Arctis 1 Wireless tested: The wireless solution for switch users?
25.10.2019
Translation: machine translated
Thanks to the 2.4 GHz dongle, you can also play wirelessly on the Switch with the Arctis 1 Wireless Headset from Steelseries. The headset impresses with its wearing comfort and sound quality in games, but shows weaknesses in the dongle design.
The Arctis 1 Wireless Headset tackles a problem that many Switch users face: How to play wirelessly when the Nintendo console doesn't offer Bluetooth? Thanks to the Steelseries headset's 2.4 GHz USB-C dongle, it connects to the Switch in a flash.
Comfort and design
The ear cups of the Arctis 1 Wireless feel very comfortable. Even after wearing them for a long time, I don't sweat underneath them as much as with other headsets with ear cups made of artificial leather or comparable material. During my hour and a half commute between Biel and Zurich Hardbrücke, I find the headset very comfortable. After two hours, however, I feel a slight pressure on my head. Incidentally, the ear cups can be rotated for greater comfort and better transportability.
The headset can be adjusted almost infinitely to your own head size. The headband is made of metal-reinforced plastic. The large amount of plastic does not give the headset a particularly high-quality appearance. Thanks to the integrated metal, it is nevertheless robust enough to stow away in a rucksack.
The Arctis 1 Wireless is controlled via buttons on the ear cups. The power button is located at the bottom of the right shell. A mute button, a 3.5 mm jack connection, a micro USB connection for charging and the connection for the microphone itself are located on the left shell.
The Arctis 1 Wireless is kept very simple. No RGB bling or anything similar and the lettering is also discreet. There is little to criticise in terms of design and features. The ear cups are a little big for my small head. They make me look like Mickey Mouse and I hate Mickey Mouse. Then there's the charging connection: Dear peripheral manufacturers, this is 2019, please, please use USB-C and not micro-USB on your new products.
This appeal is all the more relevant to the Steel Series because the Arctis 1 Wireless connects wirelessly to devices via a USB-C dongle. So why not use USB-C for charging as well? According to the manufacturer, the headset's battery lasts around 20 hours.
Wobbly dongle
The headset can be connected either via USB-C dongle or 3.5 jack. Steel Series supplies both. The manufacturer also includes a USB A to C adapter so that wireless also works on the PS4 and PC without a USB-C connection.
The connection works perfectly. Within seconds of plugging in the dongle, I hear a beep that signals the successful connection. The connection is never interrupted during my test time when gaming with the Switch. However, I have problems when I plug the dongle into my smartphone. As the device is so wide, it has a lot of leverage. If I have the smartphone in my jeans to listen to music, the dongle moves and the connection is interrupted again and again. Of course, the headset is primarily designed for gaming on the Switch, but if the packaging also advertises Android, it should also work properly with it. iPhone users are left out in the cold with the headset. Even with the Xbox, Steel Series only guarantees functionality with the 3.5 jack connection.
It would be nice if Steel Series had added Bluetooth to the Arctis 1 Wireless. Then the problem with the wobbly dongle on the smartphone would no longer be a topic.
The wide dongle is not only a hindrance when connecting a smartphone. If you connect it directly to the PC, it covers the neighbouring interfaces due to its oversize and they are therefore no longer usable.
Gaming top, music rather floppy
The Arctis 1 Wirelss sounds okay for a headset in its price range. It covers a frequency range from 20 to 16,000 hertz. When listening to music, it is rather bass-heavy. The mids are not nuanced enough for me and the highs are too short. It lacks a bit of volume. However, this is only the case when listening to music. When gaming, the Arctis 1 Wireless does a great job.
The oppressive mood of "This War of Mine" comes across excellently and the creepy factor is guaranteed with "Resident Evil: Revelations". The voices can be heard clearly and I think I can localise the enemies.
Thanks to its closed design, the headset does a good job of shielding. Thanks to it, I can concentrate on the game even despite drunken groups of pensioners on the train.
The microphone of the Arctis 1 Wireless is detachable. The quality of the microphone is okay, but not great. Despite Discord certification, your fellow players will hear you if you play right next to a road. My fellow players could also hear my clicky switches. But that's just it: The headset is designed for travelling with the Switch and who needs the microphone there?
Good headset for on the go
With the Arctis 1 Wireless, Steel Series delivers a solid headset for the price, which is particularly interesting for Switch users. You can finally play wirelessly. The only drawbacks are the somewhat cheap workmanship, the possibly annoyingly wide dongle and the lack of a USB-C charging port. If you're looking for a wireless solution for your Switch, you can't go wrong with the Arctis 1 Wireless.
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
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