SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wirereless review – Good all-rounder with staying power, but without any real highlights

1 - Introduction, scope of delivery and technical data 2 - Look and feel, connectivity 3 - Microfon measuring and software 4 - Frequency respose and burst decay 5 - Sound check and conclusion

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless offers a design that is both stylish and functional. The first glance at the headset reveals a minimalist yet modern appearance, characterized by clean lines and a matte finish. The materials used in the construction are mainly made of high-quality plastic, which gives the headset a certain lightness.

Although this plastic is of a lower quality than the metal components found in the brand’s more expensive models, it offers decent stability and durability. The plastic feels smooth and pleasant to the touch, but is unfortunately also somewhat susceptible to scratches and wear and tear during intensive use. The workmanship of the headset is quite solid, with well-fitting parts and a stable hinge mechanism that allows the ear cups to rotate reliably. This mechanism gives a feeling of robustness during movement and prevents unpleasant creaking or wobbling, which is an indication of well thought-out manufacturing.

Particularly noteworthy is the flexible headband, which is equipped with an elastic “ski band”. This headband not only offers an excellent fit, but also automatically adapts to the shape of the wearer’s head, distributing the pressure evenly and thus increasing comfort. The elastic band has a soft fabric padding that provides additional comfort and also ensures that the headset can be worn for long periods of time.

The ear pads of the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless are covered with a soft, breathable fabric that ensures good air circulation and minimizes sweating, which is particularly beneficial during long sessions. The padding itself is thick and soft, ensuring a good seal and noise isolation without pressing too hard on the ears. This balance between softness and support helps the headset to be both comfortable and well-fitting, which is crucial for an immersive gaming experience. So I can’t really complain.

Ports and connectivity

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless offers versatile port and connectivity options, making it a flexible and practical headset for different platforms. The headset supports both 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity and Bluetooth 5.3, enabling broad compatibility and simplifying use with different devices such as PCs, consoles, smartphones and tablets. Says the manufacturer and yes, both worked right away. Using the buttons on the headset is intuitive.

The 2.4 GHz connection is established via a compact USB-C dongle, which is included in the scope of delivery. This dongle provides a stable and latency-free connection, which is particularly important for gaming situations where lag-free audio transmission is required. A USB-A to USB-C adapter is also included to facilitate use with devices that only have USB-A ports. This means that the headset can be easily connected to PCs, laptops, PlayStation consoles and even the Nintendo Switch.

In addition, the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless has a Bluetooth option that allows the headset to be connected to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. This Bluetooth connection is particularly useful if you want to use the headset on the go, whether for listening to music, making phone calls or mobile gaming. Switching between the 2.4 GHz connection and the Bluetooth connection is seamless at the touch of a button, which makes it much easier to use. However, an ANC function will be sorely missed, especially on the move.

In addition to the wireless options, the headset does not offer a traditional wired connection option. This decision might disappoint some users who prefer a wired option, especially when the battery is empty. The USB-C socket is unfortunately only a charging socket, which is completely incomprehensible. Apart from this shortcoming, it can be said that the connectivity of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is otherwise well thought out and flexible, which could make it interesting for gamers and users who are active on different platforms and value a reliable wireless connection. I would have preferred the wired option, but that can’t be changed now.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is equipped with user-friendly controls on the sides of both ear cups, which also allow you to easily control the volume and mute the microphone, for example. There is a rotary control on the left ear cup of the headset that can be used to conveniently adjust the volume. This control is easy to reach and enables continuous volume control, which is particularly useful during intensive gaming sessions to quickly adjust the volume without interrupting the game.

The mute button, which can be used to mute the microphone, is also located on the left-hand side. This button is well positioned and easy to reach, even during the game. The microphone is automatically muted when the mechanical button is pressed and users receive immediate confirmation that the microphone is now muted through audible or tactile feedback. This feature is particularly useful for situations where you want to quickly switch between speaking and muting, such as during team chats or online meetings. However, I could hear a slight hiss as the microphone is looped through.

Speaking of the microphone, it is hidden in the shell and can be pulled out if necessary. However, there is no automatic switch-off in retracted mode. If you then accidentally tap the ear cup with your finger and catch the microphone, you will be rewarded with an explosive bang. This is quite pointless and impractical because the microphone is always active by default. Just a suggestion for improvement, because it can be very annoying.