When you are sure that you want to go for the high range , choosing the best headphones for you can be a complicated task, even more so if you are looking for a gaming headset rather than a professional one. That is why today we are going to carry out a technical comparison between the Corsair Virtuoso SE vs SteelSeries Arctis Pro headphones , both wireless and representing the top of the range of two renowned manufacturers such as Corsair and SteelSeries. Which of the two is more worth buying? Let’s see it.
These that we compare today are the highest-end headphones from each of these two manufacturers, and therefore we are going to compare them and see which of the two is more worth buying. Of course, you should know that the price difference is quite substantial, since the SteelSeries cost 140 euros more than the Corsair, but this is so because they come with a complete control console, something that the Corsair lack. Here you have their prices on Amazon.
Corsair Virtuoso SE vs SteelSeries Arctis Pro: technical comparison
| Corsair Virtuoso SE | SteelSeries Arctis Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Closed circuit | Closed circuit |
| Diadem | Adjustable | Pendant |
| Audio | 7.1 Surround | 7.1 Surround DTS: X 2.0 |
| Frequency response (headphones) | 20–40,000 Hz | 10–40,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity (headphones) | 109dB (+/- 3dB) | 102 dB SPL |
| Impedance (headphones) | 32 Ohm @ 2.5 kHz | 32 Ohm |
| Battery autonomy | 20 hours | 10 hours (includes 2 batteries) |
| Maximum distance | 18 meters | 12 meters |
| Microphone type | Omnidirectional, condenser, noise canceling, removable. | Bidirectional, boom type, noise canceling, retractable. |
| Frequency response (microphone) | 100–10,000 Hz | 100–10,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity (microphone) | -42dB (+/- 2dB) | -38 dBV / Pa |
| Impedance (microphone) | 2200 Ohm | 2200 Ohm |
| RGB lighting | Yes | No |
| Compatibility | PC, Mac, PS4, smartphones | PC, Mac, PS4 |
| Additional features | Carrying case | Control console |
| Base price (RRP) | 209.99 euros | 349.99 euros |
Let’s start by looking at the headphones speakers. Both provide stereo sound but with virtual 7.1 surround , although there is a difference and that is that the Arctis Pro Wireless are compatible with DTS: X 2.0 . In terms of specifications, the frequency response of the SteelSeries is slightly higher, although somewhat negligible, and the Corsair have a better sensitivity , which translates to a higher minimum and maximum volume.
If we go to the microphone, both have the same frequency response but that of the Corsair Virtuoso SE has a much better sensitivity (remember that when we talk about DB the curve is logarithmic), so the quality will be much better. The pickup pattern of both is different in this case, being that of omnidirectional Corsair and that of bidirectional Steelseries boom type (ultra-cardioid), something that does not make much sense in the microphone of headphones, but good. Also worth noting is that while the Micro on the SteelSeries is retractable, the one on Corsair is removable .
As for connectivity, the Corsair Virtuoso SE works via wireless 2.4 GHz, allowing them to have a distance of up to 18 meters. They can also work via USB or minijack, which makes them compatible with all kinds of audio devices, such as smartphones or consoles. In addition, they are compatible in wireless mode with PS4.
For their part, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless have Bluetooth connectivity, so the distance at which they can work is less. They also depend on their control console, so we will not be able to use them with smartphones or mobile devices, although they are fully compatible with PS4. They can also be operated by S / PDIF optical cable.
To finish with its technical characteristics, we must talk about autonomy since they are wireless headphones. Corsair boasts that Virtuoso SEs have up to 20 hours of autonomy if we don’t use RGB lighting. The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless meanwhile have 10 hours of autonomy, but the battery is interchangeable and includes two units, so in total they also provide 20 hours of autonomy. In addition, we can always connect the battery that we do not use to the console to charge it.
Differences in design
While Corsair has designed the Virtuoso SE with a special emphasis on quality, such as its aluminum design (including the microphone), premium synthetic leather and micro-perforations for lighting, the Arctis Pro Wireless maintain exactly the same design as the rest of the headphones of the Arctis family. Not that they are bad by any means, but of course they are inferior to the Virtuoso SE when we talk about quality.
Both use very comfortable ear muffs (Corsair synthetic leather, SteelSeries cloth), but the design of the Virtuoso is with adjustable headband, while that of the Arctis Pro is with hanging headband, automatically adjusting to any shape and size of head . For convenience, the SteelSeries win, though both are comfortable enough to be worn for hours on end.
Corsair Virtuoso vs SteelSeries Arctis, which is better?
There is no doubt that, being the top of the range of their respective manufacturers, you cannot go wrong choose one or the other. We could say that each of them, even though the two are gaming headphones, are designed for a different type of use: the SteelSeries, due to their obligatory control console, are intended to be used only in one place (on the PC, in the PS4, etc.), while the Corsair have much more versatility and you can use them anywhere.
In terms of quality the Virtuoso SE win, but in terms of comfort the SteelSeries are the winners. In terms of audio quality, both offer Hi-Res sound by specifications (although neither is certified), and since this is a technical comparison, technically we did not find a winner, since both offer excellent sound. Of course, as for the microphone again it is Corsair that provides the best quality.
If we had to “get wet” and choose one or the other, we would opt for the Corsair Virtuoso SE, since although they have some “buts” and are quite matched in all the situations that we have analyzed here, we must take into account the enormous difference in price between one and the other headphones.
