SteelSeries has long been a pioneer in the realm of high-end gaming headsets, setting a benchmark with models like the original Arctis Pro Wireless and Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. These headsets redefined expectations, introducing features such as active noise cancellation, multi-device connectivity via sophisticated base stations, and extensive software customization. Many other gaming brands have since followed their lead, striving to offer similar premium experiences.
Now, SteelSeries raises the bar even further with its latest flagship, the $600 Arctis Nova Elite. This new iteration boasts meticulously re-engineered carbon fiber drivers, an even more versatile four-source base station, and Hi-Res wireless audio certification. The question remains: can any gaming headset truly justify such a premium price tag? After a month of rigorous testing, it seems the previously niche ‘ultra-premium’ headset market might just be about to explode into prominence.
Image Gallery: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite Hardware Overview
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite – Design and Features
At first glance, the Nova Elite closely resembles the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless released in 2023, though its elegant sage/gold and obsidian color options hint at the internal upgrades. The supremely comfortable fabric suspension headband remains, complemented by a stainless steel and aluminum frame that ensures impressive durability. The volume wheel has been upgraded from plastic to metal, offering satisfying, audible clicks that precisely indicate volume adjustments. Memory foam ear cushions provide excellent comfort and contribute to effective passive noise cancellation.
Despite its gaming roots, this is arguably one of the most aesthetically pleasing headsets we’ve ever reviewed. Its sophisticated design ensures it doesn’t look out of place alongside high-priced lifestyle headphones. The black obsidian model, in particular, maintains a subtle elegance, with its polished metal accents subtly showcasing its premium construction.
Image: Early prototypes showcasing the design evolution of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite.
Image: A detailed look at the earcups, cans, volume wheel, arms, drivers, and other prototype elements of the Arctis Nova Elite.
Internally, the 40mm dynamic drivers, a staple in prior Arctis Nova Pro models, have been upgraded to two-piece carbon fiber units, encased in a brass surround. SteelSeries asserts that this new ‘pistonic’ design ensures distortion-free movement and can reproduce an impressive frequency range from 10Hz to 40KHz.
The headset fully leverages these internal enhancements, delivering 96KHz/24-bit Hi-Res audio over its 2.4GHz wireless connection or the LC3+ Bluetooth codec. The Nova Elite also features more effective Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) than its predecessor. The main microphone uses a 32KHz/16-bit wide-band connection, and a new backup beam-forming microphone automatically activates when the primary mic is retracted for on-the-go use.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite – Setup and Connectivity
The GameHub base station also receives a refined look, featuring a gold volume wheel on the sage/gold version, alongside significant functional improvements. The original Arctis Nova Pro Wireless’s two USB inputs have been expanded to three, enabling full digital connections to devices like a PC, PS5, and Xbox simultaneously. Notably, unlike the older Nova Pro, two of these connections can now be active at once, with the GameHub intelligently switching inputs based on active use. There’s also a single version of the Arctis Nova Elite, where the third USB-C input optionally supports Xbox’s proprietary wireless standard, eliminating the need for separate Xbox-specific variants of past Arctis headsets.
Additionally, a fourth 3.5mm input provides another connection option, and the headset can maintain a simultaneous Bluetooth connection, controlled by a dedicated on/off button.
Image: Screenshots of the GameHub display, showing options to view volume levels, EQ settings per input, or current connection status and channel volume.
Image: The Arctis Nova Elite GameHub, featuring three USB-C inputs and two 3.5mm ports. The expanded connectivity allows the GameHub to manage up to five sources, with four simultaneously active (two USB-C, line-in, and Bluetooth).
Setting up the headset is incredibly straightforward; simply connect one of the provided USB-C or 3.5mm cables to your chosen source, or pair via Bluetooth. Once connected, a long press of the GameHub’s back button allows you to cycle through various display modes, showing individual source volume, equalizer settings, or current bit-rate and channel levels. Tidal track data is also displayed when playing, though broader support for other popular media players like Spotify or YouTube Music would be a welcome enhancement.
Long pressing the volume wheel accesses a comprehensive menu for setting the third USB input (Xbox or standard mode), adjusting equalizer, gain, noise control, and microphone settings, switching between wireless and Bluetooth, configuring line out settings, and modifying system preferences like microphone brightness, display brightness, or power-saving modes. This system closely mirrors the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, with new additions that remain intuitive and manageable.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite – Battery Life
The base station retains the innovative swappable battery system, a hallmark of Arctis Pro Wireless headsets. Each battery offers an impressive 30 hours of playtime, and while one powers the headset, the other charges in the base station, ensuring you never run out of power mid-session.
The battery swap process is still a minor adjustment—you need to insert the fresh battery within five seconds of removing the old one for the headset to automatically power back on. However, users quickly adapt to this routine. This design choice avoids adding extra weight or cost by integrating a permanent internal battery or supercapacitor into the headset itself.
Image: A side-by-side comparison of the Arctis Nova Elite (top) and Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (below) GameHub units, showcasing the continued innovative quick-swap battery system.
For scenarios where the base station isn’t available, such as during international travel, the headset can also be charged via a standard USB-C cable. While the right-angle cable connection to one earcup isn’t the most ergonomic, this situation is unlikely for most users. SteelSeries states that a brief 15-minute charge provides four hours of use, allowing for quick power-ups when needed.
In our testing, the Nova Elite consistently met its 30-hour battery life claim. Thanks to the effortless battery swapping, we never encountered any power issues. Even with a single battery, the headset easily lasted a full week of daily gaming and music listening, averaging four to five hours per day.
Image Gallery: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite Software Experience
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite – Software
Beyond its Hi-Res audio certification, the Arctis Elite offers largely the same PC software experience as its predecessors. The comprehensive GG app includes basic adjustments (Engine), advanced audio programming (Sonar), and extra features (Moments, 3D Aim Trainer, Giveaways, News). Sonar is exceptionally powerful, providing a parametric EQ and a vast selection of game-specific equalizer presets, including some developed in collaboration with esports teams.
However, Sonar’s tendency to create numerous additional audio devices can be cumbersome if you prefer to manually manage your audio outputs in Windows. Ideally, all audio would route through the GameHub and Sonar software, rather than requiring separate controls for speakers and microphones in different applications, but this might not suit all setups.
Image: Screenshots of the Arctis Android app, illustrating its convenient features for selecting game-specific EQs on console and other functions.
A significant new addition for the Arctis Elite is the Arctis mobile app, which debuted with the Arctis Nova 5 and has since been integrated into all subsequent SteelSeries headsets. Given the Arctis Elite’s multi-device capabilities – positioning it as an ideal choice for everyday Bluetooth, PC gaming, and console gaming – having a mobile app to quickly select presets and adjust settings is a game-changer. While the mobile app currently doesn’t allow for creating or modifying these presets, the extensive range of pre-existing options makes this a minor limitation.
Finally, the headset supports a full spectrum of virtual surround sound modes across platforms: Dolby Atmos and Windows Sonic on PC and Xbox, and Tempest 3D Audio on PS5. However, for highly competitive and fast-paced games like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and Battlefield 2042, we found the stereo mode to be preferable.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite – Performance and Gaming
The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless was already a stellar performer for gaming, with its 40mm dynamic drivers delivering excellent spatial cues, rich detail, and a balanced sound signature that was comfortable for extended listening. The Arctis Nova Elite elevates this experience even further. Its carbon fiber drivers and brass surrounds make individual sounds even easier to pinpoint within a busy soundscape.
When compared to other high-end headsets, like the $900 Audeze LCD-GX with its massive 106mm planar magnetic drivers, the Nova Elite offers a surprisingly similar audio quality. Yet, it comes in significantly cheaper, is wireless, and boasts superior comfort due to its lighter design. The integrated Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is also a crucial advantage in noisy environments, whether you’re focused on winning a competitive match or simply enjoying music on a bustling commute.
Image: A side-by-side view of the Arctis Nova Elite (right) and the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (left, with aftermarket cushions). Despite their visual similarities, the Nova Elite offers substantial internal and external enhancements, leading to a noticeable improvement in audio fidelity.
The Nova Elite’s wireless Hi-Res certification is an intriguing feature, though true high-resolution audio content remains rare outside of niche services like Tidal and is virtually absent in gaming. While we subscribed to Tidal for this review and observed subtle improvements during back-to-back listening sessions with Hi-Res audio enabled (requiring a Windows setting change to 24-bit 96KHz) versus standard 16-bit 44.1KHz playback, most users likely won’t prioritize Hi-Res audio, especially for gaming. Still, it’s reassuring to know that the Arctis Nova Elite won’t be the limiting factor for audio quality.
The Arctis Nova Elite’s microphone also shows a modest improvement, although dedicated wired or external USB/XLR microphones will typically offer superior quality for professional use.
Ultimately, while some audiophile headphones might surpass the Arctis Nova Elite in pure sound quality, achieving this level of audio fidelity combined with such a comprehensive gaming feature set is unprecedented. In our experience, only Audeze’s significantly heavier and bulkier planar magnetic headsets come close.
Purchasing Guide
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is available for $599.99 from SteelSeries and other major retailers.
Verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is the best gaming headset we’ve ever tested, delivering subtle yet impactful upgrades over the already exceptional Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. Its success lies in achieving industry-leading, or at least highly competitive, quality across almost every aspect: audio performance, microphone clarity, comfort, connectivity, design, software, and features. If you’re seeking the ultimate all-in-one gaming headset that excels on PC, consoles, and mobile, regardless of price, this is our top recommendation.