SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] vs Audeze Maxwell Wireless: Which Headphones Are Better?

Tested using Methodology v2.0

Updated Nov 06, 2025 02:09 PM

See SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] Review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] Picture

TypeOver-ear

Noise CancellingYes

EnclosureClosed-Back

Bass Amount Slightly Emphasized (1 dB)

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

Treble Amount Slightly Underemphasized (-2 dB)

MicYes

Sound Signature Warm

TypeOver-ear

Noise CancellingNo

EnclosureClosed-Back

Bass Amount Slightly Emphasized (2 dB)

WirelessYes

TransducerPlanar Magnetic

Treble Amount Balanced (-1 dB)

MicYes

Sound Signature Warm

Recommended in 1 article:
SteelSeries

Recommended in 8 articles:
Gaming
Wireless Gaming
PC Gaming
5

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox]

Audeze Maxwell Wireless

The Audeze Maxwell Wireless are better overall headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. While both headphones are similarly comfortable and well-built, the Audeze have a balanced sound out of the box, which some users may prefer, and they have a more robust virtual soundstage feature. Their boom mic also offers better overall performance, and they have a significantly longer continuous battery life. However, the SteelSeries have a 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.

Variants

Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for PS (Black)
Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox (Black)
Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for PS (White)
Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox (White)

Maxwell for PlayStation (Dark Gray)
Maxwell for Xbox (Dark Gray)

Review

See Audeze Maxwell Wireless Review

168

Check Price

Black

Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox

Dark Gray

Maxwell for Xbox

Black

Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for PS

Dark Gray

Maxwell for PlayStation

White

Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for PS

White

Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox

Main Differences for

Sports And Fitness

Threshold

0.10

Sports And Fitness

6.6

Bluetooth Connection

6.9

8.9

Stability

6.5

6.0

Portability

6.0

5.3

Full Comparison

Sports And Fitness

6.6

Travel

7.0

6.2

Office Work

7.2

6.7

Wireless Gaming (In Development)

7.5

7.8

Wired Gaming (In Development)

7.8

Audio Reproduction Accuracy

6.8

6.6

Noise Isolation

7.1

5.2

Microphone (In Development)

7.7

8.3

Frequency Response Consistency

6.3

5.2

Sound

Sound Profile

Normalization Frequency

650 Hz

400 Hz

Bass Amount

Slightly Emphasized (1 dB)

Slightly Emphasized (2 dB)

Treble Amount

Slightly Underemphasized (-2 dB)

Balanced (-1 dB)

Sound Signature

Warm

Show Text

Frequency Response Consistency

6.3

5.2

Consistency L

Consistency R

Std. Deviation

1.22 dB

1.68 dB

Show Text

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

Raw FR R

Bass Profile: Target Compliance

9.6

9.2

Bass Profile: Target Compliance

RMS Deviation From Target

2.1 dB

2.7 dB

Low-Frequency Extension

20 Hz

Low Bass

-0.09 dB

1.75 dB

Mid Bass

2.09 dB

2.54 dB

High Bass

2.21 dB

0.69 dB

Show Text

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance

8.7

9.0

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance

RMS Deviation From Target

1.77 dB

1.4 dB

Low Mid

-2.33 dB

-1.41 dB

Mid-Mid

-0.3 dB

-0.68 dB

High Mid

1.14 dB

0.44 dB

Show Text

Treble Profile: Target Compliance

6.4

9.8

Treble Profile: Target Compliance

RMS Deviation From Target

4.84 dB

1.69 dB

Low Treble

-3.77 dB

-1.32 dB

Mid Treble

-0.76 dB

-0.71 dB

High Treble

-4.84 dB

-2.37 dB

Show Text

Peaks/Dips

7.1

7.8

Peaks/Dips Graph

Peaks

1.55 dB

1.24 dB

Dips

2.47 dB

1.42 dB

Show Text

Stereo Mismatch

5.9

5.1

Frequency Response Mismatch

Phase Response Mismatch

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

1.37 dB

1.64 dB

Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch

1.42 dB

1.46 dB

Weighted Phase Mismatch

2.1°

4.3°

Show Text

Group Delay

7.3

2.1

Group Delay

Weighted Group Delay

1.0 ms

2.4 ms

Show Text

Cumulative Spectral Decay

CSD

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox] CSD

PRTF

3.0

6.2

PRTF

PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation)

3.88 dB

3.5 dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

7.18 dB

4.08 dB

PRTF Distance

1.39 dB

11.08 dB

Show Text

Harmonic Distortion

8.8

8.9

Harmonics Levels

THD Ratio

WHD @ 94 dB SPL

0.10%

WHD @ 104 dB SPL

0.30%

0.22%

Show Text

Electrical Aspects

Impedance

Sensitivity @1kHz-1V

115.1 dB SPL

N/A

Bluetooth Max SPL

N/A

107.9 dB

Show Text

Virtual Soundstage

2.0

4.1

Virtual Soundstage

Head Modeling

On/Off

Speaker Modeling

On/Off

Room Ambience

Head Tracking

Virtual Surround

Windows Sonic Spatial Audio

Dolby Atmos

Show Text

Test Settings

Firmware

0.3.82

1.0.1.74

Power

Connection

Wireless (Proprietary)

Codec

PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz

Test Instrument

Audio Precision APx517B

EQ

Default

Audeze

ANC

No ANC

Tip/Pad

Default

Microphone

Boom

Show Text

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

Type

Over-ear

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Wireless

Yes

Transducer

Dynamic

Planar Magnetic

Show Text

Comfort

7.0

Comfort Picture

Weight

0.75 lbs

1.07 lbs

Clamping Force

1.1 lbs

Show Text

Controls

8.5

7.6

Controls Picture

OS Compatibility

Not OS specific

Ease Of Use

Decent

Good

Feedback

Good

Call/Music Control

Yes

Volume Control

Yes

Microphone Control

Mute/Unmute

Channel Mixing

Yes

Noise Cancelling Control

On/Off

Talk-Through

On/Off

Additional Controls

Multi function

Bluetooth + Multi function

Show Text

Portability

6.0

5.3

Portability Picture

L

7.5" (19.0 cm)

10.2" (26.0 cm)

W

6.7" (17.0 cm)

9.1" (23.0 cm)

H

2.0" (5.1 cm)

2.4" (6.0 cm)

Volume

100.51 in³ (1,647.00 cm³)

220.12 in³ (3,607.10 cm³)

Transmitter Required

Show Text

Case

5.0

0.0

Case Picture

Type

Pouch

No case

L

N/A

W

N/A

H

N/A

Volume

N/A

Show Text

Build Quality

8.0

Build Quality Picture

Show Text

Stability

6.5

6.0

Stability Picture

Show Text

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

Side Picture

Headshots 2

Front Picture

Rear Picture

Top

Top Picture

In The Box

In The Box Picture

Show Text

Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range

7.5

5.3

Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph

Noise Cancelling

Yes

Overall Attenuation

-19.30 dB

-12.98 dB

Bass

-13.09 dB

3.77 dB

Mid

-15.85 dB

-13.49 dB

Treble

-30.67 dB

-32.74 dB

Show Text

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios

6.3

4.4

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph

Airplane Noise Attenuation

-14.87 dB

-9.48 dB

Airplane Noise Isolation Audio

Office Noise Attenuation

-15.98 dB

-9.99 dB

Office Noise Isolation Audio

Street Noise Attenuation

-16.55 dB

-11.12 dB

Street Noise Isolation Audio

Show Text

Noise Isolation - Voice Handling

Female Voice 1

Male Voice 1

Female Voice 2

Male Voice 2

ANC Wind Handling

ANC Wind Handling Graph

ANC Wind Noise

N/A

Show Text

Leakage

8.3

7.4

Leakage

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

31.9 dB

37.39 dB

Show Text

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Yes

In-Line

Boom

Yes

Detachable Boom

Yes

Mic

Yes

Show Text

Recording Quality

7.7

7.5

Microphone Frequency Response

Recorded Speech

LFE

20 Hz

89.8 Hz

FR Std. Dev.

3.91 dB

3.84 dB

HFE

7,136.96 Hz

6,088.74 Hz

Weighted THD

1.625

0.307

Gain

23.15 dB

-6.85 dB

Show Text

Noise Handling

7.7

9.0

SpNR

SpNR

37.47 dB

42.68 dB

Noise Gate

On/Off Toggle

Speech + Pink Noise Handling

7.5

9.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample

Speech + Subway Noise Handling

8.0

9.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

Show Text

Active Features

Battery

8.7

9.0

Battery Type

Rechargable

Continuous Battery Life

25 hrs

77.4 hrs

Additional Charges

1.0

0.0

Total Battery Life

50 hrs

77.4 hrs

Charge Time

1.8 hrs

3.2 hrs

Power-Saving Feature

Auto-Off Timer

Audio While Charging

Yes

Passive Playback

Yes

Charging Port

USB-C

Show Text

App Support

8.5

7.0

App Picture

App Name

Steelseries GG

AudezeHQ

iOS

Yes

Android

Yes

macOS

Yes

Windows

Yes

Equalizer

Parametric + Presets

Graphic + Presets

ANC Control

Mic Control

Adjustable Level

Room Effects

Playback Control

Button Mapping

Surround Support

Yes

Show Text

Connectivity

Wired Connection

9.9

8.3

Cable Picture

Analog Audio

Yes

USB Audio

USB-C

Detachable

Yes

Length

4.13 ft (1.26 m)

4.07 ft (1.24 m)

Connector

1/8" TRRRS

1/8" TRS

Latency - Analog

0.2 ms

9.1 ms

Latency - USB

N/A

13.0 ms

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Connection

Analog

Show Text

Bluetooth Connection

6.9

8.9

Bluetooth Version

5.010

5.3

Multi-Device Pairing

Bluetooth + Console/Non-BT Wireless

2 Devices

Quick Pair (Android)

Yes

Quick Pair (iOS)

Line Of Sight Range

155.84 ft (47.50 m)

334.65 ft (102.00 m)

Latency - SBC

236 ms

186 ms

Latency - aptX

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)

N/A

Latency - LDAC

N/A

236 ms

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Codec

SBC

AAC Support

Yes

Show Text

Wireless Connection (Dongle)

7.3

8.0

Line Of Sight Range

120.73 ft (36.80 m)

173.88 ft (53.00 m)

Latency - Dongle

38 ms

23 ms

Recorded Latency

Show Text

PC Compatibility

Analog

Audio + Microphone

Wired USB

Audio + Microphone

Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Show Text

PlayStation Compatibility

PS4 Analog

Audio + Microphone

PS4 Wired USB

Audio + Microphone

PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

PS5 Analog

Audio + Microphone

PS5 Wired USB

Audio + Microphone

PS5 Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Show Text

Xbox Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Audio + Microphone

Xbox One Wired USB

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Xbox Series X|S Analog

Audio + Microphone

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Show Text

Base/Dock

8.8

3.4

Type

Wireless Dock

Wireless USB Dongle

USB Input

Yes

Line In

Yes

Line Out

Yes

Optical Input

RCA Input

Dock Charging

Yes

Power Supply

USB-C

USB

Show Text

Check Price

Black

Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox

Dark Gray

Maxwell for Xbox

Black

Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for PS

Dark Gray

Maxwell for PlayStation

White

Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for PS

White

Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox