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Buyer's Guide: The Best Monitors 
Arctic Sound P531
| Caractéristiques | |||
| Headphone Type | 5.1 headset with microphone | ||
| Frequency Response | N.C. | ||
| Speaker | Dynamic transducer / Closed | ||
| Impedance | N.A. | ||
| Sensitivity | N.C. | ||
 Show all specifications
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| Cable Length | 3 m |
| Weight | 462g g |
 Hide specifications | |
Tristan François
Translator: Catherine Barraclough
Test date: May 17, 2011
Translator: Catherine Barraclough
Test date: May 17, 2011
An (Almost) Genuine 5.1 Headset
Unlike headphones and headsets that use (generally rubbish) spatialisation software, the P531 is a genuine 5.1 headset ... well, almost.
Strictly speaking, this headset is actually a 2x(3.1) system. The central speaker of a genuine 5.1 system is recreated by a synchronised transmission of sound from the two front speakers in the headphones. Plus, two speakers are used to reproduce the bass instead of one ('.1') subwoofer. This is a necessary evil though, as otherwise the subwoofer would have to be stuck in the middle of the headband!
This kind of speaker-packed headphone design has already been seen in Zalman headsets, and it's definitely the best option for getting decent spatial sound without breaking the bank. That said, we still think there's still room for improvement ...
Strictly speaking, this headset is actually a 2x(3.1) system. The central speaker of a genuine 5.1 system is recreated by a synchronised transmission of sound from the two front speakers in the headphones. Plus, two speakers are used to reproduce the bass instead of one ('.1') subwoofer. This is a necessary evil though, as otherwise the subwoofer would have to be stuck in the middle of the headband!
This kind of speaker-packed headphone design has already been seen in Zalman headsets, and it's definitely the best option for getting decent spatial sound without breaking the bank. That said, we still think there's still room for improvement ...
The P531 as almost identical to the Ozone Strato headset. However, as well as the addition of some rather cheap looking silver paint, we also noticed that Arctic's version isn't as well built as Ozone's and several of the components wobble or feel loose—particularly the microphone arm. Plus, the fabric used to cover the headphones isn't as soft and nice as that used in the Strato.
All of this means that the P531 gets one less star for design than the Ozone version. The P531 therefore gets a three-star score overall, rather then the Strato's four stars.
For more information about audio quality, please go to the Ozone Strato review.
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Arctic Sound P531
Pluses
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Easy to install and use
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Heavy but comfortable to wear
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Decent spatial effect
Minuses
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Poor-quality finish
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Lacks precision
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Lack of sub-bass and general balance
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Feels heavy when you wear it for a while
Although the Arctic Sound P531 headset is almost identical to the Ozone Strato, the P351 loses a star due to its low-grade finish.
