SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Headset Review

What we have for review is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless. Priced at ₱7,765 PHP, this headset aims to cater to gamers seeking a wireless solution for their PC, Xbox, or PlayStation setup.

In this review, we’ll dive deep into the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, examining its design, build quality, audio performance, and features. We’ll explore how it stands up to the demands of gamers, assess its comfort for long gaming sessions, and analyze its audio characteristics through rigorous testing.

Disclosure: SteelSeries sent their Arctis Nova 5 Wireless for the purpose of this review. The company did not ask me to say anything particular about it.

Technical Specifications

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless features a 40 mm dynamic driver and a retractable boom microphone with noise cancellation technology built-in. Connectivity options are via RF (with a dongle) and Bluetooth. The Nova 5 is compatible with PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, yet SteelSeries recommends the Nova 5X for Xbox and the Nova 5P for PlayStation.

Headphone
Transducer	40 mm, Dynamic
Frequency Response	20-22,000 Hz
Impedance	36 Ω
Sensitivity	93 dBSPL
THD	< 1%
Connectivity	2.4 GHz RF, BT
Microphone
Transducer	N/A
Polar Pattern	Bi-directional
Frequency Response	100-10,000 Hz
Sensitivity	-38 dBV/Pa
Dimensions
Length	N/A
Width	N/A
Height	N/A
Weight	260 g

Packaging and Accessories

The Arctis Nova 5 Wireless comes in a bright orange packaging which is in theme with the rest of SteelSeries’ recent products.

Scope of delivery are as follows:

• Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Headset
• Compact USB-C Wireless Dongle
• 1.5 m USB-C to USB-A Dongle Extension Cable
• 1.5 m USB-C to USB-A Charging Cable
• Sticker set
• Documentation(s)

The Arctis Nova 5 comes with a decent selection of bundled accessories, which is to be expected given its price point.

Design, Build and Connectivity

The Arctis Nova 5 is a closed-back headset with a sleek, clutter-free aesthetic in black. SteelSeries has continued to feature the suspension headband in the Nova 5, which is a signature design element of their gaming headsets.

SteelSeries offers breathable pads for the Arctis Nova 5, along with an adjustable suspension headband. Both pads and headbands are removable, so you may see third-party vendors offering their own styles and options should customization cross your mind.

Yet another distinct feature of SteelSeries gaming headsets is their retractable microphone design and we get to see it implemented with the Arctis Nova 5 as well. I am not sure if this is a condenser or an electret microphone but it is bi-directional, and comes with a noise cancellation feature.

Controls and connectivity options for the Arctis Nova 5 are conveniently placed where you would expect them. The left cup for example houses the mute button, along with an independent volume wheel. The right cup on the other hand is where the USB Type-C port is located, together with the power and pairing buttons.

The Arctis Nova 5 comes with an unusual 2.4 GHz receiver design. I am sure that its shape helps with range, however, it will impede the use of surrounding ports from your system. In such case, SteelSeries added an extension cable that you could use if you’ve found yourself at the receiving end. Now, while it’s fine to insert the receiver into the headset’s Type-C port for transport, please avoid doing this when the headset is turned on or in Bluetooth mode.

Ergonomics

At 263.2 grams, the Arctis Nova 5 is a lightweight gaming gaming headset. It is also able to accommodate a variety of head sizes, and comes with a manageable amount of clamping force.

As for the pads, they are measured internally at around 60 mm in height, 48 mm wide, and 20 mm deep. These are fair measurements for those with small to medium sized ears. If you have a larger set of ears, then you might find it unpleasant.

Frequency Response

The Arctis Nova 5 sports a number of presets, all thanks to the SteelSeries GG software’s integration with a multitude of game titles. Though we cannot test them all, we’ve tested Flat, Bass Boost, Focus, Movie and Music – the basic frequency response presets found within the said gaming headset.

Given all the options, the flat preset seems to be the closest match to our target curve with acceptable low-end to mid-range nuances but lacks the required response around the ear gain region. The upper midrange and treble are the focus here, as they fall within the said area. This is where our ears naturally amplify sounds, making it important for clarity and detail retrieval. When these frequencies are lacking, it may result in a less engaging and detailed listening experience.

Bass

The Arctis Nova 5 features a bass response that peaks at +4.5 dB around 80 Hz, which is generally acceptable. However, some might find the following dip in the lower midrange to make the bass overbearing at times. There seems to be resonance in the sub-bass as well, characterized by the dip below 60 Hz and its uneven response. We will examine this more closely later in the review.

Mids

The midrange up until 3 kHz is actually decent, even considering the resonance from the left driver (between 700-800 Hz) and the right driver (under 600 Hz). If you are wondering about the channel imbalance and the areas from which the resonant frequency resides, this could be attributed to the way each couplers are designed. I.e., the left cup houses the microphone’s cavity, while the right cup may have the battery attached.

Treble

Now the treble is again, lacking – at least where the ear gain matters the most. Past 6 kHz, the Arctis Nova 5 will provide some sparkle and detail but even it could only do so much.

Distortion

The Arctis Nova 5 comes with excellent distortion levels, basically under 1% THD with room to breath for equalization. This also indicates that the driver’s distortion, or the absence of it, cannot be considered a potential source or has any bearing on resonant frequencies.

CSD

The waterfall graph, also known as Cumulative Spectral Decay (CSD), confirms the presence of resonant areas that were briefly mentioned earlier in this review. Notables are the lingering energy around the sub bass, the midrange proper, and the upper midrange.

Noise Isolation

The Arctis Nova 5 features an average noise reduction of 24.7 dBA, aligning with my expectations for a closed-back gaming headset’s performance.

Microphone

The Arctis Nova 5 microphone performs well according to its frequency response. Disregard the dip between 100-200 Hz as this is due to the PEQ applied to my speakers when I use them normally.

If you are interested to hear the microphone quality of the Arctis Nova 5, consider this recorded demonstration from SoundCloud. From what I could tell, its performance and noise cancellation properties are good enough. Even better compared to the more budget oriented headsets like the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2.

Parametric EQ

The SteelSeries GG is a software suite designed as an all-in-one solution for their gaming products. This a requirement if you want to maximize the Arctis Nova 5 – and many SteelSeries products for that matter.

Fortunately, the SteelSeries GG offers parametric EQ for the Arctis Nova 5, allowing us to finely adjust its gain, q-value and the target frequencies via up to 10 configurable filters. I.e., peak, low-pass, high-pass, low-shelf and high-shelf filters. That said, the following adjustments have been made to align the Arctis Nova 5 with our target curve:

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Parametric EQ Settings
Frequency (Hz)	20	100	450	2500	3800	4800	7500
Filter	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak
Gain (dB)	-6	-3	+4	-3	+10	+10	-8
Q	0.2	1.414	1.414	1.414	1.414	6.476	1.414

Now with parametric EQ applied, the Arctis Nova 5 felt like a different headset compared to its stock/flat preset and is now more in line with reference-tuned headphones. Note that it is challenging to iron-out its resonant frequencies, and while it now measures better, it is still a league below reference-class headphones when it comes to technicalities.

Input Lag

Test results from OSLTT revealed that the Arctis Nova 5 has an average input lag of 15.176 ms on RF 2.4 GHz wireless and 189.196 ms on Bluetooth.

Final Thoughts

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is a well-built wireless gaming headset with some notable strengths and a few areas for improvement. Key takeaways here are its lightweight design, comfortable suspension headband, and decent noise isolation – making it a suitable headset for extended gaming sessions. The retractable microphone and convenient controls also add to its user-friendly design on top of its dual wireless connectivity options (RF and Bluetooth) and multi-platform compatibility.

In terms of audio performance, the Nova 5 offers a decent out-of-the-box sound profile with its flat preset, but it lacks the crucial amplitude in the ear gain region, which may result in a less engaging listening, and even gaming experience. The bass response is acceptable, though some gamers might find it overwhelming due to its frequency dips and resonance issues. This headset comes with a pair of 40 mm drivers and I can see why SteelSeries decided to go with it over larger ones due to its design limitations.

Now one of the Arctis Nova 5’s strengths is its low distortion levels, which provide room for a much needed equalization. The included SteelSeries GG software with its parametric EQ is a powerful tool to the rescue, allowing us to significantly improve its sound quality. When properly equalized, the headset could approach the frequency curve of reference headphones.

The retractable microphone performs well for communication with good noise cancellation properties. As for the headset’s battery life, I have yet to deplete the Nova 5 with a week’s worth of testing. I like how it charges fast too – from 70% to 100% in under 10 minutes. The range and latency for 2.4 GHz RF are quite satisfactory, at approximately 30 meters and 15 ms, respectively. On the other hand, Bluetooth performance is around 80 meters with a latency of 189 ms.

Overall, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is a capable gaming headset that offers comfort, customization options, and a rock solid build quality for its price point. While its stock sound signature may not satisfy audio enthusiasts, the ability to fine-tune its performance through its software makes it a flexible option for gamers willing to invest time in customization.