Can a pair of earbuds really make me ditch my gaming headset?

As a seasoned gamer who has tried and tested countless gaming accessories over the years, I must admit that I was initially skeptical about the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. My loyalty to my LucidSound LS50X headsets had been unwavering, but these earbuds have managed to change my perspective in a big way.

Initially, the announcement of SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds piqued my curiosity. Typically, I’m set in my ways when it comes to electronics, and once I find a headset that works for me, I tend to stick with it. For quite some time now, I’ve been using two LucidSound LS50X headsets due to their comfort and suitability for my needs. However, the concept of a more lightweight pair of earbuds appealed to me. I didn’t anticipate that SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds would entirely persuade me to abandon using a headset altogether, but now, here we are. After using them for approximately six weeks, I find it hard to imagine my life without these earbuds.

I had low expectations but I’m officially a gaming earbud convert

Previously, I’ve only used gaming-oriented earbuds like the Prism XR Vega T1 with my Steam Deck. However, these are the first ones I’ve tried that work with Xbox as well, enhancing my gaming experience beyond just portable gaming on Balatro. Lately, while my partner has been playing Death Stranding on his Xbox, we’ve been going through Dragon Age: The Veilguard together. Sharing a headset isn’t the most conversational, but I need to catch the dialogue in my personal cut scenes. Interestingly, earbuds make for an excellent compromise; I usually wear just one in my ear turned away from my partner, allowing us to still converse while I can clearly hear my game.

What really took me by surprise was how effectively they managed conversations during party play, something I had anticipated needing my headset for given my current immersion in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. However, the clarity with which my fellow gamers could hear me through the GameBuds’ microphone was impressive. The audio quality was also exceptional, allowing me to distinguish gunfire and footsteps clearly. Moreover, the buds come with an accompanying app that enables you to customize your Equalizer settings based on the game you’re playing. For instance, switching from an RPG with a grandiose soundtrack to a stealth-focused FPS can be easily accomplished by adjusting certain sounds through the app. It’s incredibly useful, boasting over 100 presets currently and likely more in future updates.

SteelSeries’ accessories often fall into the higher-priced category, and that’s certainly true of their Arctis GameBuds, retailing at $159.99. This isn’t an expense to be dismissed lightly. But if you truly appreciate them as I do for their adaptability across multiple platforms like Xbox, mobile devices, and Steam Deck, the cost becomes easier to swallow. In fact, I find myself preferring these buds over enduring silent or uncomfortable gaming sessions with a bulky headset when using my Xbox, due to their portability and seamless compatibility.

After having the chance to test numerous gaming accessories, not all of them end up being part of my regular use. However, these particular ones have truly captured my preference, and I find it hard to imagine using a conventional headset again.

If you’re seeking a more compact alternative for your current headset or aiming to enhance the audio capabilities in your gaming environment, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds could be an excellent choice to explore.

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2024-12-20 18:09