Prepare yourselves, gaming audio enthusiasts, because headset pricing is about to reach new heights! SteelSeries has just unveiled its latest flagship, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite wireless gaming headset. This device is specifically engineered for true audiophiles and comes with a price tag that reflects its ambitious design. Available now, the Nova Elite costs a cool $599.99, which is almost twice as much as many other premium gaming headsets on the market.
Despite the considerable investment, this headset offers an array of impressive features. Much like its acclaimed predecessor, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, it delivers incredibly low-latency, multi-source wireless connectivity and a convenient swappable battery system. This means you can keep gaming indefinitely without ever needing to plug it in for a charge. But the new SteelSeries Nova Elite takes things further, with enhanced driver quality, superior build materials, and full support for Hi-Res audio.
This Hi-Res audio capability provides access to stunning 24-bit / 96 kHz sound. This level of audio fidelity is typically found only in high-end dedicated headphone amplifiers and sound cards, not usually in wireless gaming headsets. This pristine audio signal is then channeled through newly designed 40mm carbon fiber drivers. SteelSeries asserts these drivers can “reveal ultimate detail, separation, and immersive soundscapes” across an impressive 10Hz to 40kHz frequency range.
SteelSeries also highlights the Nova Elite’s active noise cancellation (ANC), claiming it surpasses any other gaming headset on the market. It promises to block out environmental distractions with the same effectiveness as leading high-end headphones, such as the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WH-1000XM6 series.
A groundbreaking feature of the Nova Elite is its ability to mix and monitor up to four audio inputs simultaneously. Through its innovative GameHub, you can connect to your PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles (all using USB), plus integrate with mobile devices via Bluetooth.
For voice communication, the headset features a retractable boom microphone that delivers crisp 32kHz/16-bit audio. When the boom mic is tucked away, other integrated microphones take over, maintaining crystal-clear conversations and active noise cancellation.
Regarding its enhanced build quality, the Nova Elite features a robust metal frame, a tactile metal control wheel, and luxurious plush memory foam earcups. Having experienced the headset firsthand recently, I can confirm it genuinely lives up to its promise of feeling and looking like a significantly more premium iteration of the Nova Pro Wireless.
Intuitive PC and mobile applications allow for effortless customization of the Nova Elite to suit your preferences. These apps boast comprehensive parametric EQs, giving you granular control over the sound profile. Additionally, with over 250 built-in presets, you can instantly optimize the audio for a vast library of games.
While these features are undeniably impressive, the $600 price point is quite astounding. For a headset to justify such an expense, it will need to deliver an absolutely revolutionary audio experience, significantly surpassing the already excellent Nova Pro Wireless. We eagerly await our opportunity to thoroughly test the Nova Elite and determine if it truly sets a new benchmark in premium gaming audio.
If you’re in the market for another highly capable wireless gaming headset right now, consider researching the Logitech Astro A50 X. Alternatively, for a more portable but still excellent SteelSeries audio solution, explore options like the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.
Should you wish to discuss your thoughts on the SteelSeries Nova Elite’s pricing or features, feel free to join a community forum where you can share your opinions with other enthusiasts.