In retrospect, perhaps I was slightly harsh in my SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 review in November, an entry-level wired Actis Nova set that featured customisable LED rings around the cups. I chastised its most notable feature by saying, “The RBG? A $60 gimmick that does little to stand out.” My other criticism of the Nova 3 was that its main feature was not easily accessible out of the box. The lights would only reliably work when connected to a PC, despite the text-lite manual suggesting it would also gel with consoles (it didn’t). These criticisms were notably coming from somebody who has sworn by their SteelSeries Arctis 7 for the past six years. With that bitterness behind me, I’ve now had an opportunity to spend a few months with my true love’s successor in the Arctis Nova 7, and have walked away with mostly positive impressions, but some niggling issues persist.
For this reviewer, expectations are a fickle thing, and the Arctis Nova 7 had to compete with its superb predecessor (my aforementioned Arctis 7) as a lofty measuring stick to size up against. There are a handful of minor detractors that one cannot look away from which persist through to the much pricier yet wireless Nova 7, yet this model also boasts a sturdier and more comfortable build quality and terrific wireless dual-connectivity that make it a worthwhile consideration for the Arctis diehards.
The dual connectivity of the Arctis Nova 7 is becoming an increasing norm for wireless gaming headsets, but this headset really sets the standard for connection ease and quality. For example, I decided to call my mum via Bluetooth connection while also having seamless audio layered on top from playing Wild Hearts. If you have never had a headset with this feature before, you’ll find yourself lost without it once you experience it.
What a cute little unit
Even better, the setup is a piece of cake. The primary power button relates only to powering the connection with the bundled wireless receiver. The Bluetooth button, rather than simply managing the connection, also powers the headset’s connection on this channel. I only need to interface with the Bluetooth button alone for both the headset power and subsequent connection to a Bluetooth device. The downside is that I occasionally forgot to turn off the Bluetooth power and connection while mistakenly thinking I had powered down the entire headset via the general power button. I would wake up the next morning to find my phone still connected, which is more commitment than I am used to with a wireless peripheral.
The headset also pulls off something of a magic trick when it comes to layering these two audio channels together for the listener. Take the previous example. I could be talking with my mother and playing games without a need to go into the sound settings for either and make micro-adjustments. I tested this across various calls and games and found this to be safely the case, with only the extreme outliers of games with fucked audio mixing from the outset being at fault (pointing a finger at GTFO). This is a tremendous achievement considering there is no way to manage the levels of the separate audio channels on this headset itself, and the commonplace channel mixer for calls and general audio on the headset only functions when connected to a PC.
The value proposition in favour of the wireless dual connectivity has tapered slightly due to the recent integration of Discord with the PlayStation 5. Cross-platform Destiny raiders no longer need to wrangle dialling into a channel for the mobile app, and both ears can remain firmly within the same cups on a single connection. Regardless, the ease with which this headset mixes the dual channels means I could comfortably listen to an audiobook without compromising the subtle, directional sound cues that this headset excels at empathising in the atmosphere of a game.
Voice lines are picked up and directionally positioned by the Nova which I found to be a godsend when stealthing through The Last of Us
Ensuring that immersion goes uninterrupted is the frankly fantastic battery SteelSeries have used for this headset. Boasting 38 hours on the box, I have only ever had to charge the headset once over two months of use. Better yet, I am sure I had the headset charged to the maximum within an hour. This is a notable 14-hour improvement according to SteelSeries. While I never kept a timer, I would have typically been expecting to charge my original Arctis 7 every few weeks, but the Nova 7 just seems to keep going.
The steel wrap that sits atop the head frame does more for the Arctis Nova 7 than just hiding the plastic chassis that I found a bit too lightweight on the Arctis Nova 3. I found that my criticism of the Nova 3 never sitting quite comfortably and often slipping is somewhat improved by the metal shell of the plastic frame. It makes the whole headset sit sturdily with a bit of weight to anchor it, and the metal shell helps to keep the cups sitting a little lighter on either side. I found the unsupported plastic of the Nova 3 chassis would sit a bit too firm on my head, pressing uncomfortably against my ears and being unbearable for longer sessions – complaints I never encountered this time around.
Comfort is no issue, but the skiband will compress your crown
A carry-over complaint from the Nova 3 is the lack of notable bass. Short of playing around in the Sonar Suite software on your computer, there is only the gentlest of resounding beats to be had. Games with tremendous sound design such as The Last of Us Part 1 and Battlefield 2042 are missing a subtle yet impactful part of their experience with this headset. That is not to say that the bass is absent, but it lacks the impact of headsets half its price such as the notable EPOS H6 PRO. But there is a trade-off to the underwhelming out-of-the-box bass that I noticed this time around. Voice lines are picked up and directionally positioned by the Nova which I found to be a godsend when stealthing through The Last of Us. On a difficulty like Grounded, the ability to rely on the directional audio of baddies scuffing as they flank behind you means that this headset delivers an essential part of the gameplay experience.
Final Thoughts
SteelSeries became a brand to be reckoned with in the headset space courtesy of the Arctis 7, but the next generation Arctis Nova 7 struggles to quite take the mantle off its forebear. With bass that falls far short of the competition, its soundscape is somewhat redeemed by brilliant attention to directional sound and robust dual connectivity audio mixing. This is nevertheless a safe and solid (if pricey) wireless gaming headset that I can only assume will appeal to those looking to upgrade from their older Arctis.
Review unit supplied by the manufacturer
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