SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox]  Headphones Review

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have a warm sound profile. They have a touch of extra thump and warmth to help intensify sound effects like explosions—though this will depend partly on physical characteristics. If you prefer a different sound, you can customize the headphones' sound to your liking using the companion software's EQ and presets or use their wireless dock's built-in EQ. You can only transfer your custom settings from the GG app if you disable Sonar. The headphones' response also changes slightly depending on whether ANC is on or off. If you want more balanced gaming headphones, check out the Audeze Maxwell Wireless instead. 

Unfortunately, some users have reported a high noise floor when the ANC and Bluetooth are both active, and we confirmed this with our own unit. Switching between Bluetooth on and off doesn't significantly affect the noise floor. We also noticed that having the mic on adds a slight hiss to your audio. It's not very noticeable when the mic is being used, but if you have a live mic and you're not speaking, you'll hear the hiss in the feedback. Some users have also experienced this issue with ANC off or sidetone on and Bluetooth enabled. If you've encountered similar issues, please let us know below, and we'll update our review.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' frequency response consistency is mediocre. Depending on your features, the headphones' perceived frequency response in the bass can vary quite a bit—in particular, glasses and thick hair likely interrupt the seal of the earcups, leading to notably subdued bass to the low-mids. Additionally, if you have long hair, you'll likely encounter more variation in the headphones' sound between reseats.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' bass target compliance is outstanding. A small boost in the low bass adds thump to sound effects like explosions, while a broad peak across the mid- and high-bass regions adds punch and warmth to driving synth basslines. Overall, the entire range is slightly overemphasized, which helps emphasize sound effects like the explosion of Link's bomb arrows against enemies in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nonetheless, the bass isn't so boomy as to overwhelm vocals and lead instruments.

The headphones have amazing mid-range target compliance. A dip in the low-mids can make cinematic soundtracks feel a touch thin, but also ensures dialogue isn't muddy. The mid-mids are well-balanced, and emphasis in the high-mids keeps dialogue audible during busy cutscenes. That said, it can also make vocals sound a little harsh. In songs like Glimpse of Us by Joji, the singer's voice sounds a little aggressive when he hits the high notes within the chorus.

The headphones' treble target compliance is passable. A dip that starts in the low treble continues up into the mid-treble, rendering harmonics quiet and producing a darker sound. Some may enjoy that smoother feel, but a big peak in the mid-treble can make sibilants and cymbals sound piercing, especially in contrast to the low-treble response.

The peaks and dips performance is decent. The frequency response adheres to the headphones' warm sound profile through most of the bass to mids. But from the high-mids up through the mid-treble regions, instruments can sound distant or aggressive depending on their pitch, while sibilants sound alternately dull or piercing. While the drop past 15kHz is steep, it won't be particularly noticeable for most, as we lose sensitivity to high frequencies over time.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' L/R drivers are disappointingly matched. The left driver is consistently louder than the right, which biases the stereo image toward the left—the most apparent shift in the mids skews the positioning of articulation and consonants in speech. The drivers' phase response behavior also shifts relative to each other in the high-mid and treble. However, the impact of this mismatch won't be as noticeable as we lose sensitivity to higher frequencies over time, and is more indicative of the headphones' general acoustic properties. Additionally, driver matching reflects quality control, meaning performance can vary from unit to unit.

The group delay performance is decent. Group delay generally falls below the audibility threshold, though the notch at ~50Hz is indicative of a significant phase shift relative to neighboring frequencies; this causes additive and destructive wave interference, which contribute to the notch in the bass response.

The SteelSeries Nova Pro Wireless's PRTF measurements indicate some interaction that mimics the pinna interaction of our test rig with an angled reference speaker to simulate a stereo setup. That said, they won't sound as immersive as well-renowned entries like the Sennheiser HD 800 S, as their imitation isn't very close to our reference. Additionally, PRTF performance serves as one of multiple aspects that contribute to your perception of an immersive soundstage.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have excellent harmonic distortion performance. At regular listening volumes, vocals and instruments are accurately and clearly reproduced. Considering our lack of sensitivity at lower frequencies, the perceivable harmonic distortion in the bass likely won't be audible, especially with auditory masking. While there is more harmonic distortion in the high-mid and treble, and spikes are more noticeable than flat elevated distortion, you likely won't be listening to anything this loud, as high levels at this range can be harmful—at worst, you may perceive slight colorations in audio like harshness in sibilants, depending on their pitch and volume.

These headphones don't require an amp to drive them when wired.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have spatial audio. They support Windows Sonic Spatial Audio, which converts multi-channel audio into 3D audio for a more immersive and dimensional sound. In addition, you can access a spatial audio feature in their companion software GG Sonar. You can alter the settings to fit a specific game with adjustable presets or choose a movie-centric sound, such as Movie: Immersion. You can also access a slider to change the distance of the passive soundstage. These headphones are compatible with PlayStation 5's Tempest 3D AudioTech, which you can turn on and off in the PS5 settings. If you're using GG Sonar software and want to set up Dolby Atmos, you'll get a warning message that this feature may not be compatible with the software.

These are the settings used to test the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, and our results are only valid with these settings.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless look somewhat similar to the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. They have the standard SteelSeries ski-band headband design, but the plastic frame is shinier than that of other headphones from this manufacturer. They come in 'Black' and 'White.' You can customize the look if you can purchase the Arctis Nova Booster Pack separately, which comes with a set of speaker plates and a nylon ski-band in one of several colors: 'Bright Pink,' 'Cherry Red,' 'Lilac,' 'Mint,' 'Pastel Blue,' 'Pine Green,' and 'Rose Quartz.'

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are decently comfortable headphones. They don't clamp as tightly as other models from this manufacturer, like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC, and they're a little lighter. The ear cups have a good range of motion, and the padding feels soft against the skin. However, like many gaming headphones, they're still a bit bulky in design. The sizing of the headband is also limited to the length of the ski band and the metal frame, so they may have a very snug fit if you have a large head.

Some users have also reported experiencing discomfort due to the protrusion inside the ear cups. This is the ANC's mic, which can hurt if your ears are pressed against it. It depends on how you place the headphones on your head and the shape of your ears. If you're wearing the headphones further back on the head, it can cause the mic to touch your ears, which isn't very comfortable. It can also disrupt the headphones' seal and affect sound quality.

The headphones have excellent controls. The headphones have a couple of physical buttons built into each ear cup. They're easy to use and provide tonal feedback. There's also an infinite volume wheel, but it lacks a middle notch to let you know when you're over 50% volume. That said, the feedback can be loud, even if you set the transmitter's volume to its lowest setting and then use the controls to take you back to the main menu, which can be a bit annoying.

On the left ear cup:

• Power button
• Single press: Turns ANC on and off.
• Double press: Activates talk-through mode so you can better hear your surroundings without taking the headphones off.
• Press and hold: Powers the headphones on and off.

• Mic mute button
• Mutes and unmutes the mic.

On the right ear cup:

• Bluetooth button
• Single press: Plays and pauses audio. Also answers and declines calls.
• Double press: Skips to the next track.
• Triple press: Skips to the previous track.

In addition, these headphones come with a DAC that provides controls at your fingertips. You can access channel mixing, EQs, the virtual soundstage feature, gain, sidetone, and mic volume. However, it can be tricky to use since there are only two buttons and a dial.

Like most gaming headphones, these are passably portable. Although the cups can swivel to lay flat, they have large ear cups and a rigid headband, so they can't fold to save up more space. You can see a photo of the headphones in their default position here.

These headphones come with a poor case—a cloth pouch that won't cinch closed. It's a bit sheer, meaning it won't keep your headphones from water or fall damage. At best, the bag keeps the dust away. Although the bag has a drawstring, it also doesn't fully close.

The SteelSeries Nova Pro Wireless' build quality is great. They're mostly made of plastic, but the headband has a metal plate and a nylon sling to keep them sturdy and comfortable. Unlike the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, there isn't extra nylon to wrap over the top of the headband, and there are only three settings for adjusting the strap. The hinges can expand the metal headband to better fit larger heads. The mic is retractable too, and you can remove the ear cup plate to access the battery or USB port. Some parts, such as the headband, are replaceable, which can prolong the overall lifespan of the headset.

The headphones are fairly stable. While they won't move around if you're gaming on your couch or at your desk, they become much less stable if you wear them during a run in the park and can fall off your head altogether.

• SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headphones
• Wireless USB transmitter
• 2x Batteries
• 2x USB-A to USB-C cable
• 1/8" TRRRS cable
• Mic wind screen
• Pouch
• Manuals

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have a good noise isolation performance. Unlike other headphones from this manufacturer, like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, they have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system, which helps filter out some lower and mid-range background noise like the rumble of a bus going past your window or the chatter of your roommates. You'll likely still hear some of those kinds of sounds, but they'll be much less distracting. The headphones do a good job filtering out high-pitched sounds like fan whine. It's worth noting that when ANC is on, they have a high noise floor with an audible buzzing sound.

These headphones do a passable job blocking out more everyday noise, like airplane engine rumble and street noise. But they're not really designed to be taken on the go with you. These gaming headphones will likely remain next to your console or PC. If you want to tackle commute or travel-related noise, you'll want to check out more casual-use headphones like the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless instead.

These headphones don't have a wind reduction feature to reduce the impact of wind on the ANC microphones. But that's to be expected since gaming headphones aren't really designed to be used while you're out and about on roads and in parks. If you take these out with you, you'll hear plenty of rumbly sounds if gusts of wind blow past you. In those circumstances, you might want to experiment with turning ANC on and off to see which produces the best results.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' leakage performance is great. The leakage is mostly concentrated in the mid to treble range and sounds somewhat thin. That said, if you're gaming at high volumes in a moderately noisy environment, it's unlikely you'll disturb others around you.

The headphones' boom mic has a good recording quality. Your voice sounds clear, natural, and easy to understand. A bump in the low to mid-treble can make your voice sound overly bright or sharp.

Users have reported that a buzzing noise appears whenever there's silence on a call, which can be quite annoying. This issue may also be related to the high noise floor when Bluetooth and ANC are both enabled. If you've experienced this, please let us know in the forums.

The microphone's noise handling performance is good. With the noise gate off, your voice is easy to understand, even in moderately noisy environments. That said, you can access additional noise handling controls in the companion app, Sonar, like ClearCast AI NC, which the manufacturer advertises to further cut down ambient noise surrounding your voice. We've recorded a pink noise and subway noise pass using this feature. There's also a noise gate feature, which you can turn on and off. We've recorded pink noise and subway noise pass using this feature too. However, both features seem to produce the same results as when the noise gate is off.

The headphones' battery performance is excellent. Like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, they have a dual battery cartridge system. The manufacturer advertises one battery to last 18 hours continuously with Bluetooth on, using the dock. In comparison, the battery is advertised to last 22 hours when using the DAC and non-Bluetooth wireless. That said, we measured 25 hours when connected to a phone via Bluetooth and PC via non-Bluetooth wireless, with audio playing only from the PC. Battery life can vary depending on use, though.

There are two ways to charge the headphones: you can place one battery in the dock while using the other one, or you can plug in the headphones using the USB port behind the left ear cup's plate. However, if you're directly charging the headphones with the cable, you can't use them. Although there aren't markings on the dock as to how to insert the battery, the battery has small markings indicating how it should be oriented. The dock also won't accept the battery unless it's properly inserted. According to the manufacturer, if you get caught with drained batteries, a 15-minute Fast Charge ought to give you three hours of battery life.

SteelSeries GG and Sonar are excellent companion software if you're gaming on a PC. However, you can only transfer settings to your console if you're using the GG software and disable Sonar in the GG Engine tab. If you make changes using Sonar, they won't be transferrable to your console.

Within the default GG software, you can access a graphic EQ and presets as well as mic sidetone and volume. Sonar is available within the GG ecosystem if you want even more features. It offers a parametric EQ, presets, and robust mic and chat controls. You can adjust the mic's EQ, noise gate, and noise reduction.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are also compatible with the Dolby Atmos app, and you can even use it on Xbox. However, you need to pay for this app. It's designed to improve the immersiveness of your audio, but you can only turn it on or off. We didn't notice a significant difference in sound quality when using it. We also ran a sweep to compare Dolby Atmos on vs. off, and you can see a comparison of both frequency responses here.

These headphones have remarkable wired connectivity and come with two USB-A to USB-C cables: one connects your PC or console to the DAC, and the other charges the headphones or connects them to another console. They also come with a 1/8" TRRRS cable, which allows you to receive audio and use the mic.

Although these headphones support Bluetooth, some users have reported a buzzing noise when using it, which is quite annoying. Other users have also reported the noise when ANC is also turned on when Bluetooth is enabled. However, it most commonly appears when there's no audio playing or when the headphones pick up your voice in calls while Bluetooth and ANC are enabled. If you've experienced this issue, please let us know in the forums.

You can connect them to your console and smartphone at the same time, which is handy if you want to hear your game audio while simultaneously listening to music from your phone. However, their latency is quite high using the default codec, SBC, so you'll find that your audio lags behind what's on the screen. While Bluetooth is handy for music and calls, if you're gaming, you can stick to the wireless (using the GameDAC) or wired connection for considerably better audio/video synchronization. Keep in mind that apps and devices compensate for latency differently, though.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have great non-Bluetooth wireless latency. You can select two settings within the DAC: 'Speed' and 'Range.' Using 'Speed' mode results in a smooth, low latency performance, ensuring your audio and visuals stay in sync while gaming. Switching to 'Range' mode increases the latency but boosts the range, which is good if you don't sit near your TV or monitor when you game.

You can connect the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless to your PC by Bluetooth, their 1/8" TRRRS cable, and non-Bluetooth wireless via the DAC with full compatibility. Both Xbox and PS variants have full mic and audio compatibility with PCs. It's possible to connect to both a PC and a Mac at the same time, too, by connecting the Mac to the USB output and the PC to the Xbox output. However, the PC will recognize the headphones as an Xbox device, so the Companion app won't detect them.

Even though we tested the Xbox variant, this model can connect to PS4 and PS5 consoles with full audio and mic compatibility via analog and non-Bluetooth wireless, thanks to their wireless transmitter base. This is also true of the PS variant: you get audio and mic support via analog and non-Bluetooth wireless connection.

You can use the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless regardless of the variant with the included 1/8" TRRRS cable for audio and mic support. If you have the Xbox variant, you can use the base station for wireless gameplay when connected to an Xbox console for full audio and mic compatibility.

If you have the PlayStation variant, they'll only work with an Xbox via an analog connection. So, if you own both consoles, the Xbox version of the headset is more flexible.

Like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless comes with an excellent wireless transmitter base that charges the extra battery pack and offers several connectivity features and controls at your fingertips. The base allows you to connect to two different platforms (an Xbox and a PlayStation 5, for instance) and switch between them with a button. You can also use the line-in and mic volume functions to send to a PC if you want control of your mix for streaming.