Customer Ratings & Reviews

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Gaming Headset has been nothing short of amazing. From the moment I unboxed it, I could tell the build quality was on another level—lightweight, comfortable, and clearly designed with long gaming sessions in mind. The ear cushions are super soft, and the adjustable headband gives a perfect fit without ever feeling tight. Sound-wise, this headset blew me away. The audio is incredibly crisp, with deep bass and clear highs that make everything—from footsteps in shooters to dialogue in RPGs—stand out. The Nova Acoustic System really shines, and the surround sound adds a whole new layer of immersion on Xbox Series X|S. The wireless connection is rock-solid. Zero lag, zero dropouts, and the battery life easily pushes through multiple sessions without needing to recharge. The built-in mic is also fantastic—friends say I sound clean and clear, without background noise. Overall, the Arctis Nova 5X has exceeded every expectation. If you’re looking for a headset that delivers top-tier comfort, excellent sound, and reliable wireless performance, this one is absolutely worth it. Highly recommended!

Absolutely love this purchase. I use them every day for work 5x a week and they feel comfortable throughout and work flawlessly for about 3 days off a full charge. Sound quality is perfect for phone calls off my work PC and it switches to a Bluetooth connection for music off my phone with the click of a button and over to my Xbox afterwork with little effort. Highly recommended.

Headset is solid, very comfortable for long sessions and very good battery life. I like the multi purpose aspect, Xbox versions are always better than PlayStation because these can be used on PlayStation but PlayStation versions cant be used on Xbox.

These are hands down the best headphones I’ve used. If you are a gamer and are looking for comfy headphones that allows you to modify EQ for not only PC but Console as well, these are them! I’ve definitely recommended these to a few friends. They are not too tight on the head which is nice, but they are also not too loose either. I have a big head. They have a strap so you can make it feel a little more secure. I’ve played games with these, done laundry, flown, these are a must! Especially if you are looking to spend some money, but not like $200.00.

This headset is totally awesome! The sound quality is clear, the headset is comfortable and stylish. It also connects to your phones Bluetooth so you don’t have to take them off to answer a phone call mid game. I totally recommend this headset for gaming.

I've now had these for a month and a half and work great for work and gaming. I am talking to clients 6 to 7 hours a day and am able to get 2 weeks out of these before having to charge. Mircophone quality is great(someone asked what headset it was because it was so clear and bought one for themselves).

I love the headset because it is very light, has bluetooth and 2.4 connections. The 2.4 dongle has a great shape for using it with my Rog Ally and Switch. You may need a usb c extender if you have a case on your Ally or Switch. With the 2.4 connection there is no latency as far as I can tell. The bluetooth connection is good for connecting to your phone or listening to music. The headset shows multiple connections on my pc for media, chat, gaming, etc. This way I can changing sound settings for each one separately. Another cool feature is you can use the app and control settings in the headset using your phone. The app has presets for many games. I think its the best headset for the money right now and SteelSeries has had gaming headset of the year before.

This headset are the best option, they are not really expensive and they work perfectly the sound is amazing

10/10 loved it! Sound quality and sound was amazing

Great headset, can hear everything I never could before.

The SteelSeries Nova 5X is a stellar entry into the mid-range gaming headset market. It blends impressive sound quality with comfort, features, and durability. Here's a detailed look at what makes this headset a solid choice for gamers, along with ratings per category. Design and Comfort - 4/5 The Nova 5X features a sleek, modern design with a sturdy yet lightweight build. The headset is all plastic except the aluminum headband with an elastic suspension strap for comfort. The adjustable headband and plush ear cushions ensure a comfortable fit for extended gaming sessions. The breathable cloth material of the ear cushions helps reduce spicy sessions, making it an excellent option for long hours of use. The headset also has a flexible, retractable microphone, which is convenient and easy to use. The mic hides inside the earcup and works beautifully. There is a red indicator light when the mute is activated. Adjustments can be made vertically at the earcups and the suspension headband, while the earcups turn into a flat position when around your neck or lay flat. The fit is perfect with the combination of adjustability clamp pressure and lightweight materials. The Arctis Nova 5x is intuitive and just feels natural to use, from audio adjustments to mic controls. It offers a game/chat mix separately on a dial for Microsoft things only, of course. Sound Quality - 4/5 One of the standout features of the Nova 5X is its excellent sound quality and powerful speakers. Equipped with 40mm high-fidelity drivers, it delivers clear and immersive audio and supports 360 spatial audio. The surround sound capabilities provide an edge in competitive gaming, allowing you to hear directional cues with precision. This should INSTANTLY improve your awareness and give you the jump on enemies. Whether playing an action-packed shooter or a story-driven RPG, the audio experience is rich, detailed, and powerful. Passive noise isolation could be better, but it is a trade-off when using mesh vs. leatherette, which I gladly accept instead of spicy ears. Microphone Performance - 4/5 The retractable microphone on the Nova 5X is another MAJOR improvement over the last release. This mic release is a SIGNIFICANT upgrade and brings it up to par with others. SteelSeries has finally addressed my biggest issue with their headset, sounding tinny and low quality, NOW IN THE PAST. With the inclusion of ClearCast 2.X microphone's high-bandwidth chipset, clearer and fuller voice transmission is here! This means 2x the bandwidth and 2x the clarity supporting 32KHz/16Bit audio. Communication with teammates is crisp and clear, crucial for coordinated gameplay. The flexibility of the microphone allows for easy positioning and storage without needing to keep track of a mic, as with other headsets. The mic is sibilant, so a pop filter helps with plosives, but you will lose the red mute indicator. Durability and Battery Life - 5/5 SteelSeries is known for its durable products; the Nova 5X is no exception. The headset feels robust and well-constructed, capable of withstanding the rigors of daily use. Since it is plastic, remember that sitting on or dropping it on a hard floor is the most significant danger to your ownership, but these are not cheap materials. The braided cable adds an extra layer of durability, reducing the chances of tangling and damage over time. Battery life is a nonissue, and I stop caring since you get up to 50 hrs of 2.4GHz wireless or 60 hrs of Bluetooth. If you forget to charge them, so what? 15 minutes of charging is good for 6 hours of play. Compatibility and Features - 5/5 The Nova 5X is versatile in terms of compatibility. Whether an average gamer or a streamer/e-sports player, it works seamlessly with PCs, consoles, and mobile devices, making it a versatile addition to your gaming setup. The USB-C dongle is a T-shaped dongle that often blocks other ports nearby, which is the biggest downside. This should have been designed in an L shape, as with other dongles or the basic thumb drive shape. The controls are intuitive and allow for easy adjustments on the fly. There are dials for chat/game audio mix (Xbox Only) and volume to dial in your audio. Buttons are all laid out intuitively, and everything is tactile. Additionally, the headset supports further customization in the audio settings, enhancing the overall user experience. The BEST part of this headset is the app! With all the presets, there is bound to be something for what you are doing. There is Bluetooth 5.3 with a quick switch, so when playing, you can answer a call and switch back to the game automatically. Connectivity is solid, and connections happen within 1-2 seconds of powering on or switching modes. It must be known that Bluetooth is not simultaneous, so you need to press a button to toggle between the two. Software and App - 5/5 The SteelSeries GG software and app get their own section because it is THE BEST in the industry! On PC, you get the most functionality and customizability, unlocking their fullest potential. For Android and iOS, you get app control with everything needed for on-the-fly adjustments. Sonar makes the audio shine and SteelSeries GG Engine apps integrate to trigger actions within your SteelSeries ecosystem. Over 100 professionally tuned game-specific EQs are fully customizable for a more immersive experience. This user experience on PC and app should be the standard implementation for all other vendors! When designing apps and implementing EQ and other audio controls for on-the-fly adjustments without needing a PC, turn to SteelSeries. **When modifying your EQ presets, connect to a PC**. This is the first headset I can confidently say you do NOT need a PC to get its full potential. With a mobile app, you can do more than ever effortlessly. Pros: Comfortable and lightweight design Excellent sound quality with surround sound Clear and flexible retractable microphone Durable construction yet lightweight Bluetooth & 2.4GHz wireless 100+ Finely tuned game presets Up to 60hrs battery life Works on Microsoft, Apple, and Sony gaming platforms Cons: Out of the box, a flat profile sounds bad There is no EQ control in the app No wired mode or 3.5mm headphone jack Conclusion - 4.5/5 In conclusion, the SteelSeries Nova 5X is a fantastic mid-range gaming headset that offers great value for its price. I ONLY recommend this headset now to any other friends and family who aren't spending more than $140 on headsets. This is for you if you value a comfortable design, superior sound quality, and durable build. Whether you're a casual player or a competitive enthusiast, the Nova 5X will surely enhance your gaming experience and boost your experience.

The comfort, build, and sound from these headphones are exceptional. There are a lot of great qualities from these headphones but also a few downsides. The first thing I noticed when I put them on was how incredibly comfortable they are. I can honestly say this headset is the most comfortable I have ever used. It had me oohing and aahing. The cushion around the ears and the elastic on top work together in harmony to really make wearing them an enjoyable experience. Along with the adjustable frame, the elastic band is also adjustable as it can be lowered it or raised according to preference and head/hair size. It does seem to run a bit small, and I doubt it will fit people with larger heads or with a lot of hair volume up top. Setting it up took less than a minute on each device I connected it to. I connected it to several devices and had no issues with of them. This included via the USB with my Xbox, PC, and iMac, along with via Bluetooth with my iPhone. It is necessary to connect it to a phone in order to use the app as I could not find the app available for PC or iMac. The app is called SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5. When I first used the headset, I thought the sound was no good as it was just flat and muted. Once I downloaded the app and connected the headset to my phone that all changed. There are so many EQ presets. Basically, any commonly used game has its own presets along with a few modes for movie watching and music listening. I even listened to music with it, and it bumps with the right preset. It even gives a good output for deep or punchy bass. Somehow though, there is still something lacking during gameplay. For example, playing Battlefield, the sound is somewhat distant sounding and the bass during explosions is not there. My lower priced headset has better sound output and less tinkering needed in the app. That said, the presets can be updated through the app by SteelSeries and I am holding out for an update that will really bring out the missing qualities because it is evident the sound range and quality is there when I listen to other things. It is notable that though, these are not noising cancelling, they certainly block out a lot of noise. The microphone mutes with a button. It can be used regardless of if it is pulled out or retracted, but when retracted, the voice sounds far. The closer it is to the mouth, the louder it picks up voice, particularly when speaking in a low tone. It even picks up whispers quiet well. Ambient noises and tapping sounds are very slightly picked up, while people talking in the background are softly picked up. Not enough to discern what they are saying or to really be a distraction though. One thing I will note is that, although I like that the distance from mouth is easily adjustable, I personally prefer the flip-to-mute kind because of the effectiveness and rapidness of the action at a moment’s notice. Overall, I am enjoying them for most purposes but for certain games I prefer my other headsets. I like the versatility and how easily it connects to so many devices despite being marketed specifically for Xbox. The long battery life, comfort, durable construction, and app are a big plus for me. I am sure certain presets can be updated in the future, so I hold out for updates that will make this headset truly live up to its full potential.

Nice……………………. Headsets …………………………………………………………………..

left ear side goes out intermittently. Will be returning it to hopefully get a well working one. Other than that, it has great sound quality when both sides are working.

Design and Build Quality The Arctis Nova 5X is designed with a focus on comfort and durability. The headset features a sleek and ergonomic design suitable for long gaming sessions across various platforms including Xbox, PC, PlayStation, Switch, and mobile devices. The build quality feels premium, with sturdy materials that ensure longevity. Audio Performance One of the standout features of the Arctis Nova 5X is its audio performance. Powered by custom-designed Neodymium Magnetic Drivers, the headset delivers exceptional sound quality with clear highs, precise mids, and deep bass. The 100+ game audio presets available through the Companion App allow for tailored audio experiences across a wide range of games, enhancing immersion and gameplay awareness. Wireless Connectivity and Battery Life The headset supports both 2.4GHz wireless for gaming and Bluetooth 5.3 for versatile connectivity. Switching between these modes is seamless, thanks to the dedicated Quick-Switch button. This flexibility allows users to easily take calls or listen to media without interrupting their gaming experience. The impressive 60-hour battery life ensures extended gaming sessions without frequent recharging. Additionally, the USB-C Fast Charge feature provides 6 hours of use with just 15 minutes of charging, ideal for quick top-ups between sessions. Microphone Quality The ClearCast 2.X microphone offers enhanced clarity with a high-bandwidth chipset supporting 32KHz/16Bit audio. This results in clear and accurate voice communication, crucial for team coordination in multiplayer games and clear calls. Cross-Platform Compatibility With its compact USB-C dongle, the Arctis Nova 5X supports seamless connectivity across multiple platforms, including Xbox, PC, PlayStation, Switch, and mobile devices. This versatility ensures that gamers can use the headset across various gaming setups without hassle. On-Headset Controls Convenient on-ear controls for power, mute, volume adjustment, and Quick-Switch to Bluetooth make operation intuitive and accessible during gameplay. The headset's design prioritizes ease of use, allowing gamers to stay focused on their gameplay without needing to reach for external controls. Conclusion The Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Gaming Headset excels in delivering a premium gaming experience with its exceptional audio quality, long-lasting battery life, versatile connectivity options, and ergonomic design. Whether you're gaming on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, or Switch, this headset offers the comfort, performance, and flexibility needed for extended gaming sessions across different platforms. It's an excellent choice for gamers looking to elevate their audio experience without compromising on comfort or functionality. This headset package includes essential accessories such as charging cables and extension dongles, further enhancing its value and convenience straight out of the box.

While I've had gaming headsets and blue tooth headsets, this is my first gaming blue tooth headset. Usually I just plug in the old headphone wire into my computer and everything works just fine, but this headset really changes my perception of what technology can do with just a headset. First -- this headset has EQ for over 100 games. I didn't even use it at first because it sounded so much crisper out of the box, but once I spent a little bit of time testing out the options, it made a noticeable improvement in the sound quality. I was able to switch from Fortnite to Apex Legends to Minecraft and had no idea that these games could sound even better than they already do. Really easy and cool feature. Next, I've been burnt on some occasions thinking I had muted my headset. This one has a red glow that confirms I'm muted with a button that is clearly popped-up. Nice feature so I can vent about my friends when they make bonehead mistakes. I have the option to use either blue tooth or the dongle that comes along with it so I'm no longer tethered to my computer -- fortunately I have blue tooth and I get nearly a week out of it before I need to charge. If you ever let the batteries wear out, there is a great quick charge feature where a 15 minute charge buys you 6 hours of use -- I will be grateful for this at one point. Finally, these headphones are just super comfy, no matter how long I play. It's super light and my head never feels squeezed or sweaty, thanks to the adjustable band and pillowy cushioning. Sometimes it's the small things, but this one is particularly noticeable. Overall, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is the best gaming headset I've ever used. It's got everything you need for an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience – great sound, easy controls, tons of customization options (although it's really great just out of the box), and a super comfortable design. Highly recommended!

My first pair of Steelseries headphones, and I'm so glad I waited. Steelseries has come highly recommended from many of my gamer friends and I've always preferred my PC wireless brands ( I will not name them. That's not what we're here for.) Given the opportunity to try these Arctis Nova 5X Wireless,( Yes. It makes a difference.) as these are the ones that work for everything you can possibly game on. Unlike my PC brands and many other wireless gaming headphones, these Artis Nova 5X say they are for Xbox series X, but the beautiful truth is, as i said earlier, they work for everything from the Xbox Series consoles, Playstation 5, Switch, PC, and even your smartphone. But that's not the real reason you're getting these. You'll want them for the superb sound quality. Probably the best sounding Steelseries headphones you'll get this year. While they are still not as clear as a couple of my PC brands, these are darned close. I have listened to the mics from my friends while gaming and the usually sound like aviators talking to the flight tower. But these almost sound like you're talking to your friends in the same room. The controls aree easy to get to on the left cup and there''s also hideaway mic, which I find to be pretty sweet and it keeps you fromlooking like that gamer guy/girl that uses his gaming headsets to talk on his/her smartphone( Even though you totally are and looking slick as heck while doing so. There's also an app that'll help you with your phone experience. The battery life is roughly 60 hours and a 15 minutes chare can get you from 5 and a half to 6 hours of listening time. That's a day's worth of gaming in itself. I think the sound could be a little better if there was a boom cover over the mic, but I guess I also heard that that would cover the mute indicator. But there's also a sound that indicates that you on mute. The headset is comfortable even for people that wear glasses like me. Plus they're light. Negative, they're made of a cheap feeling plastic. There's a dongle n the box along with an AUX cable a type C charging cable. There are a couple other Steelserie Arctis styles( For other consoles ), but these are the ones you want to get.

this is the 6 pair of wireless headphone i own for my XBOX. I have many other brands and always find something good or bad with each pair so lets go. first these are light weight from the overhead strap to the ear cups. The material in the ear cups are very soft and breathable i didn't feel to hot when i had them on playing. I did have a little issue with the way they cup my ears they are a little tight around the ears not a lot of space. Also the depth of the ear cup is very deep. It felt like my ears were right on the speaker so not a lot of room. Also the head strap tha fits over the head isn't very long so i think i have it at the longest it will go. I'm sure they will fit most people i just ahve a bigger head. This does have a plug to use for the XBOX just plug it in and pair it and your ready to go. the range on this is as good as the others i have i can walk upstairs on my other ones and still stay connected this lost connection and i had to restartthe headset to connect it back. The mic on this is awesome i had it in all the positions from extended all the way out to halfway. The best sound that i got from what i was told is when i had it around a inch or 2 out from the mic port. There was no back feed of distortion form this all night. Now this isn't Dolby or Noise Canceling it does have a lot of pregame audio settings on this that you can access this from your phone when you download the app and pair it. It has all the games listed on the app to pick from. This has a 60hr battery life that i will never reach thats a lot of gaming. you have to volume wheels on it one on each side one for chat and one for gaming. You have a power button and a mute and a pair button. Simple and easy nothing to complicated. Quality is good Looks are nice Mic works great Range could be better but nobody needs to walk around the house playing Easy to use Easy to set up Easy to set up app Battery life 60hr is great Weight very light

I’ve been using the Steelseries Arctic Nova 5X for a little while now and I’m thoroughly pleased. I’ve used lots of wireless headsets before with my setup but never anything by these guys and as mentioned, I’m really impressed. Build quality is good. Yes they’re plastic but so are most headsets, this is not a cheap feeling plastic at all and doesn’t sound like it’s about to break when ever any pressure is applied. It uses suspension for the head band which is very comfortable. The ear-cups are soft and don’t cause me any heat issues while wearing. These are probably the most comfortable headset I’ve used as they’re very light weight with adequate clamping force that doesn’t make you feel pressure on your head. As mentioned the suspension band isn’t something I notice and heat isn’t an issue with the cups. The controls are easy to use and easy to find. Sound quality is really good while having good lows it maintains nice highs and mids and doesn’t get muddy. You can hear things from all directions and it really does help with your surroundings in games like Warzone. You also have app compatibility which offers plenty of presets to change your sound, but I was happy with the out of box sound. These will work with not only the Xbox one and series console but will also work with PS5, PC, Switch and mobile, making this the perfect headset for gamers like me that have all consoles and a gaming PC If you’re looking for a gaming headset that has all the features, sound quality and comfort but doesn’t cost you multiple hundreds of dollars then this is the headset for you

I have used a lot of wireless headsets over the years, but this is my first from SteelSeries. I have used a few keyboards and mice from them, which I liked, and I had always heard good things about their Arctis headset lineup. With all of that I mind I was looking forward to trying out the new Arctis Nova 5X. Build Quality/Design The 5X is a closed back design with a concealed mic and suspension band setup. The build looks nice and clean – no visible wires, edges of the plastic are smooth, and the headset goes on without any creaky plastic noises. The headset is the X version, so it’s compatible with Xbox (Series and One). The USB transmitter also works with PC, Playstation, Switch, and mobile devices. The transmitter is USB-C, but an adapter cable is included. It can also connect via Bluetooth 5.3 to PC, mobile, Playstation and Switch as well. The headset uses the Arctis Nova 5 companion app to adjust listening modes and EQ profiles. The suspension band design for the headband is adjusted with a couple of push through studs like a snap-back hat. All parts on the headset are plastic, which keeps the weight down. The earcups are wrapped in a breathable cloth and are filled with soft padding. The earcups themselves can rotate and lay flat, which is great for tossing in my laptop bag. The suspension band can adjust for a couple of different things – larger or smaller heads, and more/less compression on your head. The suspension band attachment points allow you to connect to 1 or 2 studs on either side, and each side has 3 studs going up the headband. Connecting 2 points vs. 1 creates a tighter fit on you head. The earcups can also pull down and extend the size of the headband just like you would adjust a regular headset. The 5X puts controls on each earcup, which changes things up from the standard loaded left earcup. The left earcup in this case carries a mute button, the volume wheel, and the concealed mic. The right earcup holds the USB charge port, chat mixer wheel, and buttons for power and source switching. The volume and chat mixer wheels have upper and lower stopping points, and the chat mixer has a small hump at the halfway point. Holding the power button for 2 seconds turns on the headset and returns it to the most recent used source – 2.4 or Bluetooth. You will hear a tone when the headset turns on or off, and a voice prompt occurs when you switch the source. The mic boom is fully concealed within the left earcup – the mic tip fits flush to the earcup body. It’s fairly easy to pull out from the earcup and it extends just shy of 5”. The boom is thin bendable cable that does a good job of holding its position. The tip of the mic a red LED to indicate you have your mic muted, but turns off when the mic is active. Sidetone is enabled by default and can be adjusted within the app. Specs on the headset are solid. The headset has a 60 hour battery life with Bluetooth and 50 hrs on 2.4 – that’s a lot of game sessions before I need to recharge them. After a dozen hours of games I’m down to around 70%, so I have a long ways to go. The effective range on either 2.4 or Bluetooth seems to be about 40 ft from my time with it. The earcups come loaded with 40mm drivers, which seems to pretty standard on a lot of headphones I’m seeing. Comfort I have a lot of love for suspension band setups. I have several from multiple brands like Corsair, the Rig series, Turtle Beach, Logitech, and now the Nova 5X. It has routinely been the design I find the most comfortable, so it’s what I seek out. Not all suspension band headsets are perfect on comfort for a few reasons – weight and thin/unpadded bands. A heavy headset can be balanced with a wide and padded band. Thankfully the 5X’s are fairly light so they don’t have to compensate for any excess bulk. The 5X’s the band is nice and wide, and possibly the widest I have seen at 1.75”. There is no padding on the band, which I think is the only downside to the setup. Something like what my Corsair HS80’s use would go a long way, which is just a thin leatherette pad attached to the band. This is a mild misstep, but I can understand the omission since they are still quite comfortable. The earcups are use a cloth like covering over a the earpads, which in turn use a soft foam for padding. The cloth and foam pad feel comfortable against the side of my head and conform nicely around my glasses. The cloth material is not as isolating as a leatherette, but as a trade-off they do stay cooler. The earcups do appear to be removable so you can swap them out as needed. Compatibility The 5X’s are made to be compatible with Xbox consoles. The included USB receiver works with both Xbox One/S/X, and Xbox Series X/S. The receiver has a small switch to toggle between Xbox and USB mode. When connecting to anything other than an Xbox the receiver needs to be set to USB. Per the manual the receiver can be used to connect to PC, Switch, Playstation, and mobile devices. The Bluetooth connection will also pair with any Bluetooth compatible device. I am honestly surprised the receiver works on both Xbox and Playstation – I don’t have a Playstation to test this on, so I will have to take their word for it. The only downside it seems is you lose the chat mix ability on Playstation. My other headsets from TurtleBeach and Rig, which are also Xbox specific variants, don’t come with transmitters that are compatible with Playstation (only Bluetooth is supported. So that’s a novel advantage if you have both systems. Connecting to my Xbox I used the included extensions cable and hooked it into the back of my Series X. A notification saying the headset was assigned popped up, and it was ready to go. All of the audio options in the Xbox menu are greyed out, so the controls are handled by the headset or within the Nova app. Within the app you can set different EQ’s – some are basic like Flat or Bass Boost, which you would see on any device with an EQ mixer. However, SteelSeries has included over 120 game-specific EQ profiles that you can select from. Since I was playing Halo Infinite I chose the Halo Infinite preset. I will not claim to be an expert on the different EQ’s, but I did try out a quite a few different ones. A game like Halo has a dynamic sound stage, so picking something flatter is noticeable. Picking another dynamic game like COD Warzone would have a similar sound profile but maybe some slight variations. A larger difference was felt when I used an EQ from a Role-Playing game like Assassins Creed – much less emphasis on boosting explosions there. You can also connect the headset via Bluetooth to any Bluetooth compatible device. The Bluetooth mode has its own separate EQ profile in the app. You can set one for profile for 2.4 and a different one for Bluetooth which is useful. The controls on the headset do not affect any system volume – just the headset levels are affected. Sound Playing around with the multitude of preset EQ’s that are offered I found myself fairly satisfied with the sound reproduction of the 5X’s. Game audio sounded full and clear. Nothing felt overwhelming or like an assault on the senses. Rather the dynamic sounds of the game were handled well. I had no issue separating out gunshots or clanks from a bouncing grenade from the overall noise of the battlefield in Halo Infinite. Combine that with my party chat, which is often difficult to get balanced right for me, and the 5X’s handled the sound processing well. Switching over to a more “serene” game like Hellblade I was able to appreciate how well the more subtle sounds were handled. The game is mostly environmental noise, but with bursts of dynamic noise from attacks and skirmishes. The grumbling/heavy moments where Senua’s psychosis bears down on her were handled well by the 40mm drivers. With a full 7.1 system you can feel the weight of the moment by how the sound mixing drops things down. The headphones don’t have that much sound stage presence, but they do a solid job of maintaining that feel. Listening to music has also been a pleasurable experience. Fast/punchy music is handled just as well as melodical tunes. Bass heavy tracks come off a little underrepresented, but I expect that shortcoming as these aren’t pricy studio monitors. Mic The mic coils up inside the left earcup when not in use, and it pulls out easily. However, you can use the mic even without pulling it out because retracting the mic doesn’t mute it. You can still use the mic when its retracted, but it’s a little muted compared to pulling it out. With the mic pulled out and angled you get the most out of it. The side tone can be adjusted in the app, but at default I can hear myself reasonably well. I took a couple of phone calls with it and the other person reported that I sounded good. Background noise was minimal and that’s with a box fan and my HVAC blowing just a few feet behind me. On Xbox party chat the mic held up well again. My party members said I sounded just fine and again there was limited background noise from my kids talking and playing their own games. The only downside to this style of mic is it’s awkward to retract, and it can’t easily be done with 1 hand. A mic that flips up out of the way is much easier to deal with, but the trade-off is it’s always there and can’t disappear. Conclusion Overall, the new Arctis Nova 5X’s are a really great headset platform. They are little upmarket from a entry-level headset as far as price goes, but I feel like they would hold their own. They are a comfortable enough headset to wear for long sessions, and there’s enough adjustment in the design to fit any head shape. The hidden mic is cool even if it’s a little awkward to stow away. The breadth of system compatibility out of the 5X’s is fantastic, and the best I have seen out of wireless headset. If you have multiple systems then I would seriously take a look at the 5X’s – even over the Nova 5’s (PC), and 5P’s (Playstation).