Review on 🎧 SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wired Gaming Headset: Detachable Clearcast Mic, Lightweight Design, PC/PS4/Xbox/Switch/Lite Compatibility – Enhance Your Gaming Experience! by Payton Stovall

OK, these MUST be very good $150 headphones BUT there are a few caveats that put me off. I noticed that several other reviews mention these issues. These issues bothered me so much that I sent them back. Simply NOT worth the price! First, I wear headphones 12-18 hours a day, 7 days a week. For work, relaxation and sleep aid. I know headphones and have a decent collection of about a dozen. 1) HOLY DISTORTION, BATMAN! When I'm listening to music at a volume that any of my other headphones (including cheap $30 Bluetooth ones) can handle, those devices produce tremendous distortion. I can't believe how bad they are at over 50% volume! Give it a range and it seems fine, but add two or three (like bass guitar and hi-hat at the same time. Or, you know, almost all music) and suddenly you can't figure out what you're hearing more. 2) The volume control is EXTREMELY easy to accidentally adjust. I mean incredibly easy. I was CONSTANTLY fiddling with the volume when adjusting the headphones or mic, and since it's so loose it's almost impossible to get the "right" volume. Very, very annoying! 3) You have no media controls. Why? The combination of volume keys solves the problem of "adjusting the volume too easily" and allows you to control the media with a long press. 4) Headphones are EXTREMELY hot. I wear headphones quite often, but they burn my ears within minutes, forcing me to temporarily adjust or remove them. This also confirms point #2 as the volume slider is ALWAYS randomized. 5) They don't block outside noise at all and people can often hear what I'm listening or playing. This makes no sense as the ear pads seem to block ALL airflow. 6) The microphone mute button turns on the light. The? So when your microphone is on, there is no light. If the microphone is switched off, e.g. e.g. listening to music, walking, etc., the BRIGHT RED LED is on 100% of the time. Hm? How does it make sense? 7) The volume is easily 1/3 of all other headphones I have. I turn each setting to 100% to get 30% on every other headset. Why? 8) The microphone sucks! I can't imagine anyone with any sense of intelligence thinking this mic is anything other than painfully poor quality. Everything either sounds tinny or incredibly digital (like using one of those $5 speech synthesizers that make you sound like a robot9). While the ear pads fit over your ears, the speaker mesh is too delicate and touches your ears. This makes it unbearable on its own, but in combination with other problems. 10) FINALLY, the effect of surround sound is negligible. When playing the same surround sound tests, I can't tell the difference between regular 2.0 phones and these. General. There's also a VERY VERY specific place you MUST place them or you'll only hear about 70% of what they put out. Unfortunately, the VERY SPECIFIC location they have to place is absolutely TERRIBLE. You have to bend and fold your ears to get them even remotely positioned correctly. 11) I know I said 10 was the last number, but that brings me to another point. They are so uncomfortable in almost every way. After a short session, your jaw will ache as the bottoms dig right into the TMJ, your ears will ache and sweat from the total lack of ventilation (it's like sticking your ears in a wool coat in Florida in July - a Swamp!) From the company that specializes in headphones, they're full of horribly bad design choices! One of the worst headsets I've ever had. I do not recommend it to anyone under any circumstances!