Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Sound
- Isolation
- Microphone
- Active Features
- Connectivity
- Comments
SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless vs SteelSeries Arctis Prime
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless
SteelSeries Arctis Prime
Tested using Methodology v1.5
Updated Feb 01, 2024 08:11 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.5
Updated Jun 10, 2024 08:09 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
TypeOver-ear
EnclosureClosed-Back
WirelessYes
TransducerDynamic
Noise CancellingNo
MicYes
TypeOver-ear
EnclosureClosed-Back
WirelessNo
TransducerDynamic
Noise CancellingNo
MicYes
Variants
- Arctis 9 (Black)
- Arctis Prime (Apex Legends)
- Arctis Prime (Black)
Our Verdict
SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless
SteelSeries Arctis Prime
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless and the SteelSeries Arctis Prime have different strengths. While both headphones are comfortable, the Arctis 9 are better built; you can also use them wirelessly, which some users may prefer. They're also compatible with SteelSeries Engine software, which allows you to adjust their sound to your liking using the graphic EQ or presets. However, the Prime are wired-only headphones, and this connection ensures a virtually latency-free gaming experience. Their L/R drivers are also better matched, and their sound profile is more neutral, which some users may prefer.
Main Differences for
Threshold
Neutral Sound
6.8
7.4
Bass Accuracy
7.2
8.3
Treble Accuracy
5.7
7.3
Imaging
6.0
7.4
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Design Picture 2
Type
Over-ear
Over-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Closed-Back
Wireless
Yes
No
Transducer
Dynamic
Dynamic
Comfort
7.5
7.5
Comfort Picture
Weight
0.83 lbs
0.76 lbs
Clamping Force
1.1 lbs
1.2 lbs
Controls
7.8
5.7
Controls Picture
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use
Good
Good
Feedback
Great
Good
Call/Music Control
Yes
No
Volume Control
Yes
Yes
Microphone Control
Mute/Unmute
Mute/Unmute
Channel Mixing
Yes
No
Noise Cancelling Control
No
No
Talk-Through
No
No
Additional Controls
Bluetooth Sync
No
Breathability
5.8
6.1
Breathability After Picture
Avg.Temp.Difference
7.4 °C
6.8 °C
Portability
5.5
5.7
Portability Picture
L
7.7" (19.6 cm)
8.3" (21.2 cm)
W
6.9" (17.5 cm)
8.3" (21.2 cm)
H
3.3" (8.4 cm)
2.0" (5.1 cm)
Volume
176.90 in³ (2,898.86 cm³)
139.87 in³ (2,292.00 cm³)
Transmitter Required
No
No
Case
0.0
N/A
Case Picture
Type
No case
No case
L
N/A
N/A
W
N/A
N/A
H
N/A
N/A
Volume
N/A
N/A
Build Quality
8.0
7.5
Build Quality Picture
Stability
7.5
7.0
Stability Picture
Headshots 1
Angled Picture
Side Picture
Headshots 2
Front Picture
Rear Picture
Top
Top Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Sound
Sound Profile
Frequency Response
Bass Amount
-1.84 dB
-0.88 dB
Treble Amount
-2.99 dB
-0.98 dB
Frequency Response Consistency
5.4
5.3
Consistency L
Consistency R
Avg. Std. Deviation
1.27 dB
1.5 dB
Raw Frequency Response
Bass Accuracy
7.2
8.3
Std. Err.
4.02 dB
2.36 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
57.39 Hz
20.59 Hz
Low-Bass
-6.1 dB
-3.19 dB
Mid-Bass
1.65 dB
-2.31 dB
High-Bass
4.3 dB
0.75 dB
Mid Accuracy
8.1
8.1
Std. Err.
2.59 dB
2.56 dB
Low-Mid
1.44 dB
0.54 dB
Mid-Mid
0.07 dB
-0.57 dB
High-Mid
-0.8 dB
-3.7 dB
Treble Accuracy
5.7
7.3
Std. Err.
6.11 dB
4.06 dB
Low-Treble
-4.76 dB
-3.11 dB
Mid-Treble
-1.58 dB
2.77 dB
High-Treble
-4.59 dB
-7 dB
Peaks/Dips
7.4
7.0
Peaks/Dips Graph
Peaks
1.64 dB
1.97 dB
Dips
1.34 dB
1.42 dB
Imaging
6.0
7.4
Phase Response Mismatch
Weighted Group Delay
0.28
0.52
Weighted Phase Mismatch
12.19
7.09
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
2.01
1.52
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
7.13
3.11
Passive Soundstage
6.1
5.5
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
3.12 dB
2.98 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
7.6 dB
6.5 dB
PRTF Distance
17.9 dB
10.62 dB
Openness
5.6
4.9
Acoustic Space Excitation
3.0
3.1
Virtual Soundstage
2.0
0.0
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
No
Speaker Modeling
On/Off
No
Room Ambience
No
No
Head Tracking
No
No
Virtual Surround
DTS 7.1
No App
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
7.1
8.0
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.303
0.285
WHD @ 100
0.416
0.093
Test Settings
Firmware
2.4.00
No Firmware
Power
On
On
Connection
Wireless (Proprietary)
Wired
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
No EQ
ANC
No ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Default
Microphone
Boom
Boom
Isolation
Noise Isolation
3.7
5.1
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-10.8 dB
-15.67 dB
Noise Cancelling
No
No
Bass
0.73 dB
-0.14 dB
Mid
-5.64 dB
-10.98 dB
Treble
-27.86 dB
-36.71 dB
Leakage
7.4
7.2
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
37.13 dB
38.16 dB
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
No
In-Line
No
No
Boom
Yes
Yes
Detachable Boom
No
No
Mic
Yes
Yes
Recording Quality
8.1
8.6
Microphone Frequency Response
Recorded Speech
LFE
88.51 Hz
20 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
3.44 dB
2.94 dB
HFE
6,544.63 Hz
9,805.86 Hz
Weighted THD
0.112
0.101
Gain
19.93 dB
26.25 dB
Noise Handling
7.5
7.2
SpNR
32.44 dB
37.14 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
7.5
7.0
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
7.5
7.5
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample
Active Features
Battery
8.0
0.0
Battery Type
Rechargable
No Battery
Continuous Battery Life
20.3 hrs
N/A
Additional Charges
0.0
N/A
Total Battery Life
20.3 hrs
N/A
Charge Time
5.6 hrs
N/A
Power-Saving Feature
Auto-Off Timer
No
Audio While Charging
Yes
No
Passive Playback
No
Passive Headphone
Charging Port
micro-USB
None
App Support
8.0
0.0
App Picture
App Name
SteelSeries Engine
No App
iOS
No
No
Android
No
No
macOS
Yes
No
Windows
Yes
No
Equalizer
Graphic + Presets
No
ANC Control
No
No
Mic Control
Adjustable Level
No
Room Effects
No
No
Playback Control
No
No
Button Mapping
No
No
Surround Support
Yes
No
Connectivity
Bluetooth
8.5
0.0
Bluetooth Version
4.1
No Bluetooth
Multi-Device Pairing
Bluetooth + Console/Non-BT Wireless
No
NFC Pairing
No
No
Line Of Sight Range
303.00 ft (92.35 m)
N/A
PC Latency (SBC)
194 ms
N/A
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
N/A
iOS Latency
55 ms
N/A
Android Latency
130 ms
N/A
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
8.8
0.0
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
153.00 ft (46.63 m)
N/A
Non-BT Latency
28 ms
N/A
Wired
9.0
9.5
Cable Picture
Analog Audio
Yes
Yes
USB Audio
No
No
Detachable
No
Yes
Length
N/A
4.17 ft (1.27 m)
Connection
No Wired Option
Mini B 8-Pin
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms
0 ms
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio Only (Not included)
Audio + Microphone
Wired USB
No
No
Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
No
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio Only (Not included)
Audio + Microphone
PS4 Wired USB
No
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
No
PS5 Analog
Audio Only (Not Included)
Audio + Microphone
PS5 Wired USB
No
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
No
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only (Not included)
Audio + Microphone
Xbox One Wired USB
No
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio Only (Not included)
Audio + Microphone
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
No
Base/Dock
7.0
0.0
Type
Wireless USB Dongle
No Base/Dock
USB Input
Yes
No
Line In
Yes
No
Line Out
Yes
No
Optical Input
No
No
RCA Input
No
No
Dock Charging
No
No
Power Supply
USB
No Base/Dock
SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless
SteelSeries Arctis Prime
Comments
SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless vs SteelSeries Arctis Prime: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.