SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless vs Xbox Wireless Headset: Which Headphones Are Better? - RTINGS.com

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SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless

Xbox Wireless Headset

Tested using Methodology v1.6

Updated Jan 26, 2026 08:13 PM

Tested using Methodology v1.6

Updated May 28, 2025 02:04 PM

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Picture

Xbox Wireless Headset Picture

TypeOver-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

Noise CancellingNo

MicYes

TypeOver-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

Noise CancellingNo

MicYes

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless

Xbox Wireless Headset

The SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless are better gaming headphones for Xbox consoles than the Xbox Wireless Headset. The SteelSeries are better-built, more stable, and have a more neutral default sound profile. Their boom mic also delivers better overall performance, they have a longer continuous battery life, and lower wireless latency.

Variants

Arctis 9X (Black)

Wireless Headset (Black)
Wireless Headset (Starfield Limited Edition)

Review

See SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Review

See Xbox Wireless Headset Review

Check Price

Black

Arctis 9X

Black

Wireless Headset

Black

Arctis 9X

Starfield Limited Edition

Wireless Headset

Black

Arctis 9X

Black

Arctis 9X

Black

Arctis 9X

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 9X Wireless Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Locked

Wireless

Locked

Locked

Transducer

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Comfort

N/A

N/A

Comfort Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weight

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Show Text

Controls

N/A

N/A

Controls Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Breathability

N/A

N/A

Breathability After Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg.Temp.Difference

Lock °C

Lock °C

Show Text

Portability

N/A

N/A

Portability Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Case

N/A

N/A

Case Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Build Quality

N/A

N/A

Build Quality Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Stability

N/A

N/A

Stability Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Side Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 2

Front Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Rear Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Top

Top Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

In The Box

In The Box Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Sound

Sound Profile

Frequency Response

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Frequency Response Consistency

N/A

N/A

Consistency L

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Consistency R

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg. Std. Deviation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Raw FR R

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Bass

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Mid Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Mid

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Treble Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Treble

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Peaks/Dips

N/A

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Peaks

Lock dB

Lock dB

Dips

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Imaging

N/A

N/A

Group Delay

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Phase Response Mismatch

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Passive Soundstage

N/A

N/A

PRTF

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Virtual Soundstage

N/A

N/A

Virtual Soundstage

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

N/A

N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

WHD @ 90

Lock

Lock

WHD @ 100

Lock

Lock

Show Text

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

Show Text

Isolation

Noise Isolation

N/A

N/A

Noise Isolation

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Leakage

N/A

N/A

Leakage

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Locked

Locked

In-Line

Locked

Locked

Boom

Locked

Locked

Detachable Boom

Locked

Locked

Mic

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Recording Quality

N/A

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Noise Handling

N/A

N/A

SpNR

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

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

Show Text

App Support

N/A

N/A

App Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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

Show Text

Connectivity

Wired Connection

N/A

N/A

Cable Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Xbox Wireless Headset 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)

Connector

Locked

Locked

Latency - Analog

Lock ms

N/A

Latency - USB

N/A

Lock ms

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Connection

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Bluetooth Connection

N/A

N/A

Bluetooth Version

Locked

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing

Locked

Locked

Quick Pair (Android)

Locked

Locked

Quick Pair (iOS)

Locked

Locked

Line Of Sight Range

Lock ft (Lock m)

Lock ft (Lock m)

Latency - SBC

Lock ms

Lock ms

Latency - aptX

N/A

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)

N/A

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)

N/A

N/A

Latency - LDAC

N/A

N/A

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Codec

Locked

Locked

AAC Support

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Wireless Connection (Dongle)

N/A

N/A

Line Of Sight Range

Lock ft (Lock m)

Lock ft (Lock m)

Latency - Dongle

Lock ms

Lock ms

Recorded Latency

Show Text

PC Compatibility

Analog

Locked

Locked

Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Show Text

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

Show Text

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

Show Text

Check Price

Black

Arctis 9X

Black

Wireless Headset

Black

Arctis 9X

Starfield Limited Edition

Wireless Headset

Black

Arctis 9X

Black

Arctis 9X

Black

Arctis 9X

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless

Xbox Wireless Headset

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 2 years ago

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless vs Xbox Wireless Headset: Main Discussion

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