

Overall, the sound is balanced and clear. One major difference is that the latter two come with passive noise reduction, which the Arctis 1 does not offer. The primary difference probably lies in the sound pressure level (devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source). The size of the sound driver units is similar as well (40mm). All three have an identical frequency range (20Hz - 2000Hz) and impedance (32Ohms). These headphones don’t fail to deliver on this front either. The one on the Arctis 1 is shorter (1.3 m) and not detachable.īut high-end design or not, what it really boils down to with headphones is the sound, right? The cables on the Arctis 3 and Arctis 5 are 3m long and are detachable. (Taking note of these factors, it is easy to understand why the Arctis series is the winner of the famous Red Dot product design award, amidst quite a few others). So you can switch from gaming/meeting mode seamlessly into regular cans to use for casual music-listening on a commute without looking like what the company website cheekily describes as an ‘air traffic controller’! Last but definitely not least is the sleek microphone this series comes with. And finally, there’s the soft rubber used outside on the ear cups, which gives you a premium, matte appearance-a welcome alternative to a lot of other headphones that range between sweaty fabric or tacky plastics. And suspension bands that distribute the weight of the headphones across the listener’s head, creating a much more relaxed, weightless feeling. On a utilitarian level, the attention to detail is pleasantly apparent, like the AirWeave fabric (usually used on athletic apparel) on the ear cushions instead of velvet or leather substitutes on most headphones. This is a result of what the company calls ‘’the lofty goal of combining the unbridled bravado of hardcore gaming with our legacy of Danish Design.’īut it’s not just aesthetics.

At first glance, all three headphones are quite obvious in their Scandinavian, minimal aesthetic, which, to be frank, is a bit of a luxury in the gaming headphone market, one that tends to be on the clunky and geekier side.
