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SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1  Headphones Review

Review updated Jan 19, 2024 at 12:19pm
Tested using methodology v1.5 
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1
7.3
Neutral Sound 
4.6
Commute/Travel 
5.7
Sports/Fitness 
6.0
Office 
5.1
Wireless Gaming 
7.2
Wired Gaming 
6.9
Phone Calls 
 1
  1. Recommended in:
  2. SteelSeries

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are wired gaming headphones designed with PCs in mind. They're at the lower end of the Arctis Nova lineup and are worth checking out if you want something more wallet-friendly. They're a step up from the SteelSeries Arctis 1, with improved build quality and attention to comfort, but offer marginal performance gains overall. They also come in PlayStation and Xbox variants, but the difference between these models is mostly cosmetic, as only the PC variant comes with a Y-splitter.

Our Verdict

7.3
Neutral Sound 

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are decent for neutral sound. These headphones have a warm sound profile out of the box that delivers extra boom to mixes. While vocals and lead instruments sound present, a dip in the treble range veils their details. Sibilants like cymbals are also slightly dull and lispy. These headphones are prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, too. If you have thick hair or wear glasses, you may especially notice a drop in bass, as this can rupture the ear cup's seal on your head.

Pros
None
Cons
  • Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
4.6
Commute/Travel 

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 aren't designed for commute and travel. They're gaming headphones, so they're bulky, lack a carrying case, and don't block out any of the low rumble of bus engines. If that's not an issue for you, they have a comfortable fit and are well-built.

Pros
None
Cons
  • Really struggles to block out background noise.
  • Bulky and not stable enough for high-intensity movements.
5.7
Sports/Fitness 

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 aren't suitable for sports and fitness. These bulky over-ears are designed for gaming, and their wired design means that you can accidentally snag them on something, which can pull them off of your head. Moderate physical movement can also cause the headphones to fall off your head. On the upside, they have a comfortable fit and are well-built.

Pros
None
Cons
  • Bulky and not stable enough for high-intensity movements.
6.0
Office 

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are mediocre for office use. They're gaming headphones and have a gamer-centric design, but if that doesn't bother you, they have a comfortable fit suitable for long days at the office. They also have a boom mic, which is great for online meetings as it can capture your voice very well. Unfortunately, they struggle to reduce noise like office chit-chat and lack dedicated call and music-related controls.

Pros
  • Boom mic has great overall performance.
Cons
  • Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
  • Really struggles to block out background noise.
5.1
Wireless Gaming 

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 only support a wired connection.

7.2
Wired Gaming 

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are decent for wired gaming. These comfortable and well-built headphones have a warm sound profile that delivers extra boom to audio, which can help emphasize sound effects like footsteps. Since they use a 1/8" TRRS cable, you can connect them to any console with this jack. They have a boom mic, which does a great job of capturing your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. Since they have a closed-back design, their soundstage doesn't feel very immersive, and they're prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, so you may need to readjust their fit each time you use them to get a more consistent sound.

Pros
  • Boom mic has great overall performance.
Cons
  • Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
  • No app support.
6.9
Phone Calls 

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are alright for phone calls. While they're designed for gaming, you can still make calls with them, thanks to their boom mic. It offers great performance, ensuring you're heard clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. The headphones aren't designed to block background noise and struggle to reduce sounds like ambient chatter.

Pros
  • Boom mic has great overall performance.
Cons
  • Really struggles to block out background noise.
  • No call-centric controls.
  • 7.3
    Neutral Sound
  • 4.6
    Commute/Travel
  • 5.7
    Sports/Fitness
  • 6.0
    Office
  • 5.1
    Wireless Gaming
  • 7.2
    Wired Gaming
  • 6.9
    Phone Calls
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jan 19, 2024: We've made minor changes to this review's text to ensure it's up-to-date and accurate. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations, though.
    2.  Updated Oct 20, 2022: Review published.
    3.  Updated Oct 17, 2022: Early access published.
    4.  Updated Oct 12, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.

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    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    These headphones come in two color variants: 'Black' and 'White'. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see our model's label here. Keep in mind that this model is designed primarily for PCs. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P are designed for PlayStation, while the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X are for Xbox. However, the difference between all three models is largely cosmetic; only the Nova 1 comes with a Y-splitter for PCs. As a result, we expect all variants to perform similarly.

    If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.

    Popular Headphones Comparisons

    The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are the budget-end headphones of the 'Arctis Nova' lineup. They're based on the SteelSeries Arctis 1, but the manufacturer has significantly improved their design, especially when it comes to comfort. While their passive soundstage isn't as immersive as that of the Astro A10 Gen 2 or Logitech G433, they still offer a well-rounded performance that's worth considering if you're shopping with your eye on your wallet.

    Check out our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best headsets for PS5, and the best SteelSeries headsets.

    Astro A10 Gen 2

    The Astro A10 Gen 2 and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are budget-friendly wired gaming headphones with slight differences in performance. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Astro headphones have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their passive soundstage feels larger and more immersive. However, the SteelSeries headphones' mic has a better overall performance.

    Razer BlackShark V2 X

    The Razer BlackShark V2 X and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are both budget-friendly gaming headphones. Both have a comfortable fit and very good mic performances. However, the SteelSeries are better built and have a more neutral sound profile, although it's still warm overall, and their audio cable is detachable, so you can easily replace it if it gets damaged. On the flip side, the Razer leak less audio at high volume.

    HyperX Cloud Alpha

    The HyperX Cloud Alpha have the edge over the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 when it comes to wired gaming. The HyperX are more comfortable and have a significantly better build quality, and their sound profile is more neutral, which some users may prefer. That said, the SteelSeries have a better overall microphone performance.

    SteelSeries Arctis 1

    The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 offers a marginal improvement over the SteelSeries Arctis 1. The Arctis Nova 1 are more comfortable and better built. However, both headphones offer a fairly similar overall performance.

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    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
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    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    TypeOver-ear
    EnclosureClosed-Back
    WirelessNo
    TransducerDynamic

    These over-ears have a very similar design to other headphones in the 'Arctis Nova' lineup, like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. Their ear cups have a rounded accent with the manufacturer's logo centered. They also have a ski-band headband design to help distribute the headphones' weight on your head, which differs from the older yet similarly budget-friendly SteelSeries Arctis 1.

    This model comes in two colors: 'Black' and 'White'. In addition to these colorways, you can pick up console-specific variants with differently-colored headbands. If you pick up the Nova 1P, it'll have a black headband strap with blue accents, while the Nova 1X has a black headband strap with green accents. Our model is the PC variant, which has a black and grey design.

    7.5
    Comfort
    Weight0.52 lbs
    Clamping Force
    0.8 lbs

    They have a comfortable fit. They're lightweight, and the ear cups don't clamp too tightly on your head. You can also adjust their ski-band headband to better fit your head and spread the headphones' weight across your head. However, the ski-band design may not be for everyone as it has a limited range of extension, so if you have a large head, you may have a hard time getting a good seal.

    5.7
    Controls
    OS Compatibility
    Not OS specific
    Ease Of UseGood
    FeedbackGood
    Call/Music ControlNo
    Volume ControlYes
    Microphone ControlMute/Unmute
    Channel Mixing
    No
    Noise Cancelling ControlNo
    Talk-Through
    No
    Additional ControlsNo

    The controls are pretty basic. There are only two controls: a volume wheel with min and max stops and a clicky microphone mute button. On the upside, the controls are pretty intuitive and easy to learn.

    5.9
    Portability
    L9.3" (23.5 cm)
    W8.0" (20.4 cm)
    H1.7" (4.2 cm)
    Volume122.87 in³ (2,013.50 cm³)
    Transmitter RequiredNo

    These headphones aren't designed with portability in mind. In their default position, they're bulky. Even though the ear cups can swivel to lay flat, they can't fold into a more compact shape. However, it won't be a problem if you plan to leave them at your desk or table.

    0.0
    Case
    TypeNo case
    LN/A
    WN/A
    HN/A
    VolumeN/A
    7.5
    Build Quality

    Like other SteelSeries headphones, they're mostly made of plastic with cloth padding. The mic is also retractable. The ski-band headband is adjustable, although the first setting on the top of the band can detach easily. Unfortunately, there have been user reports that the ear cup detaches over time. We'll continue to monitor this issue, but if you've encountered this problem, please let us know in the forums.

    7.0
    Stability

    The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are decently stable. They don't move around too much if you're wearing them while gaming on the couch or at your desk. However, the headphones can fall off if you like to bop your head or move more vigorously.

    Headshots 1
    Headshots 2
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    In The Box

    • SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 headphones
    • 1/8" TRRS cable
    • Y-splitter extension cable
    • Stickers

    Sound
    Sound Profile
    See details on graph tool
    Bass Amount
    0.5 dB
    Treble Amount
    -3.34 dB

    They have a warm sound profile. They have a touch of extra high-bass to add warmth to mixes, which can help emphasize sound effects like footsteps when playing games like Fortnite. However, they have a large dip in their low-treble, which hurts the detail of vocals and instruments. They aren't compatible with SteelSeries' software, so you can't customize their sound this way.

    5.4
    Frequency Response Consistency
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Avg. Std. Deviation
    1.25 dB

    Like most SteelSeries headphones with a ski-band design, they're very prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery. They're sensitive to fit, positioning, and seal, and if you have thick hair or wear glasses, you may especially notice a drop in bass, as these features can disrupt the ear cups' seal on your head. As a result, you'll have to adjust the headphones on your head each time you use them to ensure a more consistent sound.

    Raw Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    8.5
    Bass Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    2.16 dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    22.13 Hz
    Low-Bass
    -1.27 dB
    Mid-Bass
    0.37 dB
    High-Bass
    3.52 dB

    Their bass accuracy is excellent. They lack a little bit of thump and rumble in the low-bass but have extra high-bass to help balance out the rest of this range. As a result, the gameplay has extra warmth and boom. That said, their bass clutters vocals and instruments a bit.

    8.7
    Mid Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    1.74 dB
    Low-Mid
    -0.12 dB
    Mid-Mid
    -1.53 dB
    High-Mid
    -0.12 dB

    These headphones have excellent mid accuracy. The response is fairly even, although a dip in the mid-mid nudges dialogue and instruments to the back of the mix. However, these sounds are still present and clear in mixes.

    4.6
    Treble Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    7.56 dB
    Low-Treble
    -6.65 dB
    Mid-Treble
    -0.71 dB
    High-Treble
    -11.15 dB

    These headphones have poor treble accuracy. A large dip in the low-treble hurts the clarity of dialogue and instruments. The response isn't so bad for the mid-treble; sibilants like cymbals lose a touch of brightness but are still present in tracks.

    6.2
    Peaks/Dips
    See details on graph tool
    Peaks
    2.41 dB
    Dips
    2.58 dB

    Their peaks and dips performance is mediocre. The headphones have trouble following their sound profile and are prone to large deviations away from it. A peak in the high-bass adds extra warmth and boom to mixes, while a dip between the low to mid-mid thins out and nudges vocals and instruments to the back of the mix. Another peak across the high-mid makes vocals and instruments sound harsh, but a dip in the low-treble hurts their details. A steep peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants like hi-hats piercing and painful.

    8.1
    Imaging
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Weighted Group Delay
    0.2
    Weighted Phase Mismatch
    5.47
    Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
    1.57
    Weighted Frequency Mismatch
    2.07

    The imaging performance is great. SteelSeries' more affordable gaming headphones, like the SteelSeries Arctis Prime and SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless, tend to have minor issues in driver mismatch, which is unfortunately normal at this price point. However, imaging varies between units and can indicate quality control and ergonomics. Overall, our unit's L/R drivers are well-matched, which is important for the accurate localization of objects like footsteps in the stereo image.

    5.5
    Passive Soundstage
    See details on graph tool
    PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
    5.05 dB
    PRTF Size (Avg.)
    5.09 dB
    PRTF Distance
    9.48 dB
    Openness
    6.2
    Acoustic Space Excitation
    3.0

    Their passive soundstage performance is sub-par. They're closed-back headphones, so their soundstage isn't very spacious or open. Although wide, the soundstage also struggles to feel out of head and natural.

    2.0
    Virtual Soundstage
    Head Modeling
    No
    Speaker Modeling
    On/Off
    Room Ambience
    No
    Head Tracking
    No
    Virtual Surround
    Windows Sonic Spatial Audio

    These headphones are fully compatible with Microsoft Spatial Sound on PCs as well as Tempest 3D Audio on PS5s. These features can create a more dimensional and immersive gaming experience, although their performance can vary depending on the game. You can also use them with Dolby Atmos, but you must purchase a license separately.

    7.4
    Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    WHD @ 90
    0.405
    WHD @ 100
    0.159

    The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1's weighted harmonic distortion performance is decent. There's a peak in the low-treble at both moderate and high listening levels. It can be hard to hear with real-life content, though, and most other frequencies fall within good limits, resulting in fairly clean and pure audio reproduction.

    Test Settings
    Firmware
    No Firmware
    Power
    Passive
    Connection
    Wired
    Codec
    PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
    EQ
    No EQ
    ANC
    No ANC
    Tip/Pad
    Default
    Microphone
    Boom

    These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

    Isolation
    3.8
    Noise Isolation
    See details on graph tool
    Isolation Audio
    Overall Attenuation
    -11.47 dB
    Noise CancellingNo
    Bass
    0.74 dB
    Mid
    -5.8 dB
    Treble
    -29.73 dB

    These headphones have a poor noise isolation performance. Although they're closed-back headphones, they don't block out sounds like car engines from an open window or ambient chatter. They can significantly cut down the hum of computer fans, though.

    7.4
    Leakage
    See details on graph tool
    Leakage Audio
    Overall Leakage @ 1ft
    37.01 dB

    Their leakage performance is decent. Leakage is mostly concentrated in the mid to treble range and sounds somewhat thin. However, if you like to game at high volumes, it's unlikely that you'll bother others around you.

    Microphone
    Microphone Style
    Integrated
    No
    In-Line
    No
    Boom
    Yes
    Detachable Boom
    No
    MicYes
    8.7
    Recording Quality
    See details on graph tool
    Recorded Speech
    LFE
    20 Hz
    FR Std. Dev.
    1.99 dB
    HFE
    8,487.33 Hz
    Weighted THD
    0.086
    Gain
    22.86 dB

    The mic's recording quality is excellent. Your voice sounds natural, bright, and clear. You won't have trouble being heard clearly by your teammates and enemies alike.

    There's white noise present in our recording; it's the noise made from our testing rig's mouth speaker, which is picked up by the headphones' mic. The recording quality score isn't affected by this noise, though.

    7.2
    Noise Handling
    See details on graph tool
    SpNR
    34.12 dB
    Noise Gate
    Always On
    Speech + Pink Noise Handling
    7.0
    Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
    Speech + Subway Noise Handling
    7.5
    Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

    The mic's noise handling performance is decent. The mic can separate your voice from moderate ambient noise well, so you're heard clearly, even in moderate environments like a noisy living room.

    Active Features
    0.0
    Battery
    Battery Type
    No Battery
    Continuous Battery Life
    N/A
    Additional Charges
    N/A
    Total Battery Life
    N/A
    Charge Time
    N/A
    Power-Saving Feature
    No
    Audio While Charging
    No
    Passive Playback
    Passive Headphone
    Charging PortNone
    0.0
    App Support
    App NameNo App
    iOSNo
    AndroidNo
    macOSNo
    WindowsNo
    Equalizer
    No
    ANC Control
    No
    Mic ControlNo
    Room Effects
    No
    Playback Control
    No
    Button MappingNo
    Surround Support
    No
    Connectivity
    0.0
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth Version
    No Bluetooth
    Multi-Device Pairing
    No
    NFC Pairing
    No
    Line Of Sight Range
    N/A
    PC Latency (SBC)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX HD)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX-LL)
    N/A
    iOS Latency
    N/A
    Android Latency
    N/A
    0.0
    Non-Bluetooth Wireless
    Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
    N/A
    Non-BT Latency
    N/A
    9.5
    Wired
    Analog Audio
    Yes
    USB Audio
    No
    DetachableYes
    Length4.13 ft (1.26 m)
    Connection
    1/8" TRRS
    Analog/USB Audio Latency
    0 ms

    The PC variant comes with a 1/8" TRRS cable as well as a Y-splitter so you can connect the headphones to PCs. If you have the 1X or 1P model, only the 1/8" TRRS cable is included.

    PC Compatibility
    Analog
    Audio + Microphone
    Wired USB
    No
    Non-BT Wireless
    No

    These headphones (and all their variants) are fully compatible with PCs using their analog connection. While you can use the other console-specific variants on PC, only the PC model comes with a Y-splitter.

    PlayStation Compatibility
    PS4 Analog
    Audio + Microphone
    PS4 Wired USB
    No
    PS4 Non-BT Wireless
    No
    PS5 Analog
    Audio + Microphone
    PS5 Wired USB
    No
    PS5 Non-BT Wireless
    No

    You can connect all variants, including the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P (which have a color design that matches this console), to your PlayStation console by plugging in their 1/8" TRRS cable directly into your controller's AUX port. This connection ensures full audio and mic compatibility.

    Xbox Compatibility
    Xbox One Analog
    Audio + Microphone
    Xbox One Wired USB
    No
    Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
    No
    Xbox Series X|S Analog
    Audio + Microphone
    Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
    No
    Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
    No

    All variants of these headphones, including the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X, are fully compatible with Xbox consoles via their 1/8" TRRS cable.

    0.0
    Base/Dock
    Type
    No Base/Dock
    USB Input
    No
    Line In
    No
    Line Out
    No
    Optical Input
    No
    RCA Input
    No
    Dock Charging
    No
    Power Supply
    No Base/Dock

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    Comments

    1. Product

    SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1: Main Discussion

    Let us know why you want us to review the product here, or encourage others to vote for this product.

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      Bought these, and they had constant static buzz that just ruined the microphone, idk what kinda garbage they made these with but they’re unusable

    2. Update: We’ve made minor changes to this review’s text to ensure it’s up-to-date and accurate. There hasn’t been a change in our recommendations, though.