SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 Review (2026)

SteelSeries gave a spot of a daze to the realm of gaming headsets erstwhile it enactment retired the $600 Arctis Nova Elite, which earned a uncommon 10/10 for doing respective things that different headsets conscionable don't bash adjacent astatine the high-end. But 1 of SteelSeries' biggest strengths is having viable budget-tier options crossed the committee (look astatine the Rival 3 Gen 2 rodent I reviewed past year, for example). The latest mentation of the wired Arctis Nova 1 has been retired for a small portion now, but it inactive fills that spread for headsets admirably by sporting galore of the plan principles of the much costly options portion providing coagulated dependable prime worthy of its tenable terms tag. You tin perceive the advantages successful much blase headsets, for sure, but the Arctis Nova 1 is nary slouch erstwhile it comes to clarity and comfortableness for the value, making it pugnacious to bushed successful its terms range.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 – Design and Comfort

You whitethorn admit the carnal constitution of the Arctis Nova 1…because it looks similar each different headset successful the lineup. And that's a bully happening since it's a sleek, no-nonsense design. A fewer fancy bits person been trimmed disconnected to acceptable its relation arsenic a fund option. The framework and headband is mostly a sturdy integrative that's durable capable to grip with assurance and doesn't consciousness flimsy erstwhile putting connected oregon taking off. This besides helps support its value down, coming successful astatine conscionable 260g, which is simply a large opposition to the hulking 560g Audeze Maxwell 2 I reviewed not excessively agelong ago.

The earpads supply capable comfortableness to deterioration for extended periods and stone a sports mesh worldly that limits the muggy feeling you get astir your ears from a leatherette aft respective hours. The Arctis Nova 1 does person a beauteous beardown clamp force, which didn't precisely fuss me, but I'd similar if it'd loosen up implicit time. Thankfully, the padding prevented it from irritating maine during agelong sessions. The strap that lines the headband creates a benignant of buffer betwixt the apical of your caput and the framework itself, and you tin hook the strap onto antithetic notches to set its tension. This has been a accordant plan prime successful SteelSeries headsets, but I didn't interest astir the deficiency of padding present considering the clamp unit of the earcups firmly secured the headset successful spot alternatively than having it remainder connected my head.

I would picture the Arctis Nova 1's plan arsenic 'efficient' successful that it nails the essentials, and thing much oregon less. Things similar tension-based telescoping arms, the afloat inward swivel to fto it remainder astir your cervix easily, oregon the retractable snake-like microphone that tucks seamlessly into the earcup – these are large plan decisions that marque it casual to use.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 – Features and Software

Since the Arctis Nova 1 is an analog wired-only headset, it's not going to person galore customizable features. You person a microphone mute button, the 3.5mm audio jack for connectivity, and a measurement instrumentality adjacent to the retractable mic. Features similar fancy EQ presets, progressive sound cancelation, oregon game-chat premix aren't portion of the equation here. And for the money, I'm not truly disquieted astir those kinds of things. Otherwise, what you get successful the bundle is simply a three-foot 3.5mm cablegram and a five-foot hold cord that besides allows you to divided the audio and microphone feeds. These aren't going to payment greatly from system-level EQ oregon driving them done a DAC oregon amp either since these aren't equipped with the benignant of audio drivers that would payment from them.

This besides means you're not going to get the benefits of SeelSeries' software, which has been 1 of the amended apps from large manufacturers. Those thin to beryllium bloated with options you're ne'er going to usage and instrumentality up excessively overmuch representation and retention for what they do, but the EQ presets and comparatively slim illustration of its app has been large connected its different headsets (see the Arctis Nova Elite and Arctis GameBuds). With the Arctis Nova 1, what you perceive is benignant of what you get.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 – Sound Quality

Even arsenic a budget-level headset, I'm truly blessed with the wide audio prime here. The Arctis Nova 1 sports akin 40mm audio drivers arsenic others successful SteelSeries lineup truthful you're not getting a importantly pared-down mentation of what you get in, say, the Arctis Nova 5 oregon 7. While the dependable acquisition isn't rather arsenic punchy oregon elaborate arsenic much blase headsets, its dependable illustration remains cleanable and balanced – bass comes done nicely portion mids and treble thankfully weren't abrasive (although I could perceive them conflict a spot astatine higher-than-normal volumes).

I played done astir of Resident Evil Requiem utilizing the Arctis Nova 1 and the scares came done large and wide – screeching zombies and the dreaded footsteps of monsters that springiness chase, for example. The 1 facet I noticed the headset lacking was positional audio, which tin beryllium a immense boon for a crippled similar this wherever dependable cues are often your astir reliable instrumentality for judging the absorption and region of zombies successful the scarier sections. That's not to accidental it's going to enactment you astatine a terrible disadvantage, but its limitations successful dependable separation were surely noticeable erstwhile switching to the much costly Asus ROG Kithara that I'm presently testing.

As per usual, Counter-Strike 2 being my go-to competitory shooter for testing, the Arctis Nova 1 was bully capable to support tabs connected force activity. However, compared to higher-end headsets, I noticed that the absorption and region of those dependable cues weren't rather arsenic distinct. There's a small much compression betwixt dependable effects – they don't dependable atrocious astatine all, it's conscionable the audio fidelity I've been spoiled with from $300+ headsets enactment this benignant of dependable acquisition into perspective.

The Arctis Nova 1 is simply a sub-$60 gaming headset aft all, and that's not to springiness it an excuse, but to exemplify the opposition betwixt antithetic kinds of audio gear. Music inactive sounded decent betwixt varying genres with formidable bass to backmost them up, and I was beauteous blessed with the coagulated clarity successful Final Fantasy XIV's engaged soundscape with truthful galore effects and euphony popping disconnected simultaneously. And if you don't privation to dependable similar an Xbox 360-era Call of Duty lobby afloat of muffled expletives, the microphone connected this 1 gets the occupation done.