SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gaming Headset

These are the first pair of gaming headphones Ive tried outside of the PS earphone provided. I wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly pleased. The Arctics Nova 7X wireless comes with a wireless dongle to switch between working with X-box or choosing the USB option for all other devices. Along with a USB- A adapter and charging cable. Tick x 3 for providing these alongside the 3.5mm audio jack (tick 4) Setting up using the dongle was straightforward, I have a PS5 and switched it to USB and had no issues. The instructions helpfully explain what settings to use on my PS5. You can also connect with Bluetooth to devices. Worked great with my Pixel 6. The headphones themselves are comfortable thanks to the ear padding. The sound was great and felt like I was more ... MoreThese are the first pair of gaming headphones Ive tried outside of the PS earphone provided. I wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly pleased. The Arctics Nova 7X wireless comes with a wireless dongle to switch between working with X-box or choosing the USB option for all other devices. Along with a USB- A adapter and charging cable. Tick x 3 for providing these alongside the 3.5mm audio jack (tick 4) Setting up using the dongle was straightforward, I have a PS5 and switched it to USB and had no issues. The instructions helpfully explain what settings to use on my PS5. You can also connect with Bluetooth to devices. Worked great with my Pixel 6. The headphones themselves are comfortable thanks to the ear padding. The sound was great and felt like I was more immersed in the games I played. The audio wheel helping to increase or decrease the volume. My proper geek moment - loved the retractable microphone, where has this been all my life? My 80s/90s self would've loved this for my MegaDrive. Microphone worked okay I don't do many co-op games but trying it my friends could hear me loud and clear and vice versa. The sound, if i haven't mentioned already, on these is excellent. There'll be better gamers than me but would recommend them. I've given a 4 star because I've no others to compare them to just yet.

A Worthy choice with a couple quirks

I had the Steelseries Arctis 7 for a long time before deciding to try out this new Arctis Nova 7. This is definitely the successor to that older headset that made me a Steelseries fan. Compared to the old 7 the Nova is substantially more comfortable, sounds better, and has nice improvements such as USB-C for charging and Bluetooth capability that allows simultaneous use with game sound. It really is a very nice upgrade in nearly every way. My biggest complaint is the microphone has a different shape that makes it a bit harder to push back into its space within the left ear cup and no longer has the red LED that would indicate it was muted. Otherwise, the controls are mostly intuitive with volume wheel and the mute button on the left side and Chat/Audio mix wheel and ... MoreI had the Steelseries Arctis 7 for a long time before deciding to try out this new Arctis Nova 7. This is definitely the successor to that older headset that made me a Steelseries fan. Compared to the old 7 the Nova is substantially more comfortable, sounds better, and has nice improvements such as USB-C for charging and Bluetooth capability that allows simultaneous use with game sound. It really is a very nice upgrade in nearly every way. My biggest complaint is the microphone has a different shape that makes it a bit harder to push back into its space within the left ear cup and no longer has the red LED that would indicate it was muted. Otherwise, the controls are mostly intuitive with volume wheel and the mute button on the left side and Chat/Audio mix wheel and combo power/Bluetooth on the other. That combo button is frustrating to use, it is not immediately evident how to even turn off the headset because holding it down like I do with most other devices of the like just turns on Bluetooth pairing instead. You can run the included cable to make it a wired headset if you choose or use the 2.4Ghz USB-C based dongle for wireless play on PC, PS4/5, Switch, or mobile. Thankfully the dongle can also be used with the USB-C to USB-A extension cable to avoid covering up the USB-A port on the front of the PS5 with the dongle itself which is another unfortunate negative. Lastly it includes a USB-C charging cable rounding out the accessories in the box. The old gen headset used their “ski headband” which I found very comfortable although I had to use it on its largest possible adjustment for my big dome. The Nova has evolved that design with a stretchy inner band that hooks onto a few different points and the earcups can also be adjusted in or out of the headband independently. This makes it even easier to get a proper fit for us large headed individuals and is extraordinarily comfortable. I can wear it for many hours and barely notice it’s there and that is perhaps the most important aspect of a headset for me outside of pure sound quality. I like being able to sync up my iPhone to it to be able to hear any important notifications or take a call, and the mic is more than up to the task for both calls and game chat. I am told it sounds clear and crisp. Sound quality is very good, I can hear everything around me and 3D audio on PS5 is in full effect. I’ve heard both better and worse in headsets but again compared to the older Arctis 7 it is an improvement. Cap it all off with all day battery life and it’s a very solid and compelling choice. I am happy with it and recommend it.

Everything you can ask for

Some of these reviews on this headset are a bit misleading so I want to try and clear up some stuff. There are three different versions of this headset; The Nova 7P is the PlayStation version, (This one), then there is the 7X Which is comaptible with Xbox along with everything else, and then there’s the regular 7, which is made for PC. All of them are quite literally the exact same headset with the only difference being the 7P and 7X being compatible with their respective systems. The only other difference is that the 7P does not have a ChatMix dial since that’s controlled through the PS5 itself. So instead they opt for a sidetone dial, allowing you to change your mic sidetone on the fly without using software. Anyways, I just wanted to clear up a bit of confusion ... MoreSome of these reviews on this headset are a bit misleading so I want to try and clear up some stuff. There are three different versions of this headset; The Nova 7P is the PlayStation version, (This one), then there is the 7X Which is comaptible with Xbox along with everything else, and then there’s the regular 7, which is made for PC. All of them are quite literally the exact same headset with the only difference being the 7P and 7X being compatible with their respective systems. The only other difference is that the 7P does not have a ChatMix dial since that’s controlled through the PS5 itself. So instead they opt for a sidetone dial, allowing you to change your mic sidetone on the fly without using software. Anyways, I just wanted to clear up a bit of confusion surrounding these headsets. Regardless of which version you get, you will still have the same experience. These are a fantastic pair of gaming headphones. Theyre not audiophile quality, but in the bigger picture of things, you don’t exactly need that kind of quality. The comfort is good enough to accommodate my massive head, and the earfups are breathable to the point where I can wear these for hours without worrying about them. If youre in the market for a new headset. I highly recommend this one, it gives you everything and more while still keeping it at a reasonable price point. Just remember to keep in mind on what platform you plan on using it on, and buy the right version.

Poor sound quality, features add latency

If you've ever listened to music and thought, "Wow! I sure like the way this sounds!" then do not buy this headset. The sound quality is really muddy. Sounds blend together, and the default sound profile is really heavy on the bass. That's great if you're playing an FPS game and want to hear footsteps as loud as possible, but if you're listening to music, instruments totally drown out any vocals. I couldn't get a good sound with the default EQ software either. Using the SteelSeries Sonar app, which gives you more control over the EQ, I got closer to tolerable, but it adds a ton of latency and still isn't worth the cost.There's a lot of good things about this headset. The ability to listen from your phone and your PC at the same time is super cool and worked well ... MoreIf you've ever listened to music and thought, "Wow! I sure like the way this sounds!" then do not buy this headset. The sound quality is really muddy. Sounds blend together, and the default sound profile is really heavy on the bass. That's great if you're playing an FPS game and want to hear footsteps as loud as possible, but if you're listening to music, instruments totally drown out any vocals. I couldn't get a good sound with the default EQ software either. Using the SteelSeries Sonar app, which gives you more control over the EQ, I got closer to tolerable, but it adds a ton of latency and still isn't worth the cost.There's a lot of good things about this headset. The ability to listen from your phone and your PC at the same time is super cool and worked well when I tried it. Being able to route applications through different audio channels and balance them differently *would* be great if it wasn't for the added latency of the virtual audio devices. They're also look more normal than most gaming headsets- I'd be more willing to break these out in the library than I would be for other gaming headsets that are flashy or bulky. They're fairly light, and they fit well enough, if maybe a bit loose. I played multiple unreasonably long Valorant sessions throughout the week I owned them, and they felt comfortable all throughout.My friends told me the mic sounds like I'm talking through a tin can, and when I record myself and listen back, I can hear where they're coming from.I ended up returning these due to the poor sound quality, the poor mic quality, and the added latency from the Sonar app. Would not recommend.

Sounds amazing! Bought specifically for the 3D Audio and PS5 integration

This is my first gaming headset, i usually use home theatre but really wanted to try out the PS5s 3D audio tech and since it only works with headphones i needed a pair. I did my research and came to two conclusions, there werent many options for built for the ps5 headsests and two i didnt like the pulse 3d headset design. I didnt want to spend a ridiculous amount for my first headset as i may not like it or use it that much. Well ever since getting the artis nova 7p ive been pleasantly surprised. The included dongle is plug and play with the ps5 and after the initial pairing the headphones connect instantly. The overall sound quality is really good but you get to mostly appreciate it when playing games with 3D audio tech, like Astros playroom, Ghosts of Tsushima and ... MoreThis is my first gaming headset, i usually use home theatre but really wanted to try out the PS5s 3D audio tech and since it only works with headphones i needed a pair. I did my research and came to two conclusions, there werent many options for built for the ps5 headsests and two i didnt like the pulse 3d headset design. I didnt want to spend a ridiculous amount for my first headset as i may not like it or use it that much. Well ever since getting the artis nova 7p ive been pleasantly surprised. The included dongle is plug and play with the ps5 and after the initial pairing the headphones connect instantly. The overall sound quality is really good but you get to mostly appreciate it when playing games with 3D audio tech, like Astros playroom, Ghosts of Tsushima and even Resident Evil 4, specifically re4, the headphones are so useful for detecting nearby enemies and especially hidden treasures hanging from the ceiling in very dark environments but you hear them and with the 3d audio tech you always know where to look. Its brilliant. The overall comfort is good the ear cup material is very soft, the headband is a little tight at first, but you can always adjust the headband and ear cup lengths and theyre also fine to use with glasses.Only downside so far is probably the microphone, ive tried playing with friends online several times now and they all say the mic isnt great . However i didnt get these headphones for the social features, but for the immersion factor and for that alone i would highly recommend these to anyone. I did consider getting the artis pro insteads, but the £200 increase in price threw me off. Maybe in the future, but so far steel series has delivered. The packaging is premium, the unboxing feels premium and it also includes a little origami monster which is very cute. Overall adds up to a premium experience

Steelseries, more like stealseries. Complete trash

Honestly, when they work the sound quality is pretty good. Not studio good but pretty good for wireless headphones. Unfortunately, the optimal control is gatekept behind really poorly designed software that i feel severely holds back the potential of the hardware. It takes forever to set it to actually work, even though it should be a simple as turning on the headphones and switching the output device on your pc. Kind of like how quick and easy my crappy corsair headphones were to use, which these were supposed to replace. I sat on the fence because i liked how comfortable they felt, and when they do work thwy arent bad. Way overpriced for the okay performance id rate them and completely unacceptable for how awfully the software works and how long it takes for the ... MoreHonestly, when they work the sound quality is pretty good. Not studio good but pretty good for wireless headphones. Unfortunately, the optimal control is gatekept behind really poorly designed software that i feel severely holds back the potential of the hardware. It takes forever to set it to actually work, even though it should be a simple as turning on the headphones and switching the output device on your pc. Kind of like how quick and easy my crappy corsair headphones were to use, which these were supposed to replace. I sat on the fence because i liked how comfortable they felt, and when they do work thwy arent bad. Way overpriced for the okay performance id rate them and completely unacceptable for how awfully the software works and how long it takes for the system to actually output the audio to the headphones (yes i made aure the routing is right every- single- time...). These headphones suck. Im never buying a steelseries product again and i cant recommended these at all. Id sooner buy another cheap corsair product to replace my old ones, even though those will break too. I know and can sat with confidence that they would still be more reliable than this trash.

Terrible headset

I bought these to replace a pair of Arctis 7's which I really likedComparatively these headphones are terrible. The sound quality is so so and is the only reason it gets any starsThe controls on these headphones are much cheaper feeling and inconveniently placed compared to the previous generationThe dongle for USB connection is awkwardly shaped and blocks other ports if not used with the included extensionThe range seems decreased and much less compared to my last ones as these cut out much more often if I am even 15 feet awayThe chat mix dial does not work unless you have the SteelSeries sonar software installed. It is a terrible app that has to be restarted constantly as it crashes or just stops working multiple times per day. The Software also makes ... MoreI bought these to replace a pair of Arctis 7's which I really likedComparatively these headphones are terrible. The sound quality is so so and is the only reason it gets any starsThe controls on these headphones are much cheaper feeling and inconveniently placed compared to the previous generationThe dongle for USB connection is awkwardly shaped and blocks other ports if not used with the included extensionThe range seems decreased and much less compared to my last ones as these cut out much more often if I am even 15 feet awayThe chat mix dial does not work unless you have the SteelSeries sonar software installed. It is a terrible app that has to be restarted constantly as it crashes or just stops working multiple times per day. The Software also makes your sound device settings much more confusing if youre on a PC as it will add 4 new sound devices for 'gaming' 'media' 'microphone' and then one with the name of the device. You can only use Windows Sonic (surround sound) if you have it set to headphones - this disables features of the headset like the chat mix dialYou can use surround sound with the 'gaming' device, but its quality is much worse than Windows SonicOver all this has turned me off completely from buying from Steelseries again

Very pleased with this purchase.

Saw these as I shopped on the Micro Center website. I had been using Logitech headphones and they had all these crazy buttons on the side of them. Every time I took them off or put them on I would hit one of the many buttons. They sounded lousy as well. I wanted new wireless headphones as I play Diablo IV so I don't disturb my wife. These SteelSeries of course fit the bill. When I took them out of the box, right away I noticed the quality difference and was impressed. I got my chance to give these a test and was left slack jawed. Amazing, the sound clarity out of these put my old Logitech headphones to shame. I actually kept my old ones, but after hearing these, I threw the Logitech ones in the garbage. Not a lot of buttons on these to mess your sound up if you need ... MoreSaw these as I shopped on the Micro Center website. I had been using Logitech headphones and they had all these crazy buttons on the side of them. Every time I took them off or put them on I would hit one of the many buttons. They sounded lousy as well. I wanted new wireless headphones as I play Diablo IV so I don't disturb my wife. These SteelSeries of course fit the bill. When I took them out of the box, right away I noticed the quality difference and was impressed. I got my chance to give these a test and was left slack jawed. Amazing, the sound clarity out of these put my old Logitech headphones to shame. I actually kept my old ones, but after hearing these, I threw the Logitech ones in the garbage. Not a lot of buttons on these to mess your sound up if you need to take a break as well. Easy to understand off the bat. The software has EQ presets of your favorite games as well. USB C charging, Bluetooth, 3.5mm input and of course wireless 2.4GHz. All the adapters and cables come in the box. I was also looking for a new mouse and guess what, SteelSeries has a matching mouse that goes with these headphones! The salesman told me about them and stated they have them in stock. I grabbed one and still need to test it out, didn't get a chance yet. I hope I will be impressed with the mouse as much as I am with the headset. Seems like SteelSeries puts out a quality product and I hope they passed that onto the mouse. If you're looking to upgrade or replace your old headphones, head over to your local Micro Center and pick these up. I guarantee these will not disappoint.

What a Love/Hate Relationship!!!

The headset itself isnt quite as comfy to me as astro a50 but theyre ok. The support across the top really distributes the weight well which is great because theyre a tad bit heavy. The foam heats a bit more than astros making them slughtly less comfy. The feel is quality you wont question that all but mute button placement and chatmix wheel are both too difficult and poorly thought out. The mute light however is fire and the extendable mic boom is nothing short of amazing.The battery life too is nothing short of amazing. 4 days of fairly frequent use on a single charge, but im excellent ablut battery maintaince and care. (Charging from about 5-10% all the way to 100%, with no opportunistic charging or simultaneous use while doing so- if you follow this meta your ... MoreThe headset itself isnt quite as comfy to me as astro a50 but theyre ok. The support across the top really distributes the weight well which is great because theyre a tad bit heavy. The foam heats a bit more than astros making them slughtly less comfy. The feel is quality you wont question that all but mute button placement and chatmix wheel are both too difficult and poorly thought out. The mute light however is fire and the extendable mic boom is nothing short of amazing.The battery life too is nothing short of amazing. 4 days of fairly frequent use on a single charge, but im excellent ablut battery maintaince and care. (Charging from about 5-10% all the way to 100%, with no opportunistic charging or simultaneous use while doing so- if you follow this meta your batteries will last longer)The sound suffers because of the foam cushions and 40mm drivers and bass is the most heavily impacted seemingly. It doesnt punch hard at all so sound experience is flat and really lacking. Treble gets lost too one minute it will feel like your friends are wispering then certain frequencies of their voices will blast your head off like a 12 guage.The software is an absolute catastrophy. Everything from the drivers onward. Alot of this could have been avoided if they mentioned more details in the requirements for the software. I purchased a cheap little $200 laptop to use with this headset and software and IT DOESNT WORK! I keep getting a message, "The app is not compatible with your pc." Its a very irritating loss of $400 and after spending 15 hours of trying to troubleshoot I finally gave up. Its frustrating. I feel defeated and duped, and their customer service almost seemed like they were trying to make me furious. It was such a nightmare I gave up after the second or third response. Very tiring and mentally exhausting.I really had high asprirations for this headset coming from astros which arguably have the worst battery life for the last decade. If you add up all the good, it WOULD be an excellent headset, but no ability to update the firmware or change the sound profile on a $200 pc is a game breaker, especially when they fail to clearly list the rewquirements. The sound profile thats stock is awful, flat, tinny af, and anyone who considers themselves close to audiophile level will LTFAO. You can however hear the potential and I really think if i could tweak these I could make them sound less 1980ish.

Worth it

Very good headset and easy to use! After using these for about a month now I can say this really is a great headset. I used to be a loyal Turtle Beach customer, 3 headsets in a row over more than a decade, but since they haven’t released a new flagship in awhile, I decided to finally give the competition a try.For starters the construction is great as you should expect from a $150+ pair of headphones. I’ve always been wary of the dual band (solid segment and adjustable strap or part) because it essentially makes 2 points of failure in addition to possible balance issues but thankfully, the 9X has a metal support band and it feels fantastic. It keeps it centered where you place it on your head very well and should last much longer than a plastic band. The strap ... MoreVery good headset and easy to use! After using these for about a month now I can say this really is a great headset. I used to be a loyal Turtle Beach customer, 3 headsets in a row over more than a decade, but since they haven’t released a new flagship in awhile, I decided to finally give the competition a try.For starters the construction is great as you should expect from a $150+ pair of headphones. I’ve always been wary of the dual band (solid segment and adjustable strap or part) because it essentially makes 2 points of failure in addition to possible balance issues but thankfully, the 9X has a metal support band and it feels fantastic. It keeps it centered where you place it on your head very well and should last much longer than a plastic band. The strap surpassed my expectations. It is easily adjustable and the flexibility feels like it was made specifically for putting something on your head, not to mention it is soft and doesn’t cause chafing at all. The earcups are essentially monolithic solid pieces. The only piece that is a worry for failure, especially from fatigue, is the connection between the earcups and the band. It is just a single piece of curved plastic and not all that thick. Its connection points between the band and earcups seem to be metal standoffs or similar (bearings and whatnot) so that should be okay (it's the general design SteelSeries has been using for a long time so I assume it works). They hopefully shouldn’t be all that load bearing but it is the only segment I would improve in the design. The volume scroll wheels feel good, not too loose not too stiff.