The Arctic Sound P531 is a closed supra-aural headset with swivel microphone. The headset uses the usual colours of the Arctic company, such as black and grey.

The design of the P531 is sober and quite attractive. The headset is entirely made of plastic. Unfortunately, the plastic tends to crackle and squeak when adjusting the headset. This gives the product a cheap feel. Nevertheless, the construction of the P531 is strong.



The logo of the Sound P-series and the name of the product are printed on the left ear cup. The microphone is attached to the left ear cup. Each ear cup has four individual drivers for the following speakers: center, front, rear and subwoofer. The ear cups also feature integrated vibration units. When heavy bass is outputted on the P531, the ear cups joyfully vibrate with it. This actually makes the sound experience much more amusing!

The USB cable of the P531 exits the left ear cup. The insertion of the cable into the left ear cup is very well reinforced, but the reinforcement is also quite long at 2.5 cm. The stiffness and size of the reinforcement actually makes folding the P531 difficult.



Although Arctic designates the P531 as circumaural, the ear cups of the P531 headset can actually be circumaural or supra-aural depending on the size of your ears. This has a major implication on comfort. Seeing as supra-aural ear cups press against the ears, long-term comfort can be difficult to achieve. This is why I personally prefer circumaural headsets, such as the P301 (see Vortez’s review: Link), for long-term comfort.

Arctic boasts that the Sound P531 has “premium soft fabric and ultra-thick cushioned ear cups”. This is more or less true. The ear cups of the P531 do have fabric cushions, but these are much smaller than what we have seen on other Sound P-products, such as the P301. It would have been preferable if the P531 featured thicker cushioning. This would have enhanced comfort.

Noise isolation by the ear cups is pretty good.