SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review – the total package

We’ve effectively and really entered an age of audio bliss in gaming and the SteelSeries Acrtis Nova Professional Wi-fi headset is nearly as good because it will get. This headset is for anybody who’s after an unparalleled degree of audio management and high quality with none compromise.

SteelSeries isn’t any stranger to high quality headsets, and I can distinctly bear in mind my first encounter with the model again throughout the launch of Diablo 3 after I purchased one of many limited-edition V2 wired headsets. Most of the qualities I adored about that headset have solely been improved upon and culminate within the Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi being simply among the many best gaming headsets I’ve ever used.

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Execs

• Wi-fi base station is greater than only a gimmick
• Crystal clear microphone
• Mild and comfy with out feeling low-cost
• Audio cancellation know-how could be very intuitive

Cons

• GG software program could be fairly intrusive and complicated 

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi Options

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi comes filled with options, and all of them benefitted me indirectly, there’s no filler right here. Like many gaming headsets, twin wi-fi is featured and works like a dream. You may join by way of the two.4GHz wi-fi and Bluetooth 5.0 and there’s no clunky channel switching because the streams can function concurrently. 

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360-degree audio is current, and it presents a transparent benefit in video games like CS2 the place the course of sound is essential. It’s a function that’s commonplace in premium headsets now, and I really feel we take it as a right, as it may be applied poorly. Nonetheless, it’s very effectively optimized within the Nova Professional Wi-fi. 

Battery life on the Nova Professional Wi-fi is nice, with simply over 20 hours per cost, however SteelSeries included two batteries that may be hot-swapped for comfort. Higher nonetheless, the wi-fi base station can also be the battery charger so this helps cut back the necessity for a clumsy separate unit or further cables being wanted. This isn’t a novel function in the marketplace, however one which makes spending a little bit extra on a headset utterly justified. 

SteelSeries’ GG software program, sadly, is a little bit overbearing and is maybe the one minor draw back to proudly owning the Nova Professional Wi-fi. If you need management over your audio, you will need to have it put in and operating. The difficulty right here is that GG isn’t only for audio, it has a ton of different makes use of resembling capturing in-game moments and exploring the newest giveaways. This is just too a lot bloat contemplating I simply need to have the ability to simply entry my audio settings and tinker. Many features of GG could be ignored or turned off, but it surely’s the precept behind the software program that didn’t sit effectively with me. 

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi 

Design

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I’ll all the time again SteelSeries for his or her headset design, purely as a result of as somebody who struggles to seek out any gaming headset really comfy, be it as a result of measurement or weight, the Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi is miles forward of the competitors on each fronts. Consolation is king with gaming headsets, and whereas some supply stern competitors, just like the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro, the head-to-head matchup falls in favor of the Professional Wi-fi for its considerably lighter really feel. At 336g, the Nova Professional Wi-fi is significantly lighter than lots of its rivals, but it surely avoids feeling low-cost within the course of, which is loads more durable to attain than I initially appreciated.

SteelSeries continues to impress with its headbands, and the Nova Professional Wi-fi makes use of a ComfortMAX system which focuses on 4 components; top adjustment, a versatile pressure band, pivoting hangers, and rotating earcups. I get a little bit fed up with studying buzzwords and flashy taglines on product bins, particularly when the product itself fails to ship on large guarantees, however there’s no such difficulty right here. Each facet of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi design is inch-perfect and creates a gaming headset I really feel was made only for me. That is most evident when taking the headset off after utilizing it. There’s no second of reduction, no pressure all of a sudden lifted, it’s the final word signal {that a} headset is getting consolation proper. 

Aesthetically, the Nova Professional Wi-fi isn’t overly chunky, it doesn’t have any loud and misplaced patterns, and it seems like a premium headset ought to. In case you’re not totally offered on the design or simply need to add some shade, SteelSeries sells booster packs that assist you customise your headset. Every one comes with two alternative earcup plates and a material headband. It’s a small change however I fairly loved having a little bit freedom to personalize how my headset regarded.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi 

Efficiency

It ought to come as no shock given how I’ve waxed lyrical in regards to the Nova Professional Wi-fi thus far that its efficiency additionally delivers. Nonetheless, slightly than beginning with the audio high quality, I first need to spotlight the wi-fi base station. This little system is just not solely an enormous cause behind the gorgeous audio high quality, however it might supply added perks if you’re enjoying a suitable recreation. 

When attempting out the Nova Professional Wi-fi in CS2, I seen that the bottom station would report on my efficiency between rounds and even let me know which spherical was beginning, and what number of rounds my crew had gained to that time. The bottom station additionally acts as a fast solution to tweak quantity, chat/recreation combine, or EQ, to avoid wasting having to blindly fondle the earcups for the suitable management. It’s a degree of management that may be unbelievable for anybody enjoying on one monitor as you wouldn’t must maintain switching between packages to make changes. 

AI lively noise cancellation is an enormous a part of the Nova Professional Wi-fi, as slightly than it being a easy function you activate and off, the headset is all the time monitoring your environment to create a really perfect steadiness. Once you’re gaming, it’s stronger, blocking out any potential interference, however in case you’re merely looking the online, it’s weaker, permitting you to work together along with your environment simply. This additionally extends to the microphone, to make sure you’re by no means too loud or distorted when speaking with others. In case you would slightly set your noise cancellation, transparency mode permits for this, handing again management by way of a number of ranges to fit your wants. 

Having tried out quite a lot of video games to get an thought of the standard the Nova Professional Wi-fi presents, I can safely say that there aren’t any weaknesses to be present in pure audio high quality. It’s simple to take recreation audio as a right. Nonetheless, SteelSeries is effectively conscious of how vital it’s, and their high-fidelity  40mm drivers deliver an countless high quality that turns into so obvious when switching between a number of premium gaming headsets. 

Sound-sensitive video games are a pleasure, however even simply listening to music can also be elevated with the Nova Professional Wi-fi. I used to be anticipating a noticeable drop-off in high quality between the two.4GHz and Bluetooth connections, however this was non-existent regardless of the frequency variations between wi-fi and wired. The perfect abstract of my time with the Nova Professional Wi-fi is it doesn’t matter what I threw at it, or how I attempted to reveal a weak point, it stood robust.

Must you purchase the

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi?

Sure. Merely put, you’ll discover it exhausting to return by a greater gaming headset than the SteelSeries Arctis Professional Wi-fi. Premium comes at a worth, and the Nova Professional Wi-fi will set you again $349.99 / £329.99, however you’ll get each penny of this price again as added worth to your gaming, after which some, for years to return. 

If the value is a blocker, we’d recommend the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro, which is a slightly cheaper choice at round $199 however places a higher concentrate on its high-band microphone, and fewer so on the audio high quality or customization. 

Verdict

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi is an unbelievable gaming headset. It offers you all the pieces you possibly can want after which nonetheless finds room for extra helpful options and hard-to-beat efficiency. 

I’ve tried for over a month to discover a fault with the Nova Professional Wi-fi, and it’s been a fruitless expedition. It passes each check you possibly can put a headset by way of and it’s handed with flying colours. Not often would I even state {that a} worth north of $300 is value it for a gaming headset, however the Nova Professional Wi-fi justifies its worth right down to the final penny, even when you must cope with bloated audio customization software program.