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$149.99

Customer reviews

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars with 250 reviews

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    Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

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    Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars

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    Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars

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90%would recommend to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers express satisfaction with the Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Gaming Headset, highlighting its amazing sound quality, comfortable design, and long-lasting battery life. The headset's simple connectivity, lightweight feel, and microphone design are also appreciated. However, some customers found the fit to be less than ideal.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 2 Showing 21-40 of 250 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Comfortable, Good Sound, & Works w/ All Systems

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    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).

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Comfortable and crisp!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I have multiple devices and I needed a dependable headset no matter which device I plugged it into. Most of my devices are USB-C, for my legacy hardware I use a different headset. I'm also a heavy gamer. So I searched around and settled on Steelseries. And I LOVE it. Definitely the right choice. In interest of making things short, easy to read and clear, I set things up in bullet points. Crisp Sound Quality: Features a tight sound stage, enhancing the detection of enemy movements and environmental cues in games. Extensive Battery Life: Up to 50 hours of use with the 2.4 GHz wireless connection. Up to 60 hours with Bluetooth. (as reported, I never fully timed the exact time) Fast charging capability via USB Type-C. Multi-Device Flexibility: Was able to use on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Seamless switching between 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth. Comfort: Soft memory foam ear cups and adjustable headband , I was able to use for extensive hours without feeling fatigue/tight. (And I have a big head) Minor inconvenience with placement, a little disorienting. Software: Unfortunately my PC had trouble detecting the software, I had to uninstall my current steelseries gear, then reinstall the software, then redetect, minor inconvenience, but I had to take a star away from this as it should work right ouf of the box. Overall : Excellent choice for gamers seeking high-quality audio, long battery life, and versatile connectivity. Everything felt immersive, tight, and comfortable. And if it wasn't, I was able to adjust so that it would be.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Works well with all devices. Held back by software

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The best thing about this wireless headset is, it’s compatible with everything. Even though this model is designed for the XBOX, it works equally as well with the Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and mobile. It’s the perfect headset for those who need something versatile. This is my second SteelSeries headset. I bought one 4 years ago for my son to use with his Switch and PC. He never had any issues getting it to work, and more importantly, the build quality was solid. I’m hoping the Arctis Nova 5X lasts just as long. Another impressive feature of this headset is its range. I can walk into other rooms and down the hallway and I never lose connection with the 2.4GHz wireless transmitter. Other gaming headsets I own from other brands cannot match the range of this headset. Speaking of the 2.4GHz wireless adapter, it works perfectly for the Switch. Because of its low-profile T shape design, it neatly plugs into the bottom of the Switch’s USB C port. This allows you the ability to hear audio and voice chat with others through this headset. You could connect the headset to the Switch through Bluetooth, but the Switch doesn’t support mic usage through Bluetooth. So why would you do that when this headset has the perfect spot for the adapter. One downside of the low-profile T shape adapter is it can block other USB ports on your computer. SteelSeries does provide an short cable/adapter to help in this case. While its compatibility is impressive, the accompanying software and apps need improvement. There are simply too many of them to download and it’s not clear which ones are needed. It would have been helpful to have some guidance or instructions in the box. The only instructions included is a sheet notifying you to download the Arctis Nova 5X app for your phone. After doing so, it became clear that many of the useful features built into the headset can only be controlled or setup from the various programs you can download to your computer. If you take the time to understand how to setup and use the programs, there are many useful functionalities. Another thing that was confusing when setting up the headset for the first time was the ability to update the firmware. Updating the firmware is one of the first things I do when using new hardware. Again, there was no guidance or instructions in the box, app, or on SteelSeries website, that showed you how to initiate an update. Doing so may have addressed an issue I was having with the sidetone setting on the mic. In addition to Off, there are 10 levels the sidetone can be set at; when setting the sidetone to level 1 out of 10, the mic picks up a considerably amount of outside sound. For example, I could hear my gaming laptop’s fans loud and clear from setting level 1. This is something that can probably be fixed with a software and firmware update, but until I figure out how to do it, the mic’s sidetone is too loud in my opinion. Overall, I really appreciate how this headset works with almost any device. I only wish it included a standard 3.5mm jack. Including a headphone jack would have made this even more compatible. But unfortunately, the trend in electronics today is the removal of a jack for wired connections. The sound it produces is acceptable for standard gaming. It does a great job with directional audio. It also has decent base. Not the lowest frequencies around, but it does produce enough bass for standard gaming needs.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    You MUST have the companion mobile app to enjoy!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    TL:DR - This headset is great once you figure out there's a mobile companion app, otherwise the out of box EQ is "Flat" and it sounds just as it says... flat! I didn't enjoy it out of the box sound experience, and I thought there was memory on the headset, so I downloaded the PC app and it didn't help me in the slightest for Xbox gaming. It does have a ton of compatibility though, it works on Switch, PC, PS5, mobile, etc. Overall, once I discovered the companion app, the experience got significantly better. Though some of the presets I think are gimmicks. Like COD MW3 preset, vs COD MW2, COD MW, and COD MW2 are basically the same sounds to my ear. Anyway I'd recommend it with the caveat of the mobile app is required! ---- When I first unboxed the headset, I was pretty happy with the fact it came with some stickers. I also LOVED the fact the headsets laid flat which for me storing them when not in use was really nice! I dislike the fact the Xbox Series X itself doesn't have a USB-C port, but it comes with a pretty decently long cable that can easily help you put the adapter in front of the console. It still looks a little weird on your entertainment center, but it's not a deal breaker. The comfort for me out of the box wasn't there. Luckily I had the option to adjust the inner headband to fit my Tweety bird sized head! I ultimately ended up removing the inner band for longer sessions though. I like it the inner band because the outer band is this rubbery like material and can pull my hair, so the cloth inner band is ideal, but again for my huge head, and for longer gaming sessions with the pals, it's more comfortable since there's less bearing down on top of my head. Speaking of playing with the fellas, the mic is great. No complaints from the receiving friends, and they thought my voice sounded more crisp than they remembered during our XDefiant play throughs. I did enjoy minimizing the audio for voice and pumping up the game volume and visa versa when needed. --- Now for the sound --- Honestly at first I hated it. I thought it was just too flat. What's weird about the whole thing is nothing on the box from what I could tell, or the instruction manual mentions a mobile companion app! I'm not sure if this is common knowledge or not, but for me it wasn't and on the second page of the manual, it says, "Use Engine Inside SteelSeries GG to set custom eq settings an control your mic" and tells you to go to the website to download it. So I did, thinking this would help me set a sound profile that will sound better than the default. Because like I said, the default wasn't good IMO. Luckily for the desktop app, you don't need to sign in, but I went ahead and created an account, just to discover that the headset doesn't save anything. It's just a sound profile for PC gaming. Which I tested and I now knew the headset had significantly better sound to offer. I just didn't know how to get it on the headset. Went to Steel Series website and noticed it has a companion app. Went back to the manual, looked on the box, and nothing stood out to me. Nothing at all indicating there was a mobile app. Once I paired my headset to my iPhone... it basically opened up a bunch of sound profiles to use on Xbox and there's so many! In fact 99% of them are unnecessary! My feedback to them is to redesign the app a little bit and sort the EQ profiles into a three tiered expanding form. So for example, the first drop down could be something like, "General, Gaming, Movies, Music, and Podcast" then once I select that, it'll offer the next options, and then another. For example if I choose Music, the next drop down can filter the results to say "Jazz, HipHop, Rock, Pop, etc." Then the next tier can say some bands you may listen to where it's tuned for. Or if I said, Gaming for the first option, then "Shooter, Action RPG, Sports, Adventure, etc., then list off the games. Right now everything is just listed in one section so it's hard to find what you want when you're quickly switching sound profiles to test out the differences. Speaking of the sound profile differences... A lot of it is unnecessary. For example all the various Call of Duty sound profiles are practically identical. Battlefield 2042 and Halo sounded very similar to my ears and the Starfield sounded great, but was it necessary to have a specific one for Starfield? Overall I like the option, but I think organizing it more so it can be filtered would be ideal. I will say that once you find the EQ you like it really does change the sound for the better. At the end of the day, I did enjoy using these headsets and easily has me not wanting to use anything else on Xbox. So yes, I do recommend these for anyone wanting a good pair of headsets, BUT ONLY if you know about the app. The app is a requirement and no the app doesn't require an account, so even better!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great Light Head Set

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I was using Turtle Beach Stealth 600 head set. Which is a decent set imo. Thought I'd try these. These are very comfortable and lighter than the TB set. Sound quality is just as good if not better than the TB. I am not a super hard core gamer so I do not play everyday but when I do play it usually for 3 to 4 hours and they are comfortable the entire time. Battery life at least for me is excellent. Not sure about the longenvity of the mic though. The mic is retractable back into the left ear piece so time will tell how robust it was put together. Over all I really like these and have been using them in place of the TB. My one complaint is that the headset and the dongle randomly lose connection when starting up my xbox on BO7 and I have to unplug it and plug it back in. Not sure if it is the xbox or the game. Not really a deal breaker just thought I'd mention it

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    My Son said wow these are comfortable = Dad FTW!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    These are my very first pair of SteelSeries headsets. I have had every brand of gaming headsets you can imagine. First impressions: Very plain looking headset. No RGB. No crazy colors. Very simplistic design. All the buttons on both sides of the headset initially give a what does this button do. Thankfully there is an actual hard copy owner's manual to reference. Ear Cups: The earcup cushions feel very comfortable and the cloth material is very soft. Softer than my aging Corsair Void RGB Elite. Cups have the right amount of give to not push my eyeglasses against my temples. Each cup is marked L and R. The earcups fold flat but do not fold. Headband: Not a fan of the headband at all. There is a 3 way adjustment of the headband. I prefer a headband with memory foam on it instead of the elastic band. Fortunately it is still very comfortable and doesn't pull one's hair. I also don't like the adjustment of the earcup holder length. Takes a lot of force to pull them down. Sound/Mic: On a scale of 1:10 the sound is about an 8. You can make adjustments using the Arctis Nova 5 Companion App. Sounds good with bluetooth but I feel like the headset was built more for the 2.4GHz playback when connected to the Xbox Series X. No feedback with Mic (mic retracts). Sounds good and a little better than the corsair and on par with my wired HyperX wired headset. What comes in the box: You get a usb-c cable and another usb-c cable extension (no power brick), wireless dongle, and info guides along with some stickers. Charges: It rapids charge with USB-c. I just used my apple ipad pro charging block. The LED breathes green when charging. Final Thoughts: These headsets are packed with additional features that my son and I will never used. Get the xbox version because it can connect to just about everything. The build is solid and I hope the battery lasts a very long time. It does not have a 3.5mm jack so when the battery no longer holds a charge I guess it is end of life for the unit. I have not checked if usb-c charging port also seconds as a headphone jack. These do run a little small IMO opinion. If you have a larger than normal size head you should probably stay away or run them without the elastic band. The elastic band is removable but the actual plastic headband isn't lined with cushioning.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Excellent build quality with some compromises

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The best thing about this headset is its build quality. They feel very solidly built and I think they’ll be able to take a beating from your little ones, or from those of you who might just toss them onto your desk or wherever after you are done gaming. The headband, earcups are very strong and the earcups are quite comfortable. But to my ears, the sound quality is just alright. I’m very picky about headphones though, and I own some high end headphones. So to most consumers, these will probably get the job done. But if you’re an audiophile or expecting amazing sound out of these, then I would say look elsewhere. I played rocket league, Fortnite, and call of duty with these headphones on and they sound bright. To my ears they lack bass and miss, so most games are going to sound trebly. They are loud though, and voices in chat come through loud and clear. The microphone is cool because it retracts fully into the earcup. You’ll have to mute it with the press of a button otherwise it stays active when retracted. My only other complaint is the usb c dongle it comes with. The Xbox series x only has the OG USB ports for it, so you’ll have to use the long adapter that they provide in the box to use these wirelessly. I can’t blame the headset for it, this is Microsoft’s fault, for not putting a usb c port on the Xbox series x. The adapter is just unnecessarily long. For Pc, or Nintendo switch though, this will not be an issue as the wireless dongle will connect and pair great. All in all, I love the brand. They make a very good headset for most casual gamers. I would recommend these for your kids, they are very tough and should take a beating. They will be content with these. For serious gamers and audiophiles? I would suggest you spend a little more and get something better.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Good 2.4 Audio / Subpar Bluetooth Audio

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    TLDR: The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X offers up an impressive 60 hours of battery life along with very good audio quality when using the included 2.4GHz dongle but comes up way short on Bluetooth audio quality compared to its competition. CONFIGURATION I initially configured the Nova 5’s on my Windows PC, which is my primary gaming PC. I would recommend initial configuration be completed with a PC before using the 5X with other devices due to a mandatory firmware update this is required on first power up. Fortunately, the firmware update to both the dongle and the headset completed quickly and without any fuss or issues. One thing SteelSeries needs to work on is their Windows apps. They have a total of 5 different apps you can download that are applicable to the 5X. Users must download the Gaming Gear app for firmware updates and then a separate app, Sonar, for audio configuration. While both apps are easy enough to use, I don’t like the multitude of different apps. Not to mention the other 3 offerings for game captures, recording, etc. While separate apps do make for a much lighter weight install than SteelSeries’ competitors, it also makes it cumbersome to find the app you want when you want to make changes. USE The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X boasts an impressive battery life, up to 60 hours! With a 15-minute fast charge option that nets you up to 6 hours of use. Wow! Using them for several hours playing games on the PC didn’t faze the 5X’s as they were still showing 98% battery life. Outstanding. Like other manufacturers have started doing, the 5X’s allow the user to switch seamlessly between the 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth with just a press of a button. It works well & I was able to switch between my PC (2.4) and my iPad (Bluetooth) with ease. I’m glad manufacturers have started making it simple to switch between multiple devices. SteelSeries states the Nova 5X’s can reproduce the full audio spectrum, 20Hz – 20,000Hz using their included 40mm drivers. When I first tested them, I was concerned that the 40mm drives would be substantially weaker than the now standard 50mm drivers found in most premium headphones. I was surprised at their ability to reproduce such low bass frequencies with drivers that are 20% smaller than a lot of the competition. Speaking of audio quality, the Nova 5X do a very good job sonically using the included 2.4GHz dongle. Audio is punchy and decently accurate (note that these do not offer any noise cancellation). There are over 100 different presets available in the either the Windows Sonar app or the SteelSeries companion app to help tailor the Nova 5’s to your liking. To be honest, 100 different presets is really overkill. Listed mostly by game (though there are several presets for movies and music) each preset is just a very subtle variation of the next and I couldn’t tell a discernible difference between most of them. I like other manufacturers’ approaches where they offer a basic configuration based on the game genre and then let you just fine-tune the settings from there, as like I said, the differences between 100 different presets are minimal for the most part. NEGATIVES As much as I enjoyed the sonic performance of the 5X’s while using the 2.4GHz dongle, I dislike their performance over Bluetooth. Quite frankly, these are some of the worst performing headphones over Bluetooth I’ve used in a long time, regardless of price point. Audio was muddied, muted, and lackluster to say the least. No amount of fine tuning via companion app was able to correct the poor audio quality. To add insult to injury there was a very noticeable Bluetooth lag. So much so, that only after about 20 minutes, I had to stop watching a movie with them. It was too distracting having the screen so far out of sync with the audio. Ugh. FINAL THOUGHTS I really enjoyed gaming with the Nova 5X’s linked to the included 2.4GHz dongle. The audio was very dynamic and aggressive. More aggressive than many others. The Sonar spatial audio works well and is very convincing at creating a virtual surround sound environment along with offering many different adjustments to help tweak the audio to your liking. What I don’t like, is that I cannot use Dolby Atmos or DTS Headphone X with the Nova 5’s. However, what really holds these headphones back is their poor Bluetooth performance. I have ear buds that cost 1/3 as much as the Nova 5’s that sound better via Bluetooth. I will give the Nova 5’s a recommended rating if being used with the 2.4GHz dongle. But, if used solely with a Bluetooth connection, it would be a not recommended. RECOMMENDED with caveats.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Very comfortable and sounds great!

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This headset is super comfortable to wear and sounds great! The battery lasts forever, have only had to charge it once in the couple weeks I've been using it. Setup is very simple and the app is great for setting profiles.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Sound quality, Weight

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great buy for the price.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Excellent entry level headset. Lightweight. Long lasting battery. Simple installation. Sound quality is awesome. App helps with fine tuning to any game you’re playing with presets on hand. Steel series are legit. Highly recommended.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Connectivity, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great gamer headset

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    Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Love the ability to be able to have it connected to my xbox and phone at the same time. Weight and comfort are very good, simple install, also love the retractable microphone.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Gaming headset

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Bought the is for a gift for my brother, he said the sound is really good bellies the bass on the headset and likes the long battery use. Also mentioned that the wrenches are comfortable

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Phenomenal

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Steelseries is my go to headset brand every time. I purchased their original “Arctis” line when it first released and have never looked back. For me, Arctis sets the standard for headset comfortability, ESPECIALLY for those who wear glasses and is always the biggest positive to owning the Steelseries line of headsets. The adjustable strap is also another great feature that prevents the headset from just resting on your head. While I’m not the biggest critique of sound profiles, I can state that the headset sounds good all around including voice chat and I have zero complaints. The microphone also is phenomenal and the biggest positive is its ability to filter out background noise and not pick up any unwanted audio. This will be my third headset since the Arctis line launched in 2018 so they have proved great on longevity and will last many years if taken care of.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Really good gaming/everything headphones

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Great sound & features! Also very comfortable! Love the stowable microphone, allows for normal use when just listening to music.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Better than turtle beach

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    These headphones are super comfortable even for long periods of time and have good sound quality. The battery life last longer than any other wireless headphones I have used before. They are a great purchase for the price.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Connectivity, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Recommend purchasing !

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    Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I absolutely adore this headset. It’s very good audio quality, it is easy to connect to ur console and easier to ur phone. It does have trouble when you connect to a phone first so having to think about that is a little troublesome but the mic, audio quality, portability, the range, AND the added benefit of having audio settings specific to YOUR headset in the app is amazing

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great gaming wireless headset.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Whether it’s YouTube videos, movies or gaming, these have been pretty good. They’re comfortable, long battery life, and switching to the dongle and Bluetooth are as easy as clicking a button. I found audio presets on the app for both that I prefer and haven’t had the need to change it. One thing I could say is the bass doesn’t kick as much as I would like it to, but I have different headphones to remedy that issue. All in all, I’m happy with these.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Sound quality, Weight

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Good stuff

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Good headset light and sturdy very good battery life mobile app is simple and easy to use also works on ps5

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Movie Theater Surround Sound & Lightweight, 10/10

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I bought these headphones for my husband for Christmas this year. I spent like 30-45 mins in Best Buy looking for the best bang for my buck! These are 100% it! They’re sleek, lightweight, and the sound is amazing! I personally used these to play his Forza game (because race cars) and the sound is incredible, and the bass makes it sound like you’re in a movie theater. Absolutely 10/10 purchase.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Nova headset

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The SteelSeries Arctis Nova lineup, particularly the Elite and Pro models, is highly regarded for exceptional, customizable audio, comfortable design, and premium features like active noise cancellation (ANC) and hot-swappable batteries, making them top-tier, albeit expensive, choices

    I would recommend this to a friend