At present, SteelSeries unveiled the subsequent wi-fi headset in its Arctis Nova household, the Nova 5. Launching at $130, the new Arctis Nova 5 line is supposed to bridge the hole between the entry-level Nova 1 and Nova 3 fashions and the high-end Nova 7 and Nova Professional headsets, providing the identical nice type issue and design as the remainder of the line-up however with a mid-range suite of options.
To clear up any confusion in case you’re conversant in the Nova headset line: The Nova 5 is basically changing the Nova 4, which debuted final yr for $120. SteelSeries not sells the Nova 4, and when you can discover it at different retailers, the Nova 5 has new and higher options, resembling Bluetooth and elevated battery life, for less than $10 extra.
A type of options is a brand new companion app obtainable for iOS and Android, which comes with over 100 EQ presets for in style video games like Name of Obligation, Future, and Minecraft, that you would be able to swap to on the fly proper out of your cellphone. Whereas a few of the presets are engineered to boost the audio expertise general, others are tuned to intensify particular parts of the sound mix–like one Name of Obligation preset that makes it simpler to listen to enemy footsteps. The companion app is unique to the trio of Nova 5 headsets; it doesn’t work with different headsets within the Nova line.
Normally, you’d must be utilizing a headset on PC with a proprietary desktop app to make use of audio customization options like this, however for the reason that Arctis Nova 5 helps each 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wi-fi connectivity, you may join it to your PlayStation, Xbox, Swap, or PC through the two.4GHz dongle and your smartphone over Bluetooth, so the cellular app is all the time obtainable to you. The headset can also be outfitted with a connection hot-swap button, so you may swap between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth audio sources at will.
Together with the app and a number of connection choices, the Nova 5 additionally has a noise-canceling microphone that totally retracts into the left earcup, and sports activities as much as 60 hours of battery life and has quick charging through the included USB-C cable.
The Arctis Nova 5 headset is now obtainable in three totally different fashions: the Nova 5, Nova 5P, and Nova 5X. All three fashions help PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Swap, and cellular, however solely the 5X helps Xbox consoles. In addition they help spatial audio on PS5, Xbox Collection X|S, and PC. The one different distinction is that the Nova 5 options an all-black head strap, whereas the 5P’s is black and blue, and the 5X’s is black and inexperienced. All three variations can be found for $130 at Amazon, Greatest Purchase, and straight from SteelSeries.
Our impressions
I have been testing the PlayStation model of the headset for the previous week, and up to now, I am fairly happy with the headset. I have been a fan of the Arctis headsets for the reason that authentic Arctis Professional launched again in 2018, and the Nova 5 is a superb addition to the lineup. Whereas the Nova Professional is full of high-end options and the Nova 7 continues to be our favourite gaming headset general, the Nova 5 maintains the basics that make the complete Arctis Nova line so interesting. Most significantly, the sound high quality is superb. Whereas they sound nice out of the field, switching to a preset for the sport you are playing–or no less than one with comparable audio presentation–in the brand new cellular companion app does make a marked distinction within the listening expertise, and is by far the Nova 5’s standout function.
One of many different causes the Arctis Nova headset line is so properly regarded is consolation. Like its siblings, the Nova 5 makes use of the ingenious headband strap design, which is probably the most comfy type of headphone “padding” I’ve examined over time. The Nova 5 can also be barely lighter than a few of the dearer Arctis fashions just like the Nova Professional, making them much more comfy and nice for long-term use. That lighter construct does not come at the price of sturdiness, either–the headband is versatile and the earcups really feel sturdy.
If there’s one minor misgiving I’ve in regards to the Nova 5 up to now, it is the app–or, extra precisely, the concession made to make the app all the time obtainable. Whilst you technically can join the Nova 5 to 2 units at once–one through 2.4GHz and the opposite through Bluetooth–the solely factor you are able to do with that simultaneous connection is modify the app in your cellphone over Bluetooth whereas gaming on PC or console through 2.4GHz. You can’t hear to 2 audio sources directly. To be clear, I feel the app is nice; it is simple to navigate, and the streamlined audio presets are well-engineered. It is only a bummer the headset does not allow you to hearken to a podcast out of your cellphone on the identical time you are enjoying a sport in your PC or console, which is one thing most different headsets with simultaneous machine connectivity help, together with the Nova 7 and Nova Professional.
That mentioned, the dearth of simultaneous audio playback is certainly not a dealbreaker, particularly at this value vary. In case you’ve been eyeing an Arctis Nova headset however the pricing on the Nova 7 is simply out of attain, then the Nova 5 is unquestionably price trying out.
