When it comes to recreational activities, playing darts is king. It’s an easy favorite in pubs and tavern game nights.
So if you’re thinking of bringing the fun home to your man cave or perhaps your family room, then you’re probably on the lookout for a good dartboard set.
And because you like to keep yourself updated with the latest in darts technology (or maybe you have serious regard for safety in your house), you may be thinking about getting an electronic dartboard.
There’s an array of products in the market that you can choose from, but today I am going to cover the much-talked-about Arachnid Cricket Pro 800.
At A Glance
Arachnid has made a name for itself by consistently releasing well-designed boards that are packed with great features and game modes — and the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 is no exception.
In terms of design, the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 is up to standard with most other electronic dartboards out there. It has a 15.5″ regulated target area, and the display made of LED is colored the same as that of tournament boards.
Its look and feel are patterned to make you feel like you’re competing in an actual tournament. This board is played with soft tip darts to ensure safety but with the same functionalities of a traditional board.
Positives
So let’s talk about why the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 deserves a place on your wall. Here are some of the things that I liked about this particular dartboard:
- Durable: You can count on this dartboard to handle even the most aggressive throws. It’s built to last so you can enjoy this for many years to come.
- Big Score Display: The LED scoreboard can tally the scores of up to 8 players, and display 4 results at a time. You can also easily scroll through it and choose from a variety of options in its main menu.
- Big Target Area: It also has a regulation-size target area of 15.5 inches.
- Wide Variety of Games: You’ll never be bored with its 39 game options with a variation of 179 types.
- Heckler Feature: One of the things that make darting sports fun is the heckling that comes with it. This board provides that additional feature that you come in three settings — from mild to hardcore heckling.
- Inclusions in the Box: This comes with a mounting hardware and 6 soft-tip darts, mounting hardware.
Negatives
With a bold design such as this, it’s bound to have some drawbacks too. Here are some of the things that you may not like about the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800:
- The Price: Arachnid is known for its built-to-last and quality products, and it shows in the price that they have set for this dartboard.
- Extra Protection is Required: I may love its large display area, but this comes with the compromise of safety in the surrounding area. Although soft tip darts are generally harmless, you may still want to pad the wall behind this dartboard to be sure.
Let’s Dive Into the Features
The Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 is a well-made electronic dartboard with plenty of features that can make it a great addition to your game room.
It comes equipped with different modes to make game nights a lot more exciting and fun. With that said, here are its main features that you should know about.
1. Standard Tournament-sized Target Area
The board itself has a dimension of 30 x 22 x 3, with 15.5 inches for the target area. These specifications are patterned from that of traditional tournament-standard boards, making you feel like a professional player yourself.
2. Micro-thin Segment Dividers
One of the things that differentiate the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 is its micro-thin segment dividers. It is perhaps the thinnest dividers available in the market, helping you lessen the possibilities of bounce-outs. Consequently, this will also help you and other players achieve higher scores.
3. Automatic Scoring
This is a particularly important feature, especially if you have placed bets that are riding on the outcome of the game. The Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 does an excellent job of tracking movement on the board and tallying the scores per player.
It provides an overview of the scores after every round, even calculating the average point per dart (PPD) for you. All of this can be seen on the large LED display board that can track the scores of up to 8 players at a time.
4. Handicap Setting
Understandably, your success in darting sports depends on your skill level as well as your experience in playing the game. While these are indeed important factors in a professional tournament, your proficiency in the game may not be as welcome in a friendly competition.
This is particularly true if you are playing among friends or family members who are not as adept at darts as you are. Luckily, Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 has a handicapping feature to help out here.
It effectively levels the playing field and allows both seasoned players and newbies to enjoy the same game.
5. Reliable Sensors
One of the things that differentiates a good electronic dartboard from a not-so-good one is its sensors. These are important for keeping track of the game and ensuring that you can play without interruption.
So, of course, you’ll want your sensors to accurately track movement on the board without lagging. The Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 does not disappoint in this regard.
It is equipped with responsive sensors to make sure that your hits are tracked and tallied at all times.
6. Stability due to its Weight
Arachnid has introduced multiple dartboards in the past, all considerably lighter in weight compared to the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800.
At 10 pounds, it is designed to be heavier. This contributes to its more stable form that does not compromise maneuverability. Not to mention, this also helps reduce the number of bounce-outs in a given game too.
7. Heckling Feature
Want to make the game even more entertaining and fun? You can easily activate the heckling feature that comes with the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800.
Even if you’re not playing in front of a large audience, this feature will help make it seem like you are. Applause, side comments, jeers, and taunts are what make pro darting fun, and you can get the same experience with this board.
You will even have the option to choose how mildly you want to be heckled, from gentle taunts to more unforgiving jeers. I am telling you, it’s always fun to have this feature activated at all times.
Drawbacks
Ok, so by far, you may have already made up your mind about Arachnid Cricket Pro 800. But I always endeavor to provide fair and honest reviews, which is why it’s important that I give you the full lowdown of all the good and weak points about this product.
Perhaps the biggest drawback here is the considerable price of the board that you have to consider. Sure, it does come with an impressive plethora of features, but the hefty price tag that comes with it can be a dealbreaker for some people.
Still, I think that it does pay you back in durability so much so that you can play this game for years to come, perhaps even pass it down to the next generation.
With that said, you could always opt for the cheaper boards, but you will compromise heavily on the quality of play and the fun that you get out of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Darts Come with the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800?
This board is played with soft tip darts (that comes as an inclusion of your purchase). This makes it a lot safer for you to have at home, as steel tip darts can seriously injure and even break some of your valuables at home.
2. How to Change Bullseye in Arachnid Cricket Pro 800?
To change the bullseye, you simply have to choose the “Select Bulls” button on the settings or scrolling screen. This will prompt you to choose between a single bull or a double bull.
3. Where to Take your Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 for Warranty Work?
You can enjoy up to a full year of warranty when you purchase the board. For any defects, you can take the unit to the supplier. Your eligibility for such service, however, will be based on the terms and conditions.
Verdict
The Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 remains to be the top choice for dartists — and for good reasons.
With an impressive design and features, this is a board that promises (and delivers) plenty of fun and amusement to you and whoever you choose to play with.
It has responsive sensors that take away the frustrations that usually come with electronic dartboards. It has a fun heckler feature, too, that makes you feel as if you’re playing a professional game with a real audience.
On the whole, the Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 has proven to be worth every penny.
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