Every gamer knows that a good gaming headset is a must. Want to hear every detail while playing a video game? Then the Steelseries Arctis Nova 5X highly recommended, as it has more than 150 tailor-made audio profiles for the most popular games!
We have extensively tested the gaming headset in recent weeks. The headphones can be used on different platforms, but there are specific versions for PC & Playstation and PC & Xbox. Thanks to the versatile connectivity options, you can connect these headsets to a range of devices including Mac, PC, Playstation 5, Xbox, Switch, etc.
Steel series Nova 5
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 is a wireless gaming headset with a versatile design, suitable for various platforms such as PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile devices. This headset offers long battery life of up to 60 hours, a retractable microphone, and access to more than 150 game-specific audio profiles via the dedicated Companion App, which allows users to optimize their audio experience for different games.
Differences between Steelseries Nova 5, 5P and 5X
All three headsets are equivalent and have the same hardware and functions. Yet there is one difference worth mentioning. For example, the wheel on the right earcup works differently. With the Arctis Nova 5 and 5X you use this to control ChatMix, part of the Steelseries Sonar software. This allows you to adjust the balance between game sound and your microphone.
On the Arctis Nova 5P, this wheel is intended for the PlayStation and therefore does not work with ChatMix. The function of the wheel is the same in all models: you use it to set the sidetone (audio feedback from your own voice). This way you determine how strongly you hear your own microphone through the headset.
Package contents
- Product information manual
- Arctis Nova 5(P/X) headset
- Compact USB-C wireless dongle
- USB-C to USB-A dongle extension cable (1.5 m)
- USB-C to USB-A charging cable (1.5 m)
- Stickers
Design SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5(P/X)
The Arctis Nova 5 has a recognizable design that is typical of Steelseries. High-quality soft materials are used and the color accents are subtle. This makes the headset suitable for every gamer. The microphone is neatly concealed and can be hidden in the headphones when not in use.
The earcups are not overly large and contain 40mm Neodymium magnetic drivers. The shells can easily rotate and tilt, so the headphones fit well on most heads.
Wearing comfort
The Steelseries Nova 5 is equipped with every comfort and fits well, even after wearing it for a long time. The headset has extensive fitting options with 3 points of adjustment. This makes it easy to find the perfect fit with height-adjustable, rotating earcups, a stretchy headband and AirWeave memory foam cushions.
The headband distributes the weight excellently so that it never feels too heavy. Thanks to the adjustable headband, you can tailor the headband yourself and determine what suits you best.
The ear cushions are made of soft fabric so that they feel pleasant. They also close the ear cup well, which keeps ambient noise to a minimum. Despite the close fit to the head, the headphones fit comfortably and feel light. Over time, your ears will get warm due to lack of ventilation, but almost all headphones suffer from this.
Connections, buttons and wheels
Steelseries is known for their ease of use and this is also reflected in all connections, buttons and wheels. For example, at the back and bottom of the right ear cup you will find the (Bluetooth) pairing, on/off button, the previously discussed sidetone wheel and the USB-C connection. On the left earcup you will find a mute button, volume dial and microphone.
You can charge the headset via the USB-C connection and it supports fast charging. The battery has a battery life of 60 hours with non-stop wireless use.
Quick-Switch wireless (2.4 GHz and Bluetooth)
In the box you will find a USB-C wireless transmitter that you can connect to your PlayStation, PC, Mac, Xbox and devices with a USB-C connection. An iPad with USB-C is also suitable. Does your device not have a USB-C port? Then you can use the included USB-C to USB-A adapter.
The 2.4 GHz transmitter gives you significantly better performance than Bluetooth. The audio is lossless, rather than compressed, and provides much better audio quality. It also has ultra-low latency, so you hear every sound as it happens on the screen, unlike Bluetooth which can have significant delays. Via the pairing button on the right ear cup you can switch between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth at the touch of a button.
Retractable microphone
The headset has a retractable microphone so you can stay in touch with others. When needed, you can easily pull it out and mute it with one button. The microphone uses ClearCast Gen 2 bidirectional noise cancellation and therefore also has official Discord certification.
Sonar Software’s ClearCast AI algorithms mute both incoming and outgoing team chats for perfect audio. The broadcast-quality ClearCast Gen 2 microphone reduces background noise by up to 38 dB on all platforms, so your mouse clicks or keystrokes are easily filtered out.
The noise reduction for speech works better on a PC than on an Xbox or Mac. Noise and crackling sounds were picked up and eliminated more quickly by the PC. This makes you easy to understand and ambient noise is well filtered out. Thanks to the sidetone wheel you can limit the amount of sound that returns (how much you hear from yourself). This is also especially useful if you use the headset for online meetings or chat conversations.
An additional advantage, in this headset you can completely hide the microphone in the ear cup without any part protruding. This gives the Nova 5 a super neat finish.
Arctis Nova 5 Companion App
New for Steelseries headphones is the Arctis Companion app for mobile devices such as iPhone and Android. This app provides users with access to over 150 game-specific audio presets. These profiles have been carefully curated by audio engineers, esports professionals, and game developers. The app allows you to adjust audio settings in real time while playing without leaving the game.
Thanks to the presets you can immediately optimize the audio for more than 150 popular games, which provides a clear competitive advantage for several popular games such as Fortnite, Apex Legends and Minecraft.
Thanks to the optimization, you immediately notice that audio is an important part of a game. It is necessary to be able to hear all the details clearly. The Arctis Companion app optimizes this well and provides an overall improved user experience.
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Overall audio quality
The Arctis Nova 5 features 40mm Neodymium drivers, with a headphone frequency response of 20 – 20,000 Hz and a sensitivity of 98 dBSPL. The headphones’ total harmonic distortion is less than 1% and supports 360° spatial audio.
The Arctis Nova 5/P/X produce a lot of detail. The sound is clear, clear during speech and the mid tones are well balanced against the bass. These low tones are well present, perhaps not like with a subwoofer, but convincing. Unfortunately, these headphones do not have active noise cancellation.
The low tones will not drown out the high, because they are needed for the details. The balance of the Arctis Nova 5 is very good and ensures that you hear the smallest details of your environment.
The gaming headset has support for 360° spatial audio. With the free Sonar Virtual Surround Sound for Windows you can hear everything from every direction. In addition, the headphones are fully compatible with Tempest 3D Audio for PS5, Microsoft Spatial for Xbox and other third-party spatial audio solutions (sold separately).
Compatibility Arctis Nova 5
Although the 5P is specially designed for the PlayStation 5, you can use it on a PC or Mac and you can also use the Nova 5 on a PlayStation. However, the sidetone training wheel may not work correctly.
In addition, you can also use the headset on a PlayStation 4, Android, Switch, iPads with USB-C, Oculus Quest 2 and more devices that support audio and USB-C.
Please note, only the Steelseries Arctis Nova 5X can be used on an Xbox, the other models cannot. You can use the 5X on all other platforms such as a Mac, PlayStation or PC.
Conclusion: Steelseries Arctis Nova 5
REVIEW SCORE
Are you looking for a versatile headset for hours of gaming without any problems? Then the Steelseries Arctis Nova 5(P/X) is recommended. Not only is the design worth it, the many connections and operating options are also easy. It takes a while before you realize where all the buttons and wheels are, but once you know this you can quickly switch while gaming. The headphones have everything a gamer wants. The battery life of 60 hours is good, fast charging, the microphone can be completely stowed away and the headband is adjustable so that it fits everyone.
The Arctis Companion App software brings out the best in the headphones when using the headphones. This app gives users access to over 150 game-specific audio presets and profiles, tailored specifically for the most popular games. In addition, the Sonar software adds more audio features when used on a Windows PC
Will you mainly use the headset on a PS5? Then the Arctis Nova 5P is the best choice. This is also the case for the 5X Xbox version. If you are looking for an everyone’s friend, the Arctis Nova 5 is recommended. You don’t have to worry about the price, because all three can be purchased for the same amount.
- Sturdy, streamlined and slick design
- Compatible with many devices
- Fully collapsible microphone with ClearCast
- Good wearing comfort with adjustable headband
- Support for 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth
- Arctis Companion app with 100 audio profiles
- Steelseries Sonar is not available for macOS
- Unfortunately no active noise cancellation
- Limited ventilation at ear cups > warm ears
Buy Arctis Nova 5