SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless vs Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT: Which Headphones Are Better? - RTINGS.com

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Products

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated Jan 06, 2025 01:41 PM

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated May 27, 2025 08:29 PM

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Picture

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Picture

TypeOver-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

Noise CancellingNo

MicYes

TypeOver-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

Noise CancellingNo

MicYes

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

The Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT are more versatile gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless. You can use the Corsair wired or wirelessly. They have better battery and Bluetooth connectivity performances, and their boom mic delivers a better recording quality. However, the SteelSeries are more comfortable, and their boom mic does a better job of noise handling.

Variants

Arctis 9 (Black)

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT (Slate)

Review

See SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Review

See Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Review

Check Price

Black

Arctis 9

Slate

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

Black

Arctis 9

Slate

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

Black

Arctis 9

Slate

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

Black

Arctis 9

Slate

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

Black

Arctis 9

Slate

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

Main Differences for

Neutral Sound

Threshold

0.10

Neutral Sound

0.0

0.0

JOIN NOW to see main differences

Full Comparison

Neutral Sound

0.0

0.0

Commute/Travel

0.0

0.0

Sports/Fitness

0.0

0.0

Office

0.0

0.0

Wireless Gaming

0.0

0.0

Wired Gaming

0.0

0.0

Phone Calls

0.0

0.0

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Locked

Wireless

Locked

Locked

Transducer

Locked

Locked

Comfort

N/A

N/A

Comfort Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weight

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Controls

N/A

N/A

Controls Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

OS Compatibility

Locked

Locked

Ease Of Use

Locked

Locked

Feedback

Locked

Locked

Call/Music Control

Locked

Locked

Volume Control

Locked

Locked

Microphone Control

Locked

Locked

Channel Mixing

Locked

Locked

Noise Cancelling Control

Locked

Locked

Talk-Through

Locked

Locked

Additional Controls

Locked

Locked

Breathability

N/A

N/A

Breathability After Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg.Temp.Difference

Lock °C

Lock °C

Portability

N/A

N/A

Portability Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

L

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

W

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

H

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Transmitter Required

Locked

Locked

Case

N/A

N/A

Case Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

L

N/A

N/A

W

N/A

N/A

H

N/A

N/A

Volume

N/A

N/A

Build Quality

N/A

N/A

Build Quality Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Stability

N/A

N/A

Stability Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Side Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 2

Front Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Rear Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Top

Top Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

In The Box

In The Box Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sound

Sound Profile

Frequency Response

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Frequency Response Consistency

N/A

N/A

Consistency L

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Consistency R

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg. Std. Deviation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Raw FR R

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Bass

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Low-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Mid

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Treble

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Peaks/Dips

N/A

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Peaks

Lock dB

Lock dB

Dips

Lock dB

Lock dB

Imaging

N/A

N/A

Group Delay

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Phase Response Mismatch

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weighted Group Delay

Lock

Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Passive Soundstage

N/A

N/A

PRTF

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Distance

Lock dB

Lock dB

Openness

0.0

0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation

0.0

0.0

Virtual Soundstage

N/A

N/A

Virtual Soundstage

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Head Modeling

Locked

Locked

Speaker Modeling

Locked

Locked

Room Ambience

Locked

Locked

Head Tracking

Locked

Locked

Virtual Surround

Locked

Locked

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

N/A

N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

WHD @ 90

Lock

Lock

WHD @ 100

Lock

Lock

Test Settings

Firmware

Locked

Locked

Power

Locked

Locked

Connection

Locked

Locked

Codec

Locked

Locked

EQ

Locked

Locked

ANC

Locked

Locked

Tip/Pad

Locked

Locked

Microphone

Locked

Locked

Isolation

Noise Isolation

N/A

N/A

Noise Isolation

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Isolation Audio

Overall Attenuation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Noise Cancelling

Locked

Locked

Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Leakage

N/A

N/A

Leakage

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

Lock dB

Lock dB

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Locked

Locked

In-Line

Locked

Locked

Boom

Locked

Locked

Detachable Boom

Locked

Locked

Mic

Locked

Locked

Recording Quality

N/A

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Recorded Speech

LFE

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev.

Lock dB

Lock dB

HFE

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Weighted THD

Lock

Lock

Gain

Lock dB

Lock dB

Noise Handling

N/A

N/A

SpNR

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SpNR

Lock dB

Lock dB

Noise Gate

Locked

Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling

0.0

0.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample

Speech + Subway Noise Handling

0.0

0.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

Active Features

Battery

N/A

N/A

Battery Type

Locked

Locked

Continuous Battery Life

Lock hrs

Lock hrs

Additional Charges

Lock

Lock

Total Battery Life

Lock hrs

Lock hrs

Charge Time

Lock hrs

Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature

Locked

Locked

Audio While Charging

Locked

Locked

Passive Playback

Locked

Locked

Charging Port

Locked

Locked

App Support

N/A

N/A

App Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

App Name

Locked

Locked

iOS

Locked

Locked

Android

Locked

Locked

macOS

Locked

Locked

Windows

Locked

Locked

Equalizer

Locked

Locked

ANC Control

Locked

Locked

Mic Control

Locked

Locked

Room Effects

Locked

Locked

Playback Control

Locked

Locked

Button Mapping

Locked

Locked

Surround Support

Locked

Locked

Connectivity

Bluetooth

N/A

N/A

Bluetooth Version

Locked

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing

Locked

Locked

NFC Pairing

Locked

Locked

Line Of Sight Range

Lock ft (Lock m)

Lock ft (Lock m)

PC Latency (SBC)

Lock ms

Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX)

N/A

Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX HD)

N/A

Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX-LL)

N/A

N/A

iOS Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

Android Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

Non-Bluetooth Wireless

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range

Lock ft (Lock m)

Lock ft (Lock m)

Non-BT Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

Wired

N/A

N/A

Cable Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Analog Audio

Locked

Locked

USB Audio

Locked

Locked

Detachable

Locked

Locked

Length

N/A

Lock ft (Lock m)

Connection

Locked

Locked

Analog/USB Audio Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

PC Compatibility

Analog

Locked

Locked

Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

PlayStation Compatibility

PS4 Analog

Locked

Locked

PS4 Wired USB

Locked

Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

PS5 Analog

Locked

Locked

PS5 Wired USB

Locked

Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Xbox Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog

Locked

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Base/Dock

N/A

N/A

Type

Locked

Locked

USB Input

Locked

Locked

Line In

Locked

Locked

Line Out

Locked

Locked

Optical Input

Locked

Locked

RCA Input

Locked

Locked

Dock Charging

Locked

Locked

Power Supply

Locked

Locked

Check Price

Black

Arctis 9

Slate

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

Black

Arctis 9

Slate

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

Black

Arctis 9

Slate

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

Black

Arctis 9

Slate

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

Black

Arctis 9

Slate

VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 2 years ago

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless vs Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT: Main Discussion

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