Gamers seeking a comfortable and feature-rich headset should look no further than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. This wireless headset boasts a plush design for extended wear and delivers crisp, high-quality audio that brings your games to life. Beyond the headset itself, the SteelSeries Nova Pro Wireless ups the ante with a dedicated base station.
This handy hub grants you fingertip control over the headset’s equalizer, letting you fine-tune the sound for different games or music genres. It also packs active noise cancellation, a welcome feature for blocking out distractions during intense gaming sessions. The versatility extends to connectivity options.
The Nova Pro Wireless connects wirelessly to the base station for a clutter-free experience, but it also boasts Bluetooth for on-the-go listening to music or podcasts on your phone. And if you forget to charge beforehand, no worries! The headset comes with two batteries that you can easily swap out in seconds, ensuring uninterrupted gaming marathons. Finally, the built-in microphone ensures your voice is transmitted clearly to your teammates during online multiplayer battles.
Comfortable Design
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless prioritizes comfort for extended gaming sessions. It achieves this through several design choices. First, the ear cups are generously sized and plush, featuring a breathable leatherette material that feels soft against the ears. This is crucial to avoid sweaty ears or pressure points that can cause discomfort during long gaming marathons.
Secondly, the headband utilizes a unique design that steers away from the typical, rigid all-plastic construction. Instead, it incorporates a flexible strap that suspends the ear cups from a lightweight metal frame. This allows the headset to conform to the shape of your head for a personalized fit, distributing weight evenly and reducing pressure on the top of your head.
SteelSeries also implements an innovative sizing mechanism that utilizes pins like a snapback hat. This allows for micro-adjustments to ensure a snug yet comfortable fit around your ears.
Finally, the overall weight of the headset is impressively low, thanks to the combination of lightweight materials and a focus on efficient design. This minimizes strain on your neck and shoulders, making it comfortable to wear for hours on end.
Good Sound Quality
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless delivers high-fidelity audio that enhances your gaming experience. It boasts a well-balanced soundscape with crisp highs, clear mids, and powerful bass. This allows you to pinpoint in-game sounds with precision, whether it’s the footsteps of an approaching enemy or the subtle rustle of foliage that might reveal a hidden ambusher.
The powerful bass adds another layer of immersion, making explosions and other low-frequency sound effects feel impactful and realistic. Beyond just in-game audio, the Nova Pro Wireless performs admirably for listening to music across various genres.
The adjustable equalizer on the base station provides further customization options, letting you tailor the sound signature to your preferences. Whether you crave a bass boost for electronic music or a more balanced approach for classical pieces, the Nova Pro Wireless offers the flexibility to personalize your listening experience.
Base Station with EQ and Noise Cancelling Controls
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless elevates the user experience with a dedicated base station. This serves as a central hub for controlling various headset functionalities. A key feature is the integrated equalizer (EQ). This allows you to fine-tune the sound profile based on your personal preferences or the type of audio you’re consuming.
For instance, you can create a custom EQ preset that emphasizes bass frequencies for a more immersive gaming experience or adjust the EQ for a clearer soundscape when watching movies.
The base station also features controls for Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). With the touch of a button, you can activate ANC technology that actively reduces background noise.
This is a valuable feature for gamers who want to eliminate distractions and fully focus on the in-game soundscape. ANC effectively muffles background noise like the hum of a computer fan, air conditioner, or even outside traffic, allowing you to be completely immersed in your game without unwanted interruptions.
Wireless Connection with Bluetooth and 3.5mm Cable Option
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless offers a variety of connection options to suit your needs. The primary connection method utilizes a wireless link between the headset and the base station. This provides a clutter-free experience for your desktop setup, eliminating the need for wires trailing across your desk. The wireless connection offers a strong and stable signal with minimal latency, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted audio transmission.
Beyond the base station connection, the Nova Pro Wireless boasts Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. This allows you to connect the headset directly to your phone or other Bluetooth-enabled devices for on-the-go listening. Whether you’re catching up on podcasts during your commute or jamming out to music while exercising, the Bluetooth functionality makes the Nova Pro Wireless a versatile choice for more than just gaming.
As a final option, the headset also includes a standard 3.5mm audio cable. This allows for a wired connection to devices that lack wireless capabilities or for situations where you might prefer a wired connection for uninterrupted audio.
Average Battery Life with Swappable Batteries
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless offers a decent battery life, but it might not be the longest lasting on the market. SteelSeries advertises the battery to last between 18 and 22 hours on a single charge, depending on factors like volume level and use of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
The headset doesn’t just come with one battery, but with two hot-swappable batteries. These batteries are cleverly designed to be easily removed and replaced. A magnetic cover on the right ear cup provides quick access to the battery compartment. Even more impressive, the headset allows for up to eight seconds of playtime without a battery inserted.
This ingenious feature grants you a window to swap in the charged battery stored in the base station’s dedicated charging bay, ensuring uninterrupted gaming sessions. With this swappable battery system, you can effectively use the headset for extended periods without ever needing to turn it off for charging.
Good Noise Cancelling
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless boasts an effective Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system that significantly reduces unwanted background noise. This technology utilizes built-in microphones that pick up ambient sounds in your environment. The headset then generates sound waves that essentially mirror the unwanted noise but with an inverted phase. These inverted waves effectively cancel out the background noise before it reaches your ears.
The result is a noticeably quieter soundscape. The hum of your computer fan, the rumble of traffic outside, or even loud conversations in another room become significantly muted. This allows you to be fully immersed in your game without distractions. ANC is particularly beneficial for competitive gamers who rely on critical in-game audio cues, like footsteps or weapon reloads, to gain an edge.
By eliminating background noise, the Nova Pro Wireless ensures that these subtle sounds are clearly audible, allowing you to react quickly and effectively in the game. It’s important to note that ANC isn’t perfect and may not eliminate all background noise. However, it offers a substantial reduction in unwanted noise, creating a more peaceful and focused gaming environment.
Clear Microphone
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless features a retractable microphone that ensures crystal-clear voice communication during online gaming sessions. The microphone is conveniently positioned on the left ear cup and can be easily extended or retracted when needed. A red LED indicator light illuminates when the microphone is muted, providing a clear visual cue to avoid any accidental miscommunications with your teammates.
The microphone itself is optimized for capturing your voice effectively. It features a frequency response that prioritizes the human speech range. This ensures that your voice is transmitted clearly and accurately, even in loud gaming environments. Additionally, the microphone incorporates high-frequency emphasis, which helps to boost the clarity and intelligibility of your voice, especially in situations with background noise.
This combination of features allows your teammates to hear you loud and clear during online games, fostering seamless communication and coordination during your adventures. The retractable design also adds to the convenience factor. When not in use, the microphone tucks away seamlessly into the ear cup, maintaining a sleek and streamlined look for the headset.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Review
| Feature | Description |
| Design | Comfortable plush ear cups, lightweight build, unique headband design for personalized fit |
| Sound Quality | Well-balanced soundscape with crisp highs, clear mids, and powerful bass |
| Base Station | Controls EQ and Noise Cancelling, acts as central hub for headset functionalities |
| Connectivity | Wireless connection to base station, Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm cable option |
| Battery Life | Average battery life (18-22 hours), hot-swappable batteries for uninterrupted use |
| Noise Cancelling | Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) reduces background noise for a quieter soundscape |
| Microphone | Retractable microphone with clear voice capture and high-frequency emphasis |
Conclusion
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is a comfy headset with great sound quality. It blocks out background noise and lets you adjust the sound to your liking. It connects wirelessly to a base station or with Bluetooth to your phone. The battery life is good, and you can even swap batteries while you play to keep going. The microphone is clear so your teammates can hear you well. Overall, this headset is a great choice for gamers who want a feature-rich and comfortable experience.
