SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro

High-tidelity audio ina gaming headset—sounds like a recipe for success

- SAM LEWIS

THE NOVA PRO is second in line at the top of the SteelSeries headset hierarchy, below its wireless counterpart. Other than the lack of active noise cancelation and wireless functionality found on the more expensive model, the two have similar specs but there’s a $100 price difference. So are these extra features worth that much, or should you opt for the wired variant instead?

You may be wondering why a $250 headset only has wired functionality— but also included in this package is the SteelSeries GameDAC Gen 2 and that’s the real game-changer when it comes to other Nova headsets from the brand.

We’ve previously tested the Nova 7, which is a lesser headset but has decent compatibility. The main difference is that this doesn’t come with the DAC, so they appeal to different target markets. The Nova Pro is aimed more at a permanent desktop setting with a focus on audio quality over outright features, whereas the Nova 7 focuses on connectivity and compatibility. The design of the Pro is clearly part of the same lineup as the Nova 7, though both have drifted away from the previous Arctis 7/9 designs from SteelSeries’s previous generation.

We loved the previous designs, but the new look takes the style away from a gamer-focused look to a more premium aesthetic. Although we see this as a positive shift in design, the build quality seems to have taken a slight knock in the process. It’s not poor, but previous headsets from SteelSeries set the bar almost too high. The new design features an all-black aesthetic with the option to swap out the headband and earcup covers with interchangeable options that are available to buy online. On the Nova Pro, the earcup covers have a metallic effect to emphasize the ‘Pro’ aspect.