Arena 3 2.0 Desktop Gaming Speakers - Immersive Audio, On-Speaker Controls, 4" Drivers - Wired & Bluetooth - PC, Mac, Mobile

Let’s address the elephant in the room: the SteelSeries Arena 7 and 9 speakers are not cheap. But why do I argue they offer the best value for their price? These aren’t just “gaming-grade” speakers—they transcend that category. Whether you opt for the 2.1 Arena 7 or the 5.1 Arena 9, you’re getting audiophile-grade speakers with a gamer-friendly design. And I don’t make that claim lightly; I own two sets of Arena 7s and one Arena 9 system. A New Standard in Gaming Audio: Typically, gaming audio hardware offers incremental improvements: slightly better drivers, basic tuning, and tighter quality control. Audiophile-grade sound is rare in the gaming space, but the Arena 7 and 9 break that mold. SteelSeries exceeds expectations by delivering more than just a gaming experience—these speakers are premium in both form and function. Extra Features that make the Arena 7/9 stand out: - The RGB lighting is a standout feature. When set up via SteelSeries’ software, the RGB effect is one of the best I’ve seen. Pro tip: By positioning the satellite speakers on either side of your monitor, you can improve perceived contrast. For the best effect, use a light blue or near-white color. Regardless of where you place them, the speakers look great. - A notable design feature: the satellite speakers are adjustable. Each one can be tilted to optimize sound direction, a feature not often found at this price point. However, the vertical-only tilting mechanism is a letdown, as a pivoting or raising option would have been ideal. - The Arena systems allow you to connect a headset, which automatically disables the speakers (something that used to be common for all audio setups, especially in the gaming sphere). They allow you to mix different audio inputs. These features elevate the Arena 7/9 systems above most competitors, even at higher price points. Many systems lack these two simple yet very necessary gaming centric features. On the Speaker Drivers and Sound Quality: The drivers in the Arena 7 and 9 go beyond standard dynamic woofers. Even high-end brands like Sonos use dynamic woofers to cover a wide frequency range, but the Arena systems use true component drivers for clarity and detail. Each satellite features a two-way split design (the Arena 9’s center channel is a 3-way split, with left and right woofers and a center tweeter), providing dedicated tweeters for crisp highs and woofers for mid-range and upper bass frequencies. This results in a full, accurate sound experience spanning from 38Hz to 20kHz. Both the 2.1 and 5.1 setups include a 6.5-inch bottom-firing subwoofer that delivers clean, powerful bass with minimal distortion. I was surprised by how powerful the subwoofer is—don’t place it directly on your desk unless you want to feel the rumble in your bones. Out of the box, the sound profile is neutral with a slight warmth. The treble is crisp, the bass is punchy without being overwhelming, and the mids are well-defined, offering excellent clarity for both dialogue and music. For action-packed games, adjusting the subwoofer’s volume (located on the back) is enough to get the punchier sound I prefer, but SteelSeries’ Sonar software provides further customization if needed. Connectivity and Versatility: One of the Arena systems’ biggest strengths is their versatility. They support a range of connectivity options, including low-latency Bluetooth, USB, Aux, and optical connections, making them easy to integrate into any setup. While HDMI ARC support would have been nice, it’s not a dealbreaker, as the design clearly focuses on gamers and audio enthusiasts, not the TV market. Using a PC as the hub unlocks the full potential of the Arena speakers. SteelSeries Sonar software is an industry leader in gaming audio, with a robust equalizer for fine-tuning and positional adjustments that simulate surround sound with exceptional accuracy. This allows the Arena 7s to deliver an Atmos-like experience for all content. The Arena 9’s control box is a neat inclusion. The Arena 7s are controlled mostly by a button on the right speaker’s base, but the display control box for the Arena 9 is preferred, as it lets you make adjustments without having to go into the software. Additionally, the included DAC (for when you utilize aux or plug in a headset) is top grade as well. I’d have to research to see what they’re using, but it’s either a Sabre or a proprietary chip—I wasn’t dissapointed with how well it powered my planar magnetic HiFi Mans and it actually sounded just as good powering my Nova Pro Wired (I have taken to removing nova’s included dac because of the cable mess.) The Caveats Now, let’s talk about the flaws. The biggest issue with the Arena 9 is the required USB connection for true surround sound. Even then, it’s not guaranteed. For example, the PlayStation 5 only supports upmixed 5.1 audio, and using optical or aux connections doesn’t help—they’re limited to upmixing by default. The same issue applies to the Arena 7, but to a lesser degree, as surround sound must be emulated regardless of the connection method. SteelSeries made a misstep with the Arena 9. Many potential buyers don’t have receivers or monitors that support audio over USB, and even when they do, not all audio formats are compatible. It would have helped justify the price if the system supported Atmos or DTS natively, but that would likely require HDMI. I’m baffled that the Arena 9 can’t decode 5.1 over optical. The final area of concern is footprint. Generally speaking, neither configuration is a space hog, but there is a great deal of cable clutter. However I’ll take cable clutter over low quality sound. It’s just worth pointing out because each speaker is wired into the subwoofer (as far as the Arena 7 is concerned.) the Arena 9’s cable clutter is as to be expected honestly. I prefer having a wired sub to the source over a wireless variety because they do not provide the same audio quality at higher volumes in my opinion. Why They’re Still Worth It For gamers and multimedia enthusiasts, the Arena 7 and 9 are worth every penny. While they don’t natively support advanced formats like DTS:X or Atmos, SteelSeries Sonar software provides a comparable experience, offering exceptional positional audio that surpasses what most systems in this price range offer. The Arena speakers also offer multiple connection options, making them incredibly versatile. Personally, I recommend the Arena 7s over the 9s, as true surround sound on the 9s requires USB, which again, could be a dealbreaker for some and rightfully so. Final Thoughts The SteelSeries Arena 7 and 9 are more than just gaming speakers—they’re audiophile-grade systems designed with gamers in mind. With premium construction, superior audio quality, and flexible connectivity options, they offer fantastic value for those seeking a high-performance audio experience. I rate the Arena 7s 5/5 (this is all most users will ever need, and they work with most TVs, etc., unless you absolutely need true surround, Atmos, or DTS:X decoding). I rate the Arena 9s 4/5 (true 5.1 surround requires USB, and the lack of HDMI ARC hurts their appeal, but the audio quality still makes them stand out). Quick Comparisons: Vs Razer Leviathan (Original): The Leviathan offers decent bass and connection options but falls short in audio reproduction and immersion compared to the Arena 7/9. Vs Leviathan V2x & Panasonic Soundslayer: These all-in-one systems beat the Arena 7/9 in footprint, but the Arena 7 delivers more power and better sound quality. The Leviathan V2 Pro’s simulated surround doesn’t compare to the true surround of the Arena 9. Vs Logitech G560 2.1: Logitech’s G560 provides solid performance but exaggerates RMS output. The Arena 7 excels with superior audio, virtual surround, and better connection options. Vs Creative Katana V2: Creative’s Katana V2 offers decent tuning but lacks the raw power and audio fidelity of the Arena 7/9. The Arena 9, in particular, delivers superior sound reproduction. Vs High-End Soundbars ($400–500): Premium soundbars from brands like LG and Samsung may offer better decoding but are unable to match the quality of sound. So it becomes a battle of trade offs as to what you’re needing. If you’re just looking to give you’re living room a good sound setup, I recommend the high end soundbars, but if you need something for your media pc hub, the Arena is your best bet. Whereas if you’re looking for a more true to life high grade audiophile experience. I doubt you’re even reading this review.

My friends and I live across country from each other, but we still manage to hang out every night in Discord. We watch movies, play games, or just chat in voice. My laptop has a garbage microphone like most do, so I’ve been on the hunt for a good headset. I’ve had two sets of Steel Series gaming headsets. One wired (and I tried to take my laptop for a walk far too many times) and the Arctis 9’s. The Arctis head set is really nice and I love that it is wireless but they kill my ears. I’ve tried all the hacks and nothing worked. I’d had my eye on these desktop speakers for some time but was afraid to make such an expensive purchase with all the mixed reviews. It took FOREVER for these speakers to arrive for being a prime purchase. I ordered them the 11th and got them yesterday (the 18th). I was just too excited lol. Once they arrived I got them all set up and immediately they need a driver update. No surprise there. So I do the update and the light on the right speaker starts blinking purple and they won’t work. I’m trying everything in my pcs settings and nothing works. I try messing with the Steel Series GG settings, and still no luck. I try restarting my pc… nothing is working. So I google. I see this is an issue for a few people after updating the drivers and I’m panicking. Some people are stating they had to return the speakers because of this issue and that Steel Series doesn’t have a fix. Now this is the biggest reason I’m writing so much detail in this review. I thought for sure I would have to return them, but after I restarted my pc and reopened the steel series app… probably 10 minutes after, I get another notification to update the drivers. I figure what the hell, can’t get worse. Update the drivers again and voila! They worked! So, if you are getting the purple flashing light of death, I suggest updating the drivers again! I couldn’t find anywhere on the internet people stating there is a fix for this now, so I wanted to make sure to include it in the review. Hopefully if others have this issue they will find this and be able to fix the issue without having to send the speakers back. These speakers do sound amazing! I got the Arena 7’s and they fill my 400sqft apartment with enough sound that I worry I might annoy my neighbor. They sound better than the headphones imo. The lights are fun to play with, and they can be set pretty bright, or off. They have a ridiculous amount of adjustability. You can sync them to your games to tell you different things like your health. I can set them up in Discord to represent different notifications, like who is talking or if someone left or arrived. The possibilities seem endless. I do use these in conjunction with the Steel Series Arena Microphone and my friends stated they couldn’t hear anything but my voice on my end. And when I first got the speakers up and running I did have them pretty loud. The Mic is amazing and I actually forget I’m wearing it. Idk why it isn’t sold on Amazon, but it works beautifully with this speaker set up for people who have sensitive ears like I do.

Cables are roughly 6-8ftft. This is for a personal gaming computer(not a living room surround sound). Rear speakers wirelessly connect to system for data, but they connect to each other via an rca type connector and one has a power cable(I use 120v, but I think you can power with usb-c also.) front speakers connect to subwoofer(including center) with a proprietary connector or rca. Subwoofer connects to computer via a usb cable(might need a longer cable or usb extender). Front 2 satellite speakers have rgb lights(helps my eye strain in the dark). You can download software from Steel series to setup the lighting however you want(many timing patterns or solid colors). Control pod/puck is intuitive and practical(plugs into subwoofer). Subwoofer has a power cord. Sound quality is good but not the best in the industry(if you don’t need surround sound, consider elsewhere). The thing I’m not too happy about is how the volume highs and lows are very dynamic meaning as soon as a scene gets intense, the sound volume explodes. You can tweak this with a smart volume setting in the software you can download from steel series(it’s basically “normalization”), but it didn’t work that great to me. There are probably other softwares that help you normalize sound too, but who wants a bunch of software that is prone to cause even more complications. Overall you totally get what you pay for. Note that most media on the web is not surround sound. Games ARE usually. Some content on Netflix and YouTube are, but even content that you think should be surround sound on these type of platforms doesn’t play in 5.1. There is an option on the control puck for surround sound 5.1 up mix but all it does it play the same thing on the rear speakers as are on the front and it causes some reverb (room echo) type mixing to make it more like surround, but it isn’t real surround sound. Not a big deal though. Its a good option. The rear speakers have the normal standardized female threads that you would use with many cameras for example. I already had some security camera mounts that I used with mine. Overall good for the price, but some of the info I’ve included here in text and photos should have been included straight from steel series so you can make a smarter decision, so I’m not impressed by steel series on this front. In their photos they do not show how everything is hooked up properly. Different people have different requirements and I almost did not buy this product due to lack of information.

These speakers sound great, and are relatively easy to set up. On the plus side, the sound is crisp and strong when the speakers are working properly, and the subwoofer is quite capable of serving up meaty bass. For games that support 5.1 sound, these speakers provide an excellent soundstage and are a step up from the previous set of 5.1 speakers I was using. On the downside, the LED lighting really isn't all that impressive, and while it comes with a control puck, it really isn't all that useful, as there really aren't many things you would actually do with it once you have your volume dialed in, especially since it's much easier to control your volume via software, often with a dial right on your keyboard. The main downside of these speakers is that there is a recurring issue where one of the speakers--usually the front right--will intermittently develop a sound like it's blown out, and it's not clear what triggers this, but when it happens, it's very noticeable, especially since it seems to happen in the same frequencies as normal speech. The only way to solve this is to unplug the system and plug it back in. Only happens about every 6 weeks, but it's a shame that it happens at all. That's why this only gets 4 stars.

Just to get this out of the way, these speakers sound fine, not great, not terrible, just fine. I haven't noticed any crackling or popping that other people have. The subwoofer is pretty weak, maxing it out sounds weaker than the subwoofer in the Logitech z506 set. Now the fun part: the engineering of this kit is effing stupid. It is mindboggling how this effing POS got greenlit and released. WTF is there a wire going between the two rear speakers?????? And only an 8ft cable??? What setup will support such a short cable running ACROSS the back, other than ceiling mounted, or maybe laying on the floor? If you're really going to have a stupid cable running across the back, it needs to be at least 15ft to support running down a stand or shelf to the floor, then running across the floor under a mat or something, and then back up a stand or shelf. 8ft is enough to float the cable in the air between speakers. Also, by the way, this means the rear speakers or NOT EFFING WIRELESS, so, false advertising. Then we get to the cabling on the back of the subwoofer, the speaker plugs are reversed, like it was designed upside down. The right is on the left and left on the right. There doesn't seem to be any software to go with these speakers, so you're stuck with Windows sound management. The problem there is Windows sees the rear speakers as side speakers. Some think this can work interchangeably, but not really, it means the location of your sounds will be off and any specialized 7.1 supporting content or audio that specifically goes to certain channels will be wrong. This is big issue because 5.1 is for front and rear, not front and side. Most content you might not notice, but you'll likely eventually find something and wonder why you're not getting sound out of the rear. I thought about keeping these, but that stupid cable across the rear pissed me off so much I'm going to hate these every time I look at them, so these are getting returned. I don't know why no one is making 5.1+ speakers for PCs anymore, hopefully I can still get a Logitech Z906 set, at least I know those are good.

I tend to prefer creative speaker solutions, and I own there t40's, t40 II's, and their katana soundbar. I really like the t40's but as I moved to a three monitor setup, they were just too tall, so I have recycled them to my grandma's computer, and my work pc, and that's when I got the katana. I use the katana as my primary audio, and I purchased the logitech mx sound 2.0 speakers in 2019 as secondary speakers that I use for my streaming music, netflix, nba pass, youtube, etc while gaming. The primary reason for choosing these speakers is that they fit under my monitors, but they have an issue where the energy savings technology will turn them off at low volume. So periodically I have to wave my hand at the right speaker to reactivate them because they are motion sensing energy saving nightmare. I have been home for a week after gallbladder surgery, and the logitech speakers touched my last nerve, they had to go. So I'm shopping around, none of the creative options were quite what I wanted. I like razers new nommo vx2 form factor, but they lack 3.5mm, and headphone i/o so they were out. I considered edifier, audioengine, mackie, presonus, all have various pro/cons, but then I saw these steel series arena 3's, they are about the same width as the logitech's, and taller, but fit under my side monitors with an inch of clearance. While checking out reviews, and specs, I discovered an incredible feature that solves a major issue with desktop speakers. When you plug in headphones, which is often behind the speakers, and annoying, this disables the speakers. The arena 3's have a selector so you can leave your headphones plugged in which solves the issue of having to plug, and unplug your headset when you want to use them which is fantastic. I absolutely love this feature. You can tell the engineers are real gamers, or they remember when this kind of basic functionality was standard stuff since before I was born in the 80's. They sound good, I can watch content at low volume with good clarity while playing games on my katana soundbar, so it solves my need. They look good, I hope they hold up like creative products, the only problem I ever had with creative speakers is when my t40 II's fell off my desk, and jacked up my 3.5mm ports which is the only time I have had to replace them, but otherwise they last forever. My only concern out of the box is that they do not have grills, so the speakers are exposed. When opening I commented to my self that I am glad I don't have kids or cats. I would hope steel series incorporates grills in future revisions but otherwise these are fantastic. i/o options are great, two 3.5mm inputs, headphone out, bluetooth syncs fast. Most speakers you must select a single source, the arena 3's you have three active sources at the same time, two 3.5mm, and bluetooth. This is great because you can have your game audio, and your music playing at the same time, which is great for people like me who still use a dedicated mp3 player, and hate modern racing/gta soundtracks. The steel series engineers have created a great piece of kit here.

At first i was not impressed with the sound quality of these speakers. but after spending some time adjusting the eq settings, these speakers kick ass! Was impressed on how much you can adjust and customize the sound with the "sonar app" that steel series uses. They went from sounding flat and dull to sounding like i was at a concert. Very crisp and clear sounding at high volumes. The build quality is top tier. These do not feel like cheap speakers. They have a good weight to them. PROS: excellent build quality , sound great after eq adjustment ,compact, loud, crisp and clear sound. very customizable eq settings CONS: had to adjust eq to get them sounding how i like. but once you dial in the eq these sound AMAZING. went from sounding flat and dull to full and clear at high volume overall i would recommend these to anyone looking for some good quality computer speakers for gaming and music for under $200.

I’m an audiophile and have a very good ear for frequencies and balance. After seeing the reviews of how good the arena 9 sounded I thought I’d give it a shot. I wanted something sleek and that did not take up too much space. The size definitely came at a cost. First off the good: The highs are actually pretty good and clean, I’m running my system through a power conditioner and have zero buzzing which is also nice. I can push the system to its volume limit with zero distortion. It holds its clarity well. The RGB lights are also really cool and add a nice ambience to your room. Now the bad: Remember when I said the size comes at a cost? The small drivers on the speakers make the kids awful. Completely off balance to the tweeters (which is for the highs). Because of this the system lacks presence like you would want making feel like you need to push the volume almost max just to get those frequencies to come through better. Even in a small room these speakers don’t seem to have that much headroom. The sub being only a 6in is also quite small and should probably be an 8-10” imo. All this being said you will need to download the sonar software. This will give you the ability to adjust EQs, which is very needed. On the topic of EQs Steel series provides premade EQs for specific games such as Elden Ring, Rainbow Six, Apex, Overwatch etc. These settings work ok but I still found tweaking e necessary especially in the mods to boost presence and the highs because they were screeching loud. Finally while I glanced everything out as simply as I could I did find that while playing I did enjoy the sound and wasn’t as bothered by the shortcomings. Playing music however, was terrible. These speakers are ok for movies and games, music sounds terrible. I tried EQing to make songs sound better, but I very song is mastered differently and these speakers don’t have a flat enough response to work with every song. Upon pushing the system to see how it responds, there was very clear ducking in the frequencies every time the sub hit which just ruins any musical experience. The problem is not with the power in my house as I can easily run a full Dolby Atmos reference system in it lol. Probably a limitation inside this arena 9 system. -Is it worth it?? I’d say it depends on what you’re looking for and what you can afford. This system is great for people who want something small and looks good or someone who wants a very very easy set up plug in and go. If you’re an audiophile expecting a sweet sounding system, stay far away. Price I feel like would be a big determining factor in decisions for people. Many people say this system is expensive… yes technically it is, but let me offer a different perspective. Building a true system for an audiophile will cost thousands of dollars. So if you don’t want to drop a ton of money or deal with running speaker wire everywhere, buying a sound processor, etc. then this is an affordable option. People who aren’t sensitive to frequencies and can’t tell the difference probably will enjoy this system a lot more. My girlfriend who isn’t in to sound thought it sounded great to her and couldn’t really tell what sounded bad. As for me I may toy with it a little more, but ultimately may return it.