We were slightly surprised by the direction Steelseries has taken with the Arctis Pro, especially considering the jump on the 'High-Res Audio' bandwagon. This certification is certainly adding a mark-up to the overall cost of the headset, something that isn't entirely needed. Certifications are generally great for raising consumer awareness to new technology, regardless of whether they understand the specific details or not, but the reality is, it is entirely unneeded. Reputable audio manufacturers have been making 'High-Res Audio' capable headphones for a long time without the requirement of a certificate to prove it.



Despite the above, it is great to have the awareness raised for 'High Res Audio', and the Steelseries' Arctis Pro isn't just about showy lighting, and fancy materials. It genuinely sounds awesome, and the subtly impressive DTS headphone:X v2.0 will give people a more natural and exciting gaming experience. If you have the spare cash and want to invest in a complete audio experience, the Arctis Pro + GameDAC is a viable alternative to buying the Arctis Pro + discrete soundcard, and with that in mind, the pricing isn't actually as expensive as it seems on first look, especially when the DAC is powered by the ESS Sabre 9018 and does provide various input/output options to improve its versatility. The DAC works great driverlessly, but once the software update is available (coming very soon), you will find a host of customisations and advanced adjustments. All things considered, this is an incredibly exciting step in the market for gaming audio taken by Steelseries, and if you don't already have a discrete soundcard or DAC, but want a premium audio experience, the Arctis Pro + GameDAC makes a great deal of sense.

The Arctis Pro + GameDAC is the perfect package for those that want a complete, out-the-box premium gaming audio solution.


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