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Comfort
The light weight of the P531, combined with the soft fabric earpads, make it really quite comfortable during use. The weight of the headset seems quite evenly distributed between the headband (when adjusted properly) and the earpieces. These two features combine to make a headset that is comfortable to use, even for long periods of time. I've tested various 5.1 surround-sound headsets in the past and the P531 is by far the lightest and most comfortable!
Gaming
When gaming, a surround-sound headset can really help your gameplay, especially in FPS games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. We found sound panning to be very good thanks to the four dedicated driver units in each earpiece. The difference this makes over a stereo headset are very noticeable, allowing us to identify the source of gunfire and other sounds with ease.
We also tested the headset with various other titles and the P531 really exceeded our expectations for such a cheap headset. In Race Driver GRID the car engine noises were rendered accurate and the feedback from the integrated vibration units added another level of immersion into the game.
Movie
As Arctic describe the P531 as a gaming headset, I wouldn't have been surprised if the movie experience wasn't up to much. To my complete surprise, the movie playback experience exceeded my expectations on every level and I do not hesitate in saying the P531 is the best gaming headset i've ever tested for movie playback. Aside from the excellent surround-sound which will bring any movie to life, Arctic have integrated vibration units which really enhance the entire experience.
Music
Those who enjoy a prominent bass-line will love the P530. Thanks to the dedicated subwoofer in each earpiece, the lower registers are very impressive. And the real beauty of the P531 is the in-line control which allows you to alter the front, rear, centre and subwoofer volumes independently of each other, allowing you to set up the headset just how you like it.
We tested a number of tracks on the headset and found it very versatile. There were a few moments where we noticed a slight lack of clarity, mainly in the middle register, but for the most party the sound produced was accurate. Unlike the 7H, the P531 cannot be used with an MP3 player. This isn't a huge drawback as most people will use normal earphones with an MP3 player rather than a full-size headset.
What a great price! I dont see it for sale yet, any ideas when its out ?
What an unusual looking set of headphones. quite ugly really, but they seem to perform well, especially for the price. thats great to see finally some competition for the big players like steelseries who charge a fortune.
I quite like the looks of them actually, very unusual and most headphones are very boring. Shall look into a pair when they are available.
They might look odd, but they also look very comfortable which is one of the most important things at the end of the day.
Well this is a shock, i didnt know they were making headsets ! and what a great price. I am normally put off by steelseries asking for so much money but these are so good !
Good review Henry, they seem to be very good performing phones, and the price is exceptionally cheap. wonder how they are making money on these.
These are next on my list !
Very very interesting review, was not expecting such a positive article. The price is hard to believe.
Wicked product from Artic. wonder if they will fall apart over the year though….. ? What do you think Henry ?
Build quality would be my concern for long term use. Thats why steelseries get such a good reputation. Hopefully a local store stock these so I can try them out in person.
@ Juniper Falling, It’s hard to say whether they will fall apart after a year to be honest. Sure the materials feel a little cheap but the headset does feel well put together – I would say it feels less fragile than the SteelSeries Siberia V2 that I have if that helps!
very impressive for the money. Should sell very well.
Looks damn good. Very nice price for 5.1 Headphones! Make Sure They ship them to S.A. Will you Henry?
Nice review:)
Interesting headset… It looks like long forgotten Zalman headset some years ago….
I personally use Roccat Kave (hooked on XtremeGamer card). I use it on daily base for quite some time already (more than a year) and I’m very very happy with the performance.
It was bit more expensive (almost double) but I really do not regret paying that much because I was really satisfied.
These are definiately a viable alternative to the more expensive makers, even if they lasted a few years, would end up stunning value for money. just handle them a little more carefully I would reckon.
nice review. Great price for a pair of 5.1 surround sound headsets
I have used quite a few different gaming headsets but, the best resource I found to get an impartial view on them can be found at http://www.gamingheadsetreport.com, they are constantly adding new headset reviews.