SteelSeries is one of the most reputable and renowned brands in gaming peripherals, a lineage spanning over twenty years with a history of innovations, esports wins and award-winning products, this is a brand that understands the gamers’ needs. While they produce some of the world’s best keyboards, such as the Apex Pro, mice, mousepads and now speakers with their latest Arena line-up, they are most commonly known for its wide range of gaming headphones.
The first SteelSeries headset was developed in 2004 with the Siberia range, followed by the award-winning Arctis range in 2016. With a wide range of gaming headphones to suit every budget, the company has gone from strength to strength thanks to its roster of award-winning audio peripherals. A collection that was elevated to a whole new level with the release of the Arctis Nova Pro series, which comes in both a wireless and a wired model.
The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
The Arctis Nova Pro Wired
With the Arctis Nova Pro line, SteelSeries has raised the bar when it comes to the gaming audio experience, and I’m not just talking about sound quality, I’m also talking about features, comfortability and quality of life improvements. Thanks to Danish designer Jakob Wagner, who has designed headphones for Bang & Olufsen in the past, the Nova Pro series looks the part too, with a stylish and sleek design that doesn’t scream gaming headphones, but rather a premium audio product that you can use and wear anywhere.
For me, what sets SteelSeries apart from other brands is the company’s industry-leading audio and build quality. It’s also the attention to detail on elements that other brands often miss, and the Arctis Nova Pro models are the perfect example of this.
I’ve been using the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for almost a year and it’s easily the best headset I have used for gaming. Games that utilise atmospheric soundscapes like The Last of Us Part I or A Plague Tale: Requiem are very easy to become immersed in, making you feel like you’re there with Joel and Ellie as they shiv a Clicker, or side by side with Amicia and Hugo as they fight off a wave of hungry flesh-eating rats. This is without mentioning action-heavy games such as God of War Ragnarök, Battlefield 2042, and the recently released Resident Evil 4 Remake, which all have satisfyingly meaty-sounding combat and weaponry that you can legitimately feel in your ears.
Both the wireless and wired Nova Pro models come in two versions – a standard version that supports all platforms except Xbox, and an X version that supports Xbox consoles and every other platform, making it the only headset you need if you’re someone who plays on Xbox as well as PlayStation, Nintendo and PC. As someone who games on multiple platforms, that kind of convenience is a godsend, especially when your audio experience is consistent wherever you play.
The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless X is compatible with all platforms
Whether you go wireless or wired, both models share the same speaker drivers that deliver the high-fidelity audio the company is known for. The units also support PlayStation’s Tempest 3D audio, Xbox’s Sonic Spatial audio, and spatial audio on the PC. But both models share two features that make them stand out among their rivals.
The first one is comfort, an aspect that SteelSeries always gets right thanks to its adjustable ski goggle headband. With the Arctis Nova Pro range, SteelSeries has refined the headsets to be the comfiest they’ve ever been thanks to the ComfortMax system, height adjustable and pivoting earcups. Previously, the Arctis headsets utilised airweave earcups, but would leak sound, affecting the audio quality. It’s something that SteelSeries has rectified with the Nova Pro headsets, which use memory foam noise-isolating earcups to ensure you get the best audio experience.
The other feature that the Arctis Nova Pro series has that I am a big fan of is its retractable mic – unlike other mics that flip up or that are detachable, the Arctis Nova Pro’s retractable mic tucks away nicely, meaning you don’t have to worry about knocking it or losing it.
The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is SteelSeries’ masterwork and as such it has some exclusive perks. It is their first wireless gaming headset to feature Active Noise Cancelling, which helps heighten immersion and focus, and as a wireless device, it utilises dual connectivity. However, one of my favourite inclusions on the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the swappable batteries, which not only doubles the battery life to 44 hours (22 hours per battery), but also offers users the peace of mind that when the battery does die there’s no waiting around for it to recharge again – just flip off the magnetic ear cup cover, whack a freshly-charged battery in and you’re good to go.
The Arctis Nova Pro not only sound great, they look great too
One of the best things about the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is just how versatile it is. I’ll frequently use it to record and edit our podcasts or at night when I want to listen to music while writing. There’s just something about listening to tunes with a good set of headphones that speakers often can’t offer – being able to hear all the intricate details while absorbing every snare, kick drum, and guitar riff just hits differently.
The whole SteelSeries experience is enhanced thanks to the accompanying Sonar software suite, which allows PC users to customise their audio settings to suit their needs. Honesty, it’s truly a game-changer, as users can adjust the Game, Chat, Mic and Media settings separately to get the best sound for each. Furthermore, Sonar allows users to get a competitive edge by customising individual bands so you only hear gunfire and footsteps, turn on spatial 360° audio so you can tell where your opponents are coming from. There’s also a wealth included presets for popular competitive games such as Fortnite, Escape from Tarkov and CS:GO that have been curated to enhance your performance. Best of all any headset can utilise Sonar, although some features, such as AI-enhanced microphone noise-cancellation are exclusive to SteelSeries models.
There’s no denying that the Arctis Nova Pro series have price tags that will make your wallet cry. However, right now both JB Hi-Fi and Amazon have a tasty sale on a ton of SteelSeries products, with the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless on sale at A$649 and the Wireless X A$679 (both normally priced at A$735), while the Arctis Nova Pro is available at A$439 and the Pro X at A$459 (both normally A$565). Like any high-end technology purchase, it’s an investment, and if it’s something that you’ll spend a lot of time using, why not invest in a product that will enhance your experience?
The Sonar software can enhance your immersion and performance
SteelSeries also understands that not everyone has that sort of cash to play with, which is where the Arctis Nova 7 wireless headset comes in. Priced at A$399, it offers high-fidelity audio, dual connectivity, 38-hour battery life, and the supreme comfort of the Nova Pro range, making it a great option for those wanting a high-end headset at a cheaper price. Best of all, this headset offers lossless 2.4Ghz wireless and Bluetooth with dual-audio, so you can game and take calls without missing a beat, and if you play on Xbox and other consoles, get the Arctis Nova 7X as this is the model that works on ANY platform.
But while SteelSeries excels when it comes to premium audio products, if you’re chasing something a bit more affordable that has SteelSeries’ signature audio quality but without a lot of the bells and whistles, the Arctis Nova 1 (A$139) with a 3.5mm AUX connection and the Arctis Nova 3 (A$199) which has three cables USB/USB-C/3.5mm plus 2-zone RGB lighting, are two models that provide great value and work on every platform too.
There’s a reason SteelSeries is the industry leader in gaming audio, and its Nova Pro series and catalogue of Nova products are proof of that. If you are looking at buying from the top shelf, there’s no better option than the Arctis Nova Pro range, jam-packed with tons of features that matter, making it an investment that you’ll be glad you made. Whether you’re just getting into gaming and looking at buying your first pair of gaming headphones, or you’re wanting to upgrade to something that will elevate your immersion or give you a competitive edge, SteelSeries has something for everyone.
