REASONS TO BUY
Active noise cancelling
360 spatial audio
Ability to switch between PC and gaming console
REASONS TO AVOID
Ear cups feel hot over time
Expensive
Control module (DAC) hard to see with overhead lighting
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Review
This is a feature-rich headset that ultimately falls a little short due to a couple of design decisions like leather ear cups and its elastic headband
Credit: SteelSeries
RELATED: Best Gaming Headset of 2024
Our Verdict
The Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro impressed us with its features, exceptional audio quality, and performance through AI-powered noise canceling and spatial audio. This helps it excel in allowing gamers to discern enemy footsteps and gunfire while also delivering awesome clarity and balance for multimedia usage. The headset does fall a little short due to its unfortunate design decisions and premium price. The leather ear cups quickly become warm, leaving a desire for a more breathable synthetic alternative, and the elastic that lines the headband gives us pause when considering long-term durability. If you have a larger budget and don't mind leather ear cups, this is a solid product. If you want better overall performance from a headset, check out our gaming headset review.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Gaming Headset |  Best Open Back Gaming Headset | Best Wireless Gaming Headset |  Best on a Tight Budget | |
| Price | $250 List $189.39 at Amazon | $130 List $99.99 at Amazon | $179 List $125.46 at Amazon | $150 List $119.99 at Amazon | $50 List $39.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Despite boasting great features and delivering solid audio performance, this product is held back by its premium price and a couple design decisions | This headset offers great audio, superior comfort, and a fantastic microphone –- the only knock against it is that it is corded | This is a fantastic gaming headset, but its open back design does not block external noises, making it ideal for quiet spaces and in-person gameplay | An across the board good performing wireless headset that gets the job done at a price that is below average for the class | This headset is a great bargain option, holding its own with the top models while costing considerably less |
| Rating Categories | SteelSeries Arctis... | Kraken V3 HyperSense | EPOS H6 Pro | Corsair HS80 RGB Wi... | Kingston HyperX Clo... |
| Comfort (40%) | |||||
| Audio (30%) | |||||
| Microphone (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (10%) | |||||
| Specs | SteelSeries Arctis... | Kraken V3 HyperSense | EPOS H6 Pro | Corsair HS80 RGB Wi... | Kingston HyperX Clo... |
| Connection Type | PC to DAC USB-A DAC to Headset 3.5mm |
USB | 3.5mm | USB | 3.5mm |
| Measure Max Cordlength | PC to DAC: 5 ft DAC to Headphone: 5 ft Usable length: ~ 10ft |
6.4 ft | PC: 8 ft Console: 4.4 ft |
Charging cable: 6ft | 10.5 ft |
| Wireless or Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wireless | Wired |
| How to Mute | Button | Button | Lift mic | Lift | Lift mic |
| Detachable Microphone | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Mute and Volume Control Location | Headphone | Headphone | Headphone | Headphone | Headphone |
| Measured weight (cable hanging) | 10.5 oz | 13 oz | 11.4 oz | 12.8 oz | 9.5 oz |
| Measured Inner Ear Cup Opening | 1-15/16" X 2-5/16" | 1-1/2" X 2-1/2" | 1-1/2" X 2-3/4" | 1-1/2" X 2-1/4" | 1-5/8" X 2-9/16" |
| Ear Cup Shape | Oval | Oval | Asymmetric oval | Asymmetric oval | Oval |
| Ear Cup Fabric Type | Leather | Memory foam, leatherette, cooling mesh | Microfiber fabric | Microfiber fabric | Leatherette |
| Downloadable Software | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Surround/Spacial Audio | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Manufacturer Stated Platform Compatibility | PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Switch (Xbox version available) | PC, PlayStation, Switch (docked mode) | PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch, Tablet | PC. Mac, PS4, PS5 | PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One (older version controllers may require an adapter) |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
This headset has a ton to offer — think spatial audio, noise cancelling, and top-notch balanced audio quality. And the sleek design is a cool bonus. These are the features that make it stand out because they're super valuable for both gamers and multimedia enthusiasts. The Nova Pro would receive an even stronger recommendation if it offered improved long-term comfort and a slightly more affordable price point.
Performance Comparison
The audio on the Nova Pro is one of the best in our lineup.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Comfort
The comfort rating holds the highest weight, accounting for 40% of the overall score, because no matter how many features or impressive sound quality a headset offers, extended wearability is crucial. While the Nova Pro proves to be comfortable and suitable for long-term use, it's important to note that the leather ear cups can become warm quickly, particularly in hotter environments. This factor should be taken into consideration if you live in a warmer climate or plan to use them outdoors a lot.
The headband is designed with elastic, ensuring that your head only comes into contact with the elastic itself, providing a pretty comfy fit. The long-term durability of the elastic does raise some concerns. If the elastic were to wear out, it could result in a less-than-ideal fit.
Elastic headband piece could wear out over time, and can be a little tough to get the right fit.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Audio
The audio quality is our second highest weighted metric, and this is where the headset truly shines. Designed with gamers in mind, this headset offers a competitive edge. The noise cancelling feature creates a deeply immersive experience, blocking out external distractions. The positional audio capability is also top notch, as we put this to the test in the game Counterstrike: Global Offensive. Footsteps and gunfire are accurately rendered, providing gamers with the ability to pinpoint enemy positions with ease. Communication with other players is another crucial aspect of a gaming headset, and we're pleased to report that voices come through with impressive clarity.
When it comes to music, the Nova Pro delivers a balanced mix with a crisp and airy sound. In our tests, the lows, mids, and highs were all clearly represented without overpowering one another. While vocals slightly stood out, we could still discern each instrument. Additionally, the Nova Pro cruised through all audio benchmark tests, demonstrating its ability to compete with other top contenders.
The sound quality is crisp and airy.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Microphone
Moving right along to microphone quality, we are pleased to say this headset performed well through a series of voice tests. The mic has decent bass to it and comes through clean and defined. The S and T sounds weren't too harsh either. The mic does let a little external noise seep through, but we didn't find it to be too distracting. Overall the mic quality is above average, and we didn't find much to complain about.
The mic retracts for convenience when traveling.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The headset comes with a “DAC” control unit where you can adjust the volume and mix. This feature is not often found on other headsets and is a welcomed addition. The control unit itself can be a bit hard to see in certain environments due to how reflective it is. Depending on your gaming setup and lighting, this may or may not be an issue.
DAC control unit is handy for switching between console and PC.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The mute button can be a bit challenging to locate initially, and determining its status (on or off) can be difficult. It would have been beneficial to have an audible click or a more tactile sensation for better feedback.
The mute button can be a little tricky to find and activate.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
A standout feature of this headset is its seamless switching capability between a gaming console and PC via the DAC control unit. You can switch between platforms with the press of a button, supporting PC, Mac, PlayStation, or Switch. While not applicable to every user, those who make use of this feature will find it highly convenient and satisfying.
Finally, the unit can be paired with software, allowing you to customize and configure an optimal EQ setup tailored to your specific needs. During testing, we encountered some errors while downloading the software, although your experience may differ. We were ultimately able to successfully download and utilize the software, and it operated as expected.
A pop filter attachment comes with this headset.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro?
Overall, the Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro did well in a comprehensive range of tests, impressing us with its array of features. The leather ear cups and elastic headband posed some drawbacks, as well as the premium price tag, but if you can overlook these aspects, this headset delivers great sound quality and a solid gaming experience.
What Other Gaming Headsets Should You Consider?
For better performance at a lower cost, opt for the wired Kraken V3 HyperSense headset. It excels in all aspects except ease of use due to its wired nature. If you're new to gaming or uncertain about investing in a headset, the HyperX Cloud Stinger is worth considering. Despite its affordable price, it delivers respectable audio quality, comfort, and features one of the best microphones in its class.
—
Austin Palmer and Ryan White
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