The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless For Xbox are premium wireless gaming headphones released in 2022. These over-ears are packed with extra features like a wireless transmitter with built-in customization controls, active noise cancelling (ANC), and swappable battery packs. They also support Bluetooth, meaning you can stay connected to your smartphone and console at the same time. Unlike the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, you can get these headphones in either a PlayStation or Xbox variant. If you care about cross-platform compatibility, the Xbox variant is more versatile since it can wirelessly connect to both consoles. That said, there have been many user reports of a high noise floor, which can be annoying while you're gaming. You can read more about this in our Sound Profile test.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are fair for neutral sound. Out of the box, they have a somewhat neutral sound profile. The touch of extra bass adds thump, rumble, and boom to mixes. However, a large peak in the mid-range makes vocals and lead instruments sound harsh. The treble range is uneven too, which can veil dialogue while sibilants like cymbals are piercing. Luckily, you can customize their sound to your liking using their companion software's parametric EQ and presets. That said, since they have a closed-back design, their passive soundstage won't seem very immersive.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are good for commute and travel. Since they support Bluetooth, you can easily connect them to your smartphone when you're on the go, and a single battery pack offers roughly 25 hours of continuous playback time. They also have ANC, and while they struggle to reduce the rumble of bus engines, they can block out passenger chit-chat well. However, they have a bulky design, and their carrying pouch won't protect the headphones from anything other than dust.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are decent for sports and fitness, although they're not designed for this purpose. They can fall off your head if you're wearing them during moderate physical activity, and they have a bulky design. Luckily, you can use them wirelessly via Bluetooth, which helps eliminate the risk of something snagging the headphones and pulling them off of your head. They also have a decently comfortable fit and are well-built. However, they lack an IP rating for water resistance.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are good for office use. You can connect these decently comfortable headphones to your PC via Bluetooth or non-Bluetooth wireless. Thanks to their swappable battery pack system, you can use one battery (which lasts roughly 25 hours) while the other charges in the dock. If you need to take calls or attend online meetings, they have a retractable boom mic with a very good overall performance. Their ANC also offers an okay overall performance, and can block out office chatter well.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are very good for wireless gaming. Thanks to their wireless dock, you can connect them to consoles with low latency. They also support Bluetooth, meaning you can stay connected to your gameplay and smartphone at the same time. Overall, these headphones offer a customizable experience, thanks to their companion software. You can also use their dock to adjust their performance on the fly when gaming on your Xbox. Their retractable mic also offers a very good performance, which is nice if you like to game with others, and they come with two swappable battery packs so you can use one while the other charges.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are great for wired gaming. You can connect them to your console via their 1/8" TRRRS cable, and if you value customizability, their dock has a built-in graphic EQ and presets that you can finetune on the fly. They also have a retractable boom mic, which offers a very good overall performance, ensuring that your teammates hear you clearly, even if you're talking in a moderately noisy environment. They have a decently comfortable fit, and they're well-built.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are good for phone calls. Their retractable boom mic can capture your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. The headphones also have ANC, and although it offers an alright overall performance, they can still cut down some ambient noise around you. Unlike many gaming headphones, they also have basic call-related controls, so you don't need to access your device to answer or end calls.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are the wireless sibling of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro but offer more features like ANC. You can also purchase these headphones in a PlayStation or Xbox variant. The main difference between both models is in their connectivity. The PlayStation variant can only wirelessly connect to PCs and PlayStation consoles. However, the Xbox variant can be used wirelessly on the Xbox as well as on PCs and PlayStation consoles. Either model only comes in one color variation, 'Black', though. We tested the Xbox variant of these headphones and you can see our model's label here.
If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are premium wireless gaming headphones jam-packed with customization features. Like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, their wireless transmitter puts controls like EQs, presets, and channel mixing at your fingertips, while you can charge the spare battery pack when not in use. Their companion software also offers more customization features if you need it. They have very low latency and support Bluetooth too, which is great if you want to use them more casually. Even though they have ANC, they struggle to block out bass-range noise like bus rumbles, especially compared to other ANC gaming headphones like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset or Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless.
Check out our recommendations for the best wireless gaming headsets, the best gaming headsets, and the best headsets for Xbox Series X/S.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] are better, more versatile gaming headphones than the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Wireless. Although both are premium gaming headphones, you can use the SteelSeries via analog in addition to wirelessly, their wireless dock offers controls like EQs and channel mixing within easy reach, and the dock ensures low latency, so your audio and visuals are synched while gaming. They also have a longer-lasting continuous battery life, and their boom mic delivers better overall performance. However, the Turtle Beach are more comfortable and have an integrated mic and a boom mic, which is handy if you want to use them more casually. Their ANC system also offers better overall performance, and their passive soundstage feels more immersive.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] have a few more features than the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019, which some users may prefer. While both headphones are well-built, the SteelSeries have ANC to help block out a fair amount of ambient noise around you, come with two battery packs, which offer close to 50 hours of total playback time, and have more robust customization features in their companion software. They also support Bluetooth and come with a DAC, meaning you can adjust your settings on the fly. However, the Astro are more comfortable, have a better overall mic performance, and their passive soundstage sounds more open and natural.
The Audeze Maxwell Wireless are better overall headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox]. While both headphones are similarly comfortable and well-built, the Audeze have a more neutral sound out of the box, which some users may prefer, and have a more robust virtual soundstage feature. Their boom mic also offers better overall performance, and they have significantly longer continuous battery life. However, the SteelSeries have slightly lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency and have a fair noise cancelling system, which can be handy if you like to game in noisy environments. Their wireless transmitter also puts controls like EQ and sidetone at your fingertips.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] are more versatile gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. While both headsets are well-built, the SteelSeries can be used wired and wirelessly. They have an ANC unit to help block out a fair amount of ambient noise, support Bluetooth, and their wireless dock puts a lot of controls such as channel mixing and EQs at your fingertips. Their boom mic offers better overall performance, and their app has many more customization features. The HyperX are still worth checking out if you value a significantly longer continuous battery life. They're also more comfortable. On the downside, users have reported that using the companion app's features adds high latency into your gameplay.
Although the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] and the Audeze Penrose Wireless are both gaming headphones, they have different strengths, and depending on your usage, you may prefer either one. The SteelSeries are better-built, and have an ANC system that can help block out a fair amount of ambient sound. They also have a better overall battery performance and significantly more customization features, thanks to their companion app and wireless transmitter base, and they have lower latency. However, the Audeze are planar magnetic headphones that offer a more neutral sound out of the box and have a more immersive passive soundstage.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] are more versatile gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC. You can use the Arctis Nova Pro wired or wirelessly, either by connecting them to their wireless dock or via Bluetooth. They deliver audio more consistently, and have ANC, which can help cut down some ambient noise. Their mic also has a better overall performance. However, if you only prefer wired gaming, the Arctis Pro GameDAC have a better passive soundstage and a more neutral default sound profile.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] are more versatile gaming headphones than the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless. The SteelSeries are better-built, and have a better overall boom mic performance. They also have higher total battery life and lower latency, thanks to their wireless transmitter base. However, the Razer have a significantly better noise isolation performance and a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] are better overall gaming headphones than the Sony INZONE H9 Wireless. Whether you have the Xbox or PlayStation variant, the SteelSeries are better-built, and have more consistent audio delivery. They also have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, their mic has a better overall performance, their companion app is more robust, and you can use them wired via their 1/8" TRRS cable. They even have a wireless base transmitter, which allows you to charge their spare battery pack and adjust controls on the fly. However, the Sony headphones have a better overall noise cancelling performance.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] are better gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless and their variants. The Arctis Nova Pro have more consistent audio delivery, and their ANC helps block out a fair amount of background noise around you. They also come with a wireless transmitter that offers controls like EQs and channel mixing at your fingertips, and they have longer-lasting total battery life. However, the Arctis Nova 7 are more comfortable.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] have an edge over the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. The Arctis Nova Pro deliver audio more consistently, and have ANC to help block out an alright amount of background noise. Their total battery life is longer, they have lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency, and you can even get these headphones in an Xbox or PlayStation variant, which offers different compatibility with either console. However, the original Arctis Pro have a more neutral sound profile, and their mic offers better overall performance.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] are more versatile gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. You can use the Wireless variant wired or wirelessly and have ANC to help block out some background noise. They're better built, and have more consistent audio delivery. However, the wired Nova Pro have a more immersive passive soundstage.
The Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless have the edge over the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox], though the SteelSeries offer more features. The Logitech are more comfortable, have a more balanced and neutral sound, which some users may prefer, and their passive soundstage performance is better. They also have a longer continuous playback time. However, the SteelSeries come in an Xbox variant, which is nice if you normally game on that console, and they come with a DAC that offers controls like EQs and channel mixing at your fingertips. They also have ANC, which is handy if you want to block out some background noise while gaming, and you can pair them via Bluetooth and dongle simultaneously.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] are more versatile gaming headphones than the Logitech G PRO X WIRELESS LIGHTSPEED Gaming Headset. The SteelSeries are better-built, have a better noise isolation performance thanks to their ANC system, have a higher total battery life, and support Bluetooth. Their boom mic offers better overall performance, and their wireless transmitter base ensures a low latency gaming experience. However, the Logitech can create a more immersive soundstage and are more comfortable.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] are better gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless. The Arctis Nova Pro deliver audio more consistently, and have ANC, which can help block some background sound. They also have a longer total battery life, lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency, and come with a dock that allows you to make adjustments, like tweaking the EQ on the fly. However, Arctis 9X have a somewhat better microphone performance.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] are better gaming headphones than the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset. You can use the SteelSeries wired or wirelessly, they're better built, and they come with a wireless transmitter that puts controls like EQs directly at your fingertips. You can also customize their performance using their companion software's robust features. Their boom mic offers better overall performance, and they have a longer total battery life. However, the Bose headphones are still worth considering if you value a high noise isolation performance or if you're looking for gaming headphones that you can use more casually.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless look somewhat similar to the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. They have the standard SteelSeries ski-band headband design, but the plastic frame is shinier than other headphones from this manufacturer. While they only come in black, you can purchase the Arctis Nova Booster Pack separately, which comes with a set of speaker plates and a nylon ski-band in one of several colors: 'Cherry Red', 'Lilac', 'Mint', and 'Rose Quartz'.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are decently comfortable headphones. They don't clamp as tightly as other models from this manufacturer, like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC, and they're a little lighter too. The ear cups have a good range of motion, and the padding feels soft against the skin. However, they're still a bit bulky in design, which is normal for gaming headphones. The sizing of the headband is also limited to the length of the ski band and the metal frame, so they may have a very snug fit if you have a large head.
Some users have also reported experiencing discomfort due to the protrusion inside the ear cups. This the ANC's mic, and it can hurt if your ears are pressed against it. It depends on how you place the headphones on your head, though, as well as on the shape of your ears. If you're wearing the headphones further back on the head, it can cause the mic to touch your ears, which isn't very comfortable. It can also disrupt the headphones' seal and affect sound quality.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have excellent controls. The headphones have a couple of physical buttons built into each ear cup. They're easy to use and provide tonal feedback. There's also an infinite volume wheel, but it lacks a middle notch to let you know when you're over 50% volume. That said, the feedback can be loud, even if you set the transmitter's volume to its lowest setting and then use the controls to take you back to the main menu, which can be a bit annoying.
On the left ear cup:
On the right ear cup:
In addition, these headphones come with a DAC that provides controls at your fingertips. You can access channel mixing, EQs, the virtual soundstage feature, gain, sidetone, and mic volume. However, it can be tricky to use since there are only two buttons.
Like most gaming headphones, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless aren't very portable. Although the cups can swivel to lay flat, they have large ear cups and a rigid headband, so they can't fold to save up more space. You can see a photo of the headphones in their default position here.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' build quality is great. They're mostly made of plastic, but the headband has a metal plate and a nylon sling to keep them sturdy and comfortable. Unlike the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, there isn't extra nylon to wrap over the top of the headband, and there are only three settings for adjusting the strap. The hinges can expand the metal headband to better fit larger heads. The mic is retractable too, and you can remove the ear cup plate to access the battery or USB port.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have a somewhat neutral sound profile. They have a touch of extra thump, boom, and punch to help intensify sound effects like explosions. However, vocals and instruments are harsh, while sibilants like cymbals are piercing. Luckily, you can customize the headphones' sound to your liking using the companion software's EQ and presets or use their wireless dock's built-in EQ. You can only transfer your custom settings from the GG app if you disable Sonar. If you're looking for more neutral-sounding gaming headphones, take a look at the Audeze Maxwell Wireless instead.
Unfortunately, some users have reported a high noise floor when the ANC and Bluetooth are both active, and we were able to confirm this with our own unit. Switching between Bluetooth on and off doesn't significantly affect the noise floor. We also noticed that having the mic on adds a slight hiss to your audio. It's not very noticeable when the mic is being used, but if you have a live mic and you're not speaking, you'll hear the hiss in the feedback. Some users have also experienced this issue with ANC off or sidetone on and Bluetooth enabled. If you've encountered this issue, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' frequency response consistency is very good. Bass delivery is fairly consistent, although you may notice a slight drop in bass if you have thick hair or wear glasses. There are also tiny deviations in treble delivery due to fit and positioning; however, as long as you take the time to adjust them on your head, you'll achieve consistent audio delivery each time you use them.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' bass accuracy is excellent. The range is slightly overemphasized, which adds a touch of extra thump, punch, and boom to mixes. It can help emphasize sound effects like the explosion of Link's bomb arrows against enemies in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, it doesn't overwhelm vocals and lead instruments.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have good mid accuracy. The low-mid is very well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments sound clear. However, a peak in the mid to high-mid can push the upper harmonics of these sounds forward and make them honky. In songs like Glimpse of Us by Joji, his voice is harsh and aggressive when he hits the high notes within the chorus.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' peaks and dips performance is sub-par. A small dip in the low-bass lessens the thump and rumble in your mixes, while a peak throughout the mid to high-bass adds punch and boom to mixes. Another dip in the low-mid thins out vocals and lead instruments, while a peak in the mid to high-mid makes the upper harmonics of these sounds harsh and forward. A deep dip in the low-treble veils vocals and lead instruments while a peak in the mid-treble turns sibilants like S and T sounds piercing.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have excellent imaging. This test allows us to see the alignment of the left and right drivers and indicates how well headphones accurately reproduce and place spatial objects like footsteps in the stereo image.
The group delay falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. The L/R drivers of our unit are also matched in terms of phase, amplitude, and frequency response. It's important for the accurate placement of objects like voices or footsteps in the stereo image. Keep in mind that imaging can vary between units, and it can indicate a manufacturer's quality control and ergonomics.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' passive soundstage performance is bad. The soundstage feels large but unnatural and as if sound is coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed in the room around you. These headphones also have a closed-back design, so their soundstage won't feel as open or spacious as that created by open-back headphones.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have a spatial audio feature in their companion software. You can adjust the settings to fit a more gamer-centric or movie-centric sound. You can also access a slider to change the distance of the passive soundstage. These headphones are compatible with PlayStation 5's Tempest 3D AudioTech, which you can turn on and off in the PS5 settings. Keep in mind that if you're using GG Sonar software and want to set up Dolby Atmos, you'll get a warning message letting you know that this feature may not be compatible with the software.
The weighted harmonic distortion is decent. There's some distortion at normal listening volumes in the low-treble range, but it can be somewhat hard to hear with real-life content. That said, the rest of the frequency response falls within good limits, which results in fairly clean and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings used to test the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, and our results are only valid with these settings.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have a fair noise isolation performance. Unlike other headphones from this manufacturer, like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Wireless, they have a noise cancelling (ANC) system, which can help block some background noise like ambient chatter and the hum of a computer fan. However, they have a high noise floor, and a buzzing sound may be heard when the ANC is on, which can be annoying. In terms of isolation, they also struggle a lot more when cutting down the low rumbles of bus engines. If you want to tackle commute or travel-related noise, you'll want to check out more casual-use headphones like the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless instead.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' leakage performance is great. The leakage is mostly concreated in the mid to treble range, and sounds somewhat thin. That said, if you're gaming at high volumes in a moderately noisy environment, it's unlikely you'll disturb others around you.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' boom mic has a good recording quality. Your voice sounds clear, natural, and easy to understand. A bump in the low to mid-treble can make your voice sound overly bright or sharp.
A user has reported that a buzzing noise appears whenever there's silence on a call, which can be quite annoying. This issue may also be related to the high noise floor when Bluetooth and ANC are both enabled. If you've experienced this, please let us know in the forums.
The microphone's noise handling performance is good. With the noise gate off, your voice is easy to understand, even in moderately noisy environments. That said, you can access additional noise handling controls in the companion app, like ClearCast AI NC, which the manufacturer advertises to further cut down ambient noise surrounding your voice. We've recorded a pink noise and subway noise pass using this feature. There's also a noise gate feature, which you can turn on and off. We've recorded pink noise and subway noise pass using this feature too. However, both features seem to produce the same results as when the noise gate is off.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless' battery performance is excellent. Like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, they have a dual battery cartridge system. The manufacturer advertises one battery to last 18 hours continuously with Bluetooth on, using the dock. In comparison, the battery is advertised to last 22 hours when using the DAC and non-Bluetooth wireless. That said, we measured 25 hours when connected to a phone via Bluetooth and PC via non-Bluetooth wireless, with audio playing only from the PC. Battery life can vary depending on use, though.
There are two ways to charge the headphones: you can place one battery in the dock while using the other one, or you can plug in the headphones using the USB port behind the left ear cup's plate. However, if you're directly charging the headphones with the cable, you can't use them. Although there aren't markings on the dock as to how to insert the battery, the battery has small markings indicating how it should be oriented. The dock also won't accept the battery unless it's properly inserted.
SteelSeries GG and Sonar are excellent companion software if you're gaming on PC. However, you'll only be able to transfer settings to your console if you're using the GG software and if you disable Sonar in the GG Engine tab. If you make changes using Sonar, they won't be transferrable to your console.
Within the default GG software, you can access a graphic EQ and presets as well as mic sidetone and volume. If you want even more features, Sonar is available within the GG ecosystem. It offers a parametric EQ and presets in addition to the robust mic and chat controls. You can adjust the mic's EQ, noise gate, and noise reduction.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are also compatible with the Dolby Atmos app, and you can even use it on Xbox. However, you need to pay for this app. It's designed to improve the immersiveness of your audio, but you can only turn it on or off. We didn't notice a significant difference in sound quality when using it, though. We also ran a sweep to compare Dolby Atmos on vs. off, and you can see a comparison of both frequency responses here.
Although these headphones support Bluetooth, some users have reported a buzzing noise when using it, which is quite annoying. Other users have also reported the noise when ANC is also turned on when Bluetooth is enabled. However, it most commonly appears when there's no audio playing or when the headphones pick up your voice in calls while Bluetooth and ANC is enabled. If you've experienced this issue, please let us know in the forums.
You can connect them to your console and smartphone at the same time, which is handy if you want to hear your game audio while simultaneously listening to music from your phone. Using Bluetooth, they have low latency on iOS and Android devices, which is great if you like to stream video. However, their latency on PCs is much higher, and your audio and visuals can fall out of sync. Keep in mind that apps and devices compensate for latency differently, though.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have excellent non-Bluetooth wireless latency. There are two settings you can select within the DAC: 'Speed' and 'Range'. Using 'Speed' mode results in 28 ms of latency, which is low and better than competitors like the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Wireless PS/Xbox, ensuring that your audio and visuals stay in sync while gaming. We also measured this mode's range and got over 95 feet (29 meters), which is a fair distance. Switching to 'Range' mode increases the latency to 38 ms, but it won't be very noticeable when gaming. The range is significantly longer at over 120 feet (36.8 meters), which is good if you don't sit near your TV or monitor when you game.
These headphones come with two USB-A to USB-C cables: one is to connect your PC or console to the DAC, and the other one charges the headphones or connects them to another console. They also come with a 1/8" TRRRS cable, which allows you to receive audio and use the mic.
You can connect the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless to your PC by Bluetooth, their 1/8" TRRRS cable, and non-Bluetooth wireless via the DAC with full compatibility.
Even though we tested the Xbox variant, this model can also connect to PS4 and PS5 consoles with full audio and mic compatibility via analog and non-Bluetooth wireless, thanks to their wireless transmitter base.
You can use the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless with the included 1/8" TRRRS cable. If you have the Xbox variant, you can also use the base station for wireless gameplay when connected to an Xbox console. Using these connections delivers full audio and mic compatibility.
Like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless comes with a wireless transmitter base that charges the extra battery pack and offers several connectivity features and controls at your fingertips.