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Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headphones review: Costly but excellent

Headphone maker Steelseries has released a new white version of its top-of-the-range Arctis Nova Pro Wireless cans and this superb device delivers amazing sound, lots of connectivity and a load of audio presets to boost your gaming

[Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headphones]

Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headphones

When it comes to gaming headphones these Steelseries are simply the best.

They cost a lot, hitting the wallet to the tune of 320, but wow - what a superb set of cans.

If youre really serious about your video games and can afford it, then they should be on your shopping list.

The Arctis Nova Pros remind me of high-end Beats headphones.

The new white design is striking out of the box, with a matt white, curved visual aesthetic combined with a cool silver headband across the top.

Beneath that headband sits another soft fabric one which gently cups the top of your head, aiding comfort during long gaming sessions.

And that comfort and ease is replicated across the feel of the device with highly cushioned ear cups that must be almost 3cm deep.

Theyre incredibly soft and lovely to wear.

[Comfort is key with these cans]

Comfort is key with these cans

The sound from the Steelseries is truly awesome.

Thanks to pro-level Neodymium Magnetic Drivers, every sound in every game feels detailed, separate and definable while noise cancelling ditches any outside interference.

Whether thats a bullet ripping by your head in Call of Duty, or a roaring engine in a race game like EAs F1 24, the whole soundscape is beautifully laid out for you in these headphones.

Chat is sharp and clear, thunderous explosions rattle your head like in real life and footie crowds in the likes of FC24 seem all-encompassing, boosting realism and atmosphere.

Its incredibly immersive when youre in the heart of gaming and really only gets better when youre fully utilising the free Sonar Audio Software that you can download to PC to tweak the EQ endlessly to your hearts content.

If you dont have the time or desire, there are loads of pro gamer EQ presets to pick from to boost any type of gaming and style to really get the most out of the aural part of a title.

Theyre easy to access with a few button presses on the base station, there are presets for popular games like CoD, Destiny, Fortnite, GTA5 and Minecraft. Impressive.

[The battery slots under a magnetic cover on the ear cup]

The battery slots under a magnetic cover on the ear cup

Battery charge is good, around 22 hours a pop, but a clever little trick they employ here is to give you two batteries for the headset.

Theyre easily swappable in and out of a hidden panel behind the right ear cup and you can charge a drained one in the side of the headsets USB base station-cum-volume while using the other.

It means that you should never be sitting around waiting for a battery boost, because you can always have one re-charging while youre smashing baddies in a game with the other.

Also clever is the noise-cancelling gaming mic.

Youd never know it was built into the headset until you tug on a little triangular part of it bottom left, unveiling a retractable, bendy microphone that you can chat with your buddies online with.

Its crisp and makes sure those background rows between mum and sister arent heard thanks to AI tech removing audio clutter.

You can also bluetooth to the headset if you want to connect direct with, say, a mobile phone.

[The base unit USBs into your console or PC]

The base unit USBs into your console or PC

That gives these cans a whole new life away from gaming as theyre attractive enough to take out on the go.

And, again for ease, those lucky enough to have both a console and gaming PC can connect the dock to two USB ports, meaning a simple button switch allows for instant access between both machines.

Overall, the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is a sensational gaming headset.

The presets for all the big games alone are worth forking out decent money for, but when you add in the build quality, amazing sound mix and flexible connectivity, as well as excellent noise cancellation, this is a truly wonderful headset.

Its costly, but you do get what you pay for.

VERDICT 5/5

**Gamers seeking a cheaper option may also want to take a look at the Arctis Nova 5s instead.

Theyre 129.99 and while not as high tech, very decent at the price point for a good all-round gaming headset.

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