I’ve always been a fan of Steelseries gaming headsets. They are some of the best-looking, most comfortable, and best-sounding headsets around. The new Steelseries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless upholds these standards and introduces new features to enhance the gaming experience. Retailing at $299, the Arctis Nova 5 is available in PC, Xbox, and PlayStation variants, with the PC and PlayStation versions being cross-compatible. It supports both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, though not simultaneously.
While the design of the Arctis Nova 5 is familiar from other Arctis Nova headsets, it distinguishes itself with a handy new Companion app. This app allows users to select from dozens of preset game EQs on the fly, eliminating the need to tab out of games to adjust settings. This is a game-changer for console gamers who haven’t typically had access to Steelseries’ excellent Sonar software—now available in a mobile-friendly format.
Design and Comfort
The Steelseries Arctis Nova 5 maintains the family’s signature floating headband design with an adjustable strap, oval earcups, and a retractable microphone. Built with durable plastic, it offers impressive build quality and longevity. Even after a few accidental drops, there are no signs of damage. The sleek, streamlined design ensures an understated, publicly wearable appearance.
The Arctis Nova 5 prioritizes comfort with plush padding and Airweave upholstery, providing a soft resting place for the earcups. The mesh material enhances breathability, which is a valuable trade-off for prolonged gaming sessions. The headband’s flexibility and gentle clamping force alleviate pressure on the head, making it suitable for extended play sessions lasting two to three hours.
However, while comfortable, the Arctis Nova 5 faces stiff competition from headsets like the Corsair HS80 and HyperX Cloud 3, which are just as comfortable, if not more. Personally, I found it less comfortable than the Arctis Nova Pro, often itching to take it off after two to three hours due to the smaller ear cups and clamping force pinching the outer cartilage of my ears.
All controls are conveniently located on the headset. The left ear cup houses a volume dial and mic mute button, while the right features a power button, mode switch, status indicator, and USB-C port for charging. The retractable boom microphone, a hallmark of Steelseries headsets, seamlessly integrates into the left earcup. This design is elegant and practical, eliminating the need to carry an external microphone.
The power button also manages media playback and calls via a combination of presses. The mode switch toggles between 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth modes instantaneously. Although the Nova 5 doesn’t support simultaneous connections, it handles switching between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth efficiently. The connection quality is robust within a 10-15m radius, with an extended range mode available, albeit with some audio quality degradation.
Battery life on the Nova 5 is excellent, coming in at about 60 hours per charge. I don’t know who you are but that’s far more than anyone needs. I’ve basically charged it maybe twice in the month that I’ve had it and that was with maybe 4—6 hours of mixed Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz use everyday. And if you do find yourself out of charge, a 15min charge will give you 6 hours of use which you love to see.
Performance and Customization
In true Steelseries fashion, the Nova 5 delivers impressive audio quality. While most gaming headsets in 2024 sound decent, the Nova 5 stands out with its custom-designed Neodymium Magnetic Drivers. The audio is clean, detailed, and boasts strong mids and a bass that can really thump when needed. It may not be the most eclectic or exciting sounding headset, but this is by design. The Nova 5 is tuned to be flexible, allowing it to work seamlessly with the Steelseries Sonar EQ app, which we’ll discuss later.
Whether you’re listening to music or engaged in an intense match of Call of Duty, the Nova 5 provides a rich soundstage with excellent imaging and positioning. It supports 360 Spatial Audio, including Windows Spatial Audio and PlayStation Tempest 3D sound, delivering immersive gaming experiences. Playing Diablo IV, every demonic sound and exploding corpse was delivered with incredible detail. In The Last of Us Part II on PlayStation 5, the dark, zombie-infested world came alive, with Clicker noises and tortured cries precisely pinpointed.
The Nova 5 truly shines when paired with the free Steelseries Sonar software. This fully-fledged EQ and mixer transforms the headset’s sound, thanks to a fantastic parametric equalizer that offers extensive control over bass, treble, and spatial audio settings. The best part is the baked-in game presets, with over 100 options for major titles like Warzone, Destiny 2, Diablo IV, Cyberpunk 2077, Valorant, and more.
These settings enhance not only the headset’s sound but also the microphone quality. The ClearCast 2.X microphone, equipped with a high-bandwidth chipset, records 32kHz/16-bit audio. It delivers clear voice details with minimal distortion, though it still sounds somewhat compressed. The Sonar software allows further customization, with the Broadcast Low Pitch setting being my favorite, although the differences are subtle.
However, I would avoid using the ClearCast AI Noise Cancelling for the mic. While it effectively removes background noise, it introduces significant distortion, making your voice sound underwater and fluctuating in audibility. Overall, the mic on the Nova 5 is adequate for general use but not ideal for recording voiceovers for YouTube.
Companion App
However, the Sonar software is only available on PC or Mac, and none of the Nova headsets support on-board memory to store your preferences. So, what’s a console gamer to do? Enter the new mobile companion app.
The Steelseries Arctis Nova 5 comes with a brand new companion app for Android and iOS, offering many of the core EQ features found in the Sonar software. This user-friendly app focuses on simplicity and efficiency, providing over 100 pre-configured sound profiles tailored to various games. Whether you’re playing an intense FPS or immersing yourself in a story-driven adventure, the app allows you to customize your audio settings effortlessly.
This app finally gives console players access to powerful EQs and a host of other settings, all from the comfort of their phones. Even PC gamers no longer have to Alt-Tab out of their game to change profiles, as the app handles it seamlessly. It allows you to adjust settings for both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes separately, letting you choose a game profile while using a different profile for music over Bluetooth.
The app boasts a simple and intuitive interface, even more user-friendly than the Sonar software, which is impressive considering its capabilities. Front and center, it displays the status of the headset, including battery life and connections. It then lets you switch between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth tabs to tweak the settings individually. You can pick from the same vast library of EQ presets, with Steelseries continuously adding more games.
It’s unfortunate that this new app doesn’t work with other Arctis Nova headsets, but we’ll likely see Steelseries update the lineup to support this handy feature in the future. The companion app is a valuable addition that enhances the overall experience of using the Nova 5.
Conclusion
The Steelseries Arctis Nova 5 is a solid all-around package, combining style, comfort, and sound quality with innovative features like the companion app. While not as comfortable as the Arctis Nova Pro, it offers excellent battery life and robust wireless performance.
However, if pristine sound quality, active noise cancellation, or simultaneous Bluetooth are paramount, you might consider higher-end alternatives like the Arctis Nova Pro. The microphone quality is decent but not exceptional, and the price is high at $299. That’s the same price as its bigger brother the Arctis Nova 7 which is one of the best headsets money can buy though it doesn’t support the companion app. Nevertheless, the Arctis Nova 5 stands out as a reliable, feature-rich headset for both casual and enthusiast gamers.
Steelseries Australia kindly provided the Arctis Nova 5 to PowerUp! for the purpose of this review
