Steelseries Arena 7 Gaming Speakers
Feature
Luckily, my kids are a little older now, and I can game with a bit more freedom when it comes to my gaming peripherals. So when we had the opportunity to test out the Steelseries Arena 7 Gaming speakers, it was a great chance to get back into a full audio gaming experience.
Setup and design
Plugging in a headset and simply turning the volume up or down is an easy experience, so when it comes to setting up a surround sound gaming speaker system, it would want to be almost as easy. The Steelseries Arena 7 does just that.
Out of the box, it is just a matter of plugging the power cable into the wall socket, attaching the left and right speakers into the designated outputs and then connecting the USB cable into your gaming machine. Indeed, it took longer to get everything out of the well packaged box (with mostly recyclable material) than it took to put everything together.
The speakers of the Arena 7 have a rounded design with a reasonably small foot which doesn't take up a huge amount of acreage. The subwoofer however is a less stylish black cube, but the weight ensures a solid build quality. Both the speakers and the subwoofer are all black except for a small transparent section at the rear of the speakers.
Possibly my favourite aspect of the Arena 7 is the multiple connection options. As mentioned in the setup, the Arena 7 can be connected via the USB cable. But of course, gamers (and PC users in general) can often have limited USB ports available, and as such the Bluetooth connectivity is advantageous.
Getting the Bluetooth up and running is another simple task. Holding a button on the right speaker allows players to pair the speakers to a device, and once connected, acts as if it was connected via the cable. This Bluetooth connectivity also means that the Arena 7 is not just limited to PC gaming. Indeed, it can connect to mobile devices which make it suitable for streaming music at your next party, or can connect to a smart TV or gaming console and be used as a soundbar alternative.
As with most gaming peripherals, the Arena 7 comes with RGB functionality. This can be configured to your preference within the Steelseries GG Engine software. The software provides a range of lighting options to choose from, but one of my favourite aspects was the reactive synchronisation, which handles the lighting based on the music or the game you’re playing.
Performance
The Arena 7 looks great as part of a gaming setup, but this is for nothing if you can’t pinpoint the direction of an enemy or be immersed in the game you’re playing. Luckily, whether the Arena 7 was connected via cable to the PC, or via bluetooth to a range of devices, the output was amazing. Although the speakers don’t have the 7.1 surround sound of a full theatre system, the dual speakers and subwoofer perform superbly. The speaker volume is controlled via a knob on the base of the right speaker, whilst the bass is controlled separately via a knob at the rear. Of course, this can be a bit of a pain if you regularly want to adjust the bass.
As you’d expect with a system featuring a subwoofer, the speakers handle bass and low tones remarkably well. Listening to The Prodigy's Diesel Power, or Massive Attack's Angel has the floor rumbling when the bass beats drop. This flows through when streaming movies, and of course when playing your favourite game. Explosions or the deep rumble of a tank as it passes by give games and movies an increased sense of realism.
One potential downside of the Arena 7 would be the space that the gaming speakers and subwoofer require. If you’re gaming from a small apartment or have limited desk space, the Arena 7 could possibly cause some concern. The speakers themselves don’t take up a huge amount of desk space though, but finding the right location for the subwoofer underneath the desk may be an issue.
Another aspect is the pricing. The speaker system is more expensive than a standard set of headphones, but given that the speakers have bluetooth connectivity, it means that they can be used for several devices, including a television which effectively means it can replace a TV soundbar as well as being a gaming device.
Verdict
Audio when gaming from a PC speaker (particularly a laptop) is never as fun or immersive as a gaming headset with surround sound, but the Steelseries Arena 7 gets you close. The rumbling bass is better than anything that a headset could produce though. And although this can allow gamers to be absorbed in their games, the fact that the set can be connected via bluetooth also means that it can be used for immersion for movies as well. The RGB lighting also adds a party atmosphere when using the speakers whilst connected to a mobile device streaming your favourite tunes, ensuring that the Steelseries Arena 7 gaming speakers perform well in a variety of situations.
As always, follow Hooked Gamers on Instagram for news updates, reviews, competitions and more.