Customer Ratings & Reviews

After owning almost every high end headset for the last 10 years, this by far the BEST headset I've ever experienced! Do the research and check the specs. Sound is amazing and the features are bar none. Access from your cell phone, light and super comfortable. Very well built. Yes, it's expensive. But you get what you pay for!!

I bought the Arctis Nova Pro years ago and I love them. I thought they were peak until these came out. I have had them for a few weeks and I have really loved the Comfort. Yes, while they look the same they are a lot more comfortable. The sound is a lot better too, that said if you do not care about sound or do not pay attention to it you may not notice, but they are better then the Pro's. That said, to me the main feature is being able to have multiple Channels on and being able to listen to them at the same time. I personally have a long time friend that I play with on Xbox and talk to him a lot. Being able to be in a Party on Xbox and still go and play PlayStation and listen to my game there is amazing. This is Next Level Headset and the Price shows it. The Unboxing is also a lot better then the Nova Pro's a lot more Premium. I really recommend them to the people that can afford them. It is something you will have for years and get your Monies Worth. Truly an Amazing Headset!

Upgraded from the arctis nova pro and I couldn't be happier with this purchase. The sound quality is amazing for both games and Bluetooth music. The ability to seamlessly swap between gaming consoles is a fantastic quality of life improvement. The build quality is also superb. Right out of the box you can tell this is a premium headset. Fits great and is comfortable for long gaming sessions. The improved mic sounds crisp and clear. The iPhone app is an added bonus. Would definitely recommend. Only thing that slows it down is needing a pc to update the firmware. A clumsy process but once finished it excells in every aspect.

Completely tops the Nova pro at the outrageous price point but well worth it in terms of audio, mic and build quality.

Sound quality is great and the mic is better than the previous model. Also glad you are now able to download app to be able to browse to different sound and mic settings. Overall happy with the headset and quality.

The Steelseries Arctis Nova Elite are very premium in style, form, and audio quality. This gaming headset also functions as a top-tier pair of audio headphones. You can tune the headset with the accompanying Steelseries GG software to find your preferred audio EQ. The Steelseries app also works well for finding the right EQ setting that suits your needs. The large, plush, soft earcups are comfortable for extended use. The material is faux leather but still feels premium against the skin. The 40mm carbon fiber drivers in the earcups are an innovative touch, and the sound quality shines through with this technology. Hi-res wireless audio is achieved with the accompanying base station, which requires a port connection to your PC. The fabric suspension headband is an adjustable feature that will allow for a comfortable fitting and position on your head, along with the sliding rails in the headband itself. The earcups rotate to lay flat and have some movement for adjusting to your liking. This headset looks and feels more like a product from a premium acoustic-only tech company than from a gaming brand. The Steelseries logo on the earcups is small and contains no wording, so I like its understated design. The right earcup has a Bluetooth button for wireless connection. The right earcup has a power button that also serves as a toggle for ANC controls, a button to mute your chat mic, a scroll wheel for volume control, and a hidden pull-out microphone. You can use the pull-out microphone with AI voice and noise distortion technology, or you can use the beamforming microphones; both work very well for gaming. These headphones' technology allows for 96Khz/24-bit Hi-res audio, so the sound and streaming I've been listening to are accurate, precise, and distinct. The GameHub base station has 3 USB-C ports to allow for multiple inputs such as PC, PS5, and dedicated XBOX inputs. The swappable battery system is a blessing in disguise if you're like me and forget to charge your headset regularly. You'll get almost 60 hours of play through these headphones with each of the 2 swappable batteries providing almost 30 hours of run time. You can also charge the headset directly with a USB-C which I've done many times since I'm using these headphones on the go and at the office. They work so well for daily use headphones for music and video streaming as well. The ANC capability is very nice and on par with many of the leading audio brands. I love the usage of the app and controls built in to find the right level of ANC on, ANC off, and transparency mode. The customization of the EQ for games is incredible with so many audio presets built in for many of the leading games that we all play on a regular basis. Adjusting the EQ settings is easy with the software when using a PC, as I can adjust chat, mic, sound, gaming preference EQ. Yes, this is an ultra premium and ultra luxury set of gaming headphones. I find them to be excellent as gaming headphones, and daily use listening for music, media, movies, streaming. The microphone quality is excellent and allows for the right amount of sidetone and voice chatting so that I'm never repeating myself in a game and I'm always easy to understand. The fit of the headphones is comfortable, and I can wear these for long periods of time through my sessions. I think the software and app provided by Steelseries compliments these Arctis Nova Elite very well as it helps to fine tune the headset to make it more of what I want for my sound quality.

Hands down, this is the best gaming headset I have ever owned. My previous pair was the Arctis Nova Pros, which I once thought were unbeatable, but the Nova Elite takes everything to a whole new level of premium quality. First off, the look and feel are incredible. The new matte black finish is smooth and modern. The mix of metal and aluminum in the headband makes it feel strong and durable, while the elastic suspension band keeps it extremely comfortable during long gaming sessions. The earcups use a soft, plush leatherette material that hugs your head perfectly, keeping game sounds in and unwanted noise out. Despite the premium build, the headset is surprisingly light, so it never feels heavy or tiring to wear. The carbon fiber 55mm drivers are an amazing addition and sound absolutely incredible. The level of customization through the SteelSeries software is unmatched, allowing you to fine-tune the EQ to your exact liking. It can even detect which game you’re playing and automatically adjust the EQ for the best experience. Noise canceling is excellent, both in the headset and the boom mic. I tested the mic with a fan on, which used to drive my party crazy, and they couldn’t hear a thing unless it was blowing directly at me. The retractable boom mic is a nice touch too and when it’s time to relax and watch a movie, it slides neatly back into the headset and stays out of the way. One of the most genius features of this headset is the swappable battery system. You never have to plug it in to charge. Just swap the battery and pop the dead one into the DAC to recharge. The DAC itself looks great on my desk and gives easy control over all the headset’s features with a simple knob and back button. I also love the volume wheel on the headset, which lets you easily adjust volume or balance between game and chat audio. The improved mute button is easier to find and use than on the Arctis Nova Pros. Connectivity is another win! This headset works with Xbox, PS5, PC, Switch, phones, and basically anything that supports Bluetooth. The only downside right now is that there’s no support for this headset in the SteelSeries mobile app yet. It would be great to adjust EQ settings on the fly when using a console instead of having to rely on the DAC or PC software. The mic clarity is outstanding. Everyone I’ve talked to online says I sound crisp and clear. The Nova Elite also delivers positional audio like I’ve never heard before, making it a must-have for FPS games. The bass is deep, and the mids and highs are sharp, creating a rich, balanced sound across the board. After using all of the top-tier gaming headsets on the market, I can confidently say that the SteelSeries Nova Elite stands in a league of its own. Simply the best and absolute perfection!

I really wanted to love the Arctis Nova Elite Wireless. For $600, the build quality is absolutely top-notch—everything from the materials to the finish feels extremely premium in hand. SteelSeries nailed the overall construction, and the hot-swappable battery system might be one of the best features any headset has right now. Being able to keep gaming with zero downtime is an instant win. But for me, that’s where the excitement stopped. My biggest issue was comfort. My ears hit the drivers inside the cups, and after about 20–30 minutes the pressure became extremely uncomfortable. The stock ear pads are decent, but if you’re set on keeping this headset, I’d highly recommend upgrading to Wicked Cushions to get any real long-session comfort. The mic was another disappointment. At this price point, I expected extremely clean, broadcast-like quality. Instead, the mic sounded heavily processed—no matter how much tweaking I did. It’s usable, sure, but it’s nowhere near what a $600 “elite” headset should offer. In the end, I decided to go a different route entirely. I picked up a Shure mic on a boom arm and paired a separate DAC with my Beyerdynamic 900 Pro X headphones. The difference in comfort, clarity, and overall sound quality is unreal—truly unmatched by the Nova Elite. I ended up returning these. For $600, getting a subpar mic and uncomfortable ear cup design just isn’t worth it. Great build, great battery system, but the core experience fell short for me.

The Arctis Nova Elite Gaming Headset is flexible, sounds incredible, and creates a complex and flexible ecosystem that I have not experienced from any manufacture to date. Setup: I could write a book on how flexible the Arctis Nova Elite is. The Arctis Nova Elite Game Hub has three USB ports, two 3.5mm jacks, and a 2.4ghz Wireless transmitter. If your device can output via USB or 3.5mm cable, then the Game Hub will mix and transmit your content with support of up to four simultaneous sources. Right out of the box, I was able to connect my Xbox Series X via USB output to the USB 3 input on the Game Hub and transmit directly to the Arctis Nova Elite headset. I was able to sync the headset to my iPhone via Bluetooth, connect to the SteelSeries mobile app, set a game profile for Call of Duty: Back Ops 6 (CoD: BO6), and play with the best audio profile possible over headphones. On the PC Side, I connected my laptop, my gaming desktop, and my iPhone. I used the laptop over USB 1 to manage the SteelSeries GG and Sonar apps, my gaming PC played the game, and my iPhone was used for phone calls while gaming. The default for the Arctis Nova Elite is to mute the other sources when taking a call. I can report that the feature works. The only thing the Game Hub is missing is an HDMI input for TV and movies. Battery Life: For a week, I used the Arctis Nova Elite as my work headset. During my 8 to 10 hour day, I streamed music and participated in multiple MS Team calls. I then ended my day playing Diablo 4 all evening. A single battery lasted me from 7am to 11:30pm of almost continuous operation. Comfort: The Arctis Nova Elite are absolutely the most comfortable and well fitting gaming headset I have ever used. The ear cushions are soft foam with a very soft and flexible covering. The clamping force of the headset is strong enough to keep on my head without causing squeezing or discomfort. I can wear these all day without discomfort. The head band has an inner strap that can be removed and adjusted to fit small and large heads. Overall, I found the comfort of the Arctis Nova Elite excellent! Sound: Gaming: The default sound PEQ for is Flat. Which is ok if the game does not have a pre-configured PEQ profile. For CoD: Black Ops 6, I used the game specific PEQ on the Xbox and found it very enjoyable. I then used the same PEQ through Sonar on the PC and added Spatial Audio processing. That took my game to the next level. I thought it was excellent. I then moved onto Diablo 4. The PEQ for Diablo 4 hit just the right level of atmospheric bass and gory monster sounds. Spatial Audio took Diablo 4 to the next level by cranking up the immersion. Sounds had more impact, more reverb, and 3D positioning on the screen. The experience, again, was excellent. I don’t think I’ll play Diablo 4 again without Spatial Audio. Finally, no review is complete without giant stompy robots. I threw on Mechwarrior 5: Clans and played through the Clan Ghost Bear campaign. Unfortunately, there is no specific profile for this game, yet. Instead, I tried Flat and Music: Rock. Both performed well. Spatial Audio added reverb to bass heavy sound affects but not much more. Maybe a future patch will address the Mechwarrior Games. Sound – PEQs Gaming sound with the PEQs was additive to the gaming and sonic experience. I did not play a single game where the PEQs did not add to the sonic enjoyment or enhance my gaming experience. Adding the Spatial Audio took everything to that next level. Music, on the other hand, just never really worked for me. I found that I was constantly running the gambit of Music PEQs between songs to find the one that worked best for that song. Eventually, I turned that whole thing off and connected the headset directly to my source. Thus, removing the SteelSeries software from the signal path. Sound – Removing the SteelSeries software from the signal path: Removing the SteelSeries software from the signal path for two-channel music was the best thing I could have done. This headset is fantastic for two-channel music. I used both the Game Hub to stream and the dedicated 3.5mm cable. The Carbon Fiber really open up and show why SteelSeries chose to go with these. I streamed everything from Jazz, Classical, Pop, K-Pop, classic rock, and techno. In some cases, these rival a pair of high-end dedicated two-channel headphones that retail for the same price. Game Hub: The Game Hub is a flexible hi-res streamer. I had this connected to my gaming desktop, gaming laptop, and a stereo source over 3.5mm connection. I could stream whatever I wanted to the headset, overlap content through the Game Hub, and just go crazy. Maybe a too crazy. But you get my point. The Game Hub is a DAC Streamer with a huge amount of flexibility to fit any configuration you can dream up. The Game Hub is also an excellent wireless transmitter for a dedicated musical source, like a streamer, either via a USB cable or 3.5mm cable. The Game Hub has a built in EQ which will allow you to adjust the sonic profile of your source as you see fit. Microphone: The sound quality was fantastic by itself. Getting into the PEQs was too much flexibility for my needs. Plus, I was having a hard time finding one that worked for my voice. I chose to keep the PEQ on Flat. This worked with Discord without any issues. And it worked perfectly with MS Teams. The Boom mic and the ear cup omni directional mic worked perfectly. The AI noise canceling did a great job of removing sounds like fan noise and ambient environmental noises from my conversations. ANC: Noise Canceling, in my opinion, is weak. I live, work, and play in a quite house. I could still hear my PC fans and my wife vacuuming the house with ANC turned up to high. During the day, with my windows open, I can hear the cars and trucks running up and down the street. And I hear the water running in the sink in the next room when someone washes their hands. It helps but is not competitive with the likes of Sony or Bose. The only thing worse than the ANC is the Transparency mode. Transparency mode takes normal sounds, over processes them, and then replays them in the ear cup with a metallic, over exaggerated quality. Mic Side Tones further exaggerates the issue. Eventually, I simply turned off this feature and moved on. Conclusion: Overall, I find the Arctis Nova Elite fantastic. Best of breed for a gaming headset. Gaming sound quality is excellent. Hands down, these beat every gaming headset I have ever used in the categories of comfort, musicality, flexibility, and raw gaming performance. ANC and Transparence modes are poor. The multiple battery option is genius! And the shear level of flexibility for connectivity options, sound quality, streaming options, and the ability to combine sound sources into pretty much anything one could dream of making the Arctis Nova Elite headset the best gaming headset I have ever used. It is in a class by itself.

I wasn’t planning on getting another headset this year, but there was an exception… this one. The Arctis Nova Elite wireless over-the-ear headset by SteelSeries is arguably the most thought-out headset on the market, taking several common requests into consideration: 1. If you’re a streamer, using a PS5, this headset allows you to send the voice chat to your PC. 2. Swappable batteries, where one battery can charge inside the GameHub. 3. Over 300 EQ presets for specific video games and music genres. 4. Active noise cancelation with transparency so you can hear your surroundings. 5. Smartphone app that allows customization of every feature. 6. GameHub that displays levels & settings, and allows three USB-C connections simultaneously. The first thing I appreciated was how comfortable the headset was. The premium “Leatherette” ear cushions are so soft and form fitting that it’s like having two clouds, gently hugging your ears. There are enough adjustments that they should fit and feel nice on anyone’s head. The microphone pulls out like other SteelSeries headsets, and has a windscreen that you can add when extended. The headset is already paired with the GameHub out of the box, and I was already hearing sounds when I put them on the first time, after connecting the GameHub to my Xbox Series X. The “flat” EQ setting is actually very good, but if you want to really tweak the sound for each game, you’ll need the smartphone app. This also means you’ll have to pair the headset with your smartphone. If you follow the instructions, this only takes maybe 5 seconds. The app allows you to fine-tune the EQ settings for your game, your phone and microphone. I tried the Black Ops 6 setting while playing Black Ops 6 and it sounded clear and defined. Some of the “notification” sounds were a little boxy, but I believe this is because the BO6 setting is enhancing frequencies related to footsteps. Some games even have two options, like Rainbow Six Siege. I very much preferred the “by Ubisoft” setting. If you like a setting or game, you can add it as a favorite by swiping right and clicking the star icon. There are more generalized settings too like Bass Enhanced and music genre settings. You can also improve the sound of the microphone in the app with EQ and noise cancelation, and my favorite, being able to adjust the mic monitoring. Active noise cancelation can also be adjusted in the app quite efficiently, plus the added transparency setting, which uses microphones on the headset to hear your surroundings. I found the ANC to work very well at removing the air conditioner and the transparency was interesting because it added the air conditioner back in. This is of course meant to allow you to hear the person next to you, while wearing the headset. I think you’d mostly use one or the other. The GameHub very conveniently allows you to plug in three devices at once, so perhaps a PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X. You can also have your smartphone connected while the other devices are connected, allowing you to have 4 sound sources at once. Imagine the possibilities! You can monitor the levels of your devices and microphone on the display. I found adjusting the settings in the GameHub to be a little glitchy, as it would go back to the previous menu without pushing that button. You can only create a custom EQ on the GameHub, and not look through all the specific presets. Interestingly, you can’t create a custom EQ in the smartphone app. This requires the GG software, which you’ll need anyway for firmware updates. These can’t be performed through the smartphone app unfortunately. This is the only headset I’m aware of that allows you to swap out batteries, and they are easy to change by removing the magnetized cap. Then you can charge it in the GameHub. The headset can also be charged with a USB-C cable and charger. If you’re a streamer, this is also the only headset I’m aware of that allows you to capture voice chat from a console and send it to the PC. This is done with the Line Out, and a 3.5mm cable plugged into the Line In on your PC or capture card. This is basically the only way to record voice chat from consoles, so a great feature for streamers who play competitive video games on console. Multiple USB-C cables are included, plus a 3.5mm cable to connect the headset into the GameHub with a cable. There’s also a pouch included with matching colors. I’d personally prefer a hard case for travel, but at least, it will protect the headset against dust and liquids when not in use. This is a true premium headset that I would heavily recommend for streamers and gamers who play extended sessions and want a great looking and sturdy headset with as much customization and as many features as possible.

I do want to preface this review for the Arctis Nova Elite by stating that I do have a hearing disability (mostly in my right ear). This does give me difficulties in detecting footsteps and such in FPS games. My hearing issue has a lot to do with tones and ranges...which is why it's important that I mention this for this review, as I will touch on it later. So, lets get started. As usual, I always start with the unboxing experience. I mean, if you're spending this much for a headset, you want the full experience, ya know? So...here we go. Unboxing/Packaging: Inside the shipping box, the retail box was nice and secured and WOW, it was MUCH smaller than I expected! It was wider and thinner than I anticipated and upon opening the headset box, I can say that I felt that it was a premium experience! The hardware itself immediately wowed me! The headphones definitely feel premium and I LOVE how lightweight they felt when I lifted them from the packaging. In fact, everything is pretty light, including the DAC/Receiver unit. The headphone isn't as shiny as I expected it to be, thankfully - it almost looks "velvety" and the metal parts are super shiny and black, but don't seem to pick up fingerprints as badly as I thought they would. The headset material also does not who smudge or anything, so that's a relief! Anyway, aside from the headset and receiver, you also get 3 USB cables (I love that they went ahead and gave you one for each of the inputs on the back!), a 3.5mm "line" cable to plug into the headphone for a direct connection, two batteries (one was already in the headset - the other was packaged and needed to be placed inside the dock, for charging) and a really nice manual. Setup and App: Ok, the Setup experience was just...stupid easy. I already have all-SteelSeries gear on my gaming PC (except the headphones that I use) - I have a Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 keyboard (I went with wired for this one), the Aerox 9 Wireless MMO Mouse, the Aerox 5 Wireless Mouse and a Prism XL mat. So, I'm already using their GG/Engine app and have some familiarity with it. Now, I initially got these headphones with the intention of using them on my PS5 Pro. I already have a pair of high-end headphones on my PC, which I absolutely adore and love. But with me already having all-SteelSeries gear on my PC, I seriously considered moving my other headset to the PS5 and just using these on my PC. BUT...I do most of my gaming on the PS5, so I really wanted to test these out there, first, then make my decision (spoiler...they stayed with the PS5, I loved them so much!). So, first things first. I did have to connect them to my PC and use the SteelSeries GG app to update the firmware. I plugged the dock into USB and you also have to do the same with the headset itself. Upon the dock initializing for the first time, it will ask you if you live in the EU - this is the volume limiter - which I set to OFF. Then, I went into SteelSeries GG and clicked to update the firmware. It took about 7-8 minutes to update, which went flawlessly. I then just left everything plugged in for the moment to fully charge up. This actually didn't take long at all to get from about 60% battery to 100%...maybe 45 minutes? Once that was done, I unplugged everything and started migrating it over to the PS5. Connecting to the PS5 was a cinch. I have the Pro, so there's no USB-A ports on the front. I plugged the cable into USB 1 (USB-C) on the back of the receiver and plugged that into the USB-A on the back of the PS5 Pro. For the ports on the back: PC and everything minus Xbox can be used on the USB-1 and 2 inputs. The last one, USB-3, is dedicated to Xbox, but you can also use it for PC, etc, as well - but I believe you have to change that in the receiver settings, as it defaults to Xbox (not 100% sure on this). I also want to note that these cans actually do 24bit on the PS5 - most headphones I've used only do 16bit. So, that's another huge win for me! SteelSeries recommends PC on USB-1, PS5 and other non-Xbox consoles on USB-2 and Xbox on USB-3. The headset was immediately recognized and detected by the PS5, with the proper name. The first thing I did was set the volume on the PS5 to the max on the slider. Since I typically don't use a mic most of the time, I clicked the button on the headset to mute the mic - that way I don't have to stare at an unsightly orange light on my controller or forget that I'm not muted and accidentally talk in game chat, lol. I do want to touch briefly on the app experience. In short? I absolutely love it! After I got it connected and set up, I can see my exact battery percentage. There's an option for the Volume Limiter (which for me, just confirms that it's off...I'll never toggle that on, lol), as well as a toggle for the noise control. Once enabled, you can choose between ANC and Transparency. I did play with this a little and it does affect the overall sound just a bit...and I felt the Transparency mode was ...OK? Nothing near Airpod levels or anything, but good enough if you need it. Mostly, I just left ANC off. I do love having all of the EQ Profiles available, of which there are over 300. I also went in and changed the setting for Bluetooth calls to lower the volume of the game, which was very nice to have. I can even see if the firmware needs an update or not - so I don't have to blindly move it to my PC, just to see if there's an update. Overall, a very enjoyable app experience, unlike that of most other gaming headsets that I've used. *An important note, which is found in the booklet (page 6) - if you're using this on PC, please be aware that SteelSeries and Sonar are ONLY supported via USB-1, as this is the designated port for PC use (it just isn't labeled as such). Also, don't forget to go into your Sound Properties and change it the supported 24bit/96kHz audio setting. Sound Quality, Connections, Features and Functions: Let me start here by saying - once you're set up and ready to go...make sure you go into the settings on the receiver and change your Gain from Low (the default) to High. Essentially, this is the "volume overhead" of the headset. Setting that to High will enable it to operate at a louder volume. At first, I was wondering why the volume was so low, until I found that setting and then did some quick research online. This, coupled with disabling the Volume Limited allows the headset to ABSOLUTELY SHINE. As for the sound quality on these cans, all I can say is WOW. It's absolutely phenomenal! Remember the "hearing issue" I mentioned in the intro of this review? This is one of the few (if not only) headsets I've ever used where I can actually hear a little more than normal in my bad ear. It's amazing! I usually keep the volume around the -12db level (a little over 3/4 of the way) and it's comfortable, without being too loud and I still have overhead if I really want to crank it and be immersed. I have been able to test these headphones with some of the latest games to release. This includes Battlefield 6, Ghost of Yotei, Borderlands 4, Absolum and Sonic Racing... along with some others, such as Black Ops 6 and Space Marine II. I feel that testing these games, specifically, give an idea of just how well-rounded this headset is. Battlefield 6 with the Wartapes or Wartapes V.A.L. audio mix is just freaking INSANE. All of the audio between the FPS games was very punchy and I could actually has some sense of directionality. I could hear things in this game that I've never been able to hear before - windows shattering, bullets grazing by, among many other sounds I'm just...not used to hearing. As for Ghost of Yotei - everything is so crisp and clear. From the swords clashing, to the wind whistling past. It just makes everything so ...immersive. And even better? I did all of my testing using the default Flat EQ! All of the games I tested sounded just beyond amazing! While I did talk about ANC above, in the Setup and App section, so I won't be redundant, there. As for the mic, I will say that it doesn't sound AS "tinny' as most other SteelSeries headsets that I've used, but it was still, a tad bit. I did find the "less nasally" mic EQ in the app helped with this. It has a boom mic AND on on-headset mic you can use without the mic being extended. I did test this on a call with my wife. She said the Boom sounded more clear, but not as loud. Whereas with the on-headset mic, I sounded loud, but not AS clear. She did comment that either way, it did sound better than my Airpods (and I'm using the Airpods Pro 3's on my phone). As for connection quality, I was able to walk all the way across my house (appx. 2,000 sq. ft.) and had zero dropouts or lag! Bluetooth to my phone was equally great. My only wish with Bluetooth is it's power is independent from the headsets power. If I turn the headset off...Bluetooth stays on. I've forgotten to turn it off so many times. I wish it would turn off with the headset and just reconnect when I power it back on. Instead of my having to remember to turn it on every time, in addition to the headset. I was not able to find any setting to alter this behavior. I'd love to see this perhaps in a firmware update. Other thoughts and conclusion: For me, these headphones are in my Top 3 - right up there, if not soaring to number 1. I was really torn on if I wanted these to be my primary on my PS5 or my PC, as the distance between them will not allow me to hook them up to both. Since my PS5 Pro is my primary gaming device and where I spend most of my time, I decided to keep them on my PS5 for the moment and make the console experience the focus of this review. Are the expensive? YES. Are they worth it? ABSOLUTELY. If you want a headset that is built like a TANK and an investment in the future that can support literally everything, this is what you want. 5/5!

These Arctis Nova Elites have really impressed me. They're the full package with very little compromises. From great sound quality to a plethora of features and customization options, there's very little on the wireless gaming audio market to compete with these. Below, I've listed the key features that makes the Arctis Nova Elite the best wireless gaming headset I've used to date. Design & Construction: As soon as you pick up this headset, you can immediately tell you're holding a high-end flagship product. Everything from the headband down to the leatherette earcups is manufactured from the most premium materials. The outer headband is made from a matted leatherette material that feels soft to the touch. The retractable earcup hinges are constructed from extremely sturdy metal that has been tastefully painted with a glossy black coating. The leatherette earcups feel like clouds on my ears! The memory foam is supple and plush while having just the right amount of rigidity. Arctis's signature suspension headband design makes the headband feel like it's almost floating just above my head. It allows for long gaming sessions without any sort of headband fatigue. It's one of the features that made me fall in love with the original Arctis Pro Wireless when it first released back in 2018. I'm happy this design choice is still here. Also, SteelSeries nailed the clamping force of the headset. There's enough force to create a great seal around the ears, but not too much to the point where I felt any type of discomfort during long gaming sessions. I'm a huge fan of the way SteelSeries designed their retractable mic. It tucks neatly into a bay in the left earcup and seamlessly disappears when not in use. I'm also glad to see that SteelSeries has included a USB-C port underneath the left earcup cover in case you're on the go and don't have access to the second battery in your base station. Sound Quality: After reading SteelSeries's claim that the Nova Elites are the first Hi-Res certified wireless headphones capable of 96kHz/24-bit processing, I was very eager to see if they lived up the claim. After using these extensively over the past week, I can happily attest that these are among the best "do-it-all" wireless headphones that I've used for gaming, movies, and music. First things first, if you're using these on PC, you'll want to make sure that your audio settings are set to "24 bit, 96000 Hz" under the Arctis Nova Elite headphone properties. Secondly, in order to actually take full advantage of Hi-Res audio, you'll want to make sure that your source is encoded with a 24-bit depth and a 96kHz sampling rate. You'll be hard pressed to find any major PC game titles using 96 kHz/24-bit audio so you'll mainly be confined to music encoded in this format. After listening to some 96kHz/24 bit FLAC audio files that I have on my PC, I was very impressed with the sound quality; especially considering that this is a headset geared towards gaming. The default sound signature is flat which sounds decent for most audio content. However, the magic is in Arctis's GG software. It includes a fantastic 10-band EQ that gives you granular ability to fine tune the exact signature you want depending on your source. Once I got it dialed in, listening to Patti Smith's "Horses" album in 24-Bit/96 kHz stereo was a stimulating listening experience. The vocals sounded natural and present. I was able to finely tune the bass just how I like it; tight and controlled (as opposed to overly sustained). Highs and mids were also detailed with good separation. The mic was also flawless both in-game and on phone calls. I constantly asked my family and friends for feedback on the audio quality as I switched back and forth between the headset and my phone's mic. They all reported that it sounded just as clear with no distortion. For gaming, these Nova Elites are my new daily drivers. The new 40mm carbon fiber drivers paired with the ANC creates a very immersive audio experience. When playing FPS games, there's a great level of sound effect separation which makes it incredibly easy to discern where certain sounds are coming from. In-game dialogue was very forward sounding, clear, and organic. The bass response was very controlled with zero distortion. One of my favorite features found within SteelSeries's GG software was the 200+ EQ presets that are custom tuned for individual games. You can have the GG software scan your game library and then automatically apply a custom tuned EQ preset for the specific game you're playing. For example, whenever I would launch a game like Alan Wake 2, the GG software would automatically apply the Alan Wake 2 EQ preset. Whenever I would minimize the game, it would default back to the standard desktop EQ preset. All of the custom tuned presets I tried sounded great but I did have to further tune a couple of presets to accentuate the dialogue a bit more to my liking. I also like that the SteelSeries companion app is available for mobile download on Android and iOS if I'm using the Nova Elites on something other than my PC. Base Station: The base station is another highlight of the Arctis Nova Elite. On the rear of the unit, there are three USB-C ports, a line-in, and a line-out. This allows you to mix up to four sources at the same time! This is the first gaming headset that provides this level of multi-source mixing. While it may be overkill for some, I do find a lot of utility in being able to hear my PC's content (such as chat notifications), all while being able to play a game on my PS5 and pick up phone calls. I think this is a particularly useful feature for content creators that like to monitor or mix several audio feeds. One of the most useful features on this base station is the ability to hot swap the battery. In my opinion, it's still the best in the business and nothing else on the market tops it. I have another pair of high-end gaming headphones that also have a "hot-swappable" battery. The only issue is I need to detach the mic from the left earcup in order to access the battery bay. Although this sounds easy enough, I can't overstate how cumbersome this becomes after needing to do this every time my battery dies. With the Nova Elites, I simply need to remove the right earcup cover and done! I just swap out the battery with the one in the base station. I also really love the fast charge feature on the base station. 15 mins of charging will yield close to 4 hours of battery use. You can also access most of your settings directly on the base station. Just long press the big knob and you'll have access to things like base station display settings, equalizer, microphone settings, noise control, etc. The touch sensitive back button always worked flawlessly for me. The only minor caveat I have is that by now I would have liked to have seen SteelSeries implement a slightly higher resolution OLED display on the base station with some added color. That would really elevate the overall aesthetic. The last thing I need to highlight is the insane amount of wireless range between the the base station and headset over the 2.4ghz band. As an avid gamer and technology enthusiast, I've lost count how many flagship wireless gaming headsets I've gone through over the last decade. Nothing comes close to the range I've achieved with the Nova Elites. My base station is on the third floor of my townhouse. I'm able to walk outside to the mail room (about 70 feet away) and I'm still able to get a solid audio signal! There is some very tiny degradation at that distance, but overall, it sounds relatively clear. Overall Thoughts: The Nova Elite has been become the best flagship gaming headset I've ever used. Not only does it produce some amazing sound quality, but it hands-down provides the most feature-rich package currently available on the market when it comes to wireless gaming headsets. It also has some of the most premium construction I've ever seen. With so many hobbies, I love that I have the ability to mix several audio sources. If it wasn't enough that I'm already getting a phenomenal audio gaming experience with the Nova Elites, the fact that I can now also listen to my Hi-Res music files with the same pair of headphones is a massive bonus for me. The only small reservations I have is that I would like to see SteelSeries upgrade the OLED display on the base station in the future as well as provide a hard shell carrying case. Don't get me wrong, the included soft pouch with the magnetic flaps is nice, but I'd still prefer a rigid travel case for better protection. Despite these minor preferences, I still think it's a 5 star product. For those looking for a high-end wireless gaming audio experience with a very feature-rich package, I would highly recommend trying out the Arctis Nova Elite.

Without a doubt, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elites are premium headphones. But, at such an extremely high price, I believe most customers would reasonably expect them to have enough features to function as the only pair of headphones anyone would need. Unfortunately, this is not the case. For years, I have been unwilling to spend top dollar for premium headphones. To be honest, I have always assumed that my hearing wasn't good enough to appreciate (or even distinguish) audiophile level sound quality. But, after moving up through various Beats By Dre, Bose, Sony, Turtle Beach, Logitech, etc., I started to recognize that comfort, build quality, features, and sound quality truly can be noticeably improved if you're willing to spend more. And, within seconds of putting on the Arctis Nova Elite Headset, I was blown away by how spectacular Vocals sound. I put the headset on everyone in my family and on several friends at work - and everyone agreed that they are the best sounding headphones they have ever experienced. And, while that is impressive, I believe they actually fall short of justifying their extremely high price. If the price doesn't faze you, then by all means, purchase the Arctis Nova Elite. The sound quality will not let you down. But, there are several other features that will. The bass is weak. Even Bass Boost selected, there is no thump. I was just as surprised by how poor the bass was compared to how spectacular the treble is. Audio is balanced, but if you're a Bass-head, this headset is absolutely not for you. There are not enough voice prompts. When you turn on the headset, or adjust settings, there are all kinds of beeps and tones and it's impossible to tell what they mean. Never before have I actually wished that a headset would have more verbal explanations of what settings were being activated or adjusted. They will announce "ANC Activated" or "Transparency Mode on", but nearly nothing else. They don't even announce the batter life when powered on. The Active Noise Cancelation is mid at best. The Arctis Nova Elite may have the best noise cancelation for a gaming headset, but the ANC here doesn't hold a candle to the Sony XM4, or XM5 (which are both about a 3rd of the price). Transparency mode is also very weak. Activating transparency mode does not pause audio and without the audio paused, transparency mode is absolutely unusable. The headset does not pause when you take them off - a feature common in MUCH more affordable headsets. There are surprisingly few EQ presets. The Mico-USB port is on the side of the headset underneath a magnetic plate. This feels like poor design. The battery is intended to be quickly removed and swapped with a 2nd battery that is stored inside of the GameHub. This works well only if the device is being used at home. If you're on the go, it's annoying to have the charging port covered and out of easy reach. There is no way to fast forward or rewind music without using a voice assistant like Alexa, or Google. Another strange and annoying feature is that Bluetooth Power and the connection to the GameHub are completely separate. This means that when the power button is held down, the 2.4Ghz connection to the GameHub powers down, but the Bluetooth connection stays powered on. The App settings allow both to be turned on together, but you have to remember to turn them off independently. Hold the power button to shut off the GameHub connection, then press and hold the Bluetooth button to power off the connection to your phone or computer. Hopefully this is fixed with a software update. Switching between multiple Bluetooth sources is a nightmare. The GameHub seamlessly combines gaming and Bluetooth audio, but it cannot handle multiple Bluetooth sources. If you enjoy having a headset connected to your laptop and cellphone simultaniously - this device is not for you. The PC software has tons of excellent presets for each game, unfortunately this is not present if you have the GameHub plugged into the Xbox, Playstation, Switch etc. Volume control when connected to a gaming system is also quite confusing. The volume knob on the headset moves between Mic Volume and Game volume. Press the volume knob and then you can move audio toward Game Audio or towards the Chat Volume. Then Press it again and total volume is moving up and down. It's awkward and I can never quite get the balance where I want it. The GameHub only has one button/knob. The knob rotates and can also be pressed as a button, but this can be frustrating at times as there is no "back", "escape", or "end" button. Frequently I'm stuck navigating and cannot figure how to go back or exit. The Arctis Nova Elite headset has tremendous build quality, excellent comfort, great noise isolation, spectacular audio, and has a plush bag for portability - but they are absolutely not the only headset you'll need or want...and at this price - they should be. I honestly believe that the majority of people would be better off buying a Headset for Music and a separate headset for gaming. You can buy two pairs of extremely good headphones and still save hundreds of dollars over what you'll pay here.

Oooh boy, I've been waiting for this one!! I’ll be honest—I absolutely love the Arctis SteelSeries headsets and have sworn by them for about five years now. The Nova Elite hasn’t disappointed in any regard. I’m not an audiophile, so I can’t speak to the hi-res fidelity in technical terms, but the sound is crisp and the ANC is excellent. When I’m gaming with friends or jumping into PVP with randoms, it’s incredibly immersive and does a fantastic job of blocking out excessive noise—especially in my lively home, haha. Additionally, listening to music has been such a lovely experience. The bass, the clarity, it's all so satisfying. The build quality is impressive: extremely sleek, sturdy, and not overly heavy, which makes it perfect for long gaming sessions or late-night work/homework. I really appreciate being able to connect to four devices at once. It makes switching between my PC, Switch, and Xbox seamless. I also keep it connected to my phone to run my chat app and save processing power on my other devices. It works so well—I’m genuinely impressed. The app interface is super easy to navigate. You can tell how much thought went into this product, and it really shows. I don’t see myself needing another headset for a long time. This checks every box—and it even comes with a swappable second battery, so there’s zero downtime. My only (very minor) complaint is the gold accents. I’m not a fan of that color combo. I would’ve preferred something like gun-metal metallic. Gold doesn’t look premium to me—but that’s literally the only gripe I have. And if you’re wondering, I didn’t go with the black version because it clashed with my aesthetic, haha. I will add tho, the gold fits the sage well, even if I dont really care for it.

Best gaming headset, but overkill for many The Arctis Nova Elite in Obsidian looks very attractive that the pictures don't do it justice. While the pictures make it look like a bland uniform black, but it's actually compromised of several textures and materials of black. The headband is black leather or leatherette material. On its underside is a combination of aluminum and a rubbery looking material that feels soft to touch and smooth. The head support is made of comfortable fabric to prevent the top of the head from touching the harder feeling headband. But it's also height adjustable for smaller sized heads and removable if you're not a fan of it. The swivel hinges are made of stainless steel that stand out in the light unassumingly. Because whereas the other parts of the headphone is of a matte color, the hinges are glossy and reflective. But in a non-disruptive unassuming way because it's black. But it gives the all-black headphones a lot of personality. The earcups are made of black aluminum that's fingerprint resistant. The SteelSeries logo on the center of the earcups is a reflective metal that looks black from a distance, but silver when viewed up-close. The earpads are 1.125" thick and are buttery soft and extremely comfortable. The inside opening of the cups measure 2.125" L (top to bottom), 1.625" W (left to right). The boom mic is retractable up to 5" but hides seamlessly with the headset when retracted. You can wear it like normal ANC wireless headphones in public without people knowing that it's a gaming headset. The SteelSeries logo would be the only real giveaway, but that itself looks unassuming. Nothing about the look of this Arctis Nova Elite says "obnoxious gamer". It looks very classy and professional. The build feels solid and doesn't make any creaking noises when worn or when the cups are turned. I don't own any games that specifically market or take advantage of the Arctis Nova Elite's hi-res audio of 96kHz/24bit but it's great for listening to high resolution audio files on the PC. With the software installed, you can adjust the headphone's sound signature with the 10-band EQ. To simplify the process for gaming, there are preset EQ for specific games available as well. When used as a Bluetooth headphone, the codec support is limited to SBC, LC3, and the newer LC3plus, which would support the 96kHz/24 bit audio, whereas the previous 2 would not be able to go as high. The catch is, I'm not familiar with any mobile devices that support LC3plus yet. LC3 is widely supported with the newer flagship Android phones. The Arctis Nova Elite does not support the AAC codec, so on Apple devices, it will use the standard SBC Bluetooth codec. Its ANC is on-par with the popular ANC headphones. I had a noisy rumbling refrigerator that needed maintenance nearby as well as the noise coming from my PC fans. With the Nova Elite's ANC, without any audio playing, it was able to block out the noise from my fridge. My PC fans could still be heard but they were a lot more silent. With audio playing along with the ANC, the outside background noises disappeared. I think that's one of the major selling points for this headphone of this price range. It very capably doubles as an everyday headphone as well, especially with its 30 hour battery life that's similar to my Sony XM5. You can also use the headset as wired headphones thanks to the 3.5mm audio jack. Thanks to the spare battery that's charging on the headset's base, for wireless PC or console use, the Arctis Nova Elite has "unlimited battery life" since the batteries are hot-swappable. You just need to swap them within 5 seconds (I do it within 3 seconds comfortably). The battery cover on the cup is magnetic making the swapping process rather simple. Installation of the base is just as simple. You connect the USB cable to the USB port on the PC and that's it. There's no separate power adapter. The underside of the base has a non-slip rubbery material that outlines that shape of base instead of the usual 4 rubber feet on each corner. It has considerable weight to prevent it from moving around on your desk while you're using its control knob. The base accepts up to 4 inputs: 3 USB-C ports and 1 3.5mm line in port. One of the 3 USB-C ports is for Xbox connectivity for its proprietary setup. Unlike other headsets with multiple inputs, the Arctis Nova Elite allows you to mix all the audio sources. So you can hear audio from all the inputs at the same time. Another killer feature for this headset because I'm not sure where else this is possible. You also still have the ability to control the volume of each source individually and see the volume it's set to clearly on the base when it is in its default Detailed view. You can also have the base display in Simple view where one audio source will be displayed at a time, but with bigger fonts and making it easier to read. The base uses an OLED display, which may make it a concern for burn-in over a longer period of time. But thanks to the OLED display, the display looks sharp and clear. In the settings, you can control the display is highly customizable. You can control the brightness of the display, when to have it power off, show only connected inputs, etc. The settings can be navigated right on the base itself using the control knob, that when outside of the settings menu controls the volume. The settings can also be navigated through the PC software. The boom microphone can be extended up to 5 inches and was told by fellow gamers online that I sounded clear. However, when retracted and using the headset's internal mic, I was told that they were hearing an echo. So, the boom mic seems to be the only way to go for gaming sessions unless there's a setting I'm overlooking somewhere for the internal mic that's causing the echo. When testing both mics using Windows sound recorder, the boom mic sounded a lot clearer, though the internal microphone still sounded good. Interestingly, there was no echo for my recording with the internal mic. The internal mic worked great for in calls when used as a normal headphone on the go without drawing unwanted attention had I used the boom mic. Simply put, the Arctis Nova Elite is awesome, but also a luxury item. If you're only using it for simple gaming it may be overkill for the price you're paying. Other gaming headsets, especially SteelSeries own line offer a lot of the same features. But it's the only gaming headset I'm aware of that allows simultaneous audio for its inputs. It also makes no compromises with build quality with its all metal frame, and classy appearance, instead of the obnoxious teenager gamer vibe. If you can afford it, I highly recommend it. Or a must-get when on sale.

I received the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite Wireless headset to test from Best Buy and it’s quickly become my go-to for my home gaming setup. The build quality feels premium right out of the box. The headphones are solid but comfortable enough for long sessions. The ear cushions are soft and the headband adjusts easily, keeping a snug fit without pressure. Having had a few different headsets over the last couple years, this easily feels the most refined and, "high-end." Sound quality is excellent in everything I tried. Clear highs, rich mids, and deep bass that make games and movies sound full and balanced. I really noticed the detail in ambient game sounds and dialogue, and the spatial audio was impressive and created an immersive experience even on my couch. What really stands out is how seamlessly it switches between devices. Moving from my gaming PC to my console or even my iPad was quick and hassle-free. It’s one of those features that makes a real difference when you bounce between setups. The controller looks sleek and is a welcome addition to my desk setup! Pros: • Excellent, balanced sound with strong bass • Premium and comfortable design • Easy switching between multiple systems • Great battery life, the extra included battery is a plus Cons: • Premium price point • Slightly bulky for travel use Overall, this headset delivers both style and substance. It feels built for serious gamers who also appreciate versatility and comfort.

What's in the box: B+ Arriving in a monster sized box dripping with the extra bells and whistles, inside you will find your headset, your breakout/control box, extra battery (primary is installed in the headset), a soft carrying pouch, a box with your USB cables, 1/8" cable and mic adapters/covers. Overall lovely packaging with plenty of good stuff inside. For this price, a proper hard case for travel would have been nice. I do wish the control box matched the headset colors of Sage and Gold. Ergonomics, physicality and manual usage: C- When unboxing and holding them in your hand, you definitely know these are a cut above just about every set of gaming headphones out there. They have heft, are solidly built and are well built with no corners cut. The Arctis Nova Elite used the new fad of the floating strap for your head design. This is supposed to give you a more, secure fit based on tension and doesn't require the top of your head to mash against the top of your headset where a cushioned band would normally go. It has three manually adjustable settings. I have a fairly large noggin but with no hair to get in the way and to get the headset to fit and not feel tight or compressive, I had to go on the last notch as the cups themselves have ~1" of adjustability and either way at max setting my head is mashed against the top. If my head was a fraction of an inch bigger, these would not fit properly. This is the first set of gaming headphones that *barely* fit so be warned if you have a larger head. The ports are easily accessible with the USB-C port and battery being under each cap on the outside with the SteelSeries logo which is held on magnetically and can be popped off with the flick of a finger. Unlike many other sets, the USB-C port is only for charging if needed. It does not function as a charging/audio USB port. The volume wheel is smooth and controls are very straight forward which I like. One thing I do not like is the SteelSeries control box overrides Windows volume control and sets Windows to a permanent "100" and passes off total control to the control box or headset. I'm used to flicking the SteelSeries keyboard volume control roller. Comfort: D Sadly, these are far from the most comfortable headset I've worn and the first to cause me pain after prolonged use. I was disappointed with the comfort level of the headset and that is alarming. They clamp pretty hard and because of the tight fit and downward pressure after 3+ hours of gaming they start to physically hurt the top of my head. This is a first for me and any set of gaming or audio headphones I've used. I have used the Elite's for extended gaming sessions several nights in a row playing WoW or Fallout 76 and the eventual pain, discomfort and literal indentations on the top of my head is repeatable. In the end, the main culprit was the cushion/suspension strap. when stretched and pushed against my bald head, the edges were digging and cutting into my scalp. I removed the strap and then was left with the absolutely hard and rigid headphone band pressing into my scalp. I had to end up using a small towel to help offset the discomfort or just wear a slouch beanie. Music/Movie Audio: A For a pair of gaming headphones this expensive you expect top notch audio and that is exactly what you get. True, the law of diminishing returns are in full effect, but these are without a doubt the best sounding gaming headphones I've ever used and having gone back and forth over several days, best my current set of favorite headphones in several ways. The soundscape is fuller and more lush. The Elites aren't overly bright and the mids are a bit stronger. I also found the overall separation of the Elites better and listening to a lot of remastered classic, I discovered some ever so subtle sound pick ups that I could not pick up with my other gaming headsets. Gaming Audio: A There are two grades here. D with the GG software and A without it at the current moment. The actual average is a C+, but I will go with an A for the raw potential sans GG Software while it works out its issues. I played initially with the software and used the World of Warcraft preset and the audio was incredibly bass heavy, overly bright and action sounds were far away unless in combat and then they become kind of, muffled but front and center. I played with the settings numerous times and at one point just tried to adjusting the settings manually but in the end what worked best? Turning it off and exiting the software. Once eliminating the GG software, the sound was as it really should be. After several hours of manually switching headphones between my Cloud III S, Arctis Elites and even the Alienware Pro for good measure the final result was much more neutral, balanced sound coming out of the Elites with little bits of finer detail picking up. Another big thing was the overall soundscape of the Elites is much rich and fuller with good balance all around. The sound quality is definitely a step up. Inside the GG software, there is an option to test the spatial (surround sound) capability of the Arctis Elites. Left, right and center work great. Rear left and right? It's ok but definitely lacked the separation of the front testing or giving you the proper feeling/hear of something behind you....at least in the spatial test in their own software. Microphone: A This is a great mic full stop. While raiding, I actually had a few guild members ask was I using a new mic because I sounded much clearer and with more fullness and depth than with the Cloud III S which is saying something because that was already a good mic. The SteelSeries has better depth and boom and doesn't sound as hollow as the Cloud III S which wasn't even that hollow sounding in its own right. I love the retractable mic design. No need to look around for your detachable mic. The only downside to this is if it breaks or you want to assure yourself of true privacy and be able to remove it like some headsets allow completely severing mic functionality but I'll take the trade off. Noise Cancellation (ANC): C+ The noise cancelation is slightly above average at best compared to my Sonos Ace which are spectacular. My core test is my computer room sits right next to my HVAC blower and the blower is about 10ft away from where I sit. The more a headset can mute the blower noise output the better I rank them. Out of all my sets, the Sonos Ace are the only pair that completely remove the sound of my blower. My Studio Pros are next while allowing some noise to get through. The Elite's are a distant third. They definitely remove at least 50% of the noise, but it is clearly audible. I can clearly hear myself typing on the keyboard as I write this review with ANC on. Transparency mode you might as well turn it off. I can basically hear the blower almost at full strength. The strength in the Elite's ANC is fixing their own noise generation and removing small, little noises namely the sound of the cups themselves as you move about and rustles and noises around your ears. I use a back massager from time to time and with the ANC off the vibrations permeate every bit of the Elites in the worse way but with ANC on it makes it at least tolerable. Couple this while pumping audio through the speakers and it can help melt away most of the noise around you well enough. Battery life: A+ The Elites use a swappable battery system with one in the headset and the other charging in the control box. This means you have 24/7/365 uptime. ANC (which is mandatory in my opinion) drains the battery quicker, but not as quick as you can charge it in the control box so there is zero downtime. Another plus is the batteries are removable/replaceable so you know as they age you can always replace one or both fairly easy. This is a PERFECT way to approach headset battery charging. Problems: B In terms of issues and problems, they were limited and that's a good thing outside of general usage issues. I found a touch of static on the wired connection to my desktop and amp. I'm not sure why or if this was the cable itself, but the static/noise went away when connected wirelessly to the control box. Once connected wirelessly, I did get the occasional bump/click which can happen with wireless connections so sorry to say while the wireless signal has increased for quality and certification, the inherent nature of the technology is still suspect to signal hiccups. This is with the control box about three feet away tops from my headset. Overall: B For the price, I expected much more comfort as they are a tad small, clamp a bit tight and contact noisy requiring ANC to cancel out a lot of the noise and ergonomically, many of the much less expensive gaming headsets I tried were much more comfortable including the entry level sets I tested. The Elites are the first set of gaming headphones I've used to cause me actual pain and discomfort after prolonged use. The ANC is average at best but passable. The GG software still needs work for my needs and the audio profile for World of Warcraft was terrible to the point I did not use it at all nor GG Software when gaming. The saving grace is the raw audio and mic capabilities of the Arctis Pro Elites which are both best in class for my testing criteria. This is easily the best control box I've ever used allowing multi line input and mixing so you can not only have your headphones hooked up wirelessly to your system, but also pipe in other systems if you want along with other devices even your phone if you wish while charging your aux battery. After a solid week+ of testing, this has managed to beat out my current favorite set of gaming headphones which had triumphed over several previous pairs of gaming headsets I own or have tried (Probably over 30 at this point). The quality build overall of the headphones also can not be denied.

The price is steep, but for all the features that come included with these, it's worth it, in my opinion. The ability to connect to two USB-C sources (and bluetooth) simultaneously is perfect for my dual work/play PC setup. On top of features, these sound great with plenty of sound customization via Steelseries Sonar's PEQ. I used to have a ton of issues with Sonar and the Nova Pro, but haven't had any issues with the Elite so far. The ability to hot swap batteries is a killer feature as well as you essentially have infinite battery life, and if the batteries bite the dust down the line, you can just purchase new ones, extending the life the headset overall. On top of all this, the headset is stunning and feels very premium. Not the MOST comfortable headset I've owned, but I am able to wear these for a full day of work without much issue. Anyway, if you can stomach the price (or wait for a sale), these headphones are phenominal, especially for a multi-device setup. Highly recommended.

This is a very pricy gaming headset and is definitely not for everyone. However I think if you do your research and you intentionally will use the multi-system capabilities, the ANC, bluetooth, etc... This product is fantastic. The ANC is much improved over the previous nova pro wireless, the comfort is better, and the hot-swap batteries are still a killer feature. The mic should be better for the price, but I honestly think with EQ it's quite good. If you're doing podcasting or audio work you should probably be buying a separate dedicated mic anyways. Overall, this headset is the ultimate all-in-one package, just do your research first.

Overall this headset is a very good upgrade and possibly worth it coming from the previous Nova Pro. There are several differences between them like the metal frame and volume control knob which is a huge design feature that is actually helpful to change the volume and other headset controls and to me like the biggest reason I would even consider these over the Pros. The inner ear ANC bump is flat now and does not feel uncomfortable and feels the same to me. I love the look the matte black outside and the top band made of the leatherette looks very premium. As far as the sound goes I don't really notice that much of a difference between the new wireless hi-res and not having it. It sounds amazing and I'm sure the updated carbon fiber drivers with brass ring around it help a lot and makes for low distortion high clarity but it's about the same to me as the Pros. The ANC is kind of lacking to me even though this one is supposed to be 42% better than competitors. I like how you can change the noise cancelling from low to medium and high and I notice the difference but I can still make out some background noise even on high like a baby crying and other louder noises but it works for what most would use it for I'm sure and it's nice to have a transparency option too. The other amazing feature and difference is that I like how it's an OmniPlay system gamehub that allows you to connect multiple devices to it and have that seamless mixing. AI noise rejection seems to work well no complaints there which is nice if you have things going on in your background. I like that this Elite has an outer microphone so you don't need to use the boom mic if you don't want to which is super convenient. The 2 battery system is my all time favorite I really like how easy it is to swap batteries and have one charging all ready to go before the other battery dies and I don't have to plug it in if I don't have to, it's also nice it has the option to plug it in to charge if really needed somehow. Another difference is the use of SteelSeries' app which I found easy to use and kind of nice to be able to change EQ if I wanted to or if I switch games I can find the EQ for that game and change it fast without using the SteelSeries GG on the computer like you have to for the Pros. You could also try to change it on the gamehub but I feel the app is faster. The one thing I wish they had with this given the price is their hard case for the Arctis Nova line, the bag case this comes with is a leather feel and looks and feels super nice and has a inner zipper that seems waterproof and a nice magnetic closure but the hard case again would be actually better and to me worth the price increase. In conclusion, this headset does have a lot of very nice upgraded features that could be worth the premium price and the fact you can connect multiple devices and has an outer mic to talk with as well as the wireless hi-res sound (if you are an audiophile who can really notice the difference) or maybe want to future proof your headset this is the one to get. I love the metal knobs and matte black soft feel and just those exterior features alone to me are almost worth it.