SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro review
The best just got better
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Since its announcement, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro and Pro wireless headsets have generated quite a bit of hype in the gaming community.
This is for good reason as SteelSeries has always produced some of the best gaming headsets out there, succeeding in comfort, sound quality, and, depending on who you ask, design.
This inarguable audio authority means that SteelSeries headsets are judged very highly, meaning that new releases have to impress. Let’s see if this is the case in our SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro review.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headset
Connectivity
Driver diameter
40mm
Frequency response
10Hz – 40kHz
Mic
Retractable Boom mic
Weight
298g/0.65lbs
Compatibility
PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
- Very comfortable
- Great headband adjustment
- Mic fully retracts
- GameDac allows for on-the-fly adjustments
- Visually iffy to some
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro specs
Connectivity
Driver diameter
40mm
Frequency response
10Hz – 40kHz
Mic
Retractable Boom mic
Weight
298g/0.65lbs
Compatibility
PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Impedance
38 Ohm
Mic sensitivity
-38 dBV/Pa
Cable length
1.5m (USB Type-C), 1.2m (3.5mm)
What’s in the box & setup
- Arctis Nova Pro Headset
- GameDAC Gen 2
- 3.5mm to 3.5mm Audio Cable – 5 pole to 4 pole (4 ft / 1.2m)
- 2x USB-C to USB-A Cable (5 ft / 1.5m)
- 2x Removable Magnetic Ear Plates
- Microphone Pop Filter
- Product Information Guide
Unboxing the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro was a nice experience benefitting the $250 price tag. The strikingly vivid orange & grey box is constructed from thick cardboard that’s easily sturdy enough to withstand a few knocks from careless/drunk delivery drivers.
Opening the box we find the headset sitting within a cardboard insert in its own bag made from pretty premium-feeling fabric.
Despite the tough box and generously included bag, we’d prefer more comprehensive packaging as there is no insulating foam to be found here, especially when you remember you just paid $250 for the thing.
below the headset, you find a small box marked ‘OPEN THIS – FOR GLORY’. This turned out to be false advertising as there wasn’t even any glory in there, just two USB Type-C cables and a wind guard for the mic. You’ll be hearing from our lawyers, SteelSeries.
Given that the headset runs through the GameDace Gen 2, the setup process required a couple of extra steps when compared to the usual plug-and-play experience from most gaming headsets these days.
The process is still easy as hell, though. Simply connect the GameDac to up to 2 sources (PC. PlayStation, etc) with the included USB C cables, then connect the headset to the Dac with the 3.5mm audio cable.
This is a rare occasion where we consider using the software to be mandatory as the capabilities of the GameDac will be significantly throttled without it.
Once you’ve installed the software the GameDac and Arctis Nova Pro headset will be recognized and you can start messing with settings.
Weirdly, when we first set the headset up sidetones (the mic rebroadcasts your voice through the headset so you can monitor your own volume) were on by default. This was a bit weird but you can turn them off in the SteelSeries GG software so it’s not a massive inconvenience.
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Design
SteelSeries has always made very distinctively designed gaming headsets, instantly recognizable even with no logo in sight. This is still the case with the Arctis Nova Pro, however, this design has proven divisive here in the WePC office.
Some aren’t bothered by this, but we found the exterior of the earcups a bit weird looking. The circular brushed aluminum plates bearing to logo sit within a large oval shape.
It’s hard to explain but we think it just looks weird. Luckily we have a very talented product photographer so you can see for yourself.
Admittedly, headset design doesn’t mean anything to many people as the headset become isn’t visible when in use, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
Other than the indeterminately weird-looking earcups, the design is great, with matte grey all over the place, giving the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headset a modern and stealthy look.
This is also the first time we’ve ever seen a headset with a boom mic that actually fully retracts. when not in use it becomes totally flush with the earcup unless you use the included pop filter, but that’s easy enough to pop off and on.
Honestly, it’s nuts that this isn’t more common, but we like that SteelSeries has gone the extra mile to create such a neat-looking product. Other manufacturers should take a lesson here, as we’ve seen worse designs that cost more money.
The top of the headband is shrouded in gun metal-gray metal that’s pleasingly cool to the touch. It’s also deceptively thin, however, this is because the Arctis Nova Pro utilizes a floating headband design for enhanced comfort. (More on that later).
The GameDac is also worth talking about here, as it’s a very smart-looking little module. It’s sort of a gun-metal grey similar to the headband and looks great on the desk too.
Additionally, its OLED screen is super clear and it’s visible from any angle, making it ideal for those of you who might have less-conventional gaming setups.
It’s also tilted up at about 45 degrees, making it perfectly ergonomic to use, which is an improvement over the previous generation GameDac, which we tested during our SteelSeries Arctis Pro review, which wasn’t nearly as easy to use.
Build quality
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is generally constructed very well, with plenty of aluminum to reinforce the largely plastic build.
We also have to give much credit to the adjustment mechanism as it doesn’t rely on a stepped, incremental system, but instead utilizes friction alone.
We consider this ideal as it means that the headband is infinitely adjustable. This avoids the issue where one setting is too tight, and the next is too loose, which is surprisingly common and unsurprisingly infuriating
This friction has been dialed in perfectly, too. Free enough to adjust by hand, but tight enough that it won’t migrate, this is an impressive feat and so far, the headset doesn’t feel like it’ll loosen over time, but we can’t be sure about that in the long term.
The faux leather covering the ear cushions is also fantastically soft, with enough plushness to be massively comfy balanced with some good resistance to prevent the cushioning from flattening out entirely.
We previously mentioned the fully retractable mic and the mechanism that allows this also feels great, similar to the headband, there is quite a lot of resistance that prevents it from feeling loose and therefore cheap, but not so much that it’s a pain to stow away.
The GameDac also feels awesome. It stays securely planted on the desk due to the grippy rubberized texture underneath and the aforementioned 45-degree (ish) inclination.
The gigantic knob that takes up almost half of the GameDac feels really nice too, there are no tactile incremental steps, but it still feels solid and doesn’t migrate from where you place it.
This allows for satisfying and easy adjustment of the core functionality, with the default use of course being volume control. Additionally, holding the button allows you to scroll through other settings, with a small capacitive button below the screen that returns you home.
Sound quality
We’re pleased to report that SteelSeries has continued its streak of great audio here. In a world where most gaming headsets do the bare minimum in terms of audio quality, SteelSeries always go the extra mile, making the high price slightly easier to stomach.
Out of the box, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro actually sounds a little underwhelming, as a flat EQ is applied by default, but you can change this through the GG software, or via the GameDac.
We quite like what SteelSeries calls the ‘Smiley’ EQ, more often known as a V-shaped curve. This boosts the highs and the bass for a classically easy way of making the audio sound better.
We also have to give SteelSeries some big credit for the positional audio effect of this headset. Of course, it doesn’t come close to speakers that are actually positioned all around you, but it might just be the best virtual 7.1 surround sound we’ve experienced lately.
When it comes to customizability, SteelSeries has gone the extra mile again, allowing you to adjust pretty much everything about the sound via the software and GameDac, including the chat/audio balance, surround sound intensity, and pretty much anything else you can think of.
Unless you’re using this with a console, in which case you’re stuck with only what you can do with the GameDac. This is still a hell of a lot more than what you can typically get with a console headset, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless.
The mic
We’ve talked a lot about how cool the fully retractable mic is because we like it. It’s wicked, alright? But how does it sound? has the commitment to a streamlined integration hurt its actual functionality.
No, it hasn’t. In fact eh mic sounds really good and is wonderfully adept at filtering out background noise, including keystrokes, mouse clicks, and any other irritants.
We tested the mic with and without the included pop filter and we noticed absolutely no change in pickup quality or even volume, so we recommend tossing the fluffy little guy and using the mic as is.
Comfort
This is what we’d consider the ideal configurations for comfort in a gaming headset. We get the super soft earpads similar to what we saw in our Razer Barracuda Pro review and the floating headband design from headsets like the Corsair HS80 wireless that we are thankfully seeing more and more of these days.
This means that the weight of the headset is evenly distributed among the contact points. These points being the headband and both earcups. The overall effect is a comfortable experience far above the other gaming headsets we’ve tested, so it might just be the comfiest gaming headset we’ve tested.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro – Final Verdict
We were much blown away by the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. The build quality, audio fidelity, and comfort are all top-tier, It’s rare enough to get two of these at once, let alone all three.
The design might deter some, as it did in the WePC office, but if you like it, or aren’t concerned with superficialities, we’re confident that you’ll love the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro as much as we did, especially if you frequently switch between PC and Console.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro gaming headset
