The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro includes virtually any and all of the features you may need in a headset, but more importantly it does it well. Sublime sound, amazing quality and construction, feature-rich DACs, and connectivity to virtually any device on Earth. this headset is the apprentice of all trades and the master of all trades.
SteelSeries is one of the most prominent gaming headset brands and remains a staple in some of our items, such as Xbox headsets and PC gaming headsets.
SteelSeries headphones are appreciated for their reliability and sound quality, as well as their value for money. Your headset touches on all sorts of value levels and usage scenarios, whether it’s Xbox and PC headsets, or headsets that can do both simultaneously.
For me, I found the SteelSeries headphones to be a decent option to recommend, however, they regularly lacked that X-factor or exclusive feature that could have led me to use them as a daily driving force compared to competing solutions. I can firmly say that this week he has firmly replaced.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro only has this sensational factor, but it also absolutely raises the bar and redefines the high-end gaming headset across the board. This is a stellar and amazing product, which has supplanted all the other headphones in my setup, in all usage scenarios. Here’s why.
Frequency Response (wireframe): 10–40,000 Hz
Frequency Response (wireless): 10–22,000 Hz
Active noise cancellation: 4-microphone hybrid design with microphone in transparency mode
Battery: wireless hours, 22 hours with Bluetooth
Wireless: Bluetooth 5. 0, wireless 2. 4 GHz (forty-fivem range)
In the box: DAC dock, USB-C cables, 3. 5mm audio cable, headphones, two interchangeable batteries
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro costs $350 for wireless editing, making it one of the most expensive Xbox and PC headsets on the market. Stressed editing costs $250, naturally losing much of the cross-platform wireless capability as a compromise.
Whether this is a cost to you will largely depend on how you plan to use it, as it will necessarily work on every device out there today. More on this below in the full review.
As far as availability is concerned, Arctis Nova Pro SteelSeries is sometimes found in all major electronics stores, adding Best Buy, Amazon, and more. Right now, enjoy the best inventories at each and every major store I’ve reviewed, I still suspect those inventories will be temporarily depleted as the rumor spreads about the quality of this product. You can check inventory levels on the official SteelSeries online page (opens in a new tab), which provides links to stores, while offering sales directly in safe territories.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is certainly what I would describe as a “premium” headset, not only for its wide diversity of features, but also for its apparent pursuit of quality. Materials, construction, comfort, ergonomics and the main general points. Just bleed high-end and talk about this top price.
In fact, it’s hard to venture much into this review not to mention the fact that this headset kit costs $350 for the wireless version of Xbox, but after spending a few days with Arctis Nova Pro, I get it. And while we get to the audio quality in a minute, the extensive feature set is impressive enough to justify this price.
The Arctis Nova Pro comes with a virtual audio controller, which has a point of quality that is rarely noticeable among companies offering this type of other important device. The bright and hot pixel style shows that it offers a lot of data and is incredibly undeniable use. A capacitive back button next to a long-press dial serves as an undeniable navigation in DAC menus. With undeniable wrist movement, you can adjust local effect, volume, equalization settings, replace USB mode, and much more. more without having to dive into steelSeries GG software.
In fact, the SteelSeries GG software is probably one facet of the package that I would like to see enhanced. Its bulky interface is full of classified ads for other products, but it’s also a bit dubious when employing the firmware updater. Initially, a mandatory firmware update requirement failed the first time I connected all of this to my PC, and a quick look at Amazon reviews revealed that others also had the same issue. The faulty firmware also caused my DAC to close, which made things worse. Fortunately, spam clicking on the updater finally seemed to force the firmware update, suggesting that there could be server issues on the SteelSeries side. If you encounter similar issues, I recommend that you keep watching until it is resolved, but SteelSeries will update its updater (lol) Stay with others suffering with this.
This is a small reproach but essentially. Thanks to the DAC, you will rarely have to use steelSeries GG software once you have replaced your maximum and rugged granular settings. You can use it to create a single audio stream so that all your sound resources are streamed to the streaming software, but if just for gaming, you probably won’t want to reopen it after running this firmware update.
Another domain in which this headset excels is its design. SteelSeries is already sought after for its comfort and ergonomics, but Arctis Nova Pro takes it to another level.
Airy and comfortable synthetic leather caps accompany a metal frame, complemented by a floating headband. You can adjust the duration between the headset and the frame at will, and the wireless controls on each mug have smart action, with audio commentary to involve activation. I find the headphones incredibly comfortable even in long sessions in relatively hot conditions. The headphones don’t sweat despite the leatherette design, and while they’re potentially a bit smaller, I didn’t find the length to interfere with comfort in any The external appearance is also very attractive, with a sophisticated yet incomparable SteelSeries design, with metallic accents on both sides to give it a touch of style.
Each headset has a variety of controls for pairing, powering, etc. You can adjust the volume on the headset or dac, but the DAC allows you to combine the balance between chat and game audio streams, to make sure you can still listen to your friends. There’s also a mute control, with a notification LED on the microphone itself.
The sports microphone with active noise cancellation, which I found worked very well in testing. It’s also retractable, glideing seamlessly into the headset for the times when you don’t want a microphone at all. My only complaint with the design is the duration, potentially. As someone with a moon face, I think the maximum duration of the arrow microphone is a bit short, but that didn’t affect the sound quality at the other end for those listening, at least. Although this reduced the volume of the side tone, which in my opinion a little calm, even to the maximum.
Where this headset really excels in the look of features is in its cross-platform capabilities. Bluetooth 5. 0 lets you connect virtually any fashionable device, from smart TVs to phones, and you can force that audio instead of Xbox or PC audio. The DAC also has two separate USB-C channels, allowing you to connect an Xbox to any other modern console, adding a PC. I had some problems using the microphone with Bluetooth while the Xbox was active, as it looked like the Xbox was taking control number one. of the microphone in this situation. I found myself setting the headset to PC mode instead and extracting Xbox audio from my TV using Bluetooth when I wanted to use Discord or take a business call. Bluetooth 5. 0 is much better than the Presented Bluetooth in most cases. Gaming headsets and, unlike almaximum, each and every Bluetooth and Xbox wireless combo headset I’ve used, there was no interference in combining multiple signals.
As a bonus, this headset comes with a detachable battery. It’s exclusive among the helmets I’ve worn, and it’s wonderful for several reasons. First, when the battery finally runs out (like all batteries), it will be undeniable to replace it. and easy, instead of having to update the entire headset as seen in other products. Secondly, SteelSeries includes two batteries in the kit, and the DAC has a special charging station to make sure it has a charged battery and fit to be swapped when you run out of juice. It’s a really wonderful feature, and everything I hadn’t learned I needed until now.
No matter how you plan to use this headset, you are waiting for you to use it. You can take it out and listen to music on your phone, use it for business calls, combine games, and remain silent while watching TV. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is, in fact, the most flexible headset I’ve ever used.
It can have all the features of the universe, but unless it has a matching sound quality, the total proposal collapses. Fortunately, SteelSeries has outdone itself when it comes to sound quality here, generating a balanced and spacious soundscape, which isolates all the main sound points that can provide a competitive advantage.
Using the SteelSeries GG software or the DAC itself, you can adjust a variety of settings and degrees of equalization to your liking. In addition, Sonar’s sound menu also features a diversity of equalization presets designed in partnership with a variety of core games, from Valorant to Call of Duty. Unlike many other similar headphones, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro also gives you granular control over the spatial soundscape. I found that some headphones sacrifice realism to accentuate some crisp sound signals as steps to provide tactical merit in shooters, with no ability to adapt to the conditions in which a single-player game would possibly play. SteelSeries GG software, however, allows you to switch between a more immersive and richer realism profile, while also allowing you to adjust the direction of distance between you and spatial audio signals. And it works wonderfully.
The volume of granularity when customizing this headset is a real sight to behold, and while the interface can be improved, the ability to adjust, customize, and adapt each and every aspect of the experience is more than welcome.
That said, mountains of parameters can be potentially intimidating for those who aren’t interested or perhaps not even used to it. This is the case with headphones like this where I felt brands were letting users adjust settings favorably. by experience. Fortunately, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro felt wonderful from the get-go, with minimal adjustments and necessary adjustments. I raised the look tone a bit to my liking, and things like spatial sound aren’t enabled by default, but after making a few adjustments, I felt it was more than enough for virtually each and every sound scenario I threw at it.
Music looks rich and detailed when replaced through an audio profile, without blurring the details. Action and FPS games also have a great effect on the feel with this headset, without sacrificing immersion. As mentioned, you can compose telltale sound signals like the steps and movements of the enemy in charge of the dive, but you don’t have to get a similar experience either. You can balance things out however you want and set up profiles for quick games and reports for on-the-fly adjustments.
It’s also one of the few Xbox headsets I’ve used with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). It takes the background noise that occurs outside the headphones and filters it by injecting an opposition cancellation sound wave, directly into your soundscape. a little lucky to try this, as not only did a neighbor attack his hedge with a chainsaw yesterday, but we also had some very loud and noisy hailstorms that broke my plastic extension roof. In either scenario, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro removed the racket from either my headset and microphone. No one in the Windows Central assembly can notice the fact that I had a guy brandishing a chainsaw right outside my window, which is potentially useful in the hot summer months when I don’t feel like it. end the window.
The only genuine sadness with this headset in general is probably the recording quality of the microphone. Although the noise cancellation in the microphone is well adjusted, its sound reproduction capability is not excellent, as you can hear in the clip above. However, it’s passable and may not threaten your clarity when conveying tactics on Discord or having conversations with your boss. But don’t expect to create content with it.
I hate to say it, but I think right now the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is a time for none. There’s simply no other headset on the market that does everything the Nova Pro does, and no other headset that does it that well. The only comparable option in terms of quality and capacity is B’s Beoplay portal.
However, you want everything this headset comprises to justify that $350 label. Want Bluetooth 5. 0 capability?Do you see yourself using it instead of your AirPods for outdoor use?Do you want cross-platform features with two simultaneous USB inputs?Are you playing on a desktop, where the DAC can be at hand?Are you playing in a relatively noisy position where the ANC can simply be an advantage?There are less expensive headsets in our more productive Xbox headsets that sound almost as smart and can be a more successful purchase.
If you’re making plans to use this headset for everything like I do, I think it’s worth it.
This is a high-end headset designed to be used in each and every facet of your virtual life, whether it’s gaming, music, or even business communications. This headset does each and every one of the things, but more importantly, it does it well.
I’m afraid to say it: he is, right now, the king of all gaming headsets.
It’s one of the only Bluetooth combo headphones I’ve used that doesn’t introduce interference or echo. This is the only headset I’ve used that has a hot-swappable battery, to make sure you never run out of electricity. It’s one of I’ve only used two Xbox headsets that have ANC, and it’s much less expensive than Beoplay Portal, which is much more expensive, though it does much, much more. With a sleek design, next-level comfort, amazing sound, precision tuning options, and a dac that’s hard to pass with, I’m not afraid to say it: it’s, right now, the king of all gaming headsets.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is the king of gaming headsets. Hot-swappable batteries, ANC, sleek design and wonderful comfort make it, in fact, exclusive among high-end gaming headsets.
Jez Corden is editor-in-chief of Windows Central and focuses primarily on everything related to Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for publishing exclusive news and research related to the Microsoft ecosystem while running on caffeine. Follow @JezCorden on Twitter and pay attention to your Xbox Two podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!
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