NOTE: SteelSeries GG Engine version 25.0 changed Sonar's sample rate to 24 bit 96 kHz. Please note frequency response does not change with sample rate. So the EQ tuning would still apply in this case with the latest software updates. Sample rates and bit depths affect other aspects of sound with regards to clarity and dynamic range. Hopefully that clears up any hesitation!
Could you possibly help me? I just switched from console to PC for gaming, and I am on my 3rd pair of headsets in past 5 weeks. I can not seem to get any of my headsets to work or sound properly on PC like it was on console. I have Astro A4 mixamp, turtle beach elite pro 2 superamp, and now the wired Nova Pro and none of the 3 chat/game mixer works normal on them. If I turn them to just game it eliminates the game sound but still have chat, and if I turn all way to just chat, that works correctly and gives just chat with no game. I’ve spent days attempting to fix this problem but can’t find solution. All my drivers and firmware are up to date so I don’t know what it could be. I have a GeForce rtx 3070, Ryzen 7700x CPU, and Asus Rog Strix x670-e DDR5 mother board. Windows 10. I thought audio was suppose to sound better on PC but so far I can not get anything setup and sounding as good as the PS5 audio was.
Man, I've went through so many headphones reviews and thousands of comments for my ps5 and I've seen all the reviews for arctis nova pros wired&less and this review is one of the best, all the details, no water, info is relevant, clear and on point. I'm still thinking of wireless version tho, but keep up the good work!
The sound difference in overwatch2 was huge when i use your settings! Much better than the one from the game list in SGG.Thank you so much for the time you have used to help others with this! 👍
Finally someone who knows what he is talking about and knows how headphones work. Instead, just saying, “yes bass sounds powerful and headphone sound good” - every gaming headphone reviewer.
Great video, thanks, and hope you continue making videos like these. I have the SteelSeries nova pro wireless with the wicked cushion ear pads and configure those settings as a baseline and started tweaking it.
Just a quick heads up. +4 / 5300Hz / 5.0Q is missing from graph during the Tuning section though you do mouse over them all so anyone trying to mirror this is still able to do so. Thought Id mention it. Not sure if you mentioned in the video - watching this for the 3rd time but no audio at the moment setting it up as the headset just arrived. Thanks for the time you put into measuring these and adjusting the tune.
► NOTICE ◄ Though his preset in the GG client has 10 notches, the on-screen graphic @26:00 is missing one notch (the 9th by numerical order). He hovers over the setting with his mouse @27:14, but then forgets to read it out loud before moving onto the final notch. ► Missing 9th Slot: +4db *|* 5300kHz *|* 5.0Q *GT:* Thank you for all of your hard work in producing and sharing these comprehensive reviews, as well as sharing the EQ settings. I legitimately feel like you've made the money I spent on this headset go that much further, and there's nothing more a man could ask for in a tech reviewer. Much appreciated!
Hi , I just bought these headphones but honestly I find the song really not good at all even by putting the eq of the youtubeur I have the impression of being attacked on the treble and sometimes the voices au so when i watch a movie for example with the swords they really hurt my head
This is an invaluable video. My 3.5 year old wired Arctis Pro_Gamedac gave up the ghost; more correctly, the right ear cup broke off the head band. It's used everyday multiple times a day so I can't complain. After looking at the options in various price ranges I purchased the wired Arctis Nova Pro+Gamedac. Your video got me up and running with a great tune in very short order. Thank you for all your efforts and for freely sharing your knowledge and expertise! Subbed.
Wow thanks so much for the kind words and I’m so grateful it helped you out. I hope you enjoy your new headset! Thanks for the super comment and generosity
Astro is a40 is a whole 5 or 6 years older even the last generation but besides the screen & multiple out ports the a40s have on ehuge advantage the cables..... these pro heqdsets today have such a short low quality cables yet astro gives really high end thick cables i have used gen 1 & gen 4 mine never broke i can even hide them inder the side of the carpet & evryone walks over it..... 5 meters total yet this steelseries only 3m or even less 2.80 if im right
Thanks for the great review I learned a lot. Also I just saw your review on the VZR model one and you seem to like that and the nova pro wired for gaming. Between those two which one do you think is better for competitive gaming and hearing/ visualizing footsteps?
I had the same question, I pulled the trigger on nova pro wired. I'm really liking them. They are amazing, I switched from Astro A50. With his sonar tune it's a game changer.
Came here because I just ordered these for the PS5 (woulda liked more feedback using it on console and whether the limitations of not being able to use Sonar would influence your opinion) but stayed as this was an incredible review, I am floored it only has 606 likes after I hit the like button. Definitely subscribing to this channel.
@@ShowtimeLaw just got mine few days ago, by far best headset I’ve tested. Sonars great on pc and the DAC is great for customising sound on ps5, overall worth it in my opinion
Hi, actually bought it and im really happy with it! Would you recommend using your Equalizer settings for games like Apex and CoD, or use the specific presettings in the Sonar App for those games? I feel like using your EQ sounds the best to me, not sure about footsteps and so on though, since the presets look very different in the lows (around 50 hz)...
Just a quick correction, the mic mute option on the wired novas actually changes the the back button on the dac to be a mute button for your headset when not in a menu.
@brrr What he/she is saying is you can mute on the DAC itself in addition to having the physical switch on the ear cup itself. Both mute buttons would work.
dude the eq settings are amazing, I'm using them on the artics pro and they sound very good, thank you so much... I'm waiting for my novas, I cant wait to try them with this setup.
I love your reviews, I used your EQ settings on my Astro A50. Yesterday I decided to get these. Wow, now some might say night and day. However, I like these alot, I also liked the Astros a lot. Not as big a difference as when I went from Playstation elite 2nd gen to the Astro. I cannot wait to put these setting to the test.
Just got this and watching to see if there are any other details I don't know about. You wouldn't believe how many people have a smart phone or other device and don't use key features they didn't know about. Maybe I'm dumb but my complaint is the cable connecting the headset to the mixer REQUIRES you connect the angled side of the cable into the mixer and the straight part into the headset. Yes it shows in the picture, yes they have a tag that says "connect to headset" but you could make it simpler for a doofus like me by saying "this end in headset" since the prior made me think the cable in general cause I've seen people connect the aux to their PC. Again, help idiots like me.
Excellent review as usual man!! The Nova wired are on my list 😅. The main reason is that finally I can get a dac that works usb with PS5 and Series X and allow me to eq the sound. You tried to use another headsets with the Nova dac? I've the old Arctis Pros, wired and wireless, and I use the dac with a 3.5 adapter with other headsets, for example the Virtuoso XT by 3.5 on that dac used on PS5, and the sound changes... for good
Hmm, so, it's these or the VZR Model One to choose between in the sub $350 category. Did I understand correctly that you feel the Nova has a better sound stage than the VZR? What about immersiveness? Would really like to see more on the Nova versus VZR and if there's a pure headphone that out does these gaming headsets for $350 or less.
Better then astro a 40s and 50s i used a50s for 6 months and base station was not charging. But steel series nova pro are louder better 3D audio lighter nd more comfortable
I just got this headset and when it seems to pick up all of my pc audio through the mic, on discord my friends can hear the audio from youtube videos through my mic , any idea what it could be?
I currently use the first-gen DAC that came with the Arctis Pro. With that one, I can hear audio from my PC and consoles simultaneously by setting the DAC to PS4 mode and connecting PC via USB and TV via optical. Is there a similar solution for this newer model?
Dude, I returned the wireless version. For me, the ear cups were very uncomfortable and my ears were on 🔥 not even after an hour. Currently, you can't swap ear pads because of how the frame are produced. 👎
Wicked Cushions is working on custom replacements and they’re supposed to be out apparently within a few weeks. Personally dont have an issue with mine but I 100% feel you. They shouldve had better pads that dont have the mic bump sticking through so much and hitting your ears, or came up with a better design so they werent like that
Nice video! Glad I found your channel. I was just thinking I should make a channel for gaming and audio that included consoles. I’m eager to compare a Topping DX3pro+ to the Steelseries gameDAC gen2. I’m curious what you think is the best DAC/amp for the Xbox SX? (Especially in light of experiencing the nova pro wired & gameDAC gen2)
Anyone on the fence just jump right down off it. These are so good. Had arctis 9x which had terrible connection issues with series X in my experience, the wireless pros are rock solid. Was doubtful they could justify the cost but I'm sold.
I was excited about this headphone, but compared to my B&O Play, it’s not at all impressive. Sound is lacking at both low and high end. Surround is terrible - even the Xbox internal Dolby processing sounds like stereo with this headphone. I honestly think $300 is over-priced for the Nova Pro. Yes, the B&O is more expensive, but it’s definitely worth it. The Nova sounds like any cheap headphone.
Well after about 3 years of use the hinge finally gave out on my Arctis 7 Pros. I was just gonna buy another Arctis 7 Series but turns out they don't make them anymore and they directed me to this headset. Looks like I'm grabbing a pair of these. I'm not excited about the "leatherette" material for the pads but I'm sure I can replace them easily.
I am torn between buying this headset or the nova 7. I know i'm comparing a wireless headset to a wired one, but if we take that out of the picture (and the whole, wireless being convenient thing) which one of these headsets are better in terms of audio and mic quality? The Nova 7 would be my first wireless headset. I've heard great things about it having bluetooth and stuff, and while that's a nice bonus, i'm mostly interested in the sound and mic quality. I know that wired headphones usually sound better than wireless headphones, but is there a significant, noticeable difference between the 2? Thanks a lot for the work you do, the reviews are immensely helpful!!!!
I'm on linux, unfortunately can't install the "SteelSeries GG Engine" software. I had a steelseries mouse on mac before and had lots of issues with that software anyways so I won't be missing it. To balance this comment out though I will add that the durability and reliability of steelseries hardware products are very good - miles above logitech etc. There's also the stuff about steelseries downloading and running their .exe files on windows without asking which is not so good - don't know if they're still doing that. So yea, SS hardware gets a thumbs up from me, but software and their practices around it, thumbs down. I'd rather have dip switches to change settings on the devices and skip the software altogether.
out of the thousands of reviews i’ve watched on many channels and many headphones and anything. this is the best review ever. New subscriber for you sir.
Fantastic review thanks so much! I’ve owned my since they launched and really think they’re great. One thing I noted PS5 outputs 48/24 bit where XsX 48/16 bit. Is it possible to go optical out from a TV to line in on the DAC?
Hi! Thanks for your video about the Arctis Nova Pro Wired! The other day I saw a video on Exique's channel where he tunes EQ settings for SteelSeries headsets to better hear footsteps in Warzone. Exquise recommends disabling sonar and using Dolby Atmos. However, this means that you lose the function of using the ChatMix on the GameDac, which I would very much like to continue using! I would be interested in your thoughts on whether you find the Dolby Atmos solution better, or whether the EQ setting in Sonar for Warzone can be set to the same level. Thanks for your answer! Greetings from Vienna!
Hey man! I have a quick question for you: in your opinion, is it worth using the new game-specific presets that load into the DAC from GG, or would you recommend using the preset from this video for everything? I'm going to try both of course but I'd love your input. I assume yours will be better because of all the hard work and testing you put into it, but I am curious how good or bad Steel Series tuned their game-specific presets. I am playing on Xbox Series X btw. Edit: 5 Month Update: I tested both aforementioned methods and I decided to settle on the tune in this video over the GG presets. My reasoning is that some of the presets are simply not as good imo and this way I don't ever have to change my preset. It obviously comes down to personal preference, so anyone reading this who is curious should do the same test and acquire their own results.
@@TheOptimus212 I was doing that for a little bit, then I started using general gaming for everything and honestly it works really well! Especially for Apex, it's insanely good.
I'm new to headsets, is there a way to extend the wire? Steelseries doesn't sell any long extension cords. Or is there a female to male cable that I can use?
First of all, you're a great reviewer, thanks for the great videos. So I've been scoping the Nova Pro for purchase lately and I'm trying to decide between wireless and wired. I am leaning towards the benefits of wireless BUT there's one glaring issue for me: The mic quality is VASTLY better on the wired one. Some people might not care, but I talk a lot to people and I if I can help it I wanna sound as good as possible. In this wired video you talk like the mic quality is mediocre while sounding really good, and on the review of the wireless one you sound much worse and say its excellent?? I don't get it. I am really curious if the Sonar software can salvage the wireless mic quality to some degree, because you don't explore that at all in the wireless video.
the mic on both are not great. They are understandable but the quality is lower than most headphone mics. If you really want this headset I recommend you buy it and then if you think the quality isn't great than you can buy a very cheap mic. The blue snowball mic is cheap and quite good. Razer seiren mini is even cheaper
You know the video will be awesome when you see that Daft Punk in the background ˆˆ Great video, ordered the headset that will replace my Arctis 5, which had plenty of issues with the mic being extremely silent and sound having static in it
I just ordered this headset. Waiting for it to arrive - question. What frequency are footsteps in warzone ? Will increasing those frequencies and lowering the gunshots and explosions make it better for footsteps cues
I have both the wired and wireless version of the headset. However when I plug in the wireless version into the DAC 2 (for the wired version) it doesnt sound as good as the wired one. Can someone explain why it wouldn't sound as good? It should sound just as good as the wired right?
Is there any way to use this headset ( I have it) when you want to capture/record/stream video+sound+voicechat from the PlayStation5 through Elgato HD60X to Laptop (Predator Helios 300) as you would do by using the "normal" setup, where you have to use the chatlink cable connected to the controller for the game + voicechat + external USB mic (HyperX) for the commentary recording at the same time? Mainly in Elgato 4K Capture app and secondary in StreamLabs OBS/OBS. If there is a way - that would be super useful. There are too many options, so don't know where to start to get it working as the "normal" streaming/recording setup. By the way - may laptop's sound settings (Windows 11 Home) were set to "Mono" by default - so I have switched it off and it improved the SteelSeries Nova Pro Wired sound 100x times.
Hi, thank you for your video the detail is awesome. I have adjusted my equaliser to your recommended and it sounds great! Do you activate spatial audio in Sonar, if so where would you set the slider for performance/immersion and distance/100? Thanks again.
your wired settings definitly upgrades sound quality i prefer bass +4 DB and TREBLE +3 DB and for now its much cleaner sound overall and bit punchier in terms of bass (headphones got nice bas but unfortunatly starts to kick in at 60+ volume and this is to much for me)
I tried your settings at 28:38 on Ps5 but I found that compared to the "Smiley" eq preset is just less immersive for single players games .. any recommendations?
Thank you for this excellent review, purchased this based on your recommendation and used your presets in sonar. I can't seem to figure out how to enter the 10th point in sonar that would show +4 dB, 9.25 Hz, 5Q. Tried to double click on line, but can't add new points.
Great review. I had the wireless version and then changed to the wired version but in the end I returned the wired and went back to the wireless. Personally on console after testing both I can't really hear any difference in sound quality and I really missed the Bluetooth,ANC and transparency mode on the wireless version. However with the wired version one thing I loved and wish/hope they can implement on the wireless version in the future is allowing the back button on the base station to become a mic mute button. This was super convenient and I used it way more than I thought I would. Also if they implemented Bluetooth connectivity into the DAC that would be a stellar upgrade. For those who have the wired version and would like Bluetooth I had a workaround that was great but would make the cost the same as the wireless so unless you have one already I wouldn't recommend buying one just to do this but..... I used a fiio BTR 5 DAC and hooked it up to the aux in port and then enabled car mode on the BTR5 and plugged the other end into my PS5's spare USB port. Now I have Bluetooth with the wired version and with the BTR5 being in car mode every time I turn on/off the PS5 it will turn on/off the fiio BTR5 DAC and can use my phone wirelessly. Hope that makes sense 👍
I watched this video, then I watched your video about the EPOS H6Pro (Closed). EPOS H6Pro + GSX 300 Bundle = 160$ SteelSeries Nova Pro Wired = 220$ From a competitive gaming perspective, what would you pic? Is the Nova Pro better and if so, is it worth the 60$ difference?
@@chalo2854 ye I got them and instantly returned. Really didn’t understand the hype. But then I got the Nova pro wired, a headphone people love to shit on. And may be I got a good unit but after EQ they sound very similar to my HD560s. Of course not the same soundstage, imaging and bass but the most comfortable headphone I have ever used.
Would you recommend this for ps5? I want a comfortable headset that is preferably wired. Other headsets I am interested in are epos h6pro, astro a30 and audeze penrose. The audeze penrose won't be in stock for a long time though which is a bummer. Any help is appreciated, thanks!
H6PRO have much more bass and more of a home theater sound. Novas are a bit more hyper focused on details but still have a good bass response. So it comes down to your preference
How do these compare to the Epos H6 pro's? Like which one has the better directional sound, which one's better for music, and which one's better for watching movies/playing immersive games? I bought the H6 pro open backs and like them a fair bit but also am really interested in trying out the Arctis Nova Pro wired as well.
Question: is it possible to use the DAC connected to a phone ("line in" to provide audio) and connected (to the same phone) via usb C to usb A adapter for energy supply? So it would be like this: 1. The phone lines into the DAC. 2. The usb C port of the phone connected to an adapter which then connects to the DAC which then connects to the Steelseries headset for audio output. Awesome review, Do you have any audio settings recommendations for open world games? I use the smiley preset
Great vid! Not wrong a bout the chair arms pretty sure they conspire against me and my cables haha. So I can almost finally do away with my mixamp and its crazy static from the AUX port? And spdif/hdmi extractor? USB XBOX mixamp audio is awful IMO (yes I have a filter on it, still a lot of static) Mannn I wonder if they can software it so the chat/game dial doesn't effect the output so OBS ect can pull full VOL but not my ears. Be cool if they offered the DAC separately to. Wonder why they didn't go with a 50mm
Anyone know if you can skip using the included DAC and plug it into a PC soundcard? Not sure if this is possible since you would need a splitter for mic and speakers... but I really want to try these out and I have a high end Sound Blaster card.
I can tell you that although it's possible, it sounds much better using the DAC unless you're really good with custom EQ. Bypassing the DAC also removes game to chat mix (if that's an important feature to you).
Is it possible to use another companies headset with that DAC? Just curious as I have the PC38x and H6 Pro open-back and play on Xbox so wondering if they would work for that?
commenting on this video because im in the market for a headset as i wanna rest my IEM addiction for a while LOL ... ive watched your reviews on both the Arctis Nova Pro Wired , and H6pro closed back a couple times now trying to decide .... of course i can buy both and return the one i dont keep , but i value your opinion nonetheless ... so i want to ask , at $100 on sale for the H6pro and about $190 on sale for the Arctis Pro Wired , should i opt for the H6 ? ... i do fps gaming , horror games , and a crap ton of youtube and media ... so wondered which one would suit me best as im sure you have spent some time with both sets .
Can the gamedac gen 2(Xbox version) be compatible with the Arctis 7x via Bluetooth/wired? & if so, will it bring down the audio quality of the headset itself?
Question? Just bought the gamedac for Xbox and I use IEMs. I have a snowball mic I used when gaming on PC would I be able to use it when the gamedac for should look into buying a new mic ?
I bought the Astro A50 wireless about a year ago. It has been nothing but a problem. Don't get me wrong. The A50's sound amazing when they work! Here are just some of the issues. I've never been able to get them to fully charge after about three months of use. I had to put black electrical tape on the headset's top to stop the pad from splitting away from the headset housing frame. When you have to put tape on a $300 headset to prevent it from falling apart, that's a serious product quality problem. I never dropped them or anything. I've had charging and sync issues with the Astros from the beginning. My son uses and swears by the A40s, but on the A50s, I've had to hard reset them too many times to count. I decided to return to wired since my new console setup and monitor are next to me. I considered Astro Wired, but after watching your complete review, I am taking a chance on Nova Pro Wired. I suspect I'll be happy. Thanks for posting this review.
I'm loving your reviews, I recently picked up the wired nova pros after watching this. I'm curious to know what you think of the wireless version for sound compared to these? I'm tempted to get the wireless as I love these so much thanks.
Thank you if you were in the UK I would have helped in sending headphones.Wocusion are selling ear pads for this I would say I swapped them out foe pads love your work. Can you do on creative x4 I want to know how does that dac compare to this Nova Pro dac would be intrstimng to find out .
H6PRO is just so much fun for immersion and it's crazy comfortable. It has a lot less features but the bass and warmth it brings is so awesome for open world and movies. Nova has more detail up top.
NOTE: SteelSeries GG Engine version 25.0 changed Sonar's sample rate to 24 bit 96 kHz. Please note frequency response does not change with sample rate. So the EQ tuning would still apply in this case with the latest software updates. Sample rates and bit depths affect other aspects of sound with regards to clarity and dynamic range. Hopefully that clears up any hesitation!
its kinda hilarious that you use exile as a test song too, i used it too for a while haha
Could you possibly help me? I just switched from console to PC for gaming, and I am on my 3rd pair of headsets in past 5 weeks. I can not seem to get any of my headsets to work or sound properly on PC like it was on console. I have Astro A4 mixamp, turtle beach elite pro 2 superamp, and now the wired Nova Pro and none of the 3 chat/game mixer works normal on them. If I turn them to just game it eliminates the game sound but still have chat, and if I turn all way to just chat, that works correctly and gives just chat with no game. I’ve spent days attempting to fix this problem but can’t find solution. All my drivers and firmware are up to date so I don’t know what it could be. I have a GeForce rtx 3070, Ryzen 7700x CPU, and Asus Rog Strix x670-e DDR5 mother board. Windows 10. I thought audio was suppose to sound better on PC but so far I can not get anything setup and sounding as good as the PS5 audio was.
@@rob4610 yo lo resolvi volviendo a reinstalar windows
The clarity from hi res is worth the extra wires 🤍
Hi, i’m just wondering if i can use this in cp? thanks!
Man, I've went through so many headphones reviews and thousands of comments for my ps5 and I've seen all the reviews for arctis nova pros wired&less and this review is one of the best, all the details, no water, info is relevant, clear and on point. I'm still thinking of wireless version tho, but keep up the good work!
so, me too in wired X Wireless for PS5, what you think i should take?
@@JGabix01wireless for features, wired for quality
The sound difference in overwatch2 was huge when i use your settings! Much better than the one from the game list in SGG.Thank you so much for the time you have used to help others with this! 👍
This is my favourite headphone channel!
This review has helped out a lot, thank you.
Finally someone who knows what he is talking about and knows how headphones work. Instead, just saying, “yes bass sounds powerful and headphone sound good” - every gaming headphone reviewer.
Excellent video and thank you for the EQ settings and explanation. Very few of these with gaming headsets.
Great video, thanks, and hope you continue making videos like these. I have the SteelSeries nova pro wireless with the wicked cushion ear pads and configure those settings as a baseline and started tweaking it.
Perfect stuff! Great review.
Just a quick heads up. +4 / 5300Hz / 5.0Q is missing from graph during the Tuning section though you do mouse over them all so anyone trying to mirror this is still able to do so. Thought Id mention it. Not sure if you mentioned in the video - watching this for the 3rd time but no audio at the moment setting it up as the headset just arrived. Thanks for the time you put into measuring these and adjusting the tune.
► NOTICE ◄
Though his preset in the GG client has 10 notches, the on-screen graphic @26:00 is missing one notch (the 9th by numerical order). He hovers over the setting with his mouse @27:14, but then forgets to read it out loud before moving onto the final notch.
► Missing 9th Slot: +4db *|* 5300kHz *|* 5.0Q
*GT:* Thank you for all of your hard work in producing and sharing these comprehensive reviews, as well as sharing the EQ settings. I legitimately feel like you've made the money I spent on this headset go that much further, and there's nothing more a man could ask for in a tech reviewer. Much appreciated!
i wish i can save this comment to test it out when i get back home
Hi , I just bought these headphones but honestly I find the song really not good at all even by putting the eq of the youtubeur I have the impression of being attacked on the treble and sometimes the voices au so when i watch a movie for example with the swords they really hurt my head
those equalizer settings just made the headsets so much better, i mirored the settings into Dolby Atmos Access
This is an invaluable video. My 3.5 year old wired Arctis Pro_Gamedac gave up the ghost; more correctly, the right ear cup broke off the head band. It's used everyday multiple times a day so I can't complain. After looking at the options in various price ranges I purchased the wired Arctis Nova Pro+Gamedac. Your video got me up and running with a great tune in very short order. Thank you for all your efforts and for freely sharing your knowledge and expertise! Subbed.
Wow thanks so much for the kind words and I’m so grateful it helped you out. I hope you enjoy your new headset! Thanks for the super comment and generosity
Astro is a40 is a whole 5 or 6 years older even the last generation but besides the screen & multiple out ports the a40s have on ehuge advantage the cables..... these pro heqdsets today have such a short low quality cables yet astro gives really high end thick cables i have used gen 1 & gen 4 mine never broke i can even hide them inder the side of the carpet & evryone walks over it..... 5 meters total yet this steelseries only 3m or even less 2.80 if im right
brilliant, i love this review
Thanks for the great review I learned a lot. Also I just saw your review on the VZR model one and you seem to like that and the nova pro wired for gaming. Between those two which one do you think is better for competitive gaming and hearing/ visualizing footsteps?
I had the same question, I pulled the trigger on nova pro wired. I'm really liking them. They are amazing, I switched from Astro A50. With his sonar tune it's a game changer.
Came here because I just ordered these for the PS5 (woulda liked more feedback using it on console and whether the limitations of not being able to use Sonar would influence your opinion) but stayed as this was an incredible review, I am floored it only has 606 likes after I hit the like button. Definitely subscribing to this channel.
How are they if they arrived for you?
@@ShowtimeLaw just got mine few days ago, by far best headset I’ve tested. Sonars great on pc and the DAC is great for customising sound on ps5, overall worth it in my opinion
@@myles5388bros I bought the wired for ps5 but I cannot hear footstep in mw2 better than my regular headset. Ant tips for me?
can u pls aswer me a question pls? in transparency at lvl 10 with the nova do u also hear like white noise ¿?
Easily the best headphone reviews on UA-cam!
Thanks Chris!
I would be interested in seeing a direct video comparison between these and the vzr 1.
MY GUY, YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY THE BEST. CLEAR TONED, SUPER KNOWLEDGEABLE, EXTREMELY DETAILED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIDEOS. 🙏🏽💪🏽
Hi, actually bought it and im really happy with it! Would you recommend using your Equalizer settings for games like Apex and CoD, or use the specific presettings in the Sonar App for those games? I feel like using your EQ sounds the best to me, not sure about footsteps and so on though, since the presets look very different in the lows (around 50 hz)...
Had the exact same question. I play lots of Rainbow Six Siege. And whilst Sonar actually had two presets for Siege, I’m unsure which to use
@@mustaphachedid6013 maybe @GadgetryTech can help us out on this :)
I neeeeed an apex eq tune pleaseeeee!
can u pls aswer me a question pls? in transparency at lvl 10 with the nova do u also hear like white noise ¿?
Just a quick correction, the mic mute option on the wired novas actually changes the the back button on the dac to be a mute button for your headset when not in a menu.
So you have to enable it so the mute button of the headset works (on/off) by pressing it?
@brrr What he/she is saying is you can mute on the DAC itself in addition to having the physical switch on the ear cup itself. Both mute buttons would work.
I make it short --> thx for your settings and your time you put into it. Like it, use it and subscribed. :)
dude the eq settings are amazing, I'm using them on the artics pro and they sound very good, thank you so much... I'm waiting for my novas, I cant wait to try them with this setup.
I love your reviews, I used your EQ settings on my Astro A50. Yesterday I decided to get these. Wow, now some might say night and day. However, I like these alot, I also liked the Astros a lot. Not as big a difference as when I went from Playstation elite 2nd gen to the Astro. I cannot wait to put these setting to the test.
Great video I love my nova pro wireless wish it had sonar heard it is coming to xbox
Just got this and watching to see if there are any other details I don't know about. You wouldn't believe how many people have a smart phone or other device and don't use key features they didn't know about.
Maybe I'm dumb but my complaint is the cable connecting the headset to the mixer REQUIRES you connect the angled side of the cable into the mixer and the straight part into the headset. Yes it shows in the picture, yes they have a tag that says "connect to headset" but you could make it simpler for a doofus like me by saying "this end in headset" since the prior made me think the cable in general cause I've seen people connect the aux to their PC.
Again, help idiots like me.
The mic was awful on ps5. Picks up every single background noise
Holy shit; ive never seen a headphone review like this. I just bought the Nova Pro Wired, and will be trying out your EQ settings. Thank you so much
how are they???
Excellent review as usual man!! The Nova wired are on my list 😅. The main reason is that finally I can get a dac that works usb with PS5 and Series X and allow me to eq the sound. You tried to use another headsets with the Nova dac? I've the old Arctis Pros, wired and wireless, and I use the dac with a 3.5 adapter with other headsets, for example the Virtuoso XT by 3.5 on that dac used on PS5, and the sound changes... for good
Hmm, so, it's these or the VZR Model One to choose between in the sub $350 category. Did I understand correctly that you feel the Nova has a better sound stage than the VZR? What about immersiveness? Would really like to see more on the Nova versus VZR and if there's a pure headphone that out does these gaming headsets for $350 or less.
Better then astro a 40s and 50s i used a50s for 6 months and base station was not charging. But steel series nova pro are louder better 3D audio lighter nd more comfortable
I just got this headset and when it seems to pick up all of my pc audio through the mic, on discord my friends can hear the audio from youtube videos through my mic , any idea what it could be?
I currently use the first-gen DAC that came with the Arctis Pro. With that one, I can hear audio from my PC and consoles simultaneously by setting the DAC to PS4 mode and connecting PC via USB and TV via optical. Is there a similar solution for this newer model?
Dude, I returned the wireless version. For me, the ear cups were very uncomfortable and my ears were on 🔥 not even after an hour. Currently, you can't swap ear pads because of how the frame are produced. 👎
I also returned them, the ANC touched my ear and after a little over 1h it got so uncomfortable that I had to take them off
Good news is the wired version has a standard earpad mounting system so you can throw whatever pads you want on them
Wicked Cushions is working on custom replacements and they’re supposed to be out apparently within a few weeks. Personally dont have an issue with mine but I 100% feel you. They shouldve had better pads that dont have the mic bump sticking through so much and hitting your ears, or came up with a better design so they werent like that
@@KiLLaCaM607 nice info, need to buy these new ear pads as soon as possible. I really like the nova wireless,if they weren't hurting my right ear :D
@@bonanzabrandon6877 why did Steelseries make the wireless ones have a different mounting system 😂 im also getting the weird ones
Nice video! Glad I found your channel. I was just thinking I should make a channel for gaming and audio that included consoles. I’m eager to compare a Topping DX3pro+ to the Steelseries gameDAC gen2.
I’m curious what you think is the best DAC/amp for the Xbox SX? (Especially in light of experiencing the nova pro wired & gameDAC gen2)
Anyone on the fence just jump right down off it. These are so good. Had arctis 9x which had terrible connection issues with series X in my experience, the wireless pros are rock solid. Was doubtful they could justify the cost but I'm sold.
What chair do u have ? Any link for it ?:D
Looks damn cosy
Thx for answer!
Gr8 content btw, keep it u-!
I was excited about this headphone, but compared to my B&O Play, it’s not at all impressive. Sound is lacking at both low and high end. Surround is terrible - even the Xbox internal Dolby processing sounds like stereo with this headphone. I honestly think $300 is over-priced for the Nova Pro. Yes, the B&O is more expensive, but it’s definitely worth it. The Nova sounds like any cheap headphone.
pretty trash, awful mic but great alien transmitter. if that’s the noise i was hearing
Well after about 3 years of use the hinge finally gave out on my Arctis 7 Pros. I was just gonna buy another Arctis 7 Series but turns out they don't make them anymore and they directed me to this headset. Looks like I'm grabbing a pair of these. I'm not excited about the "leatherette" material for the pads but I'm sure I can replace them easily.
I am torn between buying this headset or the nova 7. I know i'm comparing a wireless headset to a wired one, but if we take that out of the picture (and the whole, wireless being convenient thing) which one of these headsets are better in terms of audio and mic quality?
The Nova 7 would be my first wireless headset. I've heard great things about it having bluetooth and stuff, and while that's a nice bonus, i'm mostly interested in the sound and mic quality. I know that wired headphones usually sound better than wireless headphones, but is there a significant, noticeable difference between the 2?
Thanks a lot for the work you do, the reviews are immensely helpful!!!!
Same. Which one did you buy?
@@paulallenlegarte6389 Ended up buying the Nova Pro Wired, happy about my decision
I'm on linux, unfortunately can't install the "SteelSeries GG Engine" software. I had a steelseries mouse on mac before and had lots of issues with that software anyways so I won't be missing it. To balance this comment out though I will add that the durability and reliability of steelseries hardware products are very good - miles above logitech etc. There's also the stuff about steelseries downloading and running their .exe files on windows without asking which is not so good - don't know if they're still doing that. So yea, SS hardware gets a thumbs up from me, but software and their practices around it, thumbs down. I'd rather have dip switches to change settings on the devices and skip the software altogether.
Awesome video as always! You’re so underrated but not for long! Did you say new pads coming in a couple of weeks for the pro wireless???? 😁
out of the thousands of reviews i’ve watched on many channels and many headphones and anything. this is the best review ever. New subscriber for you sir.
Thanks so much!
Fantastic review thanks so much!
I’ve owned my since they launched and really think they’re great. One thing I noted PS5 outputs 48/24 bit where XsX 48/16 bit.
Is it possible to go optical out from a TV to line in on the DAC?
Hi! Thanks for your video about the Arctis Nova Pro Wired! The other day I saw a video on Exique's channel where he tunes EQ settings for SteelSeries headsets to better hear footsteps in Warzone. Exquise recommends disabling sonar and using Dolby Atmos. However, this means that you lose the function of using the ChatMix on the GameDac, which I would very much like to continue using! I would be interested in your thoughts on whether you find the Dolby Atmos solution better, or whether the EQ setting in Sonar for Warzone can be set to the same level. Thanks for your answer! Greetings from Vienna!
Hey man! I have a quick question for you: in your opinion, is it worth using the new game-specific presets that load into the DAC from GG, or would you recommend using the preset from this video for everything? I'm going to try both of course but I'd love your input. I assume yours will be better because of all the hard work and testing you put into it, but I am curious how good or bad Steel Series tuned their game-specific presets.
I am playing on Xbox Series X btw.
Edit: 5 Month Update: I tested both aforementioned methods and I decided to settle on the tune in this video over the GG presets. My reasoning is that some of the presets are simply not as good imo and this way I don't ever have to change my preset.
It obviously comes down to personal preference, so anyone reading this who is curious should do the same test and acquire their own results.
Use his EQ for general gaming/media use and then the game specific ones for those specific games.
@@TheOptimus212 I was doing that for a little bit, then I started using general gaming for everything and honestly it works really well! Especially for Apex, it's insanely good.
I'm almost pulling the trigger on an Epos H6Pro open back. Ignoring everything else, going only by sound quality. The Epos or this Nova Pro?
Awesome review, in your opinion did the nova pro wired have the same amount of power as the nova 7 wireless? As in loudness?
I'm new to headsets, is there a way to extend the wire? Steelseries doesn't sell any long extension cords. Or is there a female to male cable that I can use?
The noise cancellation seems to get rid of your salvia noise
First of all, you're a great reviewer, thanks for the great videos.
So I've been scoping the Nova Pro for purchase lately and I'm trying to decide between wireless and wired. I am leaning towards the benefits of wireless BUT there's one glaring issue for me: The mic quality is VASTLY better on the wired one. Some people might not care, but I talk a lot to people and I if I can help it I wanna sound as good as possible.
In this wired video you talk like the mic quality is mediocre while sounding really good, and on the review of the wireless one you sound much worse and say its excellent?? I don't get it.
I am really curious if the Sonar software can salvage the wireless mic quality to some degree, because you don't explore that at all in the wireless video.
the mic on both are not great. They are understandable but the quality is lower than most headphone mics. If you really want this headset I recommend you buy it and then if you think the quality isn't great than you can buy a very cheap mic. The blue snowball mic is cheap and quite good. Razer seiren mini is even cheaper
Its a shame Sonar isn't on console Or it would be a solid headset which I'd buy.
You know the video will be awesome when you see that Daft Punk in the background ˆˆ
Great video, ordered the headset that will replace my Arctis 5, which had plenty of issues with the mic being extremely silent and sound having static in it
I just ordered this headset. Waiting for it to arrive - question.
What frequency are footsteps in warzone ? Will increasing those frequencies and lowering the gunshots and explosions make it better for footsteps cues
I have both the wired and wireless version of the headset. However when I plug in the wireless version into the DAC 2 (for the wired version) it doesnt sound as good as the wired one. Can someone explain why it wouldn't sound as good? It should sound just as good as the wired right?
Hi.
Is this wired only or can it also do wireless since you can take the wire out?
Bruh. Cmon
Is there any way to use this headset ( I have it) when you want to capture/record/stream video+sound+voicechat from the PlayStation5 through Elgato HD60X to Laptop (Predator Helios 300) as you would do by using the "normal" setup, where you have to use the chatlink cable connected to the controller for the game + voicechat + external USB mic (HyperX) for the commentary recording at the same time? Mainly in Elgato 4K Capture app and secondary in StreamLabs OBS/OBS.
If there is a way - that would be super useful. There are too many options, so don't know where to start to get it working as the "normal" streaming/recording setup.
By the way - may laptop's sound settings (Windows 11 Home) were set to "Mono" by default - so I have switched it off and it improved the SteelSeries Nova Pro Wired sound 100x times.
Such a great video. Thank you for such an in-depth breakdown. Waiting on my pair to come in the mail, this video got me even more excited.
Hi, thank you for your video the detail is awesome. I have adjusted my equaliser to your recommended and it sounds great! Do you activate spatial audio in Sonar, if so where would you set the slider for performance/immersion and distance/100? Thanks again.
your wired settings definitly upgrades sound quality
i prefer bass +4 DB and TREBLE +3 DB and for now its much cleaner sound overall and bit punchier in terms of bass (headphones got nice bas but unfortunatly starts to kick in at 60+ volume and this is to much for me)
I tried your settings at 28:38 on Ps5 but I found that compared to the "Smiley" eq preset is just less immersive for single players games .. any recommendations?
You didn't mention the EPOS HS6 PRO & GSX 300
It’s so stupid that for $565 AUD it doesn’t have noise cancellation unless I’m on pc.. what a fkn joke
Thank you for this excellent review, purchased this based on your recommendation and used your presets in sonar. I can't seem to figure out how to enter the 10th point in sonar that would show +4 dB, 9.25 Hz, 5Q. Tried to double click on line, but can't add new points.
Great review. I had the wireless version and then changed to the wired version but in the end I returned the wired and went back to the wireless. Personally on console after testing both I can't really hear any difference in sound quality and I really missed the Bluetooth,ANC and transparency mode on the wireless version.
However with the wired version one thing I loved and wish/hope they can implement on the wireless version in the future is allowing the back button on the base station to become a mic mute button. This was super convenient and I used it way more than I thought I would.
Also if they implemented Bluetooth connectivity into the DAC that would be a stellar upgrade.
For those who have the wired version and would like Bluetooth I had a workaround that was great but would make the cost the same as the wireless so unless you have one already I wouldn't recommend buying one just to do this but.....
I used a fiio BTR 5 DAC and hooked it up to the aux in port and then enabled car mode on the BTR5 and plugged the other end into my PS5's spare USB port.
Now I have Bluetooth with the wired version and with the BTR5 being in car mode every time I turn on/off the PS5 it will turn on/off the fiio BTR5 DAC and can use my phone wirelessly.
Hope that makes sense 👍
Q
if talking about PC usage only, will the wired version be better in sound quality vs the wireless?
significant difference?
Console only supports 16 bit so there's no difference because you aren't using it at its fullest potential
Are these a big upgrade coming from a wired razer blackshark v2?
Any comments, I am searching for the same thing
Hey. I want these but if i game on a couch will it be good or nah?
I watched this video, then I watched your video about the EPOS H6Pro (Closed).
EPOS H6Pro + GSX 300 Bundle = 160$
SteelSeries Nova Pro Wired = 220$
From a competitive gaming perspective, what would you pic?
Is the Nova Pro better and if so, is it worth the 60$ difference?
Same question
I have the epos h6 and tbh they suck
@@chalo2854 ye I got them and instantly returned. Really didn’t understand the hype. But then I got the Nova pro wired, a headphone people love to shit on. And may be I got a good unit but after EQ they sound very similar to my HD560s. Of course not the same soundstage, imaging and bass but the most comfortable headphone I have ever used.
Would you recommend this for ps5? I want a comfortable headset that is preferably wired. Other headsets I am interested in are epos h6pro, astro a30 and audeze penrose. The audeze penrose won't be in stock for a long time though which is a bummer. Any help is appreciated, thanks!
Any chance you can send me the link to copy your sonar EQ setting to just download it ?
Would appreciate your opinion on these vs the H6PRO with GSX 300
H6PRO have much more bass and more of a home theater sound. Novas are a bit more hyper focused on details but still have a good bass response. So it comes down to your preference
Can you use a different dac with the nova pros and would it make a difference?
Nice video bro!!
Epos h6pro + gsx300 vs nova pro wired?? Pc
nova pro wired. i bought the epos and the nova pro
I bought both. Liked the nova pro way more. However, ended up getting the Tygr 300r and bought a mic. LOVING it.
How do these compare to the Epos H6 pro's? Like which one has the better directional sound, which one's better for music, and which one's better for watching movies/playing immersive games? I bought the H6 pro open backs and like them a fair bit but also am really interested in trying out the Arctis Nova Pro wired as well.
Question: is it possible to use the DAC connected to a phone ("line in" to provide audio) and connected (to the same phone) via usb C to usb A adapter for energy supply?
So it would be like this:
1. The phone lines into the DAC.
2. The usb C port of the phone connected to an adapter which then connects to the DAC which then connects to the Steelseries headset for audio output.
Awesome review, Do you have any audio settings recommendations for open world games? I use the smiley preset
Great vid!
Not wrong a bout the chair arms pretty sure they conspire against me and my cables haha.
So I can almost finally do away with my mixamp and its crazy static from the AUX port? And spdif/hdmi extractor? USB XBOX mixamp audio is awful IMO
(yes I have a filter on it, still a lot of static)
Mannn I wonder if they can software it so the chat/game dial doesn't effect the output so OBS ect can pull full VOL but not my ears. Be cool if they offered the DAC separately to.
Wonder why they didn't go with a 50mm
Are these comfortable for long hours gaming sessions? My Logitech G pro is really giving me a headache :/ Any recomendations ?
So which one is better for gamnig? Wired or Wireless? And should I go with Playstation or Xbox version?
why do i almost can't hear mic test part? 15:00. can someone help me
Great video! Does the wireless base station for the nova work with the arctis pro?
Thanks! It does not, no
Anyone know if you can skip using the included DAC and plug it into a PC soundcard? Not sure if this is possible since you would need a splitter for mic and speakers... but I really want to try these out and I have a high end Sound Blaster card.
I can tell you that although it's possible, it sounds much better using the DAC unless you're really good with custom EQ. Bypassing the DAC also removes game to chat mix (if that's an important feature to you).
I have the Sound BlasterX AE-5 sound card. I'd imagine it would sound better using that.
OMG been waiting for this...can’t wait to listen!!!!!!!
how would you compare these to the wireless version?
Ty been trying to find a solution for the background noise..it was driving me nuts
Great video, you seem to always answer the questions I have and then some.
Would these still be worth it in 2024?
Would the EQ settings you’ve made here work for the steelseries arctis pro wired + gameDAC?
Is it possible to use another companies headset with that DAC? Just curious as I have the PC38x and H6 Pro open-back and play on Xbox so wondering if they would work for that?
commenting on this video because im in the market for a headset as i wanna rest my IEM addiction for a while LOL ... ive watched your reviews on both the Arctis Nova Pro Wired , and H6pro closed back a couple times now trying to decide .... of course i can buy both and return the one i dont keep , but i value your opinion nonetheless ... so i want to ask , at $100 on sale for the H6pro and about $190 on sale for the Arctis Pro Wired , should i opt for the H6 ? ... i do fps gaming , horror games , and a crap ton of youtube and media ... so wondered which one would suit me best as im sure you have spent some time with both sets .
Can the gamedac gen 2(Xbox version) be compatible with the Arctis 7x via Bluetooth/wired? & if so, will it bring down the audio quality of the headset itself?
Question? Just bought the gamedac for Xbox and I use IEMs. I have a snowball mic I used when gaming on PC would I be able to use it when the gamedac for should look into buying a new mic ?
I bought the Astro A50 wireless about a year ago. It has been nothing but a problem. Don't get me wrong. The A50's sound amazing when they work! Here are just some of the issues. I've never been able to get them to fully charge after about three months of use. I had to put black electrical tape on the headset's top to stop the pad from splitting away from the headset housing frame. When you have to put tape on a $300 headset to prevent it from falling apart, that's a serious product quality problem. I never dropped them or anything. I've had charging and sync issues with the Astros from the beginning. My son uses and swears by the A40s, but on the A50s, I've had to hard reset them too many times to count. I decided to return to wired since my new console setup and monitor are next to me. I considered Astro Wired, but after watching your complete review, I am taking a chance on Nova Pro Wired. I suspect I'll be happy. Thanks for posting this review.
thank you for that custom EQ so much better !!
Does SteelSeries Nova Pro come with Gamedac gen 2 or gen 1?
I'm loving your reviews, I recently picked up the wired nova pros after watching this. I'm curious to know what you think of the wireless version for sound compared to these? I'm tempted to get the wireless as I love these so much thanks.
How are they?
Thank you if you were in the UK I would have helped in sending headphones.Wocusion are selling ear pads for this I would say I swapped them out foe pads love your work. Can you do on creative x4 I want to know how does that dac compare to this
Nova Pro dac would be intrstimng to find out .
Would this be a better choice for movies and open world game after eq compare to h6 pro+gsx300 bundle?
H6PRO is just so much fun for immersion and it's crazy comfortable. It has a lot less features but the bass and warmth it brings is so awesome for open world and movies. Nova has more detail up top.
@@GadgetryTech Man, thanks for the reply, I will be grabbing the epos closed bundle then 😀
Can you plug in the wireless version for the same performance increase as the wired? or is it just not the same
Wireless has no wires, so no can't plug them in. You give up sound quality for the wireless function. Yin and Yang