So now that the Xbox headset is here… its okay but there are some short comings about
it that will still might make you want to go with some third party options. So
today we’re going to compare Xbox’s own headset to both the Razer Kaira Pro and
Steelseries Arctis 1. So whether you like to play a lot of open world games,
or if you’re a competitive FPS player one of these will might suit your play style better.
Regarding pricing, both the arctis 1 and xbox’s own headset retail for $100. Where as the kaira
Pro’s retail for $150. Now there is a non-pro version of the Kaira’s that retail for $100 but
they don’t have bluetooth, they have a slightly shorter battery life and worst of all they don’t
have RGB. Nonetheless if you want to pick any of these headsets up they’ll be linked down below.
Now first lets talk about build quality… without a doubt the kaira pro’s have
the best build quality here. They have the sturdiest textured plastic here,
their ear cups swivels the smoothest here, this headband has the most textile feed back here
and personally I really like the look of this exposed stainless steel. And in general this
headset just feels the sturdiest here when they’re in your hands. Now Xbox’s headset also has decent
build quality and it also feels fairly decent in your hands… but this headset just doesn’t feel
as sturdy and premium. But then there’s the Arctis 1… even though the headset’s build
quality is fine, it does feel very flimsy when compared to these other two headsets.
But now lets talk about fit. Personally Xbox’s headset is my least favorite fitting headset here
for a few reasons. For starters this headset is a little on the smaller side. Personally I
gotta extend this headband all the way out, so I fear that if you have a larger head then this
headset will might not fit you. So for that reason I gotta say this headset is not big head approved.
Where as these other two headsets are big head approved cause their headbands extend way more
than Xbox’s headband. But then there’s also the fact that the ear cups on Xbox’s headset can only
pivot up and down a little bit so they don’t rest as naturally on your head cause these ear cups do
like to put a little more pressure on the front of my ears than on the back. Where as since the
ear cups on these other two headsets have way more range of motion, they rest much naturally
on your head. But then there’s also the fact that Xbox’s headset is using leatherette on both its
headband and ear pads. Now don’t get me wrong this leatherette feels good and these ear cups should
have no problem accommodating most ear types cause they’re super spacious … but these leatherette ear
pads do like to collect significantly more heat than the fabric ear pads found on both the Kaira’s
and Arctis 1’s. Which does matter for those long gaming sessions. But overall the Arctis
1’s are my favorite fitting headset here cuase they’re the lightest weighing in at 263 grams.
So with the Arctis 1 you can easily forget that you’re gaming with them cause they’re so light
weight, their ear pads are super breathable, and they’re big head approved. Now personally I do
feel the Kaira Pro’s fit better then the Xbox headset cause they rest more naturally
on your head and their ear pads are way more breathable… But this headset is on the heavier
side weighing in at 330 grams. So you don’t really forget that you’re wearing this headset.
And for comparison sake, Xbox’s headset weighs in at 312 grams which is better than the Kaira Pro’s
but you also don’t forget that you’re wearing this headset like you do when you wear the Arctis 1.
But now lets talk about tech specs,
both Xbox’s headset and kaira Pro charge via a USB C port where as the Arctis 1’s charge via a
Micro USB port. Now if you’re using an Xbox Series then either Xbox’s own headset or the Kaira Pro’s
are more convenient cause you can charge your headset and controller with the same cable.
Where as if you go with the Arctis 1’s they aren’t as convenient
cause you are going to have to use two different cables to charge your headset
and controller. But if you’re using an Xbox One then all of this gets reversed.
The Arctis 1’s are more convenient cause Xbox One controllers charge via a Micro USB port.
Now when it comes to battery life Xbox’s headset has an advertised
battery life of 15 hours and so do the Kaira Pro’s. But thats with their RGB
turned on. With their RGB turned off this headset is good for 20 hours. Now I don’t know
about you but I would much rather have a longer battery life than have my Razer logo light up.
But then there’s the Arctis 1 which has an advertised battery life 20 hours.
But now lets talk about connectivity cause there’s a lot of nuance here. For the most part Xbox’s
headset and the Kaira Pro’s are pretty much the same. Both of these headsets connect directly to
your Xbox without the need of an extra transmitter and they both work with either the Xbox Series or
Xbox One. And from a performance stand point they’re the same. When you power them on they
also power on your Xbox, they always connect, latency isn’t an issue and they never cut out.
But more importantly both of these headsets have bluetooth so you can connect them to your phone so
you can play a game and listen to a podcast at the same time which could be a huge deal for someone
that likes to play a lot of open world games. Of if you want to you can always just use either of
these two headsets as a normal pair of headphones to listen to music with or to watch a movie.
The only thing about Xbox’s is that first off you can’t remove its boom microphone like you can with
the Kaira Pro’s or Arctis 1. And also with Xbox’s headset you can’t control
your phone’s media cause there’s no multi purpose button. So if you do want to use
you Xbox headset as a normal pair of headphones there are some weird drawbacks to keep in mind.
But then there’s the Arctis 1, just like these other two headsets the Arctis 1 works with either
the Xbox Series or Xbox One which is great. But you do gotta plug in this transmitter.
But unlike these other two headsets you can use the Arctis 1 with more than just your xbox, you
can plug this transmitter into your Playstation, switch, or computer and get playing in no time.
But unfortunately the Arctis 1 doesn’t have built in bluetooth, so you can’t play a game and listen
to a podcast at the same time. Now you can plug in this transmitter into your phone if it has
a USB C port… but I think thats just an accident waiting to happen. So over all with the Arctis 1
you can use them with multiple consoles… but if you like to play a lot of open world games and
listen to something at the same time then you’ll might want to go with these other two headsets.
But something the Arctis 1 has that these other two headsets don’t is an audio jack which if feel
is a huge deal. Cause if this headset were to die on you in the middle of a game
you can at least plug them into your controller and finish up your game. Where as with these other
two headsets… if they die on you you’re going to have to charge them back up.
So personally I feel that as long as your Xbox controller has an audio jack
so should your headset so that you can use a wired connection
either when you have to or need to. Cause you never know. So overall the Arctis 1’s have
the most robust connectivity here which is great if you have multiple consoles… where as the Kaira
pro’s and Xbox’s headset allows you to play a game and listen to a podcast at the same time.
But now lets talk about sound, for starters all three of these headsets have adjustable
EQ’s which is great. However if you want to adjust the EQ on the Arctis 1 you gotta do so from your
computer. So dialing the EQ on this headset does require a little extra effort cuase you gotta move
your transmitter from your xbox to your computer and back. Its not a huge deal, but I though id
point it out. Cause with these other two headsets you can adjust their EQ directly from your Xbox.
Now from a performance standpoint all of these headsets get more than loud enough and distortion
isn’t a problem. However the Xbox headset does have the most head rattling bass here which does
add an extra level of immersivness when you’re playing your games.
But for the most part if you’re someone that likes to play a lot of open world
games then any of these headsets are going to be perfectly fine.
However if you’re a competitive FPS player personally I highly recommend
the Arctis 1 because they have dynamic range compression and you can even directly adjust
how much compression you want. Now what dynamic range compression does is that it
lowers the volume of loud sounds and raises the volume of quieter sounds.
Meaning that if you’re playing some shooter, for me I like playing a lot of Apex. So I like to use
my headset at a higher volume so that I can listen for footsteps and other nuanced sounds so
that I can find my targets and know what they’re doing. If I were to either start shooting or get
caught in a gun fit I don’t gotta worry about going deaf from those super loud shots cause
the dynamic range compression will lower the volume of those shots which is great.
Where as with these other two headsets, since they don’t have dynamic range comparison…
if you’re using them at a higher volume and get caught in a gun fight
then you’re going to go deaf from those shots cause they can get ear piercing.
So you’re going to have to play with them at a lower volume. But if you lower their volume
then you are going to have a little bit of a harder time listening for those foot steps.
So over all, all three of these headsets sound fine but if you’re looking for the headset here
with the most amount of head rattling bass so that you can feel a little more immersed in
your game then you’ll might want to go with the Xbox Headset. But if you’re a very competitive
FPS player then you’ll might want to go with the Arctis 1 cause of the Dynamic Range Compression.
But now lets talk about the microphones on these headsets. The Kaira Pro’s have the most
natural sounding microphone here…
Where as the Xbox Headset also sounds filly natural… but it doesn’t sound as clear.
But then there’s the Arctis 1 which sounds very artificial and amplified.
But personally I kinda like the artificial sound
of the Arctis 1 cause I feel it makes it a little easier to hear you over your games audio.
But more importantly, the Arctis 1 does do the best job of blocking out ambient noise.
Cuase if I were to stay quite… you do hear some background noise… but not as much as the Kaira’s
Where as with the Kaira’s, they don’t block out at much noise as the Arctis 1…
so if you’re playing in a hot summer night with the AC
unit turned on you’ll might be a little of a distraction for your teammates.
Now the Xbox Headset also doesn’t block out too much ambient noise… but
it does have auto muting. So when you’re done talking this microphone will mute itself…
So this way you won’t be a constant distraction to your teammates
if you’re playing in a noisy environment.
So with all that being said, personally for me the Steelseries Arctis 1 are still
my go to gaming headset, cause as a competitive FPS player I really like having that dynamic
range compression cause it does give you a slight advantage. But dynamic range compression aside I
really like that you can use the Arctis 1 with more than just your Xbox,
they’re super light weight and comfortable, and they have an audio jack either for those
times your headset dies on you mid game or you just don’t have time to charge your headset.
However if you’re someone that likes to play a lot of open world games than you’ll might want to go
with either the Kaira Pro’s or Xbox’s headset cause you can also pair them up to your phone
and listen to a podcast while you game. And if you really wanna get immersed into your game
then you’ll might want to go with Xbox’s headset cause its has the most head rattling bass here.
But personally when it comes to choosing between the Razer kaira Pro and Xbox Headset, im
leaning more towards the Kaira Pro mainly because of the more natural feeling fit
cause of the swiveling ear cups and way more breathable fabric ear pads.