SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 Review

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is the company’s new entry-level headset aimed at those who desire dependable gaming audio, but have a tighter budget. Naturally, as a lower-tier headset in the line-up, the Arctis Nova 1 lacks the features of the 7X and Wireless Pro, but it still nails the fundamentals.

The budget option

Being a budget option, it’s unsurprising to see the Arctis Nova 1 using a 3.5 mm jack to connect with devices. There’s no USB connection here, which is both a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, the simplicity makes it very easy to set up and get going. That plug-and-play nature will be great for newcomers to gaming who want a headset that works across all devices.

Buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 on Amazon.com

While it is a budget choice, the Arctis Nova 1 retains many of the features that make higher-end SteelSeries headsets so great. This includes top-tier comfort, with swiveling mesh earcups that remain cool and a headband that is snug but not too tiring; a fantastic microphone, especially given the price; and audio you can trust, with enemy footstep noise and gunfire clearly conveyed.

Can it game?

As mentioned above, the Arctis Nova 1 has audio that players can trust. As I’ve learned from using SteelSeries’ flagship products for many years now, this company has some magical ability to create headsets that beat out the competition when it comes to tracking enemies in games. I still can’t put my finger on how it does it, but SteelSeries is still on top here.

While it might lack dynamic range and the bass and treble don’t quite achieve total satisfaction, the Nova 1 still sounds perfectly fine for gaming, and it can absolutely be used for movie-watching and music-listening without issue. I’m pleased that there’s no wildly pumped-up bass or overhyped treble fatiguing the ears, which has been an issue in other budget headsets.

Arctis Nova 1 review sample provided by SteelSeries.