Customer Ratings & Reviews

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is the cherry on top of what is now (IMO) the best gaming lineup you can buy. This headset slots in at the bleeding edge of mainstream luxury gaming headsets. I’m hard pressed to think of another headset that combines this feature set into one unit. ANC, aluminum and steel build, carbon fiber drivers, Bluetooth, 4 source mixing, and more. I’ve been using the Elite with Battlefield 6 on my PC and streaming music or playing local lossless via the 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections. This headset, more than any other, handles multipoint connections and mixing flawlessly. Off the bat, the Sage/Gold color combination is quite classy. The gold accents are not gaudy and the matte finish on the whole headset is very sharp. No cheap finishes, no corners cut, they look Elite. The stamped ear cups are rock solid and the single side arms on the headset are impressively stiff. There is a little play in the joint between the single sided fork and the ear cup itself, but I am not concerned at all with the way this thing is so thoughtfully designed and well built. The headband is wide and distributes the weight of the headset very well. They’re deceptively adjustable, and this suspension design seems to serve well across the Arctis Nova line. There was too much clamping force when put them on for the first time. Each wear since then has been more pleasant, they seem to be perhaps breaking in, the ear pads have softened up considerably. I have a giant dome, I wear 60mm eyeglasses, and this fits great after about 5 days of use. I look forward to spending some serious time between these drivers. They aren’t hot or heavy, nor do they have pressure points that cause fatigue. I’m able to wear this set for 2 straight hours and not really notice them. The sound is better than I had expected. Games, music, and movies are all wonderfully rendered. Usually gaming headsets are lackluster with music, but the carbon fiber drivers in the super-solid ear cups are tightly controlled and still dynamic. These are not critical listening, perfectly flat frequency response cans, they’re listenable and still have a personality. They can recreate thunderous sub bass of a BF 6 building falling on you while also perfectly playing the ridiculously high pitch tones in the background of Tool’s Chocolate Chip Trip instrumental. Directional sound is available on this set from the GG Sonar software or from spatial surround run through Windows. I have been using them with DTX: Headphone. Directional positioning is right on par with the best I’ve used, no complaints there. Good or bad directional sound is very game-dependent, so make sure you try a few different games and surround techs. ANC is good. It does not compare directly with other dedicated noise cancelling headphones out there, but I wouldn’t expect them to. It injects a notable white noise while running and the interior microphones will sometimes echo heartbeats back into my ears. It is, however, the best ANC on any of the high end gaming headsets I’ve tried. The isolation provided by the solid ear cups helps as well. The microphone is good. Noise rejection is adjustable in the Sonar software as well as the Arctis app, which works great with this headset. Those of us with giant heads are often outside the directional microphone’s ideal location. This causes some microphones to treat our voices like noise. The Elite manages to work for me, which is great, but the sound quality, tone and volume are all affected and it shows on the other side. Some sort of longer microphone boom or something would be cool, but I’m not sure how that would work with the inspired roll up mic stowage system. I have my PC on one port 1, which is the one that allows Sonar control, my Mac on port 2, where it is recognized as an audio device, and I have my Xbox Series X on port 3. While the Mac is able to run the GG software, I didn’t find any options for Sonar when I connected it to port 1, but it’s nice to have some access, usually Macs are left in the lurch. The transmitter remembers your settings so I can turn off the PC and use it on the Mac or Xbox without having to fuss with settings. The controls and interactions with the headset and software are well polished and responsive. The controls are simple and intuitive, especially the volume wheel peeking out of the bottom of the left ear cup. If you want to use Bluetooth, you press the bluetooth button and it turns on, otherwise, unless you specify, Bluetooth stays off if you don’t want it. It doesn’t make cheap chip beeps and bleeps when responding to controls. This one feels like someone took time to think through stuff, or it was an opportunity for the Arctis folks to put in some refinements they could not on lower end models. Whatever it was, even if pure coincidence, interacting with the Elite is a pleasure. There isn’t a better gaming headset available. Fully recommended.

Headset overall is good, but the sidetone is very lackluster compared to previous generations. Clamp force is also high

I’ve used a lot of gaming headsets over the years but the one I always come back to is my SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. The sound quality is great for gaming, the noise cancelling is excellent, the convenience of the external DAC, the retractable mic, and best of all that I could hot swap batteries. The Arctis Nova Elite keeps all these features but makes improvements in several key areas. The Elite headphones support high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz audio over 2.4GHz wireless. The build is clearly better with metal frames, carbon-fiber audio drivers, and even the headband is a bit cushier than the Pro. The button layout is identical to the Nova Pro model with a power/function button, mic mute button, and volume/mix dial on the left earcup and the Bluetooth power/multifunction button on the right. From a comfort perspective you can tell that it’s improved from the older model when you wear them. The mixing capabilities of the Elite are next level. You can listen to four simultaneous streams at once, which just makes these incredibly versatile for a lot of use cases such as streamers who want to hear audio from their console and from their stream chat at the same time. There are now three USB-C input ports on the new GameHub, which is the external DAC that the headset wirelessly connects to. The Elite supports PC, Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, Xbox or anything that supports USB-C audio output. As mentioned above, I use both a PC and Mac so being able to use both is also a plus. In addition, you can connect one analog source with the 3.5mm line-in input. One of my favorite features of this headset is that it can mix a Bluetooth call from my phone along with my game so I can multitask without missing a beat. Battery life is great, enough to get through a day. I use the headset a lot, for both work and gaming so I find myself swapping the batteries every 2-3 days but because the headset includes two batteries and one is always charging in the GameHub the downtime is minimal. I’ve gotten to where I can swap the batteries while still wearing the headset so in 30 seconds I’m up and running again. The sound quality is a step up from the Nova Pro, especially when you enable the 24-bit/96kHz audio. I was able to get this certified Hi-Res mode both in Windows and Mac by just going to sound settings and enabling it. The GameHub will confirm you’re in Hi-Res mode on its screen. The sound quality is superb and detailed, I listen to a lot of movie soundtracks when not gaming so having a headset that can faithfully reproduce an orchestra is important to me. When it comes to gaming, these provide a rich soundstage and support spatial sound which can really help in games where positional audio cues are helpful such as shooters. For cinematic titles, it deepens the immersion as you can truly get lost in the game, especially when combined with the ANC. However, there aren’t many games that support Hi-Res audio, so if all you do is gaming, and never listen to music the sound quality improvements may be negligible. I use SteelSeries Sonar software to manage the sound system on my PC, and I highly recommend it as it enables complete control over which apps should route to what devices and comes with an equalizer and presets for many popular games such as Fortnite. There is also a mobile app so you can change most settings even if you are not connected to a computer such as when using a console or just connected to your phone via Bluetooth. I find the noise cancelling and transparency of the Elite to be very good, on par with some of the best on the market right now. It really helps with gaming immersion when you can just mute everything else and only focus on the game. Most times my wife has to tap me on the shoulder to get my attention. The boom mic is a retractable bendable wire to make it easy to position, and a windsock is included if needed. New for the Elite is an additional on-ear mic that activates when the boom mic is retracted. In my test, the on-ear mic works just as good as the boom one which is great if you don’t want to use the boom mic. The boom mic does have the mute indicator, a bright red light when muted, which is helpful if you use the mute button often. Both mics support the sidetone feature, which lets you hear yourself as you talk and each can be adjusted individually in Sonar. Voice clarity and background noise was good in my tests. The only downside I know of, and this is from my experience with the Nova Pro which I’ve been using for three years, is that the OLED display of the DAC can suffer from burn-in. It doesn’t look like the screen of the newer GameHub that’s included with the Elite is any different from the old version so be sure to turn on the screensaver mode and set the display to turn off after a certain time as the default is the screen stays on if powered. Pros: - Excellent Audio Quality - Certified Hi-Res 24-bit/96kHz - Premium Build Quality - Strong ANC and Transparency Modes - Multiplatform: Xbox, PS5, Switch 2, PC - Supports Wired USB-C, 2.4GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, and AUX in. - Simultaneously supports four audio streams at once - Boom and On-Ear Mics with Sidetone - Includes 2 Swappable Batteries - Sonar Audio Software Cons: - Expensive Overview – In my opinion, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite replaces the Nova Pro as the absolute best headset money can buy for gamers who need multi-device connectivity or want something closer to audiophile quality.

It took me longer than usual to review this device; it just does so much. I even had to read through the manual and check a few things online to fully grasp its capabilities. Overall, this is one heck of a headset; it covers a remarkable range of use cases. It can easily be your one headphone for work, music, gaming, and streaming. The on-device controls are well thought out, and usability is top-notch. Software support is strong too, with both a mobile companion app and a PC app that work exactly as expected. If money isn’t a concern; just get this, you will not be disappointed. ________________________________________ My Setup and Use Cases I’ve been using it in two different setups: Home theater setup: connected to my PS5 and Xbox One X. It works flawlessly with both of them. Office setup: connected to both my work and personal PCs, and it performs perfectly (as expected). It also works with Android devices over USB-C. ________________________________________ Comfort It looks and feels premium. The earpads are plush and comfortable, and my ears fit nicely inside the cups even though they don’t appear very large. There’s minimal pressure, and I can comfortably wear them with glasses; a big plus for long PC gaming sessions. The smaller driver design also helps with comfort. The clamping force is lighter than the HD6XX or Ananda; which makes a world of difference, especially when wearing glasses. The HD550 is slightly more comfortable; but this one is still great for long sessions without causing fatigue. They are a bit heavy though; not ideal for walking around, but that’s not what they’re made for and I am not planning to go jogging with them. I loved the color and gold accents but will continue with the more subtle black QC45 outside. ________________________________________ Design and Usability The charging port and battery compartments are cleverly hidden under magnetic covers. Button placement is intuitive, covering most essential functions: • ANC / Transparency on the power button • Play/Pause and Next/Previous tracks over Bluetooth However, Bluetooth playback controls don’t work when connected via 2.4GHz; which I consider a small oversight. Hopefully, a firmware update can fix this. The volume wheel doubling as DAC control is an excellent touch; you can manage volume or mute directly from the headset without needing a remote or app. The inclusion of replaceable batteries is another highlight; that alone makes a huge difference for longevity; unlike my QC45, which will eventually become e-waste once the internal battery dies. The DAC also supports dual audio mixing. For example, you can stream with your mic connected to one PC while gaming on a console; and you can balance the two audio sources. You can even take a Bluetooth call while hearing your game; or set the app to mute the game when a call comes in. Very thoughtful design. ________________________________________ Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) ANC performance is solid; I’d rate it on par with the Bose QC45. When background systems like HVAC kick in, both block a similar level of noise. You can control ANC and Transparency either with the power button or through the companion app. I couldn’t test how ANC affects the microphone, though. ________________________________________ Gaming Gaming on PS5 was seamless; the headset was detected automatically and switched over without issue. Audio quality is clear and consistent even from 10+ feet away. The companion app includes plenty of game-specific presets. While there wasn’t one for Uncharted 4 (which I’m currently playing); there are several for The Last of Us series and various FPS titles; which seem to be the main focus. No issues while gaming on PC either. I mostly used the flat preset instead of Sonar, and it performed as expected. ________________________________________ Music Quality (on PC) Although music isn’t the primary use case; it’s worth mentioning how impressively this headset performs with music playback; close to my dedicated audio headphones. Honestly, it’s convenient to have one pair that handles gaming, work, and music so well. Using the GG app, I updated both the DAC and the headset firmware before listening. I’ve tested many headphones recently; HD550, HD6XX, Ananda, Sundara, K550, QC45, etc.; and this headset holds its own. For most songs, the sound quality was surprisingly close to the HD550 or Ananda. The Punchy EQ preset in the GG app made many tracks shine. Treble is bright like the HD550 yet remains clean and balanced; similar to the Sundara; a great mix of both. Instrument separation is excellent; though the soundstage isn’t as wide as the Ananda (which feels like having 6-inch speakers on your face). The HD550 can sound slightly more refined on some tracks, but the gap is smaller than I expected. While I don’t have objective measurements; my subjective experience tells me these are impressively tuned. Of course, preferences, fit, and head shape all matter; but I listened to around 50 tracks and enjoyed the sound on 90% of them. You still get sparkle in the highs, airy mids, and decent bass presence. In A/B tests, other audiophile headphones may win on specific tracks, but the difference is subtle. ________________________________________ Misses The only real downside is codec support. SteelSeries included LC3 and LC3+; but no other high-resolution Bluetooth codecs like aptX or LDAC. This means that if you’re using an older phone without LC3 support; it will fall back to basic SBC quality. My Pixel 10 Pro supports Bluetooth LE Audio; but I couldn’t confirm if the headset was actually using it since the developer option for Bluetooth codec selection was greyed out. ________________________________________ Final Thoughts This headset is an incredibly versatile all-rounder. It’s not cheap; but it delivers across every category; comfort, design, connectivity, sound quality, and longevity. If you want one premium headset that can truly, do it all; this is the one to get.

Bottom Line Up Front The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is a do-it-all flagship wireless gaming headset that genuinely raises the bar for audio fidelity, noise cancellation, connectivity, and battery design. It combines hi-res 96kHz/24-bit wireless audio, industry-leading ANC and AI noise rejection, a versatile GameHub base station with multi-source mixing, and a best-in-class swappable-battery system into one polished package. Sound and microphones - Hi-Res performance:The 96kHz/24bit capability over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth delivers noticeably more detail and clarity when fed true hi‑res sources; music encoded in 24/96 sounds open, natural, and precise. - Drivers and signature: The 2-piece carbon fiber drivers produce fast transient response, low distortion, and excellent separation. The default tune is flat and neutral, which is ideal for fidelity; the 10-band EQ in SteelSeries GG lets you tailor the signature for gaming, movies, or music. - Mic quality: AI noise rejection and the onboard mic produce clear, distortion-free voice capture. Call recipients and teammates reported consistently clean audio. ANC, AI noise rejection, and immersion - ANC: Top-tier active noise cancellation greatly reduces ambient sound and improves immersion for both games and music. - AI noise rejection: Onboard AI reduces background noise extremely effectively during voice chat, which keeps communications intelligible in variable environments. - In-game spatial clarity: Excellent effect separation and forward, organic dialogue make it easy to localize sounds in competitive titles. GameHub, base station, and connectivity - OmniPlay mixing: The GameHub lets you mix up to four sources simultaneously and switch seamlessly between PC, console, Bluetooth, and line-in—useful for multitasking and content creation. - Controls and display: The OLED and big knob provide immediate, tactile control over EQ, mic, and noise settings. The display could benefit from higher resolution and color, but the interface is functional and responsive. - Wireless range: Exceptional 2.4GHz range; stable audio well beyond typical home distances with only minor degradation at extreme range. Battery, comfort, and extras - Infinite Power System: Swappable batteries with one charging in the GameHub means zero downtime. Each battery lasts up to 30 hours and fast charging gives ~4 hours from a 15-minute top-up. Swapping is quick and ergonomic. - Comfort and build: Lightweight carbon fiber drivers and balanced clamping force yield comfortable multi-hour wear. Fit and finish feel premium and durable. - App control: Companion apps for mobile and PC give granular real-time control of EQs and mic settings, plus automatic game-specific EQ presets that work well out of the box. Pros and Cons - Pros: Hi-res certified wireless performance; superb ANC and AI vocal clarity; industry-leading battery swapping and fast charge; multi-source mixing in GameHub; outstanding range and versatile connectivity. - Cons: Real hi-res benefit requires 24/96 source material; OLED could be higher resolution and more colorful; premium price point may be hard to justify for users who only game casually. Verdict The Arctis Nova Elite is the most complete wireless gaming headset I've used: audiophile-grade sound when you want it, unmatched connectivity and mixing flexibility, industry-leading noise cancellation and AI voice isolation, and a flawless swappable-battery system for uninterrupted use. If you demand top audio fidelity, advanced mixing, and exceptional wireless performance in one headset, the Nova Elite is an outstanding choice.

I've seen a fair number of premium gaming headsets at this point - but I can safely say the Arctis Nova Elite stands apart. While it may not be the ideal headset for everyone, I think it's safe to say that there isn't anything else out there at the moment that can match this specific mix of features. The headset is split into two main parts: the hadphones themselves and a USB Control Box/DAC that sits on your desk. The headphones use an elastic universal fit design. I've tried a few of these over the years and generally haven't liked them very much, as they usually feel kind of awkward and end up concentrating too much weight on the top of your head. I'm pleased to say I didn't encounter either of those problems here. The elastic band is a bit softer and better at contouring to my head than most, and offered enough adjustment to handle a wider array of head sizes than most. Weight is relatively modest, though still pretty far from ultralight, and the controls are well laid out for easy access. The retractable boom mic in particular gains points for how smoothly it integrates into the headphone's body when you're not using it. The control box, meanwhile, gains points for simplicity. Pretty much everything is controlled via a combination jog wheel/button that normally handles volume, with a few vital statistics being relayed via a small OLED screen. It looks great on my desk and doesn't take up a lot of room, but admittedly can be a bit slow to use for more complex tasks. For day to day gaming I don't think anyone will care, but if you plan to use this for a more complex streaming audio setup it's definitely worth considering that you'll want to have everything prepared before you start. The box is also vital for the headset's best party trick: swappable batteries. With how long headset batteries tend to last these days I can't say this is solving a problem that comes up often, but it is nonetheless appealing to know that I don't have to plug anything in if I find myself suddenly out of juice before a gaming session. As far as actual use goes, I mostly have high marks. Sound quality is excellent, and the ANC option does a great job filtering out fan noise from a gaming tower (though it can admittedly become a little uncomfortable with protracted use.) The ear cups are soft and do a good job providing some passive noise blocking as well, though it's worth keeping in mind that they do heat up a fair bit over longer gaming sessions. The microphone audio is also good - albeit a little grainy. It does better with the included baffle attached, but since that also interferes with your ability to stow the mic I can't say that's something I'm likely to use that much. Most of the finer adjustments need to be handled via an app installed on either your phone or PC, and this is one area where I admit I'm less impressed. There's a lot of bloat built in, a very aggressive push to have you sign up for an account with SteelSeries, and the audio controls feel very deliberately hidden. But once you figure out how to get past that it does its job, and you probably only need to go in there a few times, so I decided not to knock a star off for it. All in all this does get a recommendation for me - provided you feel like the unusual feature set caters to you. I'm still not entirely sold on the need for ANC or swappable batteries for most people, but for the few who do want it there really aren't a ton of competing options and certainly not many offering this kind of styling or build quality.

The Steel Series Arctis Nova Elite is a follow up to the $390 Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset. The jump up to $600 might be... okay... most likely be a bit of a stretch for your wallet if you think of these as merely a gaming headset, but they are so much more. These are feature rich and looking at the whole package they might be worth the price tag. They look awesome, coming in either Obsidian black for a stealthy look or sage and gold for a more elegant look. Very slick!!!! The base unit pretty much stays the same except for the 3rd Xbox/USB port. With 3 USB ports you can plug in your PC and an Xbox and laptop/tablet/smartphone to utilize the headset for multiple devices, even simultaneously (using Sonar Audio software). I like the Line In and Line Out ports too. I have a set of PC speakers that use audio cables so the Line Out is perfect to allow me to easily switch between the headset and speakers. The base also continues the spare battery charging port. The second included battery pack gives me a backup in case the headset dies in the middle of a game. It makes it an easy battery swap, never missing a beat. The headset is really comfortable for long gaming (or music listening) sessions. The earpads are supple vegan leather with memory foam padding. The band expands and has an adjustable strap to fine tune your fit. While I prefer fabric covered pads the soft leather helps to ease my concerns of heat and overall comfort. The headset has 2 microphones. For gaming the flexible boom mic extends so you can put up close to your mouth. The optional foam cover helps cut down some ambient noise and onboard AI noise cancelling does a very good job of masking most ambient noise cancelling. Pushing the mic into the headset switches to the secondary mic in the earcup. I like the flexibility of dual mics with the onboard for making calls when connected to my phone. Now to the quality of sound. Steel Series punched up the audio quality on the Nova Elite. I'm not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination but I do appreciate a high quality output where you can hear everything crystal clear and pick up sounds missed on headphones of lesser quality (most definitely price). Not that I haven't spend a decent amount on stereo headphones, mind you. They've put carbon fiber drivers in the Elite and increased the fidelity over Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity. Most of the constraints are due to the bandwidth technology of the wireless connectivity. So back to the question... are these worth the $600? If you look at the big picture of improved performance and the ability to use with your home theater then these might be for you. Make the choice for your situation. I love these things and they should last me a very long time.

Alright, they are good but I don’t think they are worth the big price tag

These headphones were nice, but not worth the $600. For me they were just not super comfortable and I expected better sound quality for the price tag as well. Maybe for some it’s good, but not for me.

The Good: * Sound quality is phenomenal — crisp highs, full-bodied mids, and deep but controlled bass. In my testing, the sound stage feels wide and immersive, with accurate imaging that really benefits FPS and cinematic titles alike. * The understated, classic design makes it a great daily driver — premium without being flashy. The build feels solid, with a comfortable fit that’s ideal for long sessions. * Connectivity is seamless. Switching between PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch is quick and reliable thanks to the dual wireless system (2.4GHz and Bluetooth). * Battery life is excellent — the dual hot-swappable batteries and included charging dock mean you’re practically never out of power. * Microphone quality is clear and natural-sounding, perfect for both gaming and work calls. * Fast transient response gives the headset that “audiophile” precision — drums, strings, and subtle game audio cues all come through with lifelike timing. * Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) performs well without compromising tone. Transparency mode feels balanced and useful. * The companion app on desktop is robust, offering EQ presets, ChatMix, and sidetone control — ideal for fine-tuning your setup. The Bad: * Currently, there’s no mobile app support — you can’t yet connect these to SteelSeries’ mobile app, which limits EQ and customization on the go. Hopefully a future update fixes this. * The $600 price tag is steep, even for a flagship model. It’s a premium experience but definitely not for every budget. Overall:
This is the most refined headset SteelSeries has ever made, at least that I’ve heard — a true audiophile-grade wireless experience wrapped in everyday comfort and versatility. If you want top-tier sound, build quality, and flexibility across every platform, this is an easy 5-star rating for me, even with the elevated price point.

This new SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite headset is an interesting product to review. It's feature packed, the software works well, the included dock works perfectly, the headset feels high quality, has some weight to it, is very comfortable, and the swappable batteries are a great feature. I love not having to plug this thing in overnight to recharge it. Just swap the battery out, and you always have a full battery ready to go. Overall, the user experience is pretty incredible. I'm running this headset at 24bit/96kHz on my higher end gaming PC, and it has worked flawlessly. The sound is incredible for a wireless headset. The ANC works well. I prefer to leave ANC off as my house is quiet and I don't need it, but it does work well. I have used wired headphones from BeyerDynamic and Sennheiser over the years, and while I loved them, I prefer the sound signature of these Nova Elites for gaming. I don't really have anything negative to say about them...other than the price. The price definitely puts this headset out of reach for most gamers, but I still feel compelled to recommend them if it's within your budget. The overall package, comfort, sound quality, and features make this headset a great option at the higher end, but there are other top rated wireless options at a lower price that will still make most people happy. As with most things, "value" gets a little more muddied as price increases. However, this is still the best wireless gaming headset I've ever owned.

Phenomenal premium headset with a great fit and phenomenal sound. This headset fits perfectly on my head and is very comfortable and does hurt my head or ears after long hours of play. It has custom sound settings that can be adjusted to your liking or you can choose from optional presets. This headset can connect Bluetooth or 2.4 wireless connection and the included DAC allows you to connect to pc, Xbox, PS5 and Switch and allows you to switch between consoles easily. The headset comes with a batter already included in the headset along with a second swpable battery the can be stored and charged in DAC game hub which can be used to swap out really quick for long gaming sessions that drain your battery so you can continue playing during a all-nighter. All in all, this is the best sounding headset I’ve ever owned with clear audio for those for games. The feel and build of the headset is of premium high quality standard. The $600 price tag is worth the money as you can definitely tell where that extra money is being spent compared to other headsets on the market. If you’re willing to dish out the extra cash for the high quality build and audio that this headset dishes out then I would definitely recommend this headset. I’m absolutely loving this headset. Great job Steel Series! You have always and continue to make great products!

This is probably if not the best wireless headphones I’ve used. That’s a bold claim but this is also the first High Res Wireless Audio certified headphones I’ve had the opportunity to use. That means higher clarity and definition in the sound output you’re getting in what you’re listening to. These are very comfortable and well built. There’s a mix of plastic and metal where it counts. The metal frame helps with the rigidity and structure while the plush soft leather ear cuffs are soft and breathable and create a great seal. The buttons are tactile and the plastic has a soft premium feel. I love how the boom mic is seated inside of the housing of the left ear cuff so it can be easily stored out of the way and pulled out when ready to chat. It also has a LED that shows when it’s muted. I’m not an audiophile so it’s a bit harder for me to describe the sound, but I thought playing Battlefield 2042 was a good medium for picking up a variety of sounds, how well I could hear footsteps and the direction in which gunfire was coming from. I was not let down. You can hear the explosions in the distance, the detailed sound of reloading your weapon and bullets whizzing by. I was able to go into the SteelSeries app and the Sonar function to select the preset for the game I was playing. There’s a very extensive list provided. The preset gives an enhanced sound profile specific to your game and highlights the sounds that might be important in the game your playing. Aside from the highly customizable sound, you can also toggle noise canceling which adds an additional layer to immersion. The noise canceling, while not breaking any records, works very well and isolates the game from the surrounding sound. If you’re gaming and need to listen out for your surroundings, there’s an ambient sound option as well which I feel works really well. To get noise canceling and ambient sound, you need microphones. There’s a boom mic that is easily pulled out from inside the housing, but if you want to take advantage of your ambient sound microphones used for noise canceling and ambient sound, those pick up voice too. You can also get a great bit of customization out of the microphone by using the SteelSeries app, selecting the profile that best compliments your voice. A few other things to note is connectivity. The wireless receiver has three different inputs as well as Bluetooth. You’re not going to get the studio quality sound from the Bluetooth connection, but if you’re like me and prefer to connect your phone for discord instead of using PC, it won’t matter too much. The base has several different display options as well as access to settings to adjust settings. You won’t get the full custom list of preset sounds, but you can change microphone gain, a few sound presets, as well as prioritizing Hi-res or range. If I could caution on a few things. I was a bit challenged to get the USB 1 connection to pickup correctly on my PC. I’m not sure if this was a driver issue or PC issue, but ultimately, connecting the receiver using a USB-C to USB-C instead of the C to A that was provided did the trick. It also creates 4 different sound output options in control panel so knowing the one to use at first can be confusing. I think there could be some work done here to make it more intuitive on PC. The receiver itself is lightweight and houses the spare battery for charging, but it’s not very laptop friendly. This isn’t a small dongle, but a receiver with a display, button, and multi use knob. If you’re going to use this headset on the go, be prepared to lug it around for the hi-res audio, or pair your Bluetooth to stay wireless. This is probably niche for most people, but worth calling out. In summary, these sound really really really good and are very well made. Music comes through crisp and clear, while games get the special touch with custom presets, creating an immersive experience in whatever your playing.

The Arctis Nova Elite Wireless headset is a top tier gaming headset geared towards those who want amazing sound, features and a bit of luxury. I own a lot of headsets and this one is at the top. The overall quality is fantastic. Absolutely amazing noise canceling and hi res sound. The game hub is really cool. Although I mainly use the iOS app, it’s nice to have a physical hub on the desk for quick adjustments. The app is going to give you tons of versatility, sound profiles and options to play with. This is where I’d start. I’ve been playing a lot of Battlefield 6 on my PC and the sound is so good. I’ve been using the Battlefield 6 profile in the app and it sounds perfect. Comfort wise I give it a 7.5/10. The ear-cups are nice and soft. I did get some pressure points after a couple hours since I wear glasses. The headset feels a bit tight on my head but nothing too bad. Hoping to have it broken in before too long. I really enjoy being able to connect my phone via Bluetooth while also having game audio. A simple feature I really enjoy. It’s great they give you an extra battery to swap out AND you can charge the second battery on the game hub so it’s ready to go when you need it. One of my favorite features! They give you plenty of cables and a very nice travel bag. Seriously the bag feels pretty high end compared to what everyone else incudes. My one negative, and for me this is a big one, is that the SteelSeries GG software doesn’t recognize my headset. The Arctis app tells me there’s a firmware update but you have to do it via PC. So at the moment, I am unable to update my firmware. Hopefully this gets addressed soon. Overall, I am loving this headset and definitely recommend the Arctis Nova Elite!

Where have these been hiding? Let me start by saying quality, quality, quality. In the market for a new gaming headset with active noise canceling? I strongly suggest you check these out. So Im an avid gamer and typically play for a few hours a night after work. With kids already in bed things in the house need to be quiet. So I typically where a headset so i can hear in game sounds and if Im in a party, I can hear the party chat. For years I have used Turtle Beach headsets. But felt like there was something always missing. So I went on the search for something more to my liking. And I believe I have found it. The steelseries Arctis Nova Elites had every feature I was looking for plus some and honestly minus some. Lets start with the active noise canceling. These are very very quiet even with the ANC not turned on. Comfort, after gaming for a few hours, one can experience some fatigue from an extra pound on thier head. The Arctis Elites seem to distribute the weight on your head fairly well to the point you won't notice that youre even wearing them. Battery life, this is one feature I love about them. Forget to charge them after a long gaming session? No problem with the desktop control hub the second battery that comes supplied is already charged and waiting. Just swap it out. Do you need that perfect EQ setting for your favorite game? Dont worry Steelseries have you covered. There are tons of preset game specific EQ settings. Or you can make youre own custom EQ setting. You can control all these features from the desktop Hub or from the downloadable App. All in all these are amazing headphones. The only feature I would have l Iiked to see would be a second volume control to separate the party chat from the in game sounds.

For years now Ive been trying all the new gaming headsets that have come out. And one after another just could not match the sound of my Gen 2 Astro A50's. The closest thing that came to that was the Steelseries Siberia 800s. But they just did not have the punch of the Astros. The way Ive had things set up prior to the Arctis was I have 2 separate A50 headsets and would just swap them out as needed for charging. This was not exactly convenient and after all those connects and disconnects the wires and charging ports would get loose. So I am very happy that Steelseries has gone with the swappable battery system. It is so much more convenient and easy to replace bad batteries after years of use. The headset itself is very very comfortable despite my rather large head. And I should mention that I use my gaming headsets for all my audio. So I have them on the entire time my TV is on. And long sessions are a breeze. And one of my 2 favorite features is that this can be used with all 3 of my consoles (PS5, XBOX Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2) without having to switch a bunch of wires and dongles around. It all just works. So with all these awesome features I was worried that just like before with so many others the sound just would not be as good. Well that is definitely not the case here. The sound is PERFECT for me! Perfect highs, mids, and especially punchy and accurate lows make for not just awesome gaming. But movies and music sound amazing as well. So in conclusion I have finally found the perfect headset for my set up. Compatibility with all my consoles, all day comfort, amazing gaming, and perfect audio for all my TV's output. Loving these!

I had the previous gen of the Arctis Nova Wireless and can honestly say they have only approved on an already great headset. You get the headset, DAC, two batteries and all the cables necessary. Hot swappable batteries are a real treat, keeping one charged inside the DAC and being able to swap them within mere seconds keeps you gaming longer and frustration free. Microphone quality was really great and seems to hold its position nicely which is important to me. Bluetooth connection was really solid was able to go several rooms away without much signal loss. Sound on these things are amazing I felt myself picking out tracks on well known music and games I didn't even know was there previously. The spatial sound for footsteps in FPS really was a game changer too, this headset really just makes everything around you just pop. The software is really frustration free to download and use. There's so much configuration that can be done with ease so you can really cater everything to your specific needs and liking. I found the headset to be quite comfortable to wear for extended periods without my ears feeling too hot or the band digging into the top of my head too much. I'm really very impressed with this overall and while it carries a high price point you are getting the very best wireless gaming headset on the market in my opinion, no regrets.

This is hands down one of the best gaming headsets I’ve have used. You can connect it to Bluetooth or 2.4ghz wireless. You can connect it with your phone, tablet, PlayStation 5, Xbox, switch or PC easily tho you’ll want to use USB C 3 for Xbox with the mixer thing if you want to have it work properly with mixing the audio. You can also do line in and line out wired if you want as well. Also comes with a second battery as well so you don’t have to worry about battery life as well. It’s high fi certified for wireless or wired as well with ANC. These are fairly good for music listening and on the subway if you just want one pair of headphones for gaming and everyday use. The boom mic retracts into the headphones so you don’t have to worry about losing it. It also has beam forming mics as well which work quite decently if you don’t want to use the boom mic. As far as for gaming goes this is great because I don’t have to use my laptop speakers to pay attention to every detail that I need especially for first person shooters

This is absolutely the top of the line headphone for gaming, video processing, conferencing, anything... This is top tier. Upgraded from the previous model for SteelSeries, so already had all the drivers and software installed, so this was really a connect and go situation. super simple, and ready to go. The design is simplified from our previous PRO model, and lighter it seems. So allowing for better comfort while playing longer games, or listening to audio for what ever reason (entertainment or editing). have not been able to drain the battery, with practical usage and charging patterns. Very long battery life. Super clear voices and audio, and great depth to sound. Easy to hear multiple parts of detailed game play, from "behind you" to the sides, etc. Don't have to even raise the volume to high levels to get the detail for great game performance. So the only down side is the higher cost them most other gaming headsets. It is what it is, and you are getting a lot for what you are paying for. So if you can get it, grab it.

For those with a smaller head size than my XL hat-size head, I think you will really like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite. But for someone like me, they are just uncomfortable for anything longer than an hour or two gaming session. Which is unfortunate as they sound fantastic both for myself and through the mic for others. You can stream 96kHz/24 bit audio! To get the most out of that setting, you do need some high quality input or else it’s not noticeable. I tried them out with a FLAC version of Dark Side of the Moon and it sounds fantastic. In game I could hear excellent separation and spatiality, knowing exactly where the spooky sound was coming from in REPO or the footsteps in Battlefield 6. The Nova Elites just operated smoothly the whole time. At one point I had 4 different devices connected either over USB-C or Bluetooth and there was never a hiccup switching between devices. Battery life was never an issue because A. a full charge lasted throughout my entire 10 hour workday and was still showing 80% with constant audio playing and B because there is an extra battery that you can hot-swap into the headset when you start getting low. I also just love the color choice. More manufacturers need to get away from just black or white and start getting more interesting colors. Unfortunately, this is where my list of pros ends and I move onto some real issues I had with it. Like I mentioned at the top. These are not meant for large headed people like myself. The problem is they are HEAVY due to their metal design and have limited adjustability to counteract that weight for Mr. Big Head (myself). It’s tough because if these headphones were a crazy improvement over other headsets then I could accept that weight issue. But in game, you’re not going to notice a massive difference from other high-end headsets that are half the price. And that brings us to the main issue I have. At $600 these should be perfect. But in reality, they feel like an upgraded version of their current Nova Pros but at double the cost. If they competed with high-end noise-cancelling travel headphones I could see the value in these. But the ANC here pales in comparison to my 5 year old ANC $350 headphones. There’s also many smaller issues, like the fact that there are 3 different places to access settings and sometimes specific settings are only in a specific interface such as GG desktop app, the Arctis mobile app, and the DAC. I also still struggle to get the headset to turn off. The manual says hold for 2 seconds, I do so and they turn off. But then they turn right back on. Holding for 1 second toggles ANC. I have not figured out what holding for longer than 2 seconds does but it does something. The Arctis Nova Elite is a great gaming headset. The issue is that for $600 they should be a life-changing headset. And unfortunately, even if you do have the right size head to wear them comfortably, I just don’t think they are life-changing. Pros: One of the best sounding gaming headsets out there Multi-Device means MULTI. I had my Gaming PC and PS5 connected over USB-C, then my tablet and phone connected over bluetooth. No weird connection issues! Great DAC Excellent battery life with hot-swappable batteries Fantastic mic performance Sidetone gets much louder than other headsets Cons: The price! Not comfortable for XL head sizes due to heaviness and not enough adjustability While sounding fantastic, the Elites aren’t a significant improvement over other high end headsets I can forgive decent noise-cancelling performance on other high-end headsets but at this price, it should be at least close to high-end travel ANC headphones that are cheaper. 3 different places for different settings: GG desktop app, Arctis mobile app, and DAC The battery charging slot feels really cheap, a little worried that my dumb cat is going to be able to fish it out Without the instruction manual, I would have never been able to figure out how to turn them off