SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless - Gaming Headset

Now onto the good, the headset is very comfortable, the ear pads are extremely soft and even with my big head they fit perfectly with almost no clamping force at all. I can game all day without any ear or head pain at all. Sound quality is good and bad, out of the box they're okay but luckily the Sonar software has the best EQ I've ever used, you can very precisely customize the sound and really bring out the potential of the headset. I would highly recommend that you check out the Youtube channel GadgetryTech, his EQ settings for music made a massive difference, music went from sounding decent to incredible, it was truly night and day. You can also switch between Bluetooth and wireless with a press of a button, so you can use your headset on PC or console and ... MoreNow onto the good, the headset is very comfortable, the ear pads are extremely soft and even with my big head they fit perfectly with almost no clamping force at all. I can game all day without any ear or head pain at all. Sound quality is good and bad, out of the box they're okay but luckily the Sonar software has the best EQ I've ever used, you can very precisely customize the sound and really bring out the potential of the headset. I would highly recommend that you check out the Youtube channel GadgetryTech, his EQ settings for music made a massive difference, music went from sounding decent to incredible, it was truly night and day. You can also switch between Bluetooth and wireless with a press of a button, so you can use your headset on PC or console and instantly switch to your phone for a call or to listen to music, this works much more seamlessly than on the Blackshark. The Sonar software is very competent and feature rich (on PC at least, you get far less features if you're using the headset on Xbox), and the AN5X comes with over 30 pre-installed EQ presets for different games, with some hits, and some misses. I personally use the Diablo IV, Call of Duty and Fallout 76 ones and they've all been great. I would recommend leaving spatial audio off though, as with all fake surround sound it just doesn't sound right, turning it off keeps the audio pure. I would also increase the clearcast AI noise cancellation to 75%, as my friends could hear me doing stuff in the background at the default 50%. I can't speak to the build quality or durability as I've only had the headset a few days, but it does feel very cheap as it's almost all plastic, which does make it very light (which is a positive in my book), but I cannot say if it will hold up to the test of time, my advice would be to treat it like a newborn baby. One last thing is noise isolation, this is personal preference whether it's a positive or a negative but it doesn't have the best noise isolation, so you can hear yourself speak and other noise around you, which I personally prefer, but if you want full isolation this isn't the headset for you, that being said it does cancel out a decent amount of background noise, just not all of it, and noticeably less than my Blackshark. I think it's the perfect middle ground, where you're not hearing every little thing but you can still hear someone speaking to you or the doorbell ringing. Overall for the price it's a great headset, you could make an argument for a high 5/5. With a better microphone it would be an absolute slam dunk 5/5. I would have preferred it to retail at £150 MSRP

[Rewarded Review] Great headset, tons of customized eq options

I recently picked up the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless headset to use for work, travel, and gaming. I was pleasantly surprised that the headset is comfortable for long wear and is highly customizable.In the box is the headset, USB-C to A charging cable (5'), a USB-C to A extension cable (5') and a USB-C 2.4 GHz wireless dongle. Setup is easy, I've paired it to my Android, gaming desktop, and work laptop with ease using various configurations of wired, wireless, and Bluetooth. One thing I appreciate is the ability to quickly swap between Bluetooth and wireless, as my work laptop doesn't have any available ports for USB-C dongle, so I can leave the dongle with my desktop and swap to Bluetooth for laptop and phone. Unfortunately I do experience a slight mic lag on Bluetooth ... MoreI recently picked up the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless headset to use for work, travel, and gaming. I was pleasantly surprised that the headset is comfortable for long wear and is highly customizable.In the box is the headset, USB-C to A charging cable (5'), a USB-C to A extension cable (5') and a USB-C 2.4 GHz wireless dongle. Setup is easy, I've paired it to my Android, gaming desktop, and work laptop with ease using various configurations of wired, wireless, and Bluetooth. One thing I appreciate is the ability to quickly swap between Bluetooth and wireless, as my work laptop doesn't have any available ports for USB-C dongle, so I can leave the dongle with my desktop and swap to Bluetooth for laptop and phone. Unfortunately I do experience a slight mic lag on Bluetooth when paired with video conferencing software.The build is solid, maybe a bit too solid, as the headset weighs in at 265g. Not an issue for me, but I do find this headset slightly heavier than many similar designs. The outer band is flexible, and as I mentioned above, I can comfortably wear these all day without fatigue, pain from the band, or pain due to pressure around my ears. There is a comfort flex fabric strap under the outer band with three adjustment levels on each side, this ensures that the outer band does not rest on your head, and keeps you both comfortable and cool. One call out here is that if you have a larger head, this may not be the right headset for you. My teen complains that it doesn't quite fit his head right, my head is slightly smaller and I have no issues. The ear cups are mesh fabric, allowing for breathability so they don't get too sweaty after hours of use. One unique function is that the ear cups pivot 90 degrees to the back, this allows you to lay them on a surface and, through the software, have them act as speakers. Lastly is the layout, from back to front, on the left ear is mute button and +/- volume roller, then in the front is a pull out flexible mic that can bend and adjust as needed. The mic can also be used while tucked away in the headset, all depending on preferences and needs. There is also a red LED mute indicator on the mic itself. On the right ear is the quick connection button that toggles between Bluetooth and wireless dongle, power button, and USB-C charging port. Overall build I give 4.5 stars.The companion app / software is really where the Arctis Nova 5 brings something new to the table. In the android app are the standard eq presets (full library of user custom eq settings available), mic volume, sidetone (ancillary sounds such as footsteps), mute LED brightness, audio limiter, and extended range mode. The app also shows battery life and if the headset is connected via Bluetooth or dongle. The Sonar software for desktop has some really unique options, such as splitting out the audio into different channels, then you can adjust settings for each channel. It takes a bit of time, but really can have a dramatic impact on the game immersion if you're willing to put in the time. An example is if you split out your game and your chat, so one can go to your headset and another to the speaker. Each channel offers a 10 band equalizer (see photo) to allow for full user customization. Other software functions are headphone vs speaker mode and spatial audio settings and tuning which can make the same FPS game vastly different pending how its set. Lastly is the mic options, there is a Clearcast AI noise cancellation option, noise reduction (in lieu of the Clearcast setting), noise gate for what noise threshold should be to allow mic pickup, compressor (limits what can be picked up so no deafening audio). Overall, if you're willing to put in the time to figure out and maximize the settings, 5 out of 5 for user customization and sound profile options.Lastly is the audio quality, out of the box, audio is a 4, but once I took the time to understand the presents, set custom profiles and really got into the eq options, I am very happy with the audio quality. I do wish it was faster to set profiles and a bit more intuitive, maybe an example of different settings so I didn't have to do as much trial and error for each game type. I find that the bass is driven appropriately, the audio is crisp, and music quality is on par with high end headsets.Overall this headset gets 4 stars, I really like the options and features, I think it's slightly on the heavy side and designed for those with a medium sized head (I wear a 7 1/4" hat). The software is fantastic, but I also wish it had a quick play option that would give me some recommendations based on use (music vs gaming vs video conferencing). The value is all in what the user needs, and this one could very well be your 5 star best of the best headset if you want to spend the time customizing the eq settings and spatial performance.

[Rewarded Review] Jack of All Trades

With many gaming accessory brands trying to stand out from one another in such a lucrative space, it’s refreshing to see big names stick to more subtle designs and branding, letting the product stand on its own merits. Though they certainly have RGB lighting-enabled devices, Steelseries’ offerings are largely more understated compared to their peers, putting quality and function first. The new Arctis Nova 5 line of headsets (comprising the Nova 5 for PC, Nova 5P for PC and PlayStation, and Nova 5X for PC and Xbox) continue this trend, and the blue accents in the headband of the Nova 5P are about all the flair you’ll find. This simple and clean headset is a strong contender in the midrange headset space, offering great sound quality and a surprising depth of features ... MoreWith many gaming accessory brands trying to stand out from one another in such a lucrative space, it’s refreshing to see big names stick to more subtle designs and branding, letting the product stand on its own merits. Though they certainly have RGB lighting-enabled devices, Steelseries’ offerings are largely more understated compared to their peers, putting quality and function first. The new Arctis Nova 5 line of headsets (comprising the Nova 5 for PC, Nova 5P for PC and PlayStation, and Nova 5X for PC and Xbox) continue this trend, and the blue accents in the headband of the Nova 5P are about all the flair you’ll find. This simple and clean headset is a strong contender in the midrange headset space, offering great sound quality and a surprising depth of features for any gamer looking to keep their headset for years to come.An important note - though compatible with PlayStation consoles, I tested this headset exclusively on Windows 10 and 11 PCs. Your experience may vary on other devices.- Unboxing and SetupSteelseries includes a USB-C dongle for 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, which can connect directly into a PS5 or relatively modern PC, but an included USB-A to USB-C cable allows connectivity to a PS4 or virtually any PC. A USB-C cable is also included for charging the headset. Setup is as simple as can be via the dongle - hold the power button on the headset until “2.4 Pairing” is heard, and press the button on the dongle to sync.Bluetooth pairing to PCs, PlayStation consoles, and smartphones or other Bluetooth compatible devices is also supported, and indeed you will need to pair the headset to a modern smartphone to use the Nova 5 application for configuring the headset. More on this later.- Build Quality & ComfortDespite an all-plastic body and mesh ear pads, the Nova 5P is a heavier headset than I expected - a middleweight among gaming headsets. The weight was put to good use as the size adjustment mechanism is incredibly strong and smooth; finding your perfect fit will be a one-time exercise. The silicone and elastic headband has only two size adjustments, but the headset should fit virtually any head comfortably and snugly.Once set, the Nova 5P is an over-ear headset with light to moderate clamping force. The opening for the ears is on the smaller side, so those with larger ears may find that this feels closer to an on-ear headset, though the ear pads are very soft and forgiving. They’re leather lined on the inside and mesh everywhere else for breathability.As a larger-eared gamer with a bigger head, the headset still fit me like an over-ear (just!), and I felt little fatigue on my head or ears after a multi-hour gaming session. It’s among the more comfortable headsets out there, but I would still liked to have seen slightly larger ear pads for added comfort. Heat was well dissipated and my ears never felt uncomfortably warm.- Sound Quality & ControlsAny headset is only as good as its sound quality, and here Steelseries’ experience in the headphone space shines. The Nova 5P delivers a very balanced sound right out of the box that needs virtually no adjustment to correct any shortcomings in the audio. The biggest surprise is just how rich the bass sounds *without* being overpowering or imbalanced. Bass usually winds up being “punchy” or “boomy” but the Nova 5P lands right in between the two extremes, lending itself to a rich, warm sound in music or games alike. Midrange sounds are clear and precise, and though higher-pitched sounds (treble) seem to fall off a little bit, they are still present and discernible without being muted or tinny.My only potential complaint (as this is personal preference) is that the soundstage - the perceived “distance” between fully left-panned and fully right-panned audio - feels only a few feet wide, which some people may prefer for a “closer-proximity” type sound in games. This is typical of most closed-back headphones, but the tradeoff here is that sound leakage is fairly low even with the cloth pads. Some sound will escape of course, but it’s well-muffled and shouldn’t disturb others nearby even at medium to high volumes.Microphone quality is also pretty good in its normal sound mode, perhaps even slightly better than some other midrange gaming headsets. However, the microphone lacks any sort of foam or filter that I can see, resulting in more “pops” from harsh syllables in my speech.With just three buttons and a volume dial, the Nova 5P has a simple and easy to use control scheme. The power button on the right ear cup also functions as a pairing button for the currently-selected connection mode, with the adjacent button used to switch between Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz (dongle) connections - being able to pair to two devices and switch between them on the fly is a great feature. A dedicated hardware mute button that pops out to mute and recesses to unmute is a nice touch. Audio cues in-headset confirm the mute has been toggled.One of the nicer features is that the microphone arm is on a flexible coil that fully retracts into the headset. Much like the head strap, the mic arm is both easy to adjust and holds firmly, allowing you to find the perfect position for your microphone every time. When not in use it rewinds completely into the headset and sits flush, giving the Nova 5P a very clean look when stored.- Arctis Nova 5 AppSteelseries’ Nova line of headsets have companion smartphone applications available on the Google Play store and Apple App stores. Here, the Arctis Nova 5 application works with all varieties of the Nova 5 headset line to customize sound, functionality, and appearance (as supported). The app requires the headset be paired to the phone via Bluetooth to function, but changes to settings are saved directly to the headset for their use with other devices.The best features of the Nova app are the ability to change equalizer settings (a rare treat to have directly on-device), and to adjust the microphone’s sidetone level. The app can run concurrently while the headset’s active on the 2.4GHz dongle connection, so this lets you adjust settings and hear the results in real-time. As with most gaming headsets, there’s an option for a sound enhancement mode (“sonar”) that attempts to amplify quieter sounds of approaching enemies or threats in action or first-person shooter style games. I didn’t find this made a major difference besides what felt like changing equalizer settings to enhance midrange noise, but this is a personal preference.- Range & Battery LifeThe range of these headphones is excellent. Using 2.4GHz mode across multiple floors and trying to introduce worst-case scenarios inside my home, I couldn’t find any situation where the headset lost connection to my computer or phone at the extreme opposite end of the house. After about 50 feet through 3 floors I noticed a little bit of stutter, but in any real-world use case I saw no issues. Bluetooth range was a bit weaker, with loss of connection occurring about two floors away, but the Nova application can enable a lower-quality sound mode for enhanced bluetooth range if you need to eek out a stronger signal, with no apparent impact to battery life.Steelseries estimates that the Nova 5P can last 50 hours per full charge, and though I wasn’t able to verify the full claim before review, after about 10 hours of active usage (plus a day’s worth of standby, when I left the headset on overnight) the battery level on the Nova app reported 75%. This was all while on 2.4GHz. I would say 50 hours of usage is a reasonable estimate, but your results may vary based on your usage and sound settings from the Nova 5 app.- Bottom LineAll told, the Steelseries Arctis Nova 5P is a value-packed midrange headset that performs admirably and sits comfortably on the head. Sound quality is very much up to snuff, customizability (especially when using the companion app) is fairly diverse, and the ability to connect with two devices simultaneously and switch between them with a button press is an incredibly useful feature - connected to my PC with the 2.4GHz dongle and to my phone with Bluetooth, I was able to answer a call without skipping a beat.Packing versatility, comfort, and quality all into one reasonably priced package, the Steelseries Arctis Nova 5P comes highly recommended!

[Rewarded Review] King of connectivity and features

The Steelseries Arctis Nova 5X, like a lot of the offerings from Steelseries, is the king of compatibility at great value. Compared to all the offerings in the market, the Nova 5X blends performance, features, comfort, convenience and price into most probably the best overall package available, and clearly showcases Steelseries’ ability to improve upon already well-loved headsets. After heavily using the Nova 5X headset for more than a week, I’ve been able to replace my previous headsets with just this one.Design and Comfort:The Nova 5X boasts a sleek and modern design that deviates from the traditional Arctis aesthetic. The headband features a suspended ski goggle-style strap, which distributes weight evenly across the head, reducing pressure points during ... MoreThe Steelseries Arctis Nova 5X, like a lot of the offerings from Steelseries, is the king of compatibility at great value. Compared to all the offerings in the market, the Nova 5X blends performance, features, comfort, convenience and price into most probably the best overall package available, and clearly showcases Steelseries’ ability to improve upon already well-loved headsets. After heavily using the Nova 5X headset for more than a week, I’ve been able to replace my previous headsets with just this one.Design and Comfort:The Nova 5X boasts a sleek and modern design that deviates from the traditional Arctis aesthetic. The headband features a suspended ski goggle-style strap, which distributes weight evenly across the head, reducing pressure points during extended gaming sessions. Now this can be a bit polarizing as this reduces a bit of the adjustments we typically get with other headbands, so I’d try this out before buying, especially for larger head sizes. The ear cups are generously padded with breathable fabric, ensuring comfort even after hours of use. Moreover, these are replaceable and seem to be the same shape as other Arctis headsets, making 3rd party replacement feasible. Now the overall build quality is not the most premium feeling, and to be frank it’s not built like a tank, but there’s a good balance between durability and lightweight construction.Audio Performance:At the heart of the Nova 5X is its audio prowess. According to Steelseires, the headset utilizes high-fidelity 40mm Neodymium drivers that should deliver crisp, clear sound across a wide frequency range, and the claim is not unjustified. The bass response is punchy without being overwhelming, while the mids and highs remain well-defined. This balanced sound profile makes the Nova 5X versatile enough for various gaming genres, from first-person shooters to atmospheric adventure games.One of the standout features that Steelseries advertises is the implementation of spatial audio technology via the Sonar app. The Nova 5X supports 360-degree spatial audio, which enhances immersion by providing precise directional cues. This feature is supposed to be particularly beneficial in competitive gaming scenarios, where pinpointing enemy positions can make all the difference. In reality, the spatial audio has always been a bit underwhelming to me, and rarely I could get significant benefits in FPS games with these implementations - however I’ve met friends who swear by the advantages of having some immersive sound tech. The simulated spaciousness is not ‘organic’ as I’ve seen with some open-back audiophile headphones, but I must say given the closed back nature the Nova 5X does do great. And also the Sonar app enables a wide range of preselected gaming scenarios, so figuring out a decent setting is not out of the question.Microphone Quality:The bidirectional ClearCast 2.0 microphone is a significant improvement over previous models. It effectively cancels out background noise, ensuring that your voice comes through clearly during in-game communications or voice chats. The microphone is retractable, allowing for easy storage when not in use, and a convenient mute button is located on the ear cup for quick access. As a quality of life feature, not only there’s an audible beep when mute/unmute happens, but there’s also a red LED that lights up when the mic is muted. Furthermore, the sidetone implementation from Steelseries always seemed the best one for me - it’s clear, lagless without becoming overwhelming - and effectively keeps me from yelling during CoOp gameplays or meetings.The only thing that’s missing is a pop filter, since I sometimes found my plosives coming out a tad strongly.Connectivity and Compatibility:The Arctis Nova 5X shines in its versatility. It's primarily designed for Xbox consoles, offering seamless integration with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. However, it's also compatible with PC, PlayStation, and mobile devices, thanks to its USB-C and Bluetooth connectivity options. This multi-platform support makes it an excellent choice for gamers who switch between different systems. The 2.4GHz is lagless, and the Bluetooth supports v5.3 (even though only supporting SBC and AAC codecs). A quick switch button on the right ear cup allows me to toggle between the 2 audio sources in no time, however there’s no simultaneous audio casting. That is alleviated a bit due to the fact that when both audio sources are connected and the 2.4 GHz is selected as the primary source (such as when gaming), if there’s a call in my phone I get a beep that tells me about that. This means I’m still able to respond to urgent phone calls.Software and Customization:SteelSeries' GG software suite complements the Nova 5X, offering a range of customization options. Users can fine-tune audio settings, adjust the equalizer, and create custom sound profiles for different games or media types. The software also allows for microphone sidetone adjustment and firmware updates, ensuring the headset remains optimized over time. Furthermore, Steelseries released a smartphone app (available via Google Play Store and Apple App Store) that’s particularly made for the Arctis Nova 5, which opens up these customization from the phone. I really appreciate the fact that both the 2,4GHz and the Bluetooth profile can handle separate customization, making the Nova 5X very very versatile.Battery Life and Charging:According to Steelseries, the Nova 5X should operate for 50 hours on 2.4GHz, and 60 hours on Bluetooth. I’ve been using it in a mixed manner, jumping between these 2 modes, and after 7 days that included hours of meeting during the day and a couple of hours of gameplay at night still has not forced me to charge. And the availability of fast charge, which is supposed to provide 6 hours runtime with 15 minutes of charging, is the cherry on the top.Value and Conclusion:While the Arctis Nova 5X sits in the mid-to-high price range for gaming headsets, its feature set and performance justify the investment. It offers a compelling package that caters to both casual and competitive gamers alike, as well as usage as a headset for meetings. The combination of comfort, audio quality, versatile connectivity, and long battery life makes it a strong contender in the crowded gaming headset market. For now, this has become my go to headset that’s my primary headset for work, my Xbox gaming, and also a fair bit of usage for music from my smartphone.

[Rewarded Review] Level Up Your Audio!!!

SteelSeries has done it again. They have gone above and beyond with their new Arctis Nova 5P headset, not only do these sound great but they are also amazingly comfortable for extended gaming or just leisure audio sessions. Let’s go over some of the features and what Arctis Nova has to offer.Comfort: One thing that stood out to me the most was comfort. From the moment you put them on you forget that they are even there. SteelSeries knocked it out of the park again with their signature AirWeave earcups. They're incredibly plush and breathable, keeping your ears comfy during even the most intense gaming sessions, no more hot or sweaty ears. You have to put them on to find out how truly comfortable they are.Quality Audio: The Arcis Nova 5P boasts precision drivers ... MoreSteelSeries has done it again. They have gone above and beyond with their new Arctis Nova 5P headset, not only do these sound great but they are also amazingly comfortable for extended gaming or just leisure audio sessions. Let’s go over some of the features and what Arctis Nova has to offer.Comfort: One thing that stood out to me the most was comfort. From the moment you put them on you forget that they are even there. SteelSeries knocked it out of the park again with their signature AirWeave earcups. They're incredibly plush and breathable, keeping your ears comfy during even the most intense gaming sessions, no more hot or sweaty ears. You have to put them on to find out how truly comfortable they are.Quality Audio: The Arcis Nova 5P boasts precision drivers that deliver crisp, detailed audio, immersing you right into the game. Every sound is reproduced with accuracy, giving you a competitive edge and letting you lose yourself in the rich audio experience. Now I have tested these out on my PS5 and the PC and they sound great no matter what you use them with.100 + Audio EQ: The SteelSeries GG companion app lets you choose from a massive library of pre-made EQ presets specifically designed for different game genres, there are over 100+ presets for you to choose from. Whether you're strategizing in an RPG, shooting away enemies in an FPS, or racing down the track, there's an EQ preset for that.Wireless or Wired Flexibility: The Nova 5P cuts the cord without compromising performance. The 2.4 GHz wireless dongle provides a lag-free connection, while Bluetooth 5.3 lets you seamlessly switch to your phone for music or calls without interrupting your gameplay and if you ever need a wired connection, the included USB-C cable ensures you're never out of the game while keeping you charged. There is also an option to extend your range if you need to go and grab a snack or something, but it comes at the expense of audio quality.Battery Life: I must admit the battery life of these headphones is pretty impressive, lasting for extended gaming sessions without needing a recharge, we are talking about 60 hours on Bluetooth and 50 hours with the dongle, but if you use that up 15 minutes of charging will get you 6 hours of use. I must admit I do not game for 8 hours a day to fully test out if the battery lasts that long, but I will say that I used them for about 4 hours straight on Modern Warfare after a full charge and I still had about 60% battery life left.Hidden Microphone: The Arctis Nova 5P feature a retractable, bidirectional noise cancelling microphone that also clear communication between you and your friends or clean audio calls.Overall, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P Wireless Headset is a outstanding selection for PS5 or PC gamers. They deliver superior audio quality, exceptional comfort, versatile connectivity options, and a long-lasting battery all packaged in a sleek design. All in all they are great heaphones and if you are in the market, I would highly recommend that you check them out.

[Rewarded Review] Lightweight headset with great audio profiiles

SteelSeries has slowly been taking over my desk, when I had a chance to grab the Arctis Nova 5 I was definitely interested.In the Box you get the Arctis Nova 5 Headset, USB-C Wireless Dongle, USB-C to USB-A Charge Cable, USB-C to USB-A cable externsion for the dongle, Sticker Swag plus manuals and guides. In both instances, pairing has been fairly seemless, bluetooth works like pairing any other device on my phone. The dongle also worked pretty much straight away as I have had a couple SteelSeries Keyboards and a Mouse, with the software preinstalled, it simply needed to detect the device.I really like the retractable mic on this headset, I can place the mic to a usable position that's picks up my voice at a reasonable speaking volume and isn't right in front of ... MoreSteelSeries has slowly been taking over my desk, when I had a chance to grab the Arctis Nova 5 I was definitely interested.In the Box you get the Arctis Nova 5 Headset, USB-C Wireless Dongle, USB-C to USB-A Charge Cable, USB-C to USB-A cable externsion for the dongle, Sticker Swag plus manuals and guides. In both instances, pairing has been fairly seemless, bluetooth works like pairing any other device on my phone. The dongle also worked pretty much straight away as I have had a couple SteelSeries Keyboards and a Mouse, with the software preinstalled, it simply needed to detect the device.I really like the retractable mic on this headset, I can place the mic to a usable position that's picks up my voice at a reasonable speaking volume and isn't right in front of my mouth with it's flexible extension. The Audio quality is really good, the software is quite robust also, there is a lot of preconfigured audio profiles for games that you can select either in the SteelSeries GG Software of the Arctis Nova 5 App of your phone. I don't mess with equalizers a lot, so I love that they have taken the guess work out of it for me. I would like if SteelSeries made it so the Bluetooth and 2.4 mode could be used at the same time, allowing you to change the audio profiles more on the fly using a bluetooth device. Plus this would give you the ability to hear audio from your phone or tablet when killing time between matches or waiting for others to get through jumping puzzles. Not breaking in any way though, the 50 Hour battery life I can believe, I was able to game multiple long sessions over the weekend and sit at 40%.I have mostly used the headset on my PC so far, a little bit on my Playstation (Where the audio profile switching on the fly would be most useful), I need to test and see if it functions the same on the Playstation Portal or the Meta Quest 2. This headset is comfortable enough for hours, the elastic band is great when adjusted to your head, which I prefer more than the thick pad in the middle with plastic on the sides that my previous headset had. The only parts touching you is the fabric on the ear cups and the elastic up top, I will be curious to see how well it holds up over time, but I am happy with the headset at this time!

[Rewarded Review] Nice materials, amazing software, good sound

Packaged nicely, you get some swag (stickers), the dongle which is a USB-C, two cords (USB-A to USB-C male and a USB-A to USB-C female to use as an adapter for said dongle, and obviously the headphones themselves. Each of the USB-As has a nice bit of length to it so reaching a surface for charging or extending the dongle range a few feet can be achieved.The headphones connect via 2.4 or Bluetooth, and on the right can the button immediately next to the power handles this very quickly, though I will say the first time I went to power them off without looking I bumped the connection switch button, not a huge deal but mentioning it all the same. I really wasn't paying attention so user error, and the power button has a little nub on it which helps. Probably something ... MorePackaged nicely, you get some swag (stickers), the dongle which is a USB-C, two cords (USB-A to USB-C male and a USB-A to USB-C female to use as an adapter for said dongle, and obviously the headphones themselves. Each of the USB-As has a nice bit of length to it so reaching a surface for charging or extending the dongle range a few feet can be achieved.The headphones connect via 2.4 or Bluetooth, and on the right can the button immediately next to the power handles this very quickly, though I will say the first time I went to power them off without looking I bumped the connection switch button, not a huge deal but mentioning it all the same. I really wasn't paying attention so user error, and the power button has a little nub on it which helps. Probably something to keep in mind if you have a kid using them as they may bump it and then wonder why something isn't working. The power (USB-C input) is also on the base of the right can.The mic is hidden in the left ear can and slides out but also has a little resistance on it, so you can have it partially out to any length between min and max and it will stay put, a nice feature as most of my other sets have a fixed length arm that doesn't always hit the sweet spot. There is a mute button and volume wheel on the left can, so you can see you have your mic/volume on the left side, anything power/connection related on the right - standard placement, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situation.The elastic headband has three adjustments to help fit various head curvatures, nothing ground breaking, but something cheaper offerings don't provide so worth mentioning it's one of those little details that you get for buying something at this price-point.Last thing concerning the headphones before we move onto the software is the sound quality. It isn't anything audiophile worthy, but gets the job done when put up against other gaming headphones. I compared to my HD660S' and then to two G935s (one OEM, the other modified) and these surpassed each of the 935s but lost out to the 660S' when it came to reproducing the full sound range and maintaining it at volume. There's some noticeable clipping going on when things get punchy and there's a lot going on. Luckily there's PLENTY in the software to help with this, also the NOVA 5 is significantly cheaper than the HD660S (especially now with the S2 on the market and the price of the S has come down).So what really blew me away was the software. So much to mess with here that I figured I'd provide plenty of screenshots and give as quick an overview as I could.After getting it up and running it can be a little overwhelming, there's stuff for the entire gamut of products not just the headphones, and there's a lot of integration areas offering tie-ins to other platforms, games, etc. All-in-all, an awesome one-stop-shop to control your sound and mixing needs whether it be gaming, streaming, podcasting, or just listening to some music.You get what is essentially a mixing board for your different programs. You can drag/drop them into various categories and each of those categories can have their own settings which you can adjust on the fly, use the pre-configured offerings, or make your own. Some games are already in the library and have their own unique EQ settings, others can be added and I'm sure the EQ settings can be downloaded from the community or you can do your own (I didn't look into this, but it makes sense that it would be possible). For example I saw Fallout 76 in the library, but no other Fallout games. My immediate thought was that I could add those myself and then mirror the EQ for Fallout 76, or dig around online and see what others had used.I installed everything on my media/server PC so I fired up a number of programs, played movie files, music, and did some work calls with the mic (walkie talkie was fun), moving programs around the mixing board, adjusted settings at random, messed with the sliders and got a feel for just how nuanced you can dial things in.Awesome product, worth the price, software is top-notch, can't wait to put these through the paces on some games and continue to explore the software and the customization it provides. The only thing I even remotely have an issue with is the aforementioned clipping, but it is only in very exacting situations, which again, can be mitigated by adjusting the EQ/spatial sound/and any number of other settings.This is the only reason I removed a star in my overall score - the out of the box sound quality is a little "meh" forcing you to spend some time in the software to get it "just right."Aside from that, feel confident if you decide to snag these that you're getting a great product for your money.Highly recommended.

[Rewarded Review] Pretty good wireless gaming headset!

Over the last 9 years or some, my sons and I have gone through our share of gaming headset. While the one I use the most is still going strong (mainly because of the fact that I don't use it too much), the boys are always gaming, well, at least on the weekends. After so many issues with the corded gaming headsets, they have gradually moved on to the wireless world, with the improvements with the wireless headset technology. While I somehow hadn't heard of SteelSeries before, the son (that is the last one still at home) was glad to hear that I was getting the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Gaming Headset.This headset is their entry-level wireless (with a Pro version and a Nova 7/Nova 7 Pro available) The overall design is fairly simple, except for one thing: the mic boom. ... MoreOver the last 9 years or some, my sons and I have gone through our share of gaming headset. While the one I use the most is still going strong (mainly because of the fact that I don't use it too much), the boys are always gaming, well, at least on the weekends. After so many issues with the corded gaming headsets, they have gradually moved on to the wireless world, with the improvements with the wireless headset technology. While I somehow hadn't heard of SteelSeries before, the son (that is the last one still at home) was glad to hear that I was getting the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Gaming Headset.This headset is their entry-level wireless (with a Pro version and a Nova 7/Nova 7 Pro available) The overall design is fairly simple, except for one thing: the mic boom. Instead of a flip boom (which normally auto-mutes the mic), this one pulls out form the front left earcup, and is pushed back in for storage. The additional difference is that it isn't muted when it is pushed in. That is handled by a toggle button on the lack of the left earcup. The entire headset isn't too heavy, not does it clamp my head too tightly when wearing it. For the top head rest, it has a cushioned elastic band that connects to up to 2 pegs on each of the lower sides. For me, I had to move the top head rest band to only the last snap-on peg as, even though it is lighter weight, it was putting a little too much pressure on the top of my head (don't know why, but the top of my head is very sensitive to pressure, which has caused issues with other headsets I have tried out). My heavier, corded main headset even feels lighter on my head. The earcup cushions are very comfortable, with a soft foam covered in a softer fabric (which I prefer over some of the leatherette earcup cushions. The are also just big enough to fit my taller ears. They would be just fine wearing for long periods of time.It comes with two cables, one being an extension cable to plug in the USB Type-C 2.4GHz dongle, and the other a Type-A to Type-C cable to charge the headset. It can connect to any device with Type-C port or via Bluetooth. And it can also connect to two devices at the same time using both methods, such as to the PC for gaming and a phone for taking calls. It cannot, however, play sound from both simultaneously. There is a button on the left earcup right next to the power button that changes the source between 2.4 and Bluetooth.I installed the SteelSeries GG app on my PC, and was notified that there was a critical firmware update available, which required the dongle to be connected and the headset to be connected to the PC via the USB cable. After the update was complete, it said to turn the headset back on, but when I did, it had issues with connecting to the 2.4 dongle. After connecting using Bluetooth and testing everything out, I decided to reconnect the headset with the USB cable, and the app showed the critical update again. I ran that, turned it on as it instructed, and this time it reconnected to the 2.4 right away.Several audio settings can be modified in the PC SteelSeries GG App as well as Arctis Nova 5 Phone app. Watching both apps at the same time (when connected to my phone via Bluetooth and the PC via the 2.4GHz dongle), you can see a setting change on one in real-time when changing it on the other. The only thing I have found that you can only fully change on the PC app is the Equalizer settings. On the phone App, you can only change to one of the ones that are included (all the game-related ones) or a personalized one that has been created on the PC. There is also a Sidetone setting that can be turned off or at any volume level to allow you to hear your own voice.After updating the equalizer to my norma preferred level, I was able to get pretty decent sound, even though it wasn't quite as good as some other headsets or wireless ear buds. When testing the mic out with my son, he mentioned that the sound quality wasn't bad, but it seemed it was auto detecting my voice, so it was really quiet when not talking, then when it detected me talking, he said he could hear some sound, almost like static when it turned on. So far, what really stands out is the battery life, with up to 60 hours available on a single charge.While I may not have had the best of experiences with, you will still want to keep it in mind when considering wireless gaming headsets.

[Rewarded Review] Pro features budget cost

Steelseries has been killing it lately in the gaming headset space and this Nova 5 wireless model is one of the best in its category that still includes the ability to use bluetooth as well as the 2.4ghz dongle and the new companion app via your phone. In years past only the absolute top end model had the bluetooth connectivity in it so it’s really refreshing to see it trickle its way down to the cheaper yet still capable headsets that most people actually get. In the box you get a usb-c dongle (dont worry there is also a type A adapter included as well for those that dont have a C port as well as a C to A charging cable as well.Now besides being able to use this on ANY bluetooth device it also will willingly connect with PC playstation switch android Mac tablet ... MoreSteelseries has been killing it lately in the gaming headset space and this Nova 5 wireless model is one of the best in its category that still includes the ability to use bluetooth as well as the 2.4ghz dongle and the new companion app via your phone. In years past only the absolute top end model had the bluetooth connectivity in it so it’s really refreshing to see it trickle its way down to the cheaper yet still capable headsets that most people actually get. In the box you get a usb-c dongle (dont worry there is also a type A adapter included as well for those that dont have a C port as well as a C to A charging cable as well.Now besides being able to use this on ANY bluetooth device it also will willingly connect with PC playstation switch android Mac tablet with usb-c meta quest 2 and various handhelds. It has a retractible mic that is inside the ear cup which has been a staple for steelseries headsets and my personal favorite. This of course has noise canceling and actually sounds decent compared to most wireless headsets out there which normally fall to the bandwidth limitations on wireless cans. You have on ear cup controls for volume, power, pairing, mode and mic mute which is very nice once you get the muscle memory down to use them.The comfort is what really sets it apart from others as the ski goggle style suspension headband system on this thing is insane. It’s like having nothing on your head and ive loved this style design since the older Arctis lineup but it’s just done so much better here with the adjustable sides. The ear cups though cloth have memory foam and feel great over the ear.The battery life boast is up to 60 hours of use which is just nutty. I personally used it for a full week and didnt think about charging yet just to try and push the limits and I guess the new chipset really works because it sips battery.If your in the market for an awesome gaming headset that can double as your casual bluetooth headphones and can switch on the fly or use the app and still be a killer price for the features while maintaining comfort this is your set.

[Rewarded Review] SteelSeries mid-tier headphones mostly shine

This is my fourth SteelSeries headset but my first in the newer Nova lineup. My go-to’s up to now have been the SteelSeries Arctis 7 and Arctis Pro Wireless; but I was curious to see if the Novas were worth all the hype I had been reading about. In the end, I still came away impressed with its performance, but there are a few caveats to consider if you decide to go for this mid-tier offering from SteelSeries.The Nova 5P is PS5-color coordinated, but the wireless dongle works on Windows just fine and the BT capability means that for your listening pleasure, the Switch, SteamDeck, Ally, phone, essentially with a BT receiver is on the menu. The package comes well appointed with the headset, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, USB-A to USB-C extension cable, small ... MoreThis is my fourth SteelSeries headset but my first in the newer Nova lineup. My go-to’s up to now have been the SteelSeries Arctis 7 and Arctis Pro Wireless; but I was curious to see if the Novas were worth all the hype I had been reading about. In the end, I still came away impressed with its performance, but there are a few caveats to consider if you decide to go for this mid-tier offering from SteelSeries.The Nova 5P is PS5-color coordinated, but the wireless dongle works on Windows just fine and the BT capability means that for your listening pleasure, the Switch, SteamDeck, Ally, phone, essentially with a BT receiver is on the menu. The package comes well appointed with the headset, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, USB-A to USB-C extension cable, small paddle-sized dongle with a re-pairing button, some SteelSeries stickers and a manual. There is no 3.5mm aux cable for un-powered operation, which is fine because the Nova 5P doesn’t have a 3.5mm jack to run off an analog output anyway (so keep that in mind if you were looking for a truly do-it-all headset). A small storage bag would have been welcome, if only to keep the dongle and cables together when traveling...but at least the headset folds flat for storage.Construction is entirely plastic, even the headband, which was metal on the Arctis 7 and Pro Wireless—this makes the Nova 5P very light and comfortable in comparison, perfect for long gaming sessions. Sizing involves two adjustments. One is the smoothly extending earcup stems used to manually raise and lower the earcups relative to the headband. This feature was not part of the previous Arctis lineup’s design, and the results here do provide for just a tad more personalization of fitment. The sliding action is smooth and currently holds the earcups firmly in position, though it’s unclear how long that may be case.The other sizing option involves adjusting the elastic headband using one or both of a pair of sizing nubs just above each earcup to secure the ends of the headband’s plastic retention clips. It’s a bit of clunky adjustment method to achieve desired changes in tension and flex and frankly I didn’t notice quite as much difference in shortest vs longest extremes with the Nova 5P as I did with the Velcro adjustments of ski-goggle headband in the Arctis series headsets. Part of that may have something to do with the Nova’s construction—because the earcups also slide to adjust, you do not have to count on changing the length of the headband alone for sizing. YMMV, but at least for my head size (more on that later), I didn’t find the new elastic adjustment system to be all that compelling or provide much of a difference in the way of comfort and fit.The earpads feature some pillow-soft cushioning covered with a mesh fabric that is very breathable. The insides of the pads are handily labeled with L or R for each earcup. The retractable boom microphone integrates perfectly into the contours of the earcup—in fact, I thought it was a little TOO streamlined for its own good. Other than a very small and subtle indentation on the back of the mic assembly, there is no notch or cut-out or finger-hold to grab for when searching for the mic in the blind, so it was sometimes very difficult to deploy by feel alone if I was already wearing the headset. When the mic is extended, there is a handy red LED at the tip that indicates mute status that is easy to see even below the sightline. LED brightness can even be adjusted or turned off entirely if you wish. The boom thankfully seemed to stay in place for hours at a time, so you don’t have to worry about the boom slowly sagging out of place once you’ve got it settled for optimal performance.Other controls, ports, and displays are minimal. On one earcup is a large, textured mute push-button that sits next to a rotary volume dial. I love the fact that the controls are different shapes and styles as so many headsets today try to drown you with extra features that are admittedly nice to have, but they are all accessed using controls that feel and look relatively similar which makes complex operations in the dark/by touch unnecessarily difficult. The other earcup features the USB-C charging & update port and a pair of buttons that flank a thin status LED indicator between them. Battery charge level is indicated by LED color (green, yellow, orange, red) while operational mode (BT or 2.4Ghz wireless) is indicated by either blue or green respectively.The headset allows you to connect to both the 2.4Ghz dongle and BT at the same time, but you can’t feed BT audio in over game audio at the same time. Fortunately, the QuickSwitch button right above the power button allows you to jump instantly between sound sources. Voice prompts also confirm which mode you’ve switched to, as well as when you enter pairing mode (long press of the QuickSwitch button).The simplicity of these controls also comes at a cost if you want to do anything more complex while listening. Specifically, with only two buttons to work with, multimedia and phone controls are available via single, double, or triple presses of the power button AND the QuickSwitch button, but the combinations aren’t always intuitive. For example, answering/ending calls uses a single QuickSwitch press while ignoring calls requires a double press. However, call volume is not controlled by the rotary volume dial as you might expect, but by single (increase) or double (decrease) presses of the power button. In multimedia mode, however, you only use the power button with play/pause getting a single press, a double press for skip forward, and triple press for skip backward. If the Nova 5 was the only headset you routinely used, I’m certain you would soon get used to the operation, but I’ll admit I was often forgetting how many presses I needed to advance vs replay a track I was streaming via BT.More advanced features are available in both the Nova 5 phone app as well as the full SteelSeries GG client. I really liked the ability to customize playback EQ, mic volume, sidetone adjustments, and other features just from my phone because the SteelSeries GG app, while comprehensive, is also a fairly bulky program with lots of options that are admittedly gaming oriented without necessarily being headset specific (FPS aim trainer, game clip captures, new product showcases, game content giveaways, etc.). But the amount of control you can exercise over the Nova 5’s sound using either application is extensive, with EQ adjustments you can apply to both game AND chat audio. There are also EQ presets that supposedly maximize the soundscapes of dozens and dozens of the latest games—over 140 when I stopped counting presets, including settings for various styles of movies and music.So how does all that pinpoint control translate into the sound you (and your teammates) hear? In a few words: pretty great! Mic quality really was exceptional as my teammates and people I called on the phone reported hearing my voice loudly, clearly, and without any watery-sounding, over-processed artificiality. Game audio reproduction was detailed, clear, and responsive—there was genuine sparkle in the highs while the all-important bass registers hit with authority and some of that chest-thumping oomph that really helps you feel a game rather than just hear it. I could easily see someone using the Nova 5P as a daily driver for games as well as other media as the headset didn’t really seem better suited to one genre over another.On the audio side of things, the only real disappointment was the SteelSeries client’s spatial audio capabilities. The Sonar portion of the GG app offers a (free) 7.1 surround sound simulation that frankly just didn’t create a very smooth, continuous, or convincing surround sound experience. Sound sources that were supposed to be localized in the front were directly to the sides, while anything in the center sounded inside my head and appreciably closer than the L/R front locations. I experienced the same audio localization pattern for the virtual rears, with L/R rears floating out in space and way to the side, while back channels felt like they were butting up against the back of my skull. The subwoofer channel also disappeared almost entirely once the Sonar 3D processing was activated. Instead a more natural and evenly distributed sound field that extends equally in multiple directions, the simulated “surround sound” here, at least to my ears, collapsed entirely into the horizontal plane with lots of width but virtually no depth. If 3D audio is important to you, I highly recommend considering something like Dolby Atmos for headphones as the surround field is far more convincing and extends in all 3 dimensions including height, not just depth and width.The last gotcha I discovered was a big deal for me: the new Nova series is smaller than the previous Arctis headsets in virtually every dimension—not by much, but enough to matter. The headband doesn’t come up quite as high from the earcups (though the earcups themselves do extend down to increase this distance if needed), but it also has a slightly smaller arch while the earpads are just a tad shorter and narrower than before. For someone like me with a larger head (I usually wear an XL or XXL in helmets and hats), I found the Nova 5s to be a bit less comfortable than the Arctis headsets of a generation prior. Mind you, the Nova 5s were not UNcomfortable, but the smaller earpads exerted more noticeable pressure on the outer anatomy of my ears than I prefer, and the smaller headband and slightly dodgy elastic headband sizing mechanism meant that I was aware of the headband touching my head far more than I ever was using the Arctis 7 or Pro Wireless. I can’t say as the headband or earpads created hotspots for me that grew painful after a few hours, but it definitely felt like the Nova 5P would be better suited to someone with a “regular” or even smaller-sized head.