$599 for a pair of gaming headphones is an astronomical ask, particularly in Donald Trump’s economic system. However should you received the cash, are critical about your video video games, and the way you immerse your self on this planet throughout your gaming periods, then you definitely positively want the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite headset.
I’m not a critical audiophile, however I do admire a very good gaming headset, and nobody proper now could be making higher headsets than SteelSeries. I’ve been a fan of the model since I received my arms on the Arctis Nova Professional; it’s been my go-to head ever since, however that each one modified as soon as I received my arms on the Arctis Nova Elite.
With the arrival of the $599 Nova Elite headset, SteelSeries introduces a brand new class of luxurious gaming headsets that would change the sport. SteelSeries is hoping that the attract of the headset’s premium design, introduction of hi-res wi-fi audio, carbon fiber speaker drivers, a metallic body, and the power to stream audio concurrently out of your PC, Xbox, PS5, and smartphone will persuade you to swipe your card for the gaming headset that prices as a lot as a gaming console.
Primarily based on my time with the headset, I consider they’ve completed that objective.
Premium Consolation & Design
Whereas the Arctis Nova Professional ($290.99) and Arctis Nova Elite headsets share some similarities, the latter positively units itself aside from its predecessor in plenty of methods.
The Nova Elite ditches the plastic, now that includes a metallic body and management wheel, and a implausible sage-and-gold end that helps the headset pull off a $599 look.
The reminiscence foam cups on the Nova Professional have been already comfortable. Nonetheless, by some means SteelSeries made them much more comfy on the Nova Elite, permitting me to stay cool and comfy throughout prolonged gaming periods.
I’ve fairly massive ears, and carrying headsets can grow to be cumbersome after some time, in order that’s why I’m a buds individual. However the Arctis Nova Professional match completely over my ears, and I by no means felt the necessity to take them off to provide my head and ears a break.
The match on the Nova Elite can be improved because of SteelSeries’s use of aluminum and chrome steel, which give the headset a sturdier really feel.
First Gaming Headset To Supply Hello-Res Wi-fi Audio
What actually places the Arctis Nova Elite headset in a category all by itself is that it’s the primary gaming headset to supply hi-res wi-fi audio, permitting the wearer to stream 96kHz/24-bit audio over 2.4GHz by way of the GameHub DAC or the headset’s spectacular Bluetooth with LC3+.
Forward of my overview, SteelSeries informed me that Hello-Res audio is one thing I can solely expertise on the newest Google smartphone, the Pixel 10, or on PC, with consoles just like the PS5 and Xbox Sequence X capped at 48k/16bit.
Nonetheless, the sound high quality whereas taking part in video games with wealthy audio, like Alien: Rogue Incursion, Silent Hill, or Name of Responsibility, was vastly improved whereas carrying the Nova Elite headset.
By way of the Arctis smartphone companion app or Sonar on the PC, you’ll be able to shortly change the sound profiles with any of the preloaded EQ Presets. For instance, there’s a preset designed explicitly for Armored Core IV: Fires of Rubicon, and one already loaded for Battlefield 6.
I did most of my tweaking by the Arctis app as a result of coping with Home windows and Sonar wasn’t seamless for me, however I’ll cease in need of saying it was a headache.
Omniplay Is One thing I Didn’t Know I Wanted
One other game-changing function that the Nova Elite boasts that I didn’t know I wanted till I skilled it’s Ominplay.
What’s Omniplay, you ask? Effectively, it permits the wearer to connect with 4 audio sources concurrently. So I may be linked to my smartphone by way of Bluetooth, whereas nonetheless being linked to my PS5 and Xbox Sequence X by way of USB-C on the identical time.
Not like the earlier GameHub DAC mannequin, the one which comes with the Nova Elite options three line-in inputs as an alternative of simply two.
Omniplay helps you to combine audio from 4 sources, so that you may be in a Discord chat in your cellphone or PC and blend in audio from no matter console you’re taking part in on.
Closing Verdict
I’m not going to hop on right here and inform you to expire and purchase a pair of $599 headphones, however I’ll say these dangerous boys are value each single penny should you do intend to swipe the cardboard on them.
SteelSeries has cemented its place within the luxurious gaming headset house, and we received’t be stunned if different corporations observe go well with.
The Arctis Nova Elite checks all of the containers after which some, providing a sturdy headset constructed from premium supplies that present consolation, superior ANC (energetic noise cancellation), absolutely customizable and very good sound, hi-res wi-fi audio, and the power to sync with as much as 4 gadgets directly.
They will additionally function your on a regular basis headset as a result of they make the transition out of your gaming station to the streets straightforward, because of they distinctive design.
SteelSeries has delivered, dare I say, the very best gaming headset in the marketplace proper now. Whether or not you’ll be able to afford a pair is one other query.
In case you can’t you’ll be able to all the time scoop up a pair of Arctis Nova 7 Wi-fi Gen 2 that are solely $199 or the very a lot nonetheless related Arctis Nova Professional that are presently on sale.
