Our Verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wi-fi is a gaming headset that focuses on game-specific sound profiles to reinforce your audio expertise slightly than a one-size-fits-all method. If you happen to’re making an attempt to maintain to a funds, few headsets present as a lot depth because the Nova 5 due to its easy-to-use companion app, however some design flaws left me annoyed.
- The companion app is easy to make use of
- Quick-charge battery
- Easy connection switching
- Spatial audio throughout all platforms
- Free match
- Matte end is simple to wreck
- Audio bleeding by way of earcups
SteelSeries has constructed up fairly the fame within the headset market through the years and whereas its premium choices are the place you will see that one of the best general expertise, the revised Arctis Nova 5 Wi-fi is a shock bundle that gained’t break the financial institution. This new headset takes the main target away from being a plug-and-play system, as an alternative releasing alongside a companion app, packed stuffed with over 100 game-specific sound profiles.
The SteelSeries Nova 5 has all of the makings of among the best wi-fi gaming headsets and is priced good for the place the market is in the meanwhile. Nonetheless, each time it does one thing nice, just like the pre-baked sound profiles, there’s a contradicting niggle that stops it from feeling like the entire bundle, comparable to solely with the ability to edit these profiles on PC.
Why you possibly can belief our recommendation ✔ At , our specialists spend hours testing {hardware} and reviewing video games and VPNs. We share trustworthy, unbiased opinions that can assist you purchase one of the best. Discover out how we check.
Specs
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wi-fi | |
| Drivers | 40mm Neodymium |
| Connections | 2.4 GHz & Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 22,000Hz |
| Weight | 265g |
| Battery Life | As much as 60 hours, 15-minute quick cost (for six hours use) |
| Colours | Black (With blue or inexperienced trim in P and X fashions) |
Options
The headline characteristic of the Nova 5 Wi-fi is its companion app that comes with over 100 pre-configured sound profiles, a lot of that are tailor-made to particular video games like Baldur’s Gate 3, Counter-Strike 2, and Warzone 2. These are principally designed to supply both essentially the most immersive and interesting ambiance in single-player video games or a aggressive edge in multi-player titles.
Elsewhere, the Nova 5 Wi-fi consists of 2.4GHz wi-fi and Bluetooth 5.3 connections, nevertheless it doesn’t have simultaneous audio, regardless of with the ability to maintain a connection to a cellular system and the two.4GHz adaptor on the identical time. That is to permit altering of audio profiles through the app whereas nonetheless lively in a sport however can develop into awkward in case your cellular tries to play audio and the headset modifications the audio stream robotically.
Thanks to those connectivity strategies, the Nova 5 is appropriate with PC, Mac, Xbox Sequence X/S, PS5, iOS, Android, Change, and Meta Quest 2. In case you are shopping for for consoles, you possibly can present your allegiance by buying console editions of the headset, which apply a inexperienced or blue trim (5X being inexperienced, 5P being blue) to the material headband and in-ear left and proper identifiers. In the end the USB-C adaptor isn’t any totally different contained in the field and can work with each headsets if wanted.
The headset contains a retractable mic, which means it’s handy to retailer the mic away when it’s not getting used. The mic itself slides out and in with ease, and never been any awkward cases of it getting caught up or bent off form whereas adjusting it. The Nova 5 additionally has three fast controls for connectivity switching, energy, and mute. AI noise cancellation is current to assist preserve your audio output clear and get rid of background noise.
Like many SteelSeries headsets, the headscarf will be eliminated to regulate the match, plus it may possibly even get replaced. Nonetheless, the earcups’ outer plates usually are not replaceable, so the customization kits are finally a bit redundant in the meanwhile except SteelSeries begins promoting headbands individually.
Design
The Nova 5 Wi-fi appears to be like at first look to be mainly similar to the Nova Professional, Nova 7, and former Nova 5 iterations, with its largely matte black end, ovoid earcups, and stuck headband. So, it doesn’t do something we haven’t seen earlier than from SteelSeries, however I really feel this can be a optimistic on condition that this design has already confirmed to be among the many most snug presently out there. Not each new launch must reinvent the wheel.
The headscarf options adjustable sliders for the earcups, whereas the material inside headband does a terrific job of distributing the load of the headset evenly over your head. The construct high quality of the Nova 5 feels good, however its matte texture scratches very simply, which is one thing to think about do you have to need to use the Nova 5 on the go.
From a consolation perspective, when static at my desk working or gaming, the Nova 5 feels implausible. It’s mild and ethereal, which means lengthy periods trigger no pressure, and the open-back design means you possibly can nonetheless maintain a dialog with somebody while not having to take the headset off.
A weak point within the design shone by way of after I first moved round with the Nova 5 on because it turned obvious that it sits oddly unfastened over the ear. This isn’t so extreme that it feels just like the headset will fall off, nevertheless it’s annoying to really feel it shifting round in your head, particularly when adjusting the earcups ends in all consolation being misplaced because the mounted headband then sits flush towards the highest of my head. As a headset that pushes its Bluetooth capabilities, it’s odd that such an issue ought to come up when not sitting nonetheless at a desk. The Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi’ closed-back design prevented this from being a problem because it sat rather a lot tighter over my ears, however to not the purpose the place it turned uncomfortable.
One other gripe comes not with the design on the headset, however the 2.4GHz adaptor. When plugged into my PC, it blocks off the usage of a USB port. I’ve additionally seen photos of the adaptor plugged right into a PS5 and the identical happens there. This seems like a primary oversight that would and may have been prevented. Nonetheless, an extended adaptor extension cable is included, it’s simply not very visually interesting to have a look at in comparison with the flush nature of an adaptor plugged straight right into a PC.
Efficiency
Because of its 40mm Neodymium magnetic audio drivers, the SteelSeries Nova 5 Wi-fi gives actually deep bass and clear highs, with increased than traditional 22KHz max frequency. Common audio high quality is kind of excessive and every little thing contained in the Nova 5 Wi-fi is on par with way more costly wi-fi headsets just like the Turtle Seaside Stealth Professional and SteelSeries’ personal Nova Professional Wi-fi.
Nonetheless, the road between premium and mid-range is drawn in how the headset design impacts the audio high quality, and as a result of open-backed nature of the Nova 5, it’s liable to letting outdoors noises develop into a distraction at decrease volumes. Likewise, headset audio will bleed out of the earcups at excessive volumes, issues not usually present in closed-back headphones. That’s to not say that open or closed-back design determines high quality, however right here the choice to pursue an open-backed design has led to some situational weaknesses.
On a vastly optimistic be aware, the customized sound profiles have a huge impact whereas gaming, with just a few of the overall music and film profiles being poor. Particularly, the clear vocals EQ successfully sounds prefer it locations all non-vocal audio in a field, leading to an unbalanced closing product. That is the place the power to edit and save the sound profiles within the cellular app could be actually helpful, however alas that is solely doable on PC through the SteelSeries GG software program, and there doesn’t look like any strategy to ship saved profiles again to the app.
The Nova 5 wi-fi has 360-degree spatial audio, a characteristic that has dripped down from being out there in premium headsets and is now way more extensively out there. Right here, it’s utilized notably properly, as in most first-person shooter sport profiles, like CS2, key audio queues are extremely crisp, and it’s simple to discern the route and distance of footsteps or gunfire.
The retractable mic high quality is nice, and the AI noise cancellation works properly. SteelSeries claims to have examined its expertise towards jet planes, and whereas I can’t communicate to that diploma of noise, I can verify even the loudest keyboard clicks are muted.
Battery life
At 60 hours, the SteelSeries Nova 5 Wi-fi is on the upper aspect in comparison with rivals, however the place it has most different headsets beat is the quick cost characteristic, providing six hours of battery life on simply quarter-hour of cost time.
That is helpful do you have to be caught quick and wish simply sufficient juice to get you thru one gaming session earlier than a full cost will be completed. Alternatively, the Nova 5 Wi-fi will be charged whereas utilizing it as your major audio supply, however the included cables aren’t almost lengthy sufficient to make use of comfortably.
Worth
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wi-fi has an MSRP of $129.99 (£129.99) and is accessible from the SteelSeries web site, Amazon, and Greatest Purchase.
The 5X and 5P fashions are solely out there from SteelSeries direct however could seem at different on-line retailers as has been the case with earlier headsets just like the Nova 7.
Alternate options
Razer Blackshark V2 Hyperspeed
Razer’s entry-level various to the Professional, the Blackshark V2 Hyperspeed is much less versatile in its design, with a set microphone that’s at all times on show, however the microphone itself is top of the range and has the audio to again it up all whereas sustaining an inexpensive value.
Roccat Syn Max Air
Bringing a bit extra type due to its RGB earcups, the Roccat Syn Max Air is a light-weight wi-fi gaming headset that locations an enormous emphasis on audio efficiency, taking lots of cues from the Turtle Seaside Stealth Professional with which it shares its audio drivers and tech like Superhuman Listening to.
Verdict
The SteelSeries Nova 5 is an effective wi-fi headset that seems like it’s missing in just a few, finally vital, areas that can stop it from being a vastly memorable launch. Nonetheless, the companion cellular app is genuinely helpful, notably if you happen to swap between totally different video games repeatedly – particularly aggressive ones. SteelSeries isn’t alone in providing game-tuned profiles however the vary of video games and the benefit of switching through the app are definitely handy.
The audio and microphone high quality is nice, which alongside the well-tuned sound profiles, a formidable battery life, and fast cost time means the Nova 5 Wi-fi is absolutely good worth for cash at its $129.99 (£129.99) MSRP.
