SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi overview – the whole bundle

We’ve nicely 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 is not any stranger to high quality headsets, and I can distinctly bear in mind my first encounter with the model again in the course of 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 greatest gaming headsets I’ve ever used.

Professionals

Wi-fi base station is greater than only a gimmick
Crystal clear microphone
Gentle and cozy with out feeling low-cost
Audio cancellation expertise may be very intuitive

Cons

GG software program might be fairly intrusive and complicated 

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi Options

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi comes full of options, and all of them benefitted me in a roundabout way, there’s no filler right here. Like many gaming headsets, twin wi-fi is featured and works like a dream. You’ll be able to 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. 

360-degree audio is current, and it gives 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 without any consideration, as it may be applied poorly. Nonetheless, it’s very nicely 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 be the battery charger so this helps scale back the necessity for an ungainly 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 probably the one minor draw back to proudly owning the Nova Professional Wi-fi. If you would like management over your audio, you have 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 might be ignored or turned off, but it surely’s the precept behind the software program that didn’t sit nicely with me. 

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi 

Design

I’ll at all times 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 provide stern competitors, just like the Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional, 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 opponents, but it surely avoids feeling low-cost within the course of, which is quite a bit 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; peak adjustment, a versatile stress band, pivoting hangers, and rotating earcups. I get a little bit fed up with studying buzzwords and flashy taglines on product packing containers, particularly when the product itself fails to ship on large guarantees, however there’s no such concern right here. Each side 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 aid, no stress immediately lifted, it’s the last 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 appears to be like like a premium headset ought to. In case you’re not solely offered on the design or simply wish to add some shade, SteelSeries sells booster packs that assist you to customise your headset. Each comes with two alternative earcup plates and a cloth headband. It’s a small change however I fairly loved having a little bit freedom to personalize how my headset appeared.

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 to date that its efficiency additionally delivers. Nonetheless, reasonably than beginning with the audio high quality, I first wish to spotlight the wi-fi base station. This little machine is just not solely an enormous cause behind the beautiful audio high quality, however it could possibly provide added perks if you’re taking part in a appropriate sport. 

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 staff had gained to that time. The bottom station additionally acts as a fast approach to tweak quantity, chat/sport combine, or EQ, to avoid wasting having to blindly fondle the earcups for the fitting management. It’s a degree of management that may be unimaginable for anybody taking part in on one monitor as you wouldn’t have to preserve switching between packages to make changes. 

AI energetic noise cancellation is an enormous a part of the Nova Professional Wi-fi, as reasonably than it being a easy function you activate and off, the headset is at all times monitoring your environment to create an excellent steadiness. Once you’re gaming, it’s stronger, blocking out any potential interference, however for those who’re merely shopping the net, 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 reasonably 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 gives, I can safely say that there are not any weaknesses to be present in pure audio high quality. It’s straightforward to take sport audio without any consideration. Nonetheless, SteelSeries is nicely conscious of how necessary it’s, and their high-fidelity  40mm drivers carry 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 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. One of the best 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 show a weak spot, it stood robust.

Must you purchase the

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi?

Sure. Merely put, you’ll discover it laborious to come back 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 come back. 

If the value is a blocker, we might recommend the Razer Blackshark V2 Professional, which is a touch cheaper possibility at round $199 however places a higher deal with its high-band microphone, and fewer so on the audio high quality or customization. 

Verdict

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi is an unimaginable gaming headset. It offers you all the pieces you may 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 may 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.