With the Arctis Nova 1, SteelSeries has created a wireless winner that we want to use for a very long time. It provides wireless sound that is superior to virtually every other option for console or PC players. While the price is very eye-watering and you will need to get the correct version for your preferred system, you can rest easy knowing that you are receiving an absolutely fantastic gaming headset that will improve games not only in terms of sound but also in terms of whole experience.
Known for comfort and quality, SteelSeries has a new gaming headset called the Arctis Nova 1. It’s obvious that SteelSeries wants to set a new standard for wireless gaming quality with this product. The Arctis Nova 1 could be an excellent option not just for a gaming headset but also as a daily pair of headphones prepared to handle commuting and Zoom meetings alike because of its understated style and superior build quality.
The Arctis Nova 1 continues SteelSeries’ tradition of producing cosy gaming headphones. The Arctis Nova 1 headset is incredibly easy to use for extended gaming periods because to its elastic, adjustable headband and plush ear pads. The lightweight design is mostly due to the use of plastic in the ear cups and outside headband; it is essentially the same as the premium SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. The pads are constructed of AirWeave memory foam, which adds to the comfort and quality feel, and the ear cups rotate to better fit the user’s skull.
Design
The Arctis Nova 1 delivers a no-frills design to fit any setting and is sleek, basic, and matte. For a headset in a lower price range, the rotating earcups and strong headband look and feel durable despite their light weight. The Arctis Nova 1 is lighter than its heavier, similarly equipped competitors, weighing only 236g and utilizing memory foam cushions to give maximum comfort during prolonged use.
The Arctis Nova 1 series instead includes an adjustable cloth suspension band that raises the headset above the user’s head comfortably and evenly distributes the weight, in contrast to most other headsets that choose to add padding to the top of the device. Most users will quickly get used to this feature and start to prefer it to rival headsets’ more conventional cushioning support.
Finally, a completely retractable noise-cancelling bi-directional microphone that is sensitive enough for chat while managing to eliminate the majority of unneeded background noise is tucked away inside the left earcup. A quick-access volume wheel and a toggle-able mic mute button are also included on the device’s back. Thankfully, the Nova 1 follows the trend of most headsets in making these features easily accessible.
Comfort
The Arctis Nova 1 continues SteelSeries’ tradition of producing cosy gaming headphones. The headset is incredibly easy to use for extended gaming periods because to its elastic, adjustable headband and plush ear pads. The lightweight design is mostly due to the use of plastic in the ear cups and outside headband; it is essentially the same as the premium SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. The pads are constructed of AirWeave memory foam, which adds to the comfort and quality feel, and the ear cups rotate to better fit the user’s skull.
When picking a headset, comfort is another important consideration that is far too frequently ignored. A headset needs to be comfortable if you’re going to use it for hours on end; otherwise, the immersive experience rapidly becomes intrusive. Between the two, the Arctis Nova 1 walks a narrow line. The clasping pressure can feel excessive during long periods lasting more than two hours, and it did cause some minor discomfort with ongoing use. Although it’s not a deal-breaker, people with melon-sized skulls, like myself, might need to take their headsets off occasionally.
Connectivity
The headgear is available in a few colours, with the headband shifting somewhat to match the colour palettes of various platforms (e.g., green for Xbox). The Arctis Nova 1 only supports analogue audio connections, hence the various versions are purely cosmetic and have no bearing on platform support. The accompanying 3.5mm cable can be used to connect the headset to any device, including an outdated PC. It also includes a splitter cable extender, so you are covered there.
The Arctis Nova 1 cord is a respectable length, so unless you have 8-foot-long arms, you should be able to comfortably use the headset while holding your controller, Switch, or connecting to a PC. One foolish drawback of the cable is that one of the ends has a small plastic bump around its cap that prevents you from placing it too far into your device.
However, given that all devices will only take items to a specific depth, its inclusion is unnecessary. Nevertheless, it prevented me from utilising on my PC when using the GameDAC Gen 2 that was included with the Arctis Nova Pro. The Arctis Nova 1 headphone connector on the device is actually recessed, which helps make it seem nicer, however because of that hump, the connection between the headset and it was never stable. Although it is unusual that you have a recessed 3.5mm connection point, if you have, be advised that the connection won’t be seamless.
Noise Cancelling
The Arctis Nova 1headset’s controls, which consist of a straightforward plastic mute button and a sliding wheel for volume, are located along the left earcup and undoubtedly feel a little cheap. The microphone is also located in the left ear cup, where it extends on a flexible arm and is sealed up quite covertly. Given that it is noise cancelling and has a grating on the opposite side of its plastic holder for its bi-directional mic to take up and cancel out outside audio, this portion actually comes as a bit of a surprise.
Although it appears to be the same or a similar design to the one in the Nova Pros, I didn’t find this to be quite as efficient at cancelling out background noise as SteelSeries claims it is. However, it’s still a step forward over those found in the majority of headsets, making this a good choice for voice chat, meetings, or basic streaming.
A retractable noise-cancelling microphone and a mute button are also included in the design. The Arctis Nova 1 microphone is conveniently accessible for use when necessary, however we should store it carefully out of the reach of cats who will joyfully chew my tech gadgets. The convenient built-in button next to the volume wheel also allowed me to mute the microphone.
Audio Performance
“Custom high quality drivers optimized for gaming” with a frequency response of 20 – 22,000 Hz, an impedance of 36, and a sensitivity of 93 dBSPL are included in the Arctis Nova 1. Despite having the same drivers as the Nova 1, the Arctis Nova 3 and Nova 7 were all tested separately. Drivers for the Arctis Nova Pro and Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are different and more accurate.
The Nova 1’s microphone has excellent audio quality, especially for a headset microphone. Your speech is easily captured, and the audio is loud and clear. It has trouble isolating noise because it is a bidirectional mic rather than a cardioid mic. The Sonar audio package from SteelSeries includes a mic section with an EQ and a few noise-reduction tools, such as AI-powered noise-cancellation, which is still in early access but performs admirably.
However, because the Arctis Nova 1 is an analog-only device, it can only use Sonar’s features when it is connected to a computer. There isn’t anything to criticize about the Arctic Nova 1’s audio output. These cans can compete with the finest in their class for $60. Crisp audio with a good bass, midrange, and treble balance results in exciting music, impactful movies, and helpful situational awareness in games.
Software
The Arctis Nova 1 headsets share the Nova Pro’s generational improvements, such as the completely retractable microphone, improved high-fidelity drivers, and support for Sonar software (for the spatial audio, parametric equalizer, mic noise cancellation and more). Three variations of the Nova 7 Wireless are available: the 7X for the Xbox, the 7P for the PlayStation, and the 7 for the PC. There are three variations of the Nova 1.
SteelSeries offers free access to their incredibly potent equalizer software, SteelSeries GG, for PC users to make up for some shortcomings in the less expensive mheadsets. Each game allows players to completely customize their audio experience, and doing so greatly enhances the audio soundscape by making the bass feel more earthy and delivering punchier sound effects, especially in action games. Console users won’t be able to fully utilise the Arctis Nova 1 thanks to this program because it is only available when used on PC.
Final Words
There isn’t a headset that fits all users, but SteelSeries’ new Arctis line offers a range of options to meet their needs (and budgets). The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is a great option for consumers looking for a budget-friendly headset that yet offers decent quality, comfort, and compatibility.
The overall audio and user experience more than make up for the few small issues with bass and prolonged use, especially for PC users or those who seek plug-and-play compatibility without any frills. Therefore, the Arctis Nova 1 might be the best place to start if you don’t currently own a good gaming headset.
