are the SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3. As you can guess, these are close siblings so they will sound very similar as well but they are not identical. If you like something to be useful in between your gaming and typical computer use, we do think these headsets are equally amazing. It seems there are few variants to these headsets based on the release time.
In comparison, the sound quality will be very similar to each other with Arctis 3 being just slightly better on the high-frequency. From the build quality, fashion, and comfort, the SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3 are also very similar. Besides the sound quality that makes the two ideal for a wide range of applications, we also love the comfort. Overall, these headsets are worth the money and if you are willing to spend the amount, we will recommend the Arctis 3 since this is the more affordable model while similarly good too.
SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3 Design
Before getting into what the SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3 can offer, let’s see the unit first and both are very similar to each other. There are two variants too for both headsets but the options we have today are their wired or the most affordable one if you want to optimize the budget. The sample picture above may not show the boom microphone but it is actually retractable which means when they are not in use, we can just push it back to the unit.
If you are buying the wireless mode, we can pair them with smartphones and use them outdoors too for better versatility. From the built quality, they are made of plastic, different from the Arctis 7 which is made of metal. The bright part is they are lightweight or 0.6 lbs. with padding cover made of fabric or perforated fabric with plenty of foam. It is not plush but should be enough to conform into the head shape while distributing the weight evenly.
SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3 Sound Quality
Moving further, let’s see what the SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3 can offer starting from the most important part and this is the sound quality. What we love the most from these headphones is they are not too boomy but with just enough kick on the lower end to make the music or game sound more pleasant. However, in comparison the Arctis 5 is the one with a slightly more neutral response and well-balanced nuance. On the other hand, Arctis 3 is better on the higher frequency.
It feels like the mid and high-end of this headset is more accurate yet, they are also favoring the lower end so it is easy to say that they are leaning towards the boomy bass experience. The Arctis 3 is more pleasant for the high-end however as it is airy but the sibilants or T and S sound will sometimes be quite annoying if you push the volume too high.
SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3 Control
Next let’s talk about the control or how you will control the SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3 gaming headset but since they are quite the basic model, especially if you are going with the wired style, there is only the volume rocker and a mute button for the microphone. It seems that we can plug them to the dock to get more wired range as well as using the mixing knob that can be used to mix the sound source from the chat and the gaming sound.
If you want to install the software, these headsets are working with Engine software on your computer and this is very useful to tweak the headsets sound or to gain access into the equalizer which is great if you prefer to personalize their characters into the type of sound that you like better.
SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3 Comfort
Lastly let’s take a look into the comfort level of these headsets and in this part the SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3 are also comfortable. The headband is shaped with an adjustable strap so we can change the length and width. There is quite pressure on the clamp but they are not hurting the head thanks to the padded ear cups and the fabric cover. However, some people seem to be slightly uncomfortable when wearing these headsets for prolonged time as they are quite tight.
Comparison
Both SteelSeries Arctis 5 and 3 are similar and slightly different but when it comes to sound quality, we do think they are about the same or almost identical with the Arctis 5 slightly better on the bass range and the Arctis 3 being a little bit better on the mid and high-end. The comfort level and controls as well as fashion are the same which is great because we also like their padding and styling. There are two variants to choose based on the connectivity type.
Conclusion
You can go amazing with any of them based on which seems to fit you the most but we are going to recommend any of them that feels better on the pocket because personally we like the cheaper Arctis 3 which still sound as good and stylish.
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