This didn't make a significant difference in terms of comfort. That works too, but the Arctis 7 is considerably more breathable than the Alpha, thanks to that elasticated headband and materials used at the contact points.įor the 2019 Edition, SteelSeries tweaked the headband and earpads. The headband's slightly more substantial than in older iterations, now matching that found in the pricier Arctis Pro headset. The only rival headset offering similar luxuriousness after long sessions is the HyperX Cloud Alpha (opens in new tab), which takes the traditional headband design, as well as the earcups, and absolutely smothers it in memory foam. The result isn't night and day but, rather, a sustained level of comfort that only makes itself evident as being superior after an hour or two of use. The Arctis takes a different approach, instead suspending its 375g weight above your head with an elasticated band. Most headphones use a lightweight metal or plastic headband to keep the unit on your head and press the earcups against your ears.

Arctis 5 2019 review