The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is (almost) gaming audio perfection

I’ve tested many gaming headsets and only one or two can match the excellence of SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. At $350, it’s far from the most budget-friendly option. But what you get in the box is well worth it, particularly in terms of battery life and sound quality, although it does stumble in a single key area, at least for me.

So let’s hit one of those big pluses right away: The battery life of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is great, largely due to its interchangeable design. The headset connects wirelessly to a separate base station that connects to consoles and PC via USB, and this discreet LED-screened unit includes a charging station for naked batteries. You get two of these in the retail box, so there’s always an extra battery charging in the dock while you’re using the headset.

Replacing the batteries is as simple as detaching one of the magnetic earcup faceplates, removing the used battery, inserting it into the base station to charge it, and inserting the fresh battery into the headset. What’s cool is that the headphones retain just enough power to stay powered on while this quick switch occurs, then automatically reconnect once the new battery is installed.

SteelSeries claims that it takes just 15 minutes to charge to get 3 hours of battery life, and in my experience that feels right most of the time. Also, the company promises around 44 hours of playtime in 2.4GHz wireless mode only, while less but still an impressive 36 hours if you’re simultaneously using audio over Bluetooth to connect to a phone or other device.

Over the months I’ve been using this pair of headphones, I can honestly say they last longer than any I’ve tried before, even on a single battery, not to mention the entire seamlessly swappable Infinity Power System (that’s what they call it it). , I swear). It basically feels like I’ll never have to charge it, and that’s a great thing for marathon sessions Red Dead Redemption 2, an older title that I’ve finally played through lately. What a game that. Lenny! But I digress.

I mentioned faceplates earlier, and what’s cool is that you can buy different colorways to spice up the aesthetic of the basic, factory-fresh all-black. SteelSeries sent a like-new kit and changed the earcup plates and adjustable headband to a pleasing light green. A mojito flavor if you will.

Speaking of the headband, that’s my only complaint with the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless so far. It’s not particularly comfortable, at least not on my big head. Even after trying all the sizing options offered, I often have to adjust the headset after an hour or two, or take it off entirely for a few minutes because it digs into my scalp and ears. It’s not terrible, per say, or even a deal-breaker, but I’d really like a different fit.

However, I’m willing to put up with the discomfort because of the sound quality of these cans terrific. I mainly tested them on PS5 with 3D audio supported and wow does this unit live up to the Tempest Engine. Spatial audio really shines here, as does music and bass-heavy moments. There’s a lot of additional customization available on PC, well beyond what you can do on console, but what I played on PS5 really blew me away. The active noise cancellation is also pretty solid.

With that in mind, there are two versions of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, one for Xbox and one for PlayStation. As far as I can tell, both are identical, but the Xbox version is the only one that works on Xbox. So you’re probably better off buying the Xbox variant even if you have a PS5 as it will work on it alongside things like Switch, PS4, Mac and PC. Why do companies do this?

You can also keep two devices wired to the base station at the same time and switch back and forth in a snap. Did I mention that the volume wheel on the base station is very pleasant to turn? Well it definitely is. The wheel on the headset itself is less, but that’s neither here nor there.

By the way, I’ve never had the chance to test the included retractable microphone, mainly because I almost never play online anymore. I’ll have to tackle that soon.

Overall, the sound quality of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless alone is worth the price of admission. Yes, these aren’t the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever used, but that could potentially be a personal gripe given the size of the head. Who knows.

The base station is sleek, the headset itself is fairly light, and the sounds coming out of the drivers are impeccable. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a single pop, buzz or disconnect in all the hours I’ve used these, something I can’t necessarily say for other wireless headsets.

If SteelSeries can adjust the fit for the next iteration, I’m a complete convert.

Disclaimer: SteelSeries provided the test product for reporting purposes.