ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The SteelSeries Arena 9 5.1CH speaker system is obtainable at Amazon, Best Buy, and SteelSeries for $550.
- It means that you can join three gadgets concurrently through Bluetooth, USB, and optical cable. And it gives strong EQ customization through the OLED dial and Sonar desktop app.
- Note that the OLED dial would not provide you with as a lot management because the Sonar app for non-PC gadgets.
I’ve to confess: after I first noticed the SteelSeries Arena 9 speaker system, I believed it was full overkill. Five audio system and a subwoofer (plus the OLED controller and the numerous, many cables) felt like an absurd quantity of audio gear for many players who could solely have one platform they like: PC, Xbox, Switch, or PS5. And it’s.
But in case you ceaselessly change between console and PC gaming, or your property workplace doubles as your gaming room, the Arena 9 transforms into a house theater powerhouse that is a extra inexpensive possibility than a standard 5.1CH system from manufacturers like LG or Samsung. I’ve been testing the Arena 9 for the previous a number of weeks, and here is every thing it is advisable to find out about it.
Setting up the Arena 9 is lots much less intimidating than the included quick-start information makes it appear. The important left, proper, and middle audio system join on to the subwoofer, whereas the rear audio system join wirelessly (and have their very own AC energy cable). The system additionally comes with an OLED management dial for fast and straightforward changes to quantity and EQ presets, in addition to for connecting through Bluetooth and viewing important product data just like the serial and mannequin numbers for guarantee claims.
The subwoofer additionally acts as the principle connection level for audio output through USB, Bluetooth, or optical cable; you need to use the subwoofer as an optical passthrough for theoretically connecting third-party sound bars or audio system if you have already got one thing you are utilizing to spice up dialogue or ambient sound. While you’ll be able to arrange all three connection sorts directly, you’ll be able to solely use one bodily connection at a time, together with the Bluetooth-connected system. And the Bluetooth supply will combine with the bodily one, permitting you to catch PC or console notifications whereas utilizing one other system or stream music, films, and reveals.
I linked the Arena 9 to my PS5 through USB and used Bluetooth to connect with my iPhone 13 and desktop PC. While you may get a superb dialogue and hi-tone increase straight out of the field, you do must take a while to tweak settings both through the OLED controller or Sonar desktop app to get the perfect tones and quantity ranges for every set of audio system. The rear audio system prefer to be very quiet and flat-sounding at first, however switching to the Excite or Bass Boost EQ preset on the OLED controller instantly improved the encompass sound impact and general high quality.
Also: These wi-fi audio system ship wealthy lows and crisp highs for almost any fashion of music
The OLED dial provides you a great quantity of flexibility and management when choosing EQ presets or making handbook changes, particularly in case you’re linked to a non-PC system like a cellular phone. You can toggle the 5.1CH Upmix on and off, which disables the rear audio system for extra targeted audio, although it does sound rather more flat and uninteresting than when enabled. SteelSeries has launched a brand-new streamer mode for the app, which lets you separate your packages into totally different output streams for unprecedented management over your audio.
You can set packages to be acknowledged as video games, media, or chat and customise the output combine to favor one or one other. This was a godsend when organizing Discord film nights with associates, permitting me to spice up the movie’s audio over the voice chat so I did not miss any necessary plot or dialogue. And in order for you much more in-depth customization choices, every media sort has its personal EQ tab throughout the app, letting you select totally different presets than what you discover on the OLED controller or tweak frequencies to fit your house and preferences. You may even toggle spatial audio on and off, which is nice for switching between video games the place you want to have the ability to pinpoint audio cues and films the place chances are you’ll not need the audio to really feel prefer it’s coming from totally different locations.
Also: This moveable Bluetooth speaker from Anker is so good, I forgot how inexpensive it was
I spent a number of days working my manner by means of a New Game+ run of Gotham Knights‘ Heroic Assault mode on my PS5 whereas additionally bingeing The Real Housewives of Orange County on my dual-purpose work/gaming desktop. Not solely did the Arena 9 deal with each connections superbly, however it was additionally straightforward sufficient to tweak settings throughout the Sonar app to steadiness the 2, so I did not get overwhelmed with arguments about not getting invited to a celebration whereas I used to be making an attempt to escort a laser cannon by means of a mob.
The speaker system can also be glorious for streaming music; I performed the Old Gods of Asgard album Rebirth whereas doing images for upcoming critiques, and the unique 13-minute reduce of “Herald of Darkness” is a borderline spiritual expertise with the best EQ tweaks.
My one large grievance towards the SteelSeries Arena 9 is that you simply actually do really feel that drop in management when coping with a tool that is been linked through USB or optical cable. The OLED dial means that you can select between a couple of totally different presets, however solely gives a single possibility for a customized sound profile. Whereas the Sonar app permits you to create a customized soundscape for each media sort and linked system.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
There is lots that comes with the SteelSeries Arena 9, between the audio system and subwoofer, controller, and cables. It’s simply one of many best-sounding techniques I’ve examined, and the flexibility to tweak particular audio settings is game-changing. That stated, in case you primarily use a single platform just like the PC or a console for gaming, chances are you’ll wish to go for the smaller however nonetheless succesful Arena 7 as a substitute, because it comes with a single pair of audio system and a subwoofer. It would not embrace a management dial just like the Arena 9, however you’ll be able to shortly modify fundamental quantity and bass increase ranges with the on-device knobs for watching reveals and films.
And in case you’re merely on the lookout for a dependable set of PC audio system, the Arena 3 is a superb selection; and so they haven’t got the RGB lighting options just like the Arena 7 and 9, making them a better option for shared work areas or dwelling workplaces that double as gaming rooms.
