At first we would like to thank SteelSeries for offering the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Xbox & PC Gaming Headset for testing and reviewing.

 

About SteelSeries:

"From day one, SteelSeries has been focused on making high performance gaming gear used by the most demanding, top professional gamers worldwide and peripherals that provide superior quality and a competitive edge to gamers of all skill levels. We believe, as most gamers do, in winning, not trying!

 

What originally began with two people who recognized the need for superior, high-quality/performance gaming gear that would give gamers a competitive edge, has grown into a global leader in gaming and entertainment gear sought after for their high performance capabilities.

 

Fast-forward to today, and we’ve come a long way since our first glass mousepad. We have global offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, providing an integrated portfolio of products designed specifically for gaming. Fueling our growth is you, the gamer!

 

While we are proud of our technology and product innovation, we are even more excited about how these products are developed to meet the needs of gamers. Many companies may claim to develop superior gaming products but few actually do. Instead, they spend countless hours with lab engineers trying to force fit a new technology with bells and whistles and mediocre functionality for the end-user.

 

At SteelSeries, we develop our products with a small internal team and a vast network of technology partners, channel partners, game publishers, and gaming communities around the globe. We aren’t afraid of being challenged and implementing new ideas. Our main goal is to always to listen to the collective feedback of our professional gaming community.

 

We won’t bore you with cheeky slogans, trying to underline our authenticity as gamers. We fully acknowledge that the best professional gamers in the world know more about what they want and what will make them better, than we do. We are proud to be working with our partners, but we can’t take credit for their invaluable input and feedback. Instead we tell it like it is: they help us. We want to know what works and what doesn’t. For this reason, SteelSeries creates innovative solutions that provide a competitive advantage for all gamers.

 

Critical to our company’s success is also our reinvestment in the gaming communities and the individuals who support them. As a result, our corporate philosophy is to take a substantial portion of our revenue and put it back into the gaming community to help spur industry growth. We support our community in numerous ways, ranging from co-hosting tournaments like Iron Lady and King of the Hill, and supporting gaming competitions of all sizes, to promoting the top and up-and-coming gaming teams/organizations.

 

Put simply, SteelSeries does not claim to invent or reinvent the gaming industry. Nor do we focus on one specific product, copy other companies or follow the crowd.

 

Instead we leave it to you, the gamer, our customer/partner/inspiration, to decide if we are deserving of such declarations and accolades. What we do promise, however, is to remain committed to you. We will continue to work with you and the gaming community to make the best products possible and give you that competitive edge. We will continue to do our best to support the growth of the professional gaming industry and give back to the gaming communities. By doing so, we don’t just talk a good game, we win!"

Almighty Audio

Hear game audio like you never have before. Transport yourself to another world of immersive gaming. Almighty Audio is here.

Nova Pro Acoustic System

Ultimate clarity and sound quality come together in the Nova Pro Acoustic System, raising the bar for what audio in gaming means. Our audio engineers pushed the envelope for legendary performance with Premium High Fidelity Drivers, achieving sound purity unlike any other gaming headset.

Lose yourself in the soundscape with 360° Spatial Audio and take what's already awesome to the next level with SteelSeries Sonar Audio Software Suite.

Take total control of every sonic element with magical precision, highlighting every critical step, reload, or vocal, utilizing the Pro-grade Parametric EQ, a first in gaming.

Active Noise Cancellation for Gaming

Fully immerse yourself with Active Noise Cancellation, removing outside noise with an advanced 4-mic hybrid system.

Transparency Mode is just a button press away with adjustable hear-through levels to suit your situation.

Multi-System Connect

The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox streamlines your entertainment, allowing quick swapping between two USB-wired systems.

Infinity Power System

Gaming, unchained. Stay in the action with 2 hot-swap batteries, charging the second while you use the first. Almighty Audio never stops.

EQ Settings

Easily configure the sound profile on the fly with a 10-band equalizer, from bass to treble, without leaving your game.

Chat Mix

The Wireless Base Station allows you to strike the perfect balance between game sound and teammate chat, finding the optimal settings for victory.

Multi-System

The perfect fit for your multi-system lifestyle, jump between console or PC with the flick of a switch.

AI Noise Cancelling Microphone

Stand out with crystal clear comms as AI-powered noise cancelling software purifies your sound.

The broadcast-quality bidirectional microphone reduces noise by 25dB on any platform and blends seamlessly into the earcup when fully retracted.

The mic works in tandem with Sonar Software's AI algorithms to silence background noise, cutting out keyboard tapping and button-mashing.

 

Compatibility:

Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One

Wireless USB

ChatMix

*Dedicated Xbox port

PC

USB

ChatMix* (via Sonar)

*Windows 10 and above

PS5 | PS4

USB

Nintendo Switch

USB

Mobile

Bluetooth

 

Speaker Drivers:

Neodymium Drivers: 40 mm

Headphone Frequency Response (Wired): 10–40,000 Hz

Headphone Frequency Response (Wireless): 10–22,000 Hz

Headphone Sensitivity: 93 dBSPL

Headphone Impedance: 38 Ohm

Headphone Total Harmonic Distortion: < 1%

Active Noise Cancellation: 4-mic hybrid design with Transparency Mode

High-Res Audio Capable: Yes (Headphone Speakers)

 

Microphone:

Microphone Type: ClearCast Gen 2 - Fully Retractable Boom

Microphone Polar Pattern: Bidirectional Noise-Canceling

Microphone Frequency Response: 100-6500 Hz

Microphone Sensitivity: -38 dBV/Pa

Microphone Impedance: 2200 Ohm

 

Infinity Power System:

Number of Batteries: 2

At Home: Non-stop battery with hot swap (within 8 seconds)

On-the-go: 44 Hours - 2.4GHz Quantum 2.0 Gaming Wireless / 36 Hours - 2.4GHz Quantum 2.0 Gaming Wireless + BT (18-22 hours per battery)

Fast Charge: 15 mins for 3 hours play

 

Dual Wireless:

Bluetooth Wireless: v 5.0

Gaming Wireless: Low Latency 2.4 GHz

Dual Connection: Simultaneous 2.4 GHz & BT

Wireless Range: 40 ft / 12m (2.4 GHz)

 

 

It took a while, but we finally got our hands on the high-end headset from the Arctis Nova series, the Nova Pro Wireless, designed for use on both PC and Xbox consoles. Following the tradition regarding the Pro line (last product we have reviewed back in 2019), the new release does again feature an external base station with an easily readable OLED screen which facilitates access of most settings without using the dedicated software.

 

The product is shipped inside a medium-sized cardboard enclosure, which does show on the top cover the main product highlights, but also a photo which includes the headset but also the base station:

 

 

 

Some of the SteelSeries awards are listed on the side of the packaging:

 

 

 

The opposite side does show the included cabling, the rest of the bundle but also the list of technical specifications regarding the headphones, microphone but also the used wireless solution:

 

 

 

In the bottom area, we will note the full list of product features and we will also learn that the included microphone is “Discord Certified”:

 

 

 

After lifting the top cover, we will note that the documentation is positioned right on top:

 

 

 

We will receive one small postcard with the “First Edition – For Glory” saying, but also the Product Information Guide:

 

 

 

The Guide helps the user learning the product interfaces, how to connect to different sources, how to access the OLED menu options and more!

 

 

 

The lower layer of the box comes with the base station, but also the rest of the hardware bundle:

 

 

 

 

The separate green cardboard box does also include a drawing, which shows the ideal microphone positioning:

 

 

 

Let’s look inside:

 

 

 

We will receive two USB-C to USB-A cables (1.5m long), a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable – 5 pole to 4 pole (1.2m long) for analog interfaces, two Li-Ion batteries, but also a microphone pop filter:

 

 

 

The USB cables come with a custom design, with piano black and are quite slim:

 

 

 

Same goes for the 3.5mm cable:

 

 

 

The microphone pop filter can be easily attached/detached:

 

 

 

The base station has been redesigned for an easier interaction, with less piano black material on the sides and in the back, which was a real magnet for dust and fingerprints. The piano black finishing was only retained in the frontal area with the OLED display, while the Back button has been replaced with a capacitive one. We are also noting a larger control wheel which can be pressed inside in order to access various menus:

 

 

 

Here is a look on the left side, which shows the textured plastic chassis:

 

 

 

The opposite area comes with the battery charger compartment:

 

 

 

 

In the back, we did note a simplified approach, lacking the optional DC-IN power input and the Optical input/output ports from the previous version. Here we do have a Line-In and a Line-Out jack interface, but also two separate USB-C ports, one for the Xbox console and the other for PC:

 

 

The supplied rechargeable batteries look like the ones pre-smartphone era of terminals had and come with a capacity of 700mAh. These are manufactured by FUJI Electronics and have also marked the position they should be inserted in the base station:

 

 

Some additional safety instructions are also available on the back:

 

 

The batteries come with three gold-plated contacts:

 

 

These can be inserted for charging purposes into the base station, so we will always have one battery ready to be used:

 

 

On the bottom area of the station, we will note some details on the power rating, the supported standards but also the product serial number; the Dolby Audio logo is missing here, since the new unit does not support this specific certification:

 

 

The headset is supplied inside a carry pouch, which also includes a subtle SteelSeries logo:

 

 

The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless does come with the design language we have seen with the other models from the same Nova series, but with elements which make it a truly premium product. The headset is offered in a black color scheme with dark grey accents in the earcup external cover area but also on the top area of the headband:

 

 

Versus the previous generation, we do really enjoy the covers which are held securely with magnets and not plastic clips, making it less prone to wear. The right cup incorporates the second battery, which comes pre-installed:

 

 

Details on the headset power rating can be seen after removing the battery; here we will note the gold-plated contacts as well:

 

 

The left earcup does come with the retractable microphone, but also an USB-C port for charging purposes while on-the-go, but also for performing firmware updates:

 

 

 

The earpads are very comfortable, being made from premium leatherette instead of fabric; underneath, Arctis Nova Pro Wireless does hide the 40mm Neodymium drivers, with a frequency response between 10 and 40kHz while in wired (stereo) mode and between 10 and 22kHz while used in wireless mode, with a sensitivity of 95 dBSPL and an impedance of 38 Ohm:

 

 

 

The stretchy comfort band is soft as well and the tension can be adjusted as needed:

 

 

 

 

The band is removable and can be replaced with different other versions from the SteelSeries website:

 

 

 

 

The top area of the headband is covered by a thin layer of aluminum, with a smooth finish:

 

 

 

The headband can be adjusted as needed:

 

 

 

Most interfaces are found on the left earcup; here we will find the Power LED indicator, but also the Power button:

 

 

 

The microphone mute button is next:

 

 

 

The volume also doubles up as a control wheel when pressing on it, for navigating through different options:

 

 

 

The 3.5mm audio jack allows connectivity to analog sound sources:

 

 

 

The retractable microphone does fit perfectly with the body of the headset but is not to be used in the retracted position. We are talking about a ClearCast Gen 2 model, featuring a bidirectional noise-cancelling pick-up pattern, a frequency response between 10 and 6500Hz, a sensitivity of -38 dBV/Pa and an impedance of 2200 Ohm:

 

 

 

Its flexible body is easily adjustable, to fit all face shapes:

 

 

 

Here is a look at the mic’s interface facing you:

 

 

 

Separate microphones are available in the upper earcup area, to have a fully functional ANC solution for gaming purposes; not only regular mode is available, but also transparency mode for being able to hear the sounds around you without removing the headset, with adjustable levels:

 

 

 

 

The right cup comes with the Bluetooth button, but also the BT status LED:

 

 

 

A small opening is available on the bottom of each earcup, for easy earpad removal:

 

 

 

The machined aluminum outer earcup covers do look like small shields from Captain America, only that the SteelSeries logo is found in the middle:

 

 

 

The magnets are easily recognizable on the back:

 

 

 

As soon as we have connected the base station to our test computer, a message will be displayed on the screen:

 

 

 

During the boot of the station, the GLHF saying will be displayed, along with the SteelSeries logo:

 

 

 

The main screen will show details on volume control, the charge status of both batteries, the current frequency and bitrate selected for audio, the type of connection used but we can also note a small visual EQ on both left and right channels:

 

 

 

The latest version of SteelSeries GG unified software has detected the headset without issues, displaying battery levels for both base station and headset:

 

 

 

The regular Engine section does allow the user to change the current EQ settings, the microphone volume, we can set the gain levels, enable microphone sidetone on different levels, but also select and adjust output levels:

 

 

 

We have some EQ presets we can select to work with immediately:

 

 

 

The Settings area will allow the user to adjust some power-management related options such as the timer when the headset would switch itself off to save battery, we can work with the microphone mute LED brightness levels, how the Bluetooth interface should operate when the headset is turned on, how BT calls should behave, we can adjust he OLED brightness, screen timeout, display mode, but we can also switch between two 2.4GHz operating modes:

 

 

 

Sonar greatly enhances the functionality of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, by allowing operation on multiple channels such as Game, Chat, Media, Aux, Mic, each with its own effects:

 

 

 

In the Game area, we can adjust the EQ on our liking, or by using one of the available presets:

 

 

 

 

Here we do have some other options available as well, such as Spatial Audio, Volume Boost and Smart Volume:

 

 

 

The Chat area includes a separate EQ:

 

 

 

Here we can also adjust the ClearCast AI Noise Cancellation filters, Noise Reduction, Smart Voice Compressor and Noise Gate:

 

 

 

On the Media channel, we can adjust the EQ, but also work with Spatial Audio, Volume Boost or Smart Volume:

 

 

 

 

The Aux area is the same:

 

 

 

 

For the Microphone, we can as well adjust the EQ and work with the filters which are also available in the Chat section:

 

 

 

 

 

After fully-charging both batteries and fiddling with the settings in both Sonar and SteelSeries Engine, we started using the headset while gaming in titles such as GTA V, Diablo 4, Need for Speed Unbound but also Last Epoch; despite the use of 40mm drivers, these are very well tuned and are able to deliver bass as good as their 50mm counterparts, while keeping fidelity on both medium and high frequencies. We have had a very good experience while watching movies and several TV show episodes as well, where voices are clearly heard and other effects such as car engines, shots getting fired are well represented.

 

The OLED display from the base station will show all we need to know from the main dashboard and carries a lot of configuration options; as soon as we enable Sonar from SteelSeries GG, the EQ won’t be possible to be customized anymore from the station, mentioning that Sonar has taken over. Hopefully, a newer firmware update will re-enable customization of the EQ with Sonar enabled as well. One very important aspect we need to remind you is the Power Saving option from the base station, which needs to be enabled for the OLED display to turn off while the system is not used. With this off, the base station will always remain on while power is supplied to it, an aspect which may reduce the life expectancy of the display or cause burn-in.

 

Thanks to the design of the headset, which is mainly built from plastic and helped by the adjustable stretchy comfort band, the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless remains comfortable even after very long 2.5h+ game sessions, which is a great deal! Besides the broadcast-quality bidirectional microphone, which is customizable quite a bit via the software application, we will also get a 4-microphone hybrid design which enables ANC and Transparency mode, something we haven’t found on gaming-dedicated headsets before.

 

The connectivity options are plenty for this model, so we can use it to connect to Xbox Series X/S and the Xbox One, the PC, PS5/PS4 via USB, the Nintendo Switch via USB, but also to devices such as smartphones or tablets via Bluetooth 5.0.

 

In terms of battery life, we noted that the 22-hour autonomy from a single charge reported by the manufacturer is quite accurate, while the hot swapping technique between the two batteries works very well.

 

SteelSeries went all-in with this model, offering a product which is filled with loads of technology and scores high in all segments, except the price, which is quite high, at about 317 Euros, so the mainstream crowd will hardly be able to enjoy it.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Xbox & PC Gaming Headset is Recommended for:

 

 

We would like to thank again to SteelSeries for making this review possible!