Discovering the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset
· Michel Aguilera
We have often had the opportunity to talk about different types of headphones on the blog, whether headphones for listening to music or solutions for hi-fi sound. Today, we are going to look at something rather unusual, because the expectation here is above all about versatility. A very distinctive design and a brand whose reputation for quality was first built in the gaming world. I am talking about SteelSeries. Let’s discover the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless.
Game on… but not only!
This headset is SteelSeries’ answer to the need for a versatile headset. Its primary goal is to meet the expectations of demanding gamers, both in terms of latency, for well-synchronised sound, and in terms of rendering quality, whatever the type of source. A short introductory video:
The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset has an elegant, clean design, with an adjustable suspension headband and over-ear earcups. The memory foam ear cushions offer optimal comfort for long gaming sessions. The headset also features a retractable noise-cancelling microphone that can easily be adjusted for clear communication. In headsets, this is often the element that stands out as having the poorest quality, especially during conversations on products such as Discord, Teams or others. But in this particular case, a software component ensures excellent analysis of ambient noise so that the voice is transmitted clearly and cleanly. In addition, this headset can reproduce Hi-Res sound up to 40,000 Hz, making it possible to hear every sound, even the highest-pitched ones. Thanks to 360° Spatial Audio Surround sound, the effect of sounds all around us is perfectly reproduced.
This is not SteelSeries’ first attempt, as this headset is already in its 2nd iteration and the overall development of the product has been improved. The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset uses 40 mm high-resolution neodymium drivers to deliver superior sound quality. The frequency response is 10 Hz to 40 kHz, which means the headset can reproduce sounds ranging from deep bass to clear treble. It uses a robust 2.4 GHz wireless connection for a range of up to 12 metres and minimal latency. Bluetooth is also present, which makes it possible to connect sources such as smartphones or tablets. But its special feature is the DAC, which also acts as a central control unit (with an LED display), to switch from one USB source to another but also to adjust the sound settings. You can of course use dedicated software (PC or Mac) for connections to computers. The same DAC has a slot on the side for inserting a battery. The headset comes with 2 batteries: one can be used in the headset while the other is charging in the DAC unit. The battery of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset has an impressive 20 hours of continuous use on a single charge. Speaking of software, SteelSeries GG offers the following control interface:
Noise reduction, settings specific to various applications or games, a dedicated equaliser. In short, a myriad of functions are offered in the menus of the Sonar section.
And to give you an idea of the quality of the noise reduction offered by the software feature, here is a demonstration video (in English):
So… is it any good?
In conclusion, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is a high-end wireless headset that offers optimal comfort, exceptional sound quality, robust connectivity and customisable features via the SteelSeries GG software. It is ideal for gamers looking for an immersive, no-compromise gaming experience, as well as broad compatibility with other devices via the Bluetooth connection and the dual USB source on its dedicated DAC. The high price (approx. 400 CHF) is justified by the build quality, the superior performance and the advanced features on offer.
I would add that in non-gaming use (conversations in Teams and other conferencing solutions), this headset has proved very useful, thanks to its battery life and the fact that the batteries can be swapped quickly.