Steelseries makes some of the best gaming headsets money can buy, and the new esports-focused Arctis Prime is no exception. This is the second best sounding Arctis headset after the Arctis Pro, and considering that it costs only $99, compared to the Prime's $200 price tag, there's not much to say. However, a few small changes to Arctis' traditional formula might give one pause before choosing this new headset.

The design follows Arctis' signature classic look, with a ski goggle suspension headband, lightweight steel frame, large ear cushions, and retractable microphone. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I used the Arctis for two weeks, working during the day and gaming at night, and never felt any uncomfortable pressure on my head.

However, despite the comfort on the top of my head, I cannot say the same for ear comfort. The clamping force is a bit too strong, obviously stronger than my Arctis 7X. This is designed for passive noise cancellation, which is important when attending esports tournaments, but not so much when sitting at home. Unfortunately, the pressure on my ears was felt immediately, and stretching the headband straps to the limit did not improve it.

In addition, Arctis Prime ditched the wonderful Airweave fabric cushions in favor of a new leather-like material; while the Airweave cushions quickly settled into my ears thanks to their plumpness and breathability, these new cushions were a bit... stuffy. In the Australian heat, my ears get sweaty very quickly in these earmuffs. I don't know if the material simply doesn't fit, but I've never had a problem with a real leather headset.

If you can overcome these issues, the Arctis Prime is a great sounding headphone. I have always complained that Steelseries audio drivers are poor, favoring articulate highs over punchy mids and lows, and the Arctis Prime uses the same Hi-Res drivers and tuning as the Arctis Pro, with excellent clarity and richer, more wide punchy sound, boasting an impressive audio range of 10Hz to 40KHz.

I was immersed in the corporate-driven world of The Ascent and was constantly fascinated by the sounds I heard. Various ambient sounds, like steam rising from the grill of a food truck with multiple conversations going on as hover cars fly overhead. Or the visceral boomy sound of a riot shotgun firing, or the screech of a body part exploding. My sidearm produces an old western staccato in a dark hallway.

What is really impressive is the size of the soundstage and the ability of the Arctis to isolate all the different layers. As you can imagine, this translates very well to music listening. It is the general Achilles heel of gaming headsets that overcompensate with bass. But not here: the Arctis reproduces music with great detail and boomy sound that will have your head bobbing.

At least as much as the detachable 3.5mm cord will allow. However, since this is a proprietary cable, you cannot replace it with one of your own choosing. An extension cord/splitter is also included for PC users who must use an extension cord/splitter to get audio from the retractable microphone. The wires are standard rubber and do not transmit cable noise, which is a concern during gaming. As a casual home gamer, I would have preferred wireless, but there is no denying the practicality of being able to connect to any device and get great sound without compatibility issues.

The Prime has a volume control built into the left ear cup, but it is oddly low, so I kept turning the volume down simply by tilting my head and brushing it against my jacket or hoodie. The same thing repeated itself when I reached to take it off or put it on (even while occasionally stretching my neck). There is a dedicated microphone mute button, separate from the volume dial. It is tactile and will not be missed. The microphone itself is a Discord-certified ClearCast microphone, which provides excellent clarity and full sound in game chats and Zoom calls.

The Arctis Prime excels in professional gaming audio, which is what it is supposed to do. I love the sound of Arctis Prime across the board and am very much looking forward to playing games with Arctis Prime. Unfortunately, it is not as comfortable as other Steelseries headsets I have used in the past. The clamping force and the transition to the leather-like cushion just doesn't work for me personally. This is a real shame, because as a wired gaming headset, it may be the best sound quality of any headset you can buy for under $150.

If you're looking for a new headset, be sure to check out our Best Gaming Headsets Guide.