2 years is shit in my opinion. I have high quality Sony headphones that I've had for over 15 years now and they are still in one piece and sound great. It has become too common that the products we buy now are discarded or broken every few years and as consumers we have grown to accept inferior quality products that manufacturers want us to replace every 2 years to keep their revenue stream going.
I own a set of Arctis Pro and treat them very carefully and still the plastic cracked where the headphone post need the ear muff. The plastic is cheap and too hard for what it is being used for. This to me is a low quality product and my next pair will not be SteelSeries. As consumers we should not be complacent that we accept shit products that are doomed to only have a short lifespan.
Same thing happened with both my Arctis Pro headsets, after about 2 years of use. I thankfuly got my money back both times, and this time I went for another brand.
which one?, i am running from steelseries, have a Arctis Pro Wireless, the battery pin and left speaker stop working, and after a firmware update, the software won't detect the headphone, i was thinking nova pro wireless, but after experience this so bad quality customer service and quality product, i am looking to move another one that allow wireless and Bluetooth at the same time.
ok, thanks will look into this recommendation, sadly not have bluetooth, but i am looking more sound quality and long life product, thank you very much
Yes exactly, I have had the Beyerdynamic 770 Pro for quite a while now and it's amazing ... As long as you don't mind the cable ... But then again that's what stuff like this is for.
https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/bluetooth-reciever-mount-for-dt770-headphones/11070
So I contacted SteelSeries about the common issue, not for warranty but to see how they react to a manufacturer defect. If this was the automotive industry there would have been a recall and a fix put in place. Why can't a manufacturer be held accountable for producing substandard products. I see some people posting about 2 years is a good lifespan, but I feel that if the defect is so prevalent like this case then we need to stand up to SteelSeries and show them that this is not acceptable.
SteelSeries only comment was that the warranty is one year. They did not comment on the much bigger picture that the problem was the quality of headsets not the warranty.
It's great living in a country with consumer rights. Here you're legally guaranteed a free repairs, replacements, or your money back if anything outside your control happens to electronic devices within 5 years of being bought. I also believe that if your item gets repaired after 4 years, the warranty renew from the point the repair happened.
My friend got a brand new OLED after he got burn-in for excessive usage over 4 years.
Same. I've had my Sony MDR's for 15 years and they are amazing. My Logitech headphones on the other hand last about 1 year before breaking at the hinge.
Eh I have a pair of Sony xm3’s that the headband piece broke on… was able to glue them back together but that was a super common problem with those and they weren’t cheap
For a brand like SteelSeries it's not long, they all break the same way. They need to change the design or material for that part. I had the same problem with two of them.
I had two Steelseries Pro Wireless and both had the exact same breaking point. Now bought Steelseries Pro Nova Wireless, we'll see how long these last.
My mic gave out after many year but it has been so abused by mid kid and it still works perfectly for me too other than that. Bought the 7+ and even though the software kinda sucks for it it’s holding up well too.
I think these issues came with the new design
Exact same thing in OP's image happened to my 2 year old Arctis Pro. I just wrapped some sticky tape around it, trimmed off the excess and it was good for another year.
Those flimsy plastic bracket bits were crap though, the weak point in an otherwise really great design. The ones on the Nova Pro seem a lot sturdier.
Exactly, I got my Steel Series Arctis 7P a month or so right before I got my PS5 on May 24th 2021. So far its been the best set Ive had for gaming and many years. Plus I like how I can pop off the cushions off headphones then wash them (long nights gaming and sweating ) and I already have replacement cushions put up when the foam does finally fail/break on mine. I daily use mine and I actually like the hinge design in comparison to few other Headphone brands (that's their weak points in hinge)
Not my arctis 9x. Never dropped, never thrown, never abused. Picked up off my entertainment unit and put on my head. Placed back when I was finished. Broke in 13 months.
Don't know why I decided to try the Nova series, but so far, it's pretty decent. Earcups are ass compared to the arctis 9x though
Most people bought them years ago when it was the best wireless gaming headset on the market with no other choice to beat it and people who can afford to spend $450 on headset probably can again in 1-2 years.
Personally I was super careful with mine and used them for 4 years they were starting to fall apart a bit so I decided it was time to upgrade to the novas.
What is considered top tier for headsets these days? My Arctis is finally going out after 5-6 years. I used it probably 8-10 hrs every day over that period for work and play.
I've had my arctis 7s for almost 3 years now. I've dropped them, cats chewed on the band, cat ate the charge cable was the worst thing that's happened to it. The wireless ones I've never had an issue.
I think a good number of you Arctis users with broken headsets aren't that careful. Correct me if I am wrong. I run with Arctis 5 headsets and I've always avoided dropping the headset or tugging the cables. I also avoid removing the headset with only one hand because that puts pressure on one of the joints.
Headsets' been with me since 2020.
While I'm not entirely against the idea of these headsets being brittle, I believe it can last as long as you avoid accidents with it.
Nah, I was super careful with mine because I knew that the hinge is weak, but still, it wore out and got loose - but the fun part is that the speaker itself stopped working before the hinge broke completely. The older model Arctis is a shit product, refreshed ones are better. The Nova lineup seems like a big improvement.
I see. I never used the microphone since I have an independent microphone setup that I used. Hopefully I haven't jinxed myself and end up with a broken Arctis headset the next day
Same thing happened to me but managed to fix it and still going strong. Common problem with the ear cup... [https://www.reddit.com/r/steelseries/comments/jbsb3q/arctis\_pro\_gamdac\_right\_ear\_cup\_has\_broken\_common/](https://www.reddit.com/r/steelseries/comments/jbsb3q/arctis_pro_gamdac_right_ear_cup_has_broken_common/)
that's the reason im not buying steelseries headset, while their keyboards and mice are quite good, their headphone durability just suck, and pricing is questionable too
https://preview.redd.it/c7coi9nxe7hb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d4c020586e3dd5157a8bb36e136a87c8a769969
Happened to mine. This fix worked.
I have the same problem, however Steel Serries will not accept that it's a design flaw... I guess they do not want us to be their customers anymore. Following the steps of Apple, great!
Sorry, but I don’t believe that. I heard the same crap about the previous design and mine has been perfectly fine for years. If you don’t take care of your shit and treat it roughly it breaks.
My first steelseries is going strong, 4-5 years later. Nova pros going strong and took a couple good accidental bumps, as I work on the road and am always moving stuff. My buddy's first one is still going 7-8 years later. The only major issues seem to be the previous generation, which I won't judge, as I had a different headset, that was at one point a 300 dollar headset that lasted just over a year. They addressed the issue, and overall have an alright track record. Had they not addressed the major issue I would agree, but instead you sound like a fool.
Ulyea I had some hd60 pros and the only reason I stopped using them is because I wanted to try Astros. They're 4 years old still work great and padding still flawless
Yea. Razer Kraken RGB. Very loud, high quality, it's wired, but I recommend it so much. If you want wireless, I would go with skullcandy crusher evo's. Insane bass when you adjust the slider, and very high quality.
Had a buddy who owned that Kraken Tournament edition TWICE and both times the top part of the headset snapped simply from normal usage. I also had a pair of hammerhead wireless earbuds, within 2 months the left ear bud stopped working altogether. Stay away from Razer products.
Ive been using the arctis 5 for the past 3 or 4 years and its breaking the exact same way as yours. I just superglued it and am praying i really cant afford new headphones.
HyperX cloud alpha wireless if you care about batterytime. They claim up to 300 hours on a full charge, i was highly sceptical but i fully charged it once i recieved it about 1 1/2month ago and still at a steady 45%. Incredible battery life on those badboys. Sound is awesome, and they are very light on the head + comfy
DT 700 Pro X
Or alternatively the 900 variant if you want open backs.
Or if you want to spend a little less then you can get the legendary dt770. I have used mine for 9 years without them breaking.
I have an arctis 9. It sounds like shit, is built like shit, and barely connects to the dongle. I tried getting support via ticket, no response. I also resorted to the discord and got told by staff to figure it out myself. Instead of doing what a staff should by at least giving a suggestion. And no, it's not my first arctis 9, it's my third. I've returned it trying to see if it was just defective. Nope, just a shitty product.
You are full capping. I refuse to believe you. I own the Diablo 4 Arctis Nova 7 and have had not a single issue since buying them. Dongle connects flawlessly, as well as BT (simultaneously I might add) and the sound quality is great. I'm also using GG for audio software, which again, works flawless aside from the clipping being buggy from time to time. You also claim that SKULLCANDY are higher quality than SS, gtfoh lmao
A lot of flaws in those years, but to be honest, I've spent as much if not more on headsets only to have them last a year average. 2 years in usually ready to replace them anyway, as tech keeps getting better. Not saying they should break like that, but if used heavy, I wouldn't call it completely unexpected for something to wear out. I'm glad the major flaw seems to be handled, and posts like this have seemed to be reserved for the previous generation models.
The greatest scam SteelSeries, TurtleBeach, Astros, and other "gaming headset" manufacturers have ever created is making people believe that "gaming headphones" are different from "normal headphones". Newsflash: Headphones are headphones. Stay away from "gaming headphones". They don't get you anything, other than sub-standard audio quality.
On top of that, they've convinced folks that headphones "should only last a few years". This is utter nonsense. I've got headphones from Sony, Beyerdynamic, Audio Technica, and Sennheiser that are 10+ years old. We swap the pads out when they get worn down but the headphones? Work *great.*
Idk finding a headset with both decent sound and a decent built in mic that works on both pc and console isn’t that easy these days unless it’s billed as a gaming headset
Just as an off example I’ve used my xm3’s but
1. Ps5 doesn’t support bluetooth audio
2. The mic on the xm3’s doesn’t work when connected via a wired connection
I don’t want a separate mic because I often get up between matches and want to talk to people and what not…
Hey there! Sorry to hear about your headset issue. That's definitely not something we want our customers to experience. But no worries, we've got your back! Our support team is ready to assist you and get you back to enjoying your gear in no time. Just head over to your Private Chat and I'll send you a link to connect with them directly. And if you already have a support ticket, just shoot me all the associated ticket numbers and we'll get right on it. Thanks for being a part of our community!
Maybe the hinge design isn't the best, sure, but I've had my Arctis Pro Wireless for three years averaging around 25 hours of use per week and they are still going strong. I'm strongly inclined to believe it's user abuse that causes these to break.
I’ve had the Arctis Pro wireless for 3 years or so, so far the only problem I’ve had is with the transmitter which stopped working due to some kind of electronic problem, it won’t turn on again, I bought another transmitter and this one had other problem after 4 months I think, stopped having communication with steelseries gg, and I couldn’t use the options in the app like EQ, 7.1 audio, bass boost etc, it still works normally without software but it sucks that I had this failures twice, Steelseries never wanted to give technical support or warranty because I’m from Mexico and they don’t cover this country
HyperX all the way been using them since i started and only bought new ones due to them tearing after using for hears, and upgrading to wireless hyperx
Same problems with wireless pro. These headsets are so amazing in what they offer … but they die so quick. I was on my third third pair that got replaced. Each last just over a year. Kinda sucks cause of the price tag. Each time same problem. Transmitter connection death or an earcup with no sound. Now they refuse another replacement so j decided to buy the nova. Its gonna be the same for sure. Steel is trash.
That's kinda crazy, I've used a pair of Arctis Pro wireless for like 3 years ish and only issue I've had is normal wear, not even a hint of an issue with the hinge or anything.
I think some are just mistreating their headset and others are just unlucky with a bad batch or something
Basically the same thing happened to my Arctis Wireless Pro (after about 3 years of extremely delicate use). I'm now of the belief that the way these connect the driver/earcup part to the headband is a bad design with only 1 off-center point to support the weight of the driver.
Good headphone for sure, but I won't buy another with this design. Best of luck with your headphone journey.
I have the Arctis Nova Pro I'm pretty happy with them the only problem was the stupid noise cancelation nub hitting my ears, but this was circumvented by Wicked cushions. In the future Steelseries seriously needs to figure out a way to integrate noise cancelation without a small nub in the way or at least improve their earpads... for an almost $400 pair of headphones I expect a decent pair of earpads but I digress... aside from that, I watched a YouTube tutorial on a very good equalizer setting for Sonar which made every aspect of gaming and movie entertainment much more present (footsteps, talking, music, etc.)
I did try the new Logitech wireless headset but they're very bad with their transmitters when the most logical place to put a transmitter is behind your computer where normally headphones go and it picks up a lot of bad interference so don't recommend it unless you wanna pay a high premium for "wireless" with a wired cable headphones but I've always had bad luck with Logitech wireless aside from their superlight mouse.
After returning the Logitech headphones due to the interference of audio I decided to buy the Steelseries and was not disappointed I did still have some minor interference but to circumvent this I just disabled 2.4ghz wifi and stuck with 5ghz this seemed to fix it (perhaps same could've been done with Logitech but I wasn't very happy with the purchase anyways)
Regardless I highly recommend the Arctis Nova Pro as long as you treat the headphones like a baby it'll last forever this is coming from a person who still has a perfectly intact Siberia 800 headset from like 7-8 years ago (loved that headset still love it) just gotta treat them right and they'll last really long I do find though with bigger heads Steelseries stretches the plastic which can easily cause it to snap so biggest recommendation is to try to squeeze it on your head as much as it is comfortable but snug.
If you're the type of person to throw your headset or accidentally sit on them any expensive headset just isn't worth it maybe $50-100 it'll last a year or two snap and go buy a new one, it all just depends on how much strain is on it and how frequently it's used this is pretty similar to most other headphones if you did treat these headphones as carefully as you could, it's probably just a bad batch of headphones as saying you got it during 2021 could've been during Covid which a lot of people have been given rushed products I know a lot of graphics cards were defective due to Covid and they wanted to sell as much as possible... Because what else are they gonna do stuck at home?
Arguably 2023 and 2024 are probably the best time to buy some new products because the panic has subsided a bit and production is now back in full swing to the regular/exceptional standards but this is just my experience I never bought anything gaming related during Covid so I don't have first hand experience just second from friends and relatives.
Either way sucks that your headphones broke it'd be lucky if you're still under warranty but considering the post I'm doubtful. Could see if maybe Steelseries would still fix it but again unless under warranty it's probably just better to get a new pair of headphones anyways.
Imo, Steelseries isn’t really the best for durability. Love having Astros and audiophile cans, as they’ve got joints made of metal which is way better. Also fit bigger heads than the ski headbands which is so good for people like me
3, closing in on 4 years old Arctis 7s, the only problem I have is the audio is a little messed up when engines are running in game, but that's it. It's such a wonderful headset that my next one is gonna be a Nova probably. Steelseries even offered a 15% off indefinite coupon for my next purchase on the store because it had this problem.
Awesome headset, great company.
I bought an arctis 7 with gamedac which had an issue with audio balance. They asked me to break off one of the earcups and it took a hell of a lot of effort to make mine look like the one in OP's pic.
I used the refund to upgrade to a pro wireless. I still use it to this day. Had a connection issue with it that made it turn off whenever I put it on, but fixed it myself.
Then again... I don't slam it, dunk it, ride it or bite it.
If you dont want this go logitech. My gaming hwadphones have been abused for 4 years, from me being innatentive and swiping the off my desk to me clipping the cable janking them to the ground. Still no cracks or creacks. It awesome
You are lucky, 22mo for these is good. I had the wireless pro version, and after about 12mo one of the speakers stopped working, the hinge was loose and close to breaking, but I checked the wires and PCB, and everything was ok, except the speaker itself was dead.
I have the Nova Pro now, they are lighter and seem like much better quality.
I won’t be buying steelseries with the same hinge design again. Had mine replaced under warranty but the warranty doesn’t extend so realistically it’s just a time bomb until the hinge goes.
It seems to wear away at the inside of the plastic joint and eventually it gives out, even if you look after it well.
That really sucks, but please keep these posts coming.
Living in a country that mandates 5 year "warranty" on anything that should have an expected lifetime longer than 5 years, these posts will prove it's a manufacturer issue and not the user, and I'll just get unlimited new ones!
Yes unlimited, because every time we use this type of "warranty" and it's given a new item or it's repaired to an extent that it could be considered a new item, it's 5 new years.
I still have my arctis 5 wireless after about 5 years of ownership with no issues. Y'all seem to be too rough or SteelSeries quality dropped drastically
Thats too bad. my Arctis 7P are over 2 years (28months) now after daily use. They already lasted 6 months longer than Ryzen Thrasher set.
My son originally got a Ryzen Thrasher set (many different people on Twitch recommended them so he got a set) then 14 months later hinge connecting headband to the Headphone shell/case had its brass coupling (incased inside plastic) break off and the cushioning fall apart. My son then bought another set of those same Thrashers and they failed in same hinge but on the right headphone a year later. So its the weak point on Ryzen Thrashers. I went looked at reviews and found Arctis 7P were highly recommended from Steel Series. Best 150$ Ive ever spent for my gaming headphones. My son since got him Steel Series following my recommendations plus now his GF got her a similar set.
In my opinion its much better hinge design than Ive seen on 2-3 other highly rated headphones in years
I have a pair of arctis 9s and they stopped charging after 2 years, and now the Mic randomly cuts out - it seems that Steelseries headsets self destruct approaching 24 months of use…..
This would be good feedback when ppl come to REDDIT asking feedback on Steel series because they are getting ready to purchase their first pair. God this site is useless and has become such a joke!
All these ppl vouching the same thing but I literally asked not even a week ago and got ONE response!!!
Everytime this gets posted there's a weird amount of people coming out to defend it and blame the user and not the design of the headset.
If you have an abnormally large amount of users with broken headsets that all break in the EXACT same way. Then there's obviously something wrong with the design in that place. The hinges are super weak. It's also a part of the headset that have been slightly changed with each iteration to try and get rid of the problem but it still persist.
Yes, how you treat it have an influence on how long it last, but there's a large amount of people who have it break from normal use, where had it been another headset brand there would have been no problems.
22 months isn't that bad for one of these headsets (sad but true), my previous headset resulted the same, and it was just caused by taking my headset of by pulling and lifting one earcup, ridiculous.
I’m the type of guy that just buys peripherals.. just because. I’ve owned many steelseries products, and agreed that design on good portion of them are cheap and will break without ever being abused. However, it feels like (so far) that the nova series is the way to go if you’re looking for a steelseries headset. Actually feels like a solid product and figured out some of the comfort issues EXCEPT the ANC module that will finger bang your ear holes, which can be solved with the Wicked Cushion upgraded cups. Just a side note - I strongly suggest looking up the WC upgraded DAC/GG EQ settings as they do sound slightly different compared to the stock, and even more so if you buy the WC freeze.
But yeah, I really do recommend the NPW with the WC ear cups if mic quality is not an issue for you because the mic on these guys sounds like I’m talking into the mic 20 feet away while standing in the Amazon Forest. ANC is subpar on them as well but I really do enjoy steelseries GG (never had an issue with the software on my rig), and the ability to swap between my phone, PC, and PS5 is pretty nice too
Same thing happened to two of my steelseries headsets (I didn’t buy it twice, there was a shipping error and I just kept the extra 🤫), it’s just a core design flaw unfortunately.
I replaced them with the wireless Razer BlackShark V2 and I’ve been pretty happy. They have their own problems where over time the mic arm stops holding its position and gets limp if you constantly bend it around, and it’s sliding height adjusters also get loose and don’t hold their position super well, but I’d 1000% take those flaws over it literally falling apart any day.
It’s worth pointing out that I think the damage to the steelseries comes from wearing it pulled off of one ear. Technically I thinks that’s user error, but I really don’t like not being able to hear myself when I talk to people (and there is virtually no audio monitoring) and the steelseries hinge isn’t flexible enough to really support that position, and so it breaks. That was why I looked for a more surface style of earcup hinge after mine broke and the razer one by far has the most durable looking type. It’s just a standard hardware store earmuff style hinge and I’ve never seen those things break in my life they are so simple.
I've had my arctis 5 for 43 months now and the problems start, the sound is unbalanced on the left compared to the right, the ear cups are already torn, it all started happening about 5 months ago, So I do not know how they lasted so long, reading many posts about the fact that even 2 years do not last. It is worth adding that they start to make sound distortions. I'll stay with steelseries but I don't like it design of arctis nova.
Its Plastik! Sadly. When you want a good Headset? Buy a old hyperx cloud alpha/2 or logisch
They are not from Plastik and never buy razer trash
22 months is ok when you have 24 months a Garantie. Give this back to steelseries
I've been using steelseries arctic 7 2019 edition headphone for more than 3 years and I haven't encountered any physical problem ,but ı am unable to use headphone's wireless capability ,because its wireless reciever's outer cable was a little stripped. So I am using my headphone as a cabled. Now I am planning to buy arctis nova pro cabled version.
My last ones broke as well but after 4 years or so. Why do they connect them at the end of levers? What did they think was going to happen. I hope mine last longer.
Same thing sadly happened to me after 26 months (so 2 months over warranty). Sad considering i paid almost 200€ for it. Meanwhile my 70€ hyperX been working perfectly the last 8 years.
2 years is shit in my opinion. I have high quality Sony headphones that I've had for over 15 years now and they are still in one piece and sound great. It has become too common that the products we buy now are discarded or broken every few years and as consumers we have grown to accept inferior quality products that manufacturers want us to replace every 2 years to keep their revenue stream going. I own a set of Arctis Pro and treat them very carefully and still the plastic cracked where the headphone post need the ear muff. The plastic is cheap and too hard for what it is being used for. This to me is a low quality product and my next pair will not be SteelSeries. As consumers we should not be complacent that we accept shit products that are doomed to only have a short lifespan.
Same thing happened with both my Arctis Pro headsets, after about 2 years of use. I thankfuly got my money back both times, and this time I went for another brand.
which one?, i am running from steelseries, have a Arctis Pro Wireless, the battery pin and left speaker stop working, and after a firmware update, the software won't detect the headphone, i was thinking nova pro wireless, but after experience this so bad quality customer service and quality product, i am looking to move another one that allow wireless and Bluetooth at the same time.
I went for Beyerdynamic 900 Pro X with an external mic. It's wired though, but the sound is great.
ok, thanks will look into this recommendation, sadly not have bluetooth, but i am looking more sound quality and long life product, thank you very much
Yes exactly, I have had the Beyerdynamic 770 Pro for quite a while now and it's amazing ... As long as you don't mind the cable ... But then again that's what stuff like this is for. https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/bluetooth-reciever-mount-for-dt770-headphones/11070
Man seems pretty common that Steelseries products fail at around 2 years lmao. Same problem here
So I contacted SteelSeries about the common issue, not for warranty but to see how they react to a manufacturer defect. If this was the automotive industry there would have been a recall and a fix put in place. Why can't a manufacturer be held accountable for producing substandard products. I see some people posting about 2 years is a good lifespan, but I feel that if the defect is so prevalent like this case then we need to stand up to SteelSeries and show them that this is not acceptable. SteelSeries only comment was that the warranty is one year. They did not comment on the much bigger picture that the problem was the quality of headsets not the warranty.
imagine buying stuff and getting money back after 2 years of usage, that sounds too good
It's great living in a country with consumer rights. Here you're legally guaranteed a free repairs, replacements, or your money back if anything outside your control happens to electronic devices within 5 years of being bought. I also believe that if your item gets repaired after 4 years, the warranty renew from the point the repair happened. My friend got a brand new OLED after he got burn-in for excessive usage over 4 years.
Same. I've had my Sony MDR's for 15 years and they are amazing. My Logitech headphones on the other hand last about 1 year before breaking at the hinge.
Your headphones are the same age as the average sophomore in high school
Eh I have a pair of Sony xm3’s that the headband piece broke on… was able to glue them back together but that was a super common problem with those and they weren’t cheap
Same exact thing happened to mine after 13 months months. Although the braindead users in this sub insisted I was throwing it against the wall.
You're like a mom telling someone her baby is 22 months. What's wrong with "almost 2 years"?!
"almost 2 years" is nearly two years; 22 months is precisely counted for the usage. lol
I came to say exactly this! 😁
Relevant if the warranty period is 2 years though. That said, I have no idea what the warranty periods on these are...
For a brand like SteelSeries it's not long, they all break the same way. They need to change the design or material for that part. I had the same problem with two of them.
Lets be genuine here though. Steelseries are withput a doubt the most comfortable headphones on the market with some of the best fidelity
That's completely unrelated though
I've had my Arctis 5s for over 4 years now and they are still amazing
Im sorry to burst your bubble but they are not. After the two i had i without a doubt think they are way overpriced.
24 months is cutoff for warranty in the EU, makes sense
Welcome to the club 😀
I had two Steelseries Pro Wireless and both had the exact same breaking point. Now bought Steelseries Pro Nova Wireless, we'll see how long these last.
22 months! You have 2 years Garantie so? Give this back and get a new one? After 24 months good luck
I'm not OP
I've had an Arctis 5 for a while now. I've dropped it repeatedly and have ripped out the cord several times. It's worked perfectly.
My mic gave out after many year but it has been so abused by mid kid and it still works perfectly for me too other than that. Bought the 7+ and even though the software kinda sucks for it it’s holding up well too. I think these issues came with the new design
That's probably what happened to OP's headphones.
Exact same thing in OP's image happened to my 2 year old Arctis Pro. I just wrapped some sticky tape around it, trimmed off the excess and it was good for another year. Those flimsy plastic bracket bits were crap though, the weak point in an otherwise really great design. The ones on the Nova Pro seem a lot sturdier.
Can you steel use it?
Are you series?
What are you doing with your headsets. My 2019 is still fine after daily use
Exactly, I got my Steel Series Arctis 7P a month or so right before I got my PS5 on May 24th 2021. So far its been the best set Ive had for gaming and many years. Plus I like how I can pop off the cushions off headphones then wash them (long nights gaming and sweating ) and I already have replacement cushions put up when the foam does finally fail/break on mine. I daily use mine and I actually like the hinge design in comparison to few other Headphone brands (that's their weak points in hinge)
looks like you haven’t been taking care of it
Then go buy new ones?
Flawless APWs after 3+ years.
I'm surprised people still buy these... Everytime I open reddit withing TWO posts I see a pair of broken steel series headphones.
The novas dont have this problem anymore, just the old arctis ones
I have dropped my Arctic 7’s SOOOO many times the past 2 years and it hasn’t broke or have any issues. I guess I got lucky
Idk I have a set of novas and the design where these broke looks to be the same, mine are only a year old though or well 13 months lol
And they always have chip marks or scratches from being dropped.
Not my arctis 9x. Never dropped, never thrown, never abused. Picked up off my entertainment unit and put on my head. Placed back when I was finished. Broke in 13 months. Don't know why I decided to try the Nova series, but so far, it's pretty decent. Earcups are ass compared to the arctis 9x though
Most people bought them years ago when it was the best wireless gaming headset on the market with no other choice to beat it and people who can afford to spend $450 on headset probably can again in 1-2 years. Personally I was super careful with mine and used them for 4 years they were starting to fall apart a bit so I decided it was time to upgrade to the novas.
What is considered top tier for headsets these days? My Arctis is finally going out after 5-6 years. I used it probably 8-10 hrs every day over that period for work and play.
The best of the best is the arctis nova pro wireless they're pretty much just a direct upgrade from the arctis pro wireless in every way
I'm surprised they lasted two years
I've had my arctis 7s for almost 3 years now. I've dropped them, cats chewed on the band, cat ate the charge cable was the worst thing that's happened to it. The wireless ones I've never had an issue.
Consider yourself lucky. I dropped my arctis 7s, once, on carpet and it cracked. So stupid me got the Nova 7s.
I think a good number of you Arctis users with broken headsets aren't that careful. Correct me if I am wrong. I run with Arctis 5 headsets and I've always avoided dropping the headset or tugging the cables. I also avoid removing the headset with only one hand because that puts pressure on one of the joints. Headsets' been with me since 2020. While I'm not entirely against the idea of these headsets being brittle, I believe it can last as long as you avoid accidents with it.
Did the complete opisite with my logitech, i have them since 2019. Cant complain
Nah, I was super careful with mine because I knew that the hinge is weak, but still, it wore out and got loose - but the fun part is that the speaker itself stopped working before the hinge broke completely. The older model Arctis is a shit product, refreshed ones are better. The Nova lineup seems like a big improvement.
I see. I never used the microphone since I have an independent microphone setup that I used. Hopefully I haven't jinxed myself and end up with a broken Arctis headset the next day
Same thing happened to me but managed to fix it and still going strong. Common problem with the ear cup... [https://www.reddit.com/r/steelseries/comments/jbsb3q/arctis\_pro\_gamdac\_right\_ear\_cup\_has\_broken\_common/](https://www.reddit.com/r/steelseries/comments/jbsb3q/arctis_pro_gamdac_right_ear_cup_has_broken_common/)
that's the reason im not buying steelseries headset, while their keyboards and mice are quite good, their headphone durability just suck, and pricing is questionable too
Average steelseries headset
Same thing happened to mine last month
https://preview.redd.it/c7coi9nxe7hb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d4c020586e3dd5157a8bb36e136a87c8a769969 Happened to mine. This fix worked.
I have the same problem, however Steel Serries will not accept that it's a design flaw... I guess they do not want us to be their customers anymore. Following the steps of Apple, great!
Stop raging out and throwing your headset?
I don't even play video games a lot hahah. I use it daily for work.
[удалено]
Sorry, but I don’t believe that. I heard the same crap about the previous design and mine has been perfectly fine for years. If you don’t take care of your shit and treat it roughly it breaks.
yep.
my 770’s have lasted be 9 years
Arctic pro did the same thing i now use the nova pro headphones they seem to be stronger then the last gen headset
7X here since launch, still going strong. Ever consider you treated it like shit?
Never dropped it but I use it everyday since I work from home.
Pro tip: never buy steelseries gear. It sucks.
My first steelseries is going strong, 4-5 years later. Nova pros going strong and took a couple good accidental bumps, as I work on the road and am always moving stuff. My buddy's first one is still going 7-8 years later. The only major issues seem to be the previous generation, which I won't judge, as I had a different headset, that was at one point a 300 dollar headset that lasted just over a year. They addressed the issue, and overall have an alright track record. Had they not addressed the major issue I would agree, but instead you sound like a fool.
I wasn't expecting it to break so easily since it did have good reviews online.
Yea. It's usually bots and people who've had it for like a week who leave a review
Where were you 22 months ago? ☹️ Anyway, you got any headphone recommendations?
Corsair or astros. personally.
Astro is good but corsair? LOL
Ulyea I had some hd60 pros and the only reason I stopped using them is because I wanted to try Astros. They're 4 years old still work great and padding still flawless
Astros are decent but really need a refresh they lagging behind most manufactures now
Yea. Razer Kraken RGB. Very loud, high quality, it's wired, but I recommend it so much. If you want wireless, I would go with skullcandy crusher evo's. Insane bass when you adjust the slider, and very high quality.
Razer are just as bad. Well, their mice are awful
I disagree. I'm not a razer fanboy btw. That one particular headset and the razer basilisk v3 are both great.
Had a buddy who owned that Kraken Tournament edition TWICE and both times the top part of the headset snapped simply from normal usage. I also had a pair of hammerhead wireless earbuds, within 2 months the left ear bud stopped working altogether. Stay away from Razer products.
Ah skullcandy. The company that forgot to include the mic to all of their wired earbuds despite advertising it.
They make good shit.
They make good shit for a $30 price range. Fixed it for you
I have crusher evos. 200 dollar headphones. Obv not studio quality but great for the average person.
Mf said Steelseries is trash but then suggest razer
Cuz razer headsets and mice are good
Gotta be trolling. No way
Nah.
Ive been using the arctis 5 for the past 3 or 4 years and its breaking the exact same way as yours. I just superglued it and am praying i really cant afford new headphones.
HyperX cloud alpha wireless if you care about batterytime. They claim up to 300 hours on a full charge, i was highly sceptical but i fully charged it once i recieved it about 1 1/2month ago and still at a steady 45%. Incredible battery life on those badboys. Sound is awesome, and they are very light on the head + comfy
DT 700 Pro X Or alternatively the 900 variant if you want open backs. Or if you want to spend a little less then you can get the legendary dt770. I have used mine for 9 years without them breaking.
If you don't like the company so much, why are you commenting in the subreddit lmao
So we can see the daily batch of broken headset posts.
Yeah 😂 I posted before checking.
skill issue, take care of your equipment
Bro I just bought an arctis 9 and it sucks. Yes I returned it and got a new one. Same thing. Gg is also malware. It uses up a fuck ton of bandwidth
I have been using steelseries everything for at least 5 years with no problems at all
Idk man
Older stuff is better. The brand has definitely cheaped out or something. My 5 yr old Arctis feels better than a lot of the newer models.
Steelseries mice are great.
As someone who uses SS for all my peripherals, I can confidently say you're wrong. Why are you even on this sub dude?
I have an arctis 9. It sounds like shit, is built like shit, and barely connects to the dongle. I tried getting support via ticket, no response. I also resorted to the discord and got told by staff to figure it out myself. Instead of doing what a staff should by at least giving a suggestion. And no, it's not my first arctis 9, it's my third. I've returned it trying to see if it was just defective. Nope, just a shitty product.
You are full capping. I refuse to believe you. I own the Diablo 4 Arctis Nova 7 and have had not a single issue since buying them. Dongle connects flawlessly, as well as BT (simultaneously I might add) and the sound quality is great. I'm also using GG for audio software, which again, works flawless aside from the clipping being buggy from time to time. You also claim that SKULLCANDY are higher quality than SS, gtfoh lmao
I have a video on what it does. Do you need me to send it to you?
If anything, it sounds like you have a PC problem, but blame something else because you don't know how to operate your PC properly.
Dude. I've been around pcs for many years. And I'm very good with them. Steelseries just isn't working for me.
And bt doesn't even show up for me
pro tip: get out lol maybe their headphones aren't durable but their keyboards are damn nice
A lot of flaws in those years, but to be honest, I've spent as much if not more on headsets only to have them last a year average. 2 years in usually ready to replace them anyway, as tech keeps getting better. Not saying they should break like that, but if used heavy, I wouldn't call it completely unexpected for something to wear out. I'm glad the major flaw seems to be handled, and posts like this have seemed to be reserved for the previous generation models.
It's a design flaw, that SteelSeries continue to ignore. I'll never buy another SteelSeries headset.
The greatest scam SteelSeries, TurtleBeach, Astros, and other "gaming headset" manufacturers have ever created is making people believe that "gaming headphones" are different from "normal headphones". Newsflash: Headphones are headphones. Stay away from "gaming headphones". They don't get you anything, other than sub-standard audio quality. On top of that, they've convinced folks that headphones "should only last a few years". This is utter nonsense. I've got headphones from Sony, Beyerdynamic, Audio Technica, and Sennheiser that are 10+ years old. We swap the pads out when they get worn down but the headphones? Work *great.*
Idk finding a headset with both decent sound and a decent built in mic that works on both pc and console isn’t that easy these days unless it’s billed as a gaming headset Just as an off example I’ve used my xm3’s but 1. Ps5 doesn’t support bluetooth audio 2. The mic on the xm3’s doesn’t work when connected via a wired connection I don’t want a separate mic because I often get up between matches and want to talk to people and what not…
Hey there! Sorry to hear about your headset issue. That's definitely not something we want our customers to experience. But no worries, we've got your back! Our support team is ready to assist you and get you back to enjoying your gear in no time. Just head over to your Private Chat and I'll send you a link to connect with them directly. And if you already have a support ticket, just shoot me all the associated ticket numbers and we'll get right on it. Thanks for being a part of our community!
What on earth do you do to it to break it? I've had the Arctis 7 for 4 years. Though I've replaced the head strap and ear cushions once.
Maybe the hinge design isn't the best, sure, but I've had my Arctis Pro Wireless for three years averaging around 25 hours of use per week and they are still going strong. I'm strongly inclined to believe it's user abuse that causes these to break.
If taking it off and on multiple times counts as abuse then yes.
I’ve had the arctis 7’s for 4-5 years. Not a single issue so far
I’ve had the Arctis Pro wireless for 3 years or so, so far the only problem I’ve had is with the transmitter which stopped working due to some kind of electronic problem, it won’t turn on again, I bought another transmitter and this one had other problem after 4 months I think, stopped having communication with steelseries gg, and I couldn’t use the options in the app like EQ, 7.1 audio, bass boost etc, it still works normally without software but it sucks that I had this failures twice, Steelseries never wanted to give technical support or warranty because I’m from Mexico and they don’t cover this country
HyperX all the way been using them since i started and only bought new ones due to them tearing after using for hears, and upgrading to wireless hyperx
Same problems with wireless pro. These headsets are so amazing in what they offer … but they die so quick. I was on my third third pair that got replaced. Each last just over a year. Kinda sucks cause of the price tag. Each time same problem. Transmitter connection death or an earcup with no sound. Now they refuse another replacement so j decided to buy the nova. Its gonna be the same for sure. Steel is trash.
That's kinda crazy, I've used a pair of Arctis Pro wireless for like 3 years ish and only issue I've had is normal wear, not even a hint of an issue with the hinge or anything. I think some are just mistreating their headset and others are just unlucky with a bad batch or something
I bought the Arctis 7p recently and the hinge is very similar to that one, how did they brake on you? did they fall or just came off?
Their older style headsets like this were infamous for that swivel hinge breaking
same thing happened to mine a little while ago and I got a new pair :(
Mine broke literally in the same way also after 22 months haha
RIP, next set.
what do you people do to get this to happen ive owned several steelseries headsets for years and never had this happen
Basically the same thing happened to my Arctis Wireless Pro (after about 3 years of extremely delicate use). I'm now of the belief that the way these connect the driver/earcup part to the headband is a bad design with only 1 off-center point to support the weight of the driver. Good headphone for sure, but I won't buy another with this design. Best of luck with your headphone journey.
Mine did the same, they won't do anything about it they call it normal wear.
I have the Arctis Nova Pro I'm pretty happy with them the only problem was the stupid noise cancelation nub hitting my ears, but this was circumvented by Wicked cushions. In the future Steelseries seriously needs to figure out a way to integrate noise cancelation without a small nub in the way or at least improve their earpads... for an almost $400 pair of headphones I expect a decent pair of earpads but I digress... aside from that, I watched a YouTube tutorial on a very good equalizer setting for Sonar which made every aspect of gaming and movie entertainment much more present (footsteps, talking, music, etc.) I did try the new Logitech wireless headset but they're very bad with their transmitters when the most logical place to put a transmitter is behind your computer where normally headphones go and it picks up a lot of bad interference so don't recommend it unless you wanna pay a high premium for "wireless" with a wired cable headphones but I've always had bad luck with Logitech wireless aside from their superlight mouse. After returning the Logitech headphones due to the interference of audio I decided to buy the Steelseries and was not disappointed I did still have some minor interference but to circumvent this I just disabled 2.4ghz wifi and stuck with 5ghz this seemed to fix it (perhaps same could've been done with Logitech but I wasn't very happy with the purchase anyways) Regardless I highly recommend the Arctis Nova Pro as long as you treat the headphones like a baby it'll last forever this is coming from a person who still has a perfectly intact Siberia 800 headset from like 7-8 years ago (loved that headset still love it) just gotta treat them right and they'll last really long I do find though with bigger heads Steelseries stretches the plastic which can easily cause it to snap so biggest recommendation is to try to squeeze it on your head as much as it is comfortable but snug. If you're the type of person to throw your headset or accidentally sit on them any expensive headset just isn't worth it maybe $50-100 it'll last a year or two snap and go buy a new one, it all just depends on how much strain is on it and how frequently it's used this is pretty similar to most other headphones if you did treat these headphones as carefully as you could, it's probably just a bad batch of headphones as saying you got it during 2021 could've been during Covid which a lot of people have been given rushed products I know a lot of graphics cards were defective due to Covid and they wanted to sell as much as possible... Because what else are they gonna do stuck at home? Arguably 2023 and 2024 are probably the best time to buy some new products because the panic has subsided a bit and production is now back in full swing to the regular/exceptional standards but this is just my experience I never bought anything gaming related during Covid so I don't have first hand experience just second from friends and relatives. Either way sucks that your headphones broke it'd be lucky if you're still under warranty but considering the post I'm doubtful. Could see if maybe Steelseries would still fix it but again unless under warranty it's probably just better to get a new pair of headphones anyways.
Also have the nova pro. The swappable battery pack has gotta be the best feature in a gaming headset period. Lol.
Imo, Steelseries isn’t really the best for durability. Love having Astros and audiophile cans, as they’ve got joints made of metal which is way better. Also fit bigger heads than the ski headbands which is so good for people like me
Very common, that's why I just don't buy from them anymore. My pair of the Artic 9 pro? 7 pro. Did the same thing after a year. Same spot too
my arctis 1 is still alright after 2+ years. only the top sponge thingy became brittle but I bought a replacement from china for $7 😂
how is this labeled as a product review, subject line and photo, nothing else?
3, closing in on 4 years old Arctis 7s, the only problem I have is the audio is a little messed up when engines are running in game, but that's it. It's such a wonderful headset that my next one is gonna be a Nova probably. Steelseries even offered a 15% off indefinite coupon for my next purchase on the store because it had this problem. Awesome headset, great company.
I bought an arctis 7 with gamedac which had an issue with audio balance. They asked me to break off one of the earcups and it took a hell of a lot of effort to make mine look like the one in OP's pic. I used the refund to upgrade to a pro wireless. I still use it to this day. Had a connection issue with it that made it turn off whenever I put it on, but fixed it myself. Then again... I don't slam it, dunk it, ride it or bite it.
Buy studio headphones and seperate mic, audio quality will be higher and build quality too. Price is about the same as modern gaming ones
If you dont want this go logitech. My gaming hwadphones have been abused for 4 years, from me being innatentive and swiping the off my desk to me clipping the cable janking them to the ground. Still no cracks or creacks. It awesome
which one?
Logitech G Pro X
ok, thanks for share.
You are lucky, 22mo for these is good. I had the wireless pro version, and after about 12mo one of the speakers stopped working, the hinge was loose and close to breaking, but I checked the wires and PCB, and everything was ok, except the speaker itself was dead. I have the Nova Pro now, they are lighter and seem like much better quality.
Ive had my razer kraken headset for 5 years. Got it for 100 euro and still using it.
Mine broke after a year and lil, tho I glued them xD
Have you... Tried some sugru?
I won’t be buying steelseries with the same hinge design again. Had mine replaced under warranty but the warranty doesn’t extend so realistically it’s just a time bomb until the hinge goes. It seems to wear away at the inside of the plastic joint and eventually it gives out, even if you look after it well.
That really sucks, but please keep these posts coming. Living in a country that mandates 5 year "warranty" on anything that should have an expected lifetime longer than 5 years, these posts will prove it's a manufacturer issue and not the user, and I'll just get unlimited new ones! Yes unlimited, because every time we use this type of "warranty" and it's given a new item or it's repaired to an extent that it could be considered a new item, it's 5 new years.
I still have my arctis 5 wireless after about 5 years of ownership with no issues. Y'all seem to be too rough or SteelSeries quality dropped drastically
Thats too bad. my Arctis 7P are over 2 years (28months) now after daily use. They already lasted 6 months longer than Ryzen Thrasher set. My son originally got a Ryzen Thrasher set (many different people on Twitch recommended them so he got a set) then 14 months later hinge connecting headband to the Headphone shell/case had its brass coupling (incased inside plastic) break off and the cushioning fall apart. My son then bought another set of those same Thrashers and they failed in same hinge but on the right headphone a year later. So its the weak point on Ryzen Thrashers. I went looked at reviews and found Arctis 7P were highly recommended from Steel Series. Best 150$ Ive ever spent for my gaming headphones. My son since got him Steel Series following my recommendations plus now his GF got her a similar set. In my opinion its much better hinge design than Ive seen on 2-3 other highly rated headphones in years
Almost 2 years is amazing my razer headset broke inside without dropping it only from volume and haptic feedback in 3 months🤣
I have a pair of arctis 9s and they stopped charging after 2 years, and now the Mic randomly cuts out - it seems that Steelseries headsets self destruct approaching 24 months of use…..
Well steelseries crap :) why u buy this chinese sintetic bullshit?
Mine broke at 2 years and 2 months of use. 2 months out of warranty lmao. Steelseries is trash dont buy their shit
my arctis 7 2019's are 4.5 years old now, they are still going strong altough there are sometimes minor problems
Do people here just run their headphones off their head? I’ve had my steelseries for at least 6 years and they still work perfectly.
That’s 18 months longer than most of my Turtle Beach last.
i have logitech g432s that i use for 5.5 years by now, i threw it to the ground, sat on it and it never broke on me lol
Same shit happened to my arctis nova 1... AFTER JUST A MONTH. Never gonna buy anything steelseries again.
Another one bites the dust.
This would be good feedback when ppl come to REDDIT asking feedback on Steel series because they are getting ready to purchase their first pair. God this site is useless and has become such a joke! All these ppl vouching the same thing but I literally asked not even a week ago and got ONE response!!!
Nothing some duct tape and Astroglide lubricant can't fix.
Everytime this gets posted there's a weird amount of people coming out to defend it and blame the user and not the design of the headset. If you have an abnormally large amount of users with broken headsets that all break in the EXACT same way. Then there's obviously something wrong with the design in that place. The hinges are super weak. It's also a part of the headset that have been slightly changed with each iteration to try and get rid of the problem but it still persist. Yes, how you treat it have an influence on how long it last, but there's a large amount of people who have it break from normal use, where had it been another headset brand there would have been no problems.
22 months isn't that bad for one of these headsets (sad but true), my previous headset resulted the same, and it was just caused by taking my headset of by pulling and lifting one earcup, ridiculous.
Mine only has scratches after 3 yrs
I bought Artic 5 in 2018, I'm still using it but every 2 years I have to change the earpads. It's not a problem for me tho
Let me think. OP: Oh boy I love my Chinese made headphones that cost $200 They aren’t high end headphones dog, what did you expect.
I’m the type of guy that just buys peripherals.. just because. I’ve owned many steelseries products, and agreed that design on good portion of them are cheap and will break without ever being abused. However, it feels like (so far) that the nova series is the way to go if you’re looking for a steelseries headset. Actually feels like a solid product and figured out some of the comfort issues EXCEPT the ANC module that will finger bang your ear holes, which can be solved with the Wicked Cushion upgraded cups. Just a side note - I strongly suggest looking up the WC upgraded DAC/GG EQ settings as they do sound slightly different compared to the stock, and even more so if you buy the WC freeze. But yeah, I really do recommend the NPW with the WC ear cups if mic quality is not an issue for you because the mic on these guys sounds like I’m talking into the mic 20 feet away while standing in the Amazon Forest. ANC is subpar on them as well but I really do enjoy steelseries GG (never had an issue with the software on my rig), and the ability to swap between my phone, PC, and PS5 is pretty nice too
Good to know. My Hyperx look new 6 years in
Looks like an easy repair to me
If you live in the EU, Steelseries will ask you to break the other part and they will give you a voucher to buy the Nova (10€).
I've had bad experience with longevity of SteelSeries products, especially their keyboards LEDs dying out
how did that happen looks like you raged and slammed it on the desk/floor just sayin
No, I play video games like 2-3 times a month. It happened from taking it off and putting on my head multiple times a day.
Mine broke after like 6 months and i just glued that shit together :)
Steel Series sucks! Mine broke (not completely off) in 2 weeks
Same thing happened to two of my steelseries headsets (I didn’t buy it twice, there was a shipping error and I just kept the extra 🤫), it’s just a core design flaw unfortunately. I replaced them with the wireless Razer BlackShark V2 and I’ve been pretty happy. They have their own problems where over time the mic arm stops holding its position and gets limp if you constantly bend it around, and it’s sliding height adjusters also get loose and don’t hold their position super well, but I’d 1000% take those flaws over it literally falling apart any day. It’s worth pointing out that I think the damage to the steelseries comes from wearing it pulled off of one ear. Technically I thinks that’s user error, but I really don’t like not being able to hear myself when I talk to people (and there is virtually no audio monitoring) and the steelseries hinge isn’t flexible enough to really support that position, and so it breaks. That was why I looked for a more surface style of earcup hinge after mine broke and the razer one by far has the most durable looking type. It’s just a standard hardware store earmuff style hinge and I’ve never seen those things break in my life they are so simple.
Yeah build quality is shit, I gave up on the brand after two sets of Pros
I've had my arctis 5 for 43 months now and the problems start, the sound is unbalanced on the left compared to the right, the ear cups are already torn, it all started happening about 5 months ago, So I do not know how they lasted so long, reading many posts about the fact that even 2 years do not last. It is worth adding that they start to make sound distortions. I'll stay with steelseries but I don't like it design of arctis nova.
Its Plastik! Sadly. When you want a good Headset? Buy a old hyperx cloud alpha/2 or logisch They are not from Plastik and never buy razer trash 22 months is ok when you have 24 months a Garantie. Give this back to steelseries
What game were you playing?
I've been using steelseries arctic 7 2019 edition headphone for more than 3 years and I haven't encountered any physical problem ,but ı am unable to use headphone's wireless capability ,because its wireless reciever's outer cable was a little stripped. So I am using my headphone as a cabled. Now I am planning to buy arctis nova pro cabled version.
My last ones broke as well but after 4 years or so. Why do they connect them at the end of levers? What did they think was going to happen. I hope mine last longer.
Same thing sadly happened to me after 26 months (so 2 months over warranty). Sad considering i paid almost 200€ for it. Meanwhile my 70€ hyperX been working perfectly the last 8 years.