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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• SteelSeries Arctis Pro + biggest strength: a dedicated GameDAC with an ESS Sabre DAC and amp, certified Hi-Res audio at 96 kHz / 24-bit, 121 dB dynamic range and a 10 Hz–40 kHz driver range — a fundamentally different approach to sound than a headset running off a controller or motherboard jack.
• SteelSeries Arctis Pro + biggest trade-off: it is a wired-only system built around the GameDAC, so there is no Bluetooth and no battery-powered freedom — you are tethered to the DAC, and the full setup weighs 521 g.
• Razer BlackShark V3 biggest strength: three ways to connect (2.4 GHz HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2 rated as low as 10 ms, Bluetooth 5.3, and 3.5mm) plus hybrid ANC and up to 70 hours of battery.
• Razer BlackShark V3 biggest trade-off: its 50 mm TriForce Gen-2 drivers top out at a 28 kHz frequency response, so it does not reach the Hi-Res extension of the Arctis Pro +, and it leans on software tuning and app-based EQ to get the most out of it.
• Who each pick is for: the Arctis Pro + is for the player who wants maximum fidelity from a stationary PC or PS5 rig; the BlackShark V3 is for the player who games across PS5, PC, Switch and phone and refuses to be tied to one desk.
The Arctis Pro + is not really a headset so much as a small audio system. The point of the bundle is the GameDAC, a dedicated DAC and headphone amp that takes over the digital-to-analog conversion instead of leaving it to a console controller, a USB headset chip or a PC sound card. That matters because those are usually the weakest link in a chain — you can buy good drivers and still hear mush if the conversion stage is poor. SteelSeries pairs the GameDAC with an ESS Sabre DAC and amp rated for 121 dB of dynamic range and -115 dB THD+N, which is the kind of spec you normally associate with desktop audio gear rather than a gaming headset.
Buy it if you sit at one desk or one console and want the best-sounding wired chain you can get without adding a separate desktop DAC and amp. Skip it if you split your gaming between a couch, a handheld and a phone — there's no Bluetooth here, and the 521 g system weight and DAC dependency make it a poor travel companion. SteelSeries also recommends regular firmware updates through SteelSeries Engine, so it's a product that expects a little housekeeping.
Razer BlackShark V3: Who It's For
The BlackShark V3 goes the opposite direction: it's built to be the only headset you own. You get Razer HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2 on 2.4 GHz with latency quoted as low as 10 ms, Bluetooth 5.3 for phone and handheld use, and a 3.5mm jack for non-stop wired play when the battery runs down. Razer even lets you mix 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth audio from two devices at once, which is genuinely useful if you want game audio plus a Discord call or phone audio in the same ear.
On the audio side, the Gen-2 TriForce Bio-Cellulose 50 mm drivers are tuned for clarity and positional accuracy, backed by game-specific FPS EQ profiles developed with Razer's esports players, and you can build custom EQs and save them to the headset so they follow you to another machine. On PS5 you get PlayStation's Tempest 3D Audio; on Windows you get THX Spatial Audio with 7.1.4 surround (Windows 10 64-bit or higher only). The detachable HyperClear Full Band 12 mm mic uses a unidirectional pickup pattern, so it rejects room noise while keeping your voice full-band. Hybrid ANC, swiveling earcups and hybrid memory foam cushions round out the isolation package, and the battery is rated at up to 70 hours.
Buy it if you want one headset for PS5, PC, Mac, Switch and smartphone without re-cabling, and you value ANC and battery life over raw frequency extension. Skip it if you're chasing the highest-resolution wired signal available — the 20 Hz–28 kHz response simply doesn't reach as far as the Arctis Pro +, and the plastic-and-foam build is lighter and more portable but less jewel-like than polished steel and aluminum.
• Best for pure wired fidelity → SteelSeries Arctis Pro +. The GameDAC, ESS Sabre conversion and 10 Hz–40 kHz Hi-Res drivers are a wired-only design with no wireless compromises.
• Best for multi-device flexibility → Razer BlackShark V3. 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.3 and 3.5mm in one headset, with simultaneous 2.4 GHz + Bluetooth mixing.
• Best for long sessions away from a desk → Razer BlackShark V3. Up to 70 hours of battery plus hybrid ANC and memory foam seals.
• Best for a fixed PC or PS5 battlestation → SteelSeries Arctis Pro +. A dedicated DAC and amp beats relying on a controller jack or motherboard audio.
• Best for noise blocking → Razer BlackShark V3. Hybrid ANC is a headline feature; the Arctis Pro + relies on cushion seal and passive isolation.
• Best for mic clarity on a desktop → SteelSeries Arctis Pro +. The ClearCast bidirectional mic is built for noise cancellation and clarity; Razer counters with a detachable 12 mm full-band capsule and unidirectional pickup.
• Best for tuning your own sound → Razer BlackShark V3. Pro-tuned FPS profiles plus custom EQ saved to the headset; the Arctis Pro + leans on DTS Headphone:X v2.0 and SteelSeries Engine firmware.
• Best for durability feel → SteelSeries Arctis Pro +. Polished steel and aluminum alloy versus Razer's plastic and foam.
I'd buy the SteelSeries Arctis Pro + if gaming happens in one place and sound quality is the whole point — the GameDAC and Hi-Res chain are the reason to pick it, and nothing about the BlackShark V3 replicates that. I'd buy the Razer BlackShark V3 if my gaming is spread across a PS5, a PC and a phone and I want ANC, 70-hour battery and three connection modes instead of a tether. In my opinion the split is that simple: fidelity versus freedom. If you genuinely can't decide, ask which headset would still be useful on a plane or a commute — only one of these two answers yes.
are wired gaming headsets better
It depends what "better" means to you. A wired design like the Arctis Pro + can dedicate its whole budget to conversion and amplification — the GameDAC and ESS Sabre stage exist precisely because there's no battery or wireless radio to power — which is why it reaches 96 kHz / 24-bit Hi-Res. Wireless sets like the BlackShark V3 trade some of that headroom for convenience, ANC and up to 70 hours of untethered use.
how to connect wired gaming headset to pc
On the Arctis Pro +, you connect over USB, and the GameDAC handles conversion and amplification rather than your motherboard's onboard audio. That's the whole appeal: the DAC bypasses the low-quality converters found in controllers, USB headsets and PC sound cards. Once connected, SteelSeries recommends keeping firmware current through SteelSeries Engine.
how to use wired gaming headset on pc
Plug in, then set the headset (or GameDAC) as your default output and input device in Windows so both game audio and the ClearCast mic route correctly. Volume is handled on the headset and through the app. If you want surround, enable DTS Headphone:X v2.0 — that's the Arctis Pro +'s positional audio layer.
how to connect wired gaming headset to pc
The BlackShark V3 also gives you a wired path: use the 3.5mm jack when you want zero-latency, non-stop play without draining the battery, or plug in over USB-A on compatible devices. On PC you can then enable THX Spatial Audio for 7.1.4 surround, though that requires Windows 10 64-bit or higher.
If price is the deciding factor for you, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page — I don't quote numbers here because they move constantly, and the value call depends on whether you're paying for a DAC-based wired system or a three-mode wireless one.
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See also: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P vs Skullcandy SLYR Pro, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro vs Amazon Renewed SteelSeries Arctis Nova, Altec Lansing Comfort Pro Over vs Razer BlackShark V3