The best SteelSeries headset Arctis Nova 7 updates one of the company’s most well-liked headsets while keeping convenience and comfort. The headset’s audio quality has improved from the Arctis 7’s last release but is still far from flawless. Nevertheless, this is a decent alternative at a fair price that works almost anywhere.
Pros:
- High-quality neutral sound
- Extended battery life and excellent rapid charging
- The Sonar app offers several customising options.
Cons:
- A little more expensive than we’d like
- Not the most enjoyable headset to use
While SteelSeries has long made some of the most durable and comfortable gaming headsets available, it hasn’t strayed too far from the Arctis design’s foundation.
But the more contemporary Arctis Nova Pro headphones fundamentally changed the look, and present-day headsets are copying them. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7x Wireless is the Arctis 7’s first substantial update since it was first released, and it appears to keep everything that’s great while modernizing the rest.
We used the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless for a week and gathered all the required information before making a purchase.
These are the headset’s specifications:
Specifications:
- Cost: $179
- Style: Over-ear, closed-back
- Colours: Black, PC-Specific, PlayStation-Specific, Xbox-Specific
- Drivers: Custom 40mm drivers with great quality
- Connections: 2.4 GHz over USB-C dongle, Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm
- Battery life: 38 hours (2.4 GHz), 26 hours (dual wireless)
- Device compatibility: PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Mac, Android, USB-C iPads (2.4 GHz wireless); other iPad models via Bluetooth or 3.5mm analogue; Xbox support is only available on the Nova 7X model of the PC
- Microphone: ClearCast Gen 2 with retractable arm
- Virtual surround sound: 360° Spatial Audio, Tempest 3D Audio, Microsoft Spatial Sound
- Noise cancelling: Only the microphone has bidirectional noise cancellation.
- Weight: 11.46 ounces
The style and quality of Wireless Steelseries Arctis Nova 7x
| Type | Over-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back |
| Wireless | Yes |
| Transducer | Dynamic |
A headband made of PVD-coated steel and the ComfortMAX system for an adjustable fit. Due to their ski-band headband style, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X headphones resemble other headphones in the Nova range, such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox. They also have a boom microphone that retracts.
They only come in black; however, you can purchase the Arctis Nova Booster Pack separately to change how they look. It includes a set of speaker plates as well as a nylon ski band in the hues “Cherry Red,” “Lilac,” “Mint,” and “Rose Quartz.” They lack the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3’s adjustable RGB lighting on the ear cups, though.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X is well constructed. They feature a more cheap-feeling, plasticky structure than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox. The headband is strengthened by a metal plate, and you may customise the fit with the cloth strap. The ear cups’ fabric padding is extremely comfortable.
The stability of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X is average. When you play at your desk or on the couch, they won’t move. They may fall off your head if you have a tendency to move your head a lot while gaming.
The Sound Quality of Wireless Steelseries Arctis Nova 7x
The sound profile of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X is bass-heavy. It can be easier to emphasise sound effects like footsteps and explosions when they add a little extra thump and rumble. Although there is speech and music, it is veiled and uninformative. Fortunately, their associated software includes powerful sound modifications like a parametric EQ if you desire a different sound.
Frequency Response Consistency
| Avg. Std. Deviation | 1.42 dB |
The constancy of the frequency response on these headphones is underwhelming. They are particularly prone to audio delivery irregularities because of fit, placement, and seal. If you have thick hair or wear glasses, you might notice a decrease in bass more than others.
Bass Accuracy
| Std. Err. | 1.4 dB |
| Low-Frequency Extension | 16.34 Hz |
| Low-Bass | 1.59 dB |
| Mid-Bass | 1.48 dB |
| High-Bass | 0.87 dB |
Bass precision is exceptional on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X. The range has been somewhat overemphasised, bringing an extra dash of warmth, punch, and thump that can be used to incorporate sound effects like footsteps into your gameplay.
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
The weighted harmonic distortion performance of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X is good. There is a tiny degree of distortion in the low to mid-treble, but it is barely audible with stuff from real life.
The majority of frequencies are within reasonable bounds, resulting in a generally pure and clear audio reproduction.
Isolation of Wireless Steelseries Arctis Nova 7x
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X performs poorly in terms of noise isolation. Although they can muffle high-pitched noises like the hum of a standing fan, they are not intended to muffle background noise.
However, don’t anticipate them to significantly reduce background noise or to muffle the sound of traffic outside your window. A hissing or static-like sound has additionally been reported by some users when connected to their consoles.
Multi-Platform Support with Simultaneous Wireless
Utilize a portable USB-C dongle to connect the Arctis Nova 7 to your preferred gaming system, such as the PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch, for lag-free Quantum 2.0 Wireless (2.4GHz). includes a USB-A adaptor.
Wireless gaming in Steelseries Arctis Nova 7x
For wireless gaming, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X are excellent. In order to keep your audio and images in sync when gaming, these headphones have low latency and can wirelessly connect to PCs, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles. Their bass-heavy sound profile highlights gameplay sound effects like footsteps.
Their supplemental software, however, provides a parametric EQ and presets to allow you adjust them if you want a different sound. These headphones are comfortable enough for extended gaming sessions and offer a continuous playback life of over 33 hours. They can even be used simultaneously with your smartphone and gaming console.
Wired gaming in Steelseries Arctis Nova 7x
For wired gaming, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X are suitable. Because these headphones have a 1/8″ TRRRS to 1/8″ TRRS connection, they are fully compatible with consoles that have an AUX input.
Their retractable boom mic performs admirably overall, ensuring that both your allies and adversaries can plainly hear you. Although conversation and instruments are a little veiled, these over-ears have a secure fit, are well-built, and their bass-rich sound profile can assist bring out gaming sound effects.
How does the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless feel to use?
The Arctis Nova 7 will appear slightly different if you’ve previously used a SteelSeries Arctis gaming headset, but it should feel relatively similar after you get used to it. This wireless gaming headset has some noticeable differences from prior Arctis headsets but uses the same frame as the Nova Pro and Arctis Nova Pro Wireless.
While the suspension strap of the Arctis Nova 7 is not as flexible or stretchy as the band on earlier Arctis headsets in the ski-goggle style, it is unquestionably still quite pleasant. It is secured in place by pins. The Arctis Nova 7 addresses one of our issues with the Arctis Nova Pro by bringing back the airweave fabric previously missing in favour of leatherette on the ear pads.
The headphones are suspended on offset hinges that allow for rotation so they can lay flat and tilt just a little to accommodate various head shapes. This results in a comfortable gaming headset overall.
Gamers who wear glasses might also find this a desirable quality because the clamping force is a little on the light side but not too weak to feel unsteady.
A friendly gaming build is one like this. Wearing this for several hours during extended game sessions is quite comfortable because of the material’s softness and somewhat decreased tension.
Because gaming is mainly passive, you won’t have to worry about the headset moving around much. A flexible cable holding the microphone in place makes it simple to place it near your mouth.
How is the Arctis Nova 7 Wireless controlled?
The headset is straightforward to use. Although the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 includes many dials and buttons, each only serves one purpose. A dial for changing the game/chat balance is located on the right earphone, along with controls for Bluetooth connectivity and turning on the headset.
The left earphone features a mute microphone button and a volume slider linked to system volume, so you may control it separately from your PC’s volume settings. The left headphone extends the headset’s associated microphone. Unlike earlier Arctis headsets, you can retract the mic so that it sits flush with the side of the headphone.
When all the buttons and dials have the same appearance and feel, control configurations like this can feel a little cluttered, but the Arctis Nova 7 Wireless doesn’t have this problem.
Since the left and right dials are separated, it will be difficult for you to mistakenly turn the headset off. Additionally, there is only one button that you might need to utilize in the middle of a session (mic mute).
Should you pair the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless with the SteelSeries GG?
All of the extra functions in the Arctis Nova 7 Wireless are powered by SteelSeries’ most recent software, GG. There are two ways to personalize your experience with GG.
The company’s earlier software, SteelSeries Engine, has been incorporated into GG as a special menu with options for EQ personalization, sidetone control, and more. The engine is more simplistic but carefully laid out, with all its options on a single page. Compared to the more recent software from SteelSeries, Engine has an archaic aesthetic.
The next-generation software accessory, SteelSeries Sonar, organizes audio inputs and outputs for the headset and offers individual EQ profiles for the gaming channel, chat channel, and microphone.
Additionally, the audio suite offers controls for activating spatial sound, raising overall gain, and modifying microphone noise suppression. In essence, it’s a one-stop shop for everything you would need to customize the PC audio experience with your headset. Naturally, none of these modifications will apply to consoles.
How is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless connected?
There are three ways to connect your device of choice to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7, and depending on which one you select, you ought to be able to connect to just about everything out there. The accompanying 2.4GHz USB-C RF dongle is the primary gaming connection method. It can be plugged into your PC, PlayStation 5, or Nintendo Switch to provide lag-free wireless audio.
Additionally, the headset supports Bluetooth 5.0 connections using the SBC Bluetooth codec, enabling interoperability with mobile devices and a different Switch option (which we wouldn’t suggest for gaming).
The Arctis Nova 7 offers connected audio over 3.5mm connections and wireless choices, making it compatible with Xbox gaming systems and giving you a backup option in case the battery runs out. Although the headset comes with a USB-C charging cord, audio through wired USB connections is not supported.
Because of all these possibilities and the Bluetooth connection, you can use it with your phone or laptop just as quickly as you can connect to any gaming platform, starting with the PlayStation 3.
The headset allows for several connections at once, so you may couple it with a console via the USB dongle and your phone over Bluetooth. However, using either in conjunction with a wired connection is impossible because the 3.5mm connector on the headset immediately turns the battery off.
Three different, nearly identical models of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 are also available. We will evaluate the Arctis Nova 7; however, there is an Arctis Nova 7P Wireless and an Arctis Nova 7X Wireless.
The Arctis Nova 7P Wireless is identical to the Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, except for a blue headband. The Arctis Nova 7X Wireless sports a touch of green in its headband and an Xbox switch to enable wireless connections to Microsoft’s consoles. It also has a little larger USB-C dongle. Game and mobile audio mixing are possible with simultaneous wireless (2.4GHz and Bluetooth).
How long does the battery of the Arctis Nova Pro 7 Wireless last?
While the Arctis Nova 7 Wireless is linked through its USB dongle, SteelSeries claims that 38 hours of listening may be achieved on a single charge.
The Arctis Nova 7’s battery life in our battery test, which uses a standard file of genuine music with a 75dB (SPL) peak, was 41 hours and 15 minutes. That outcome is both much above average and above the official spec.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7+, Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX, and HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless are some notable competitors on the market, and the Arctis Nova 7 Wireless battery performs worse than its predecessor by roughly 30 hours.
Fast charging is also supported by the Arctis Nova 7, which is uncommon for gaming headsets. With just 15 minutes of charge, you can stay turned on for 6 hours.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 is adequate in reducing outside noise. Because there is no active noise cancellation (ANC), you must rely only on the passive noise isolation capabilities of the headset to block out external sounds.
The outcomes are very typical for a set of over-ear headphones. You shouldn’t experience any problems at home with everyday noises like the clatter of dishes or the sound of the TV coming down the hall. You’ll hear things like doorbells, people speaking to you, and the noticeable hum of a refrigerator, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Nevertheless, carrying this about is less appealing due to the absence of the ANC. This is unfortunate because the headset may have made an excellent alternative to bring to a café with Bluetooth compatibility and a retractable microphone.
What is the audio quality of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless?
With a few noticeable exceptions, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7’s audio output comes near our internal target. The bass comes through between 100 and 200 Hz up to around 5 dB more robust than we often like to see, and there is a very noticeable dip at 400 Hz, even if the sub-bass is nicely highlighted.
While there are some apparent flaws in the bass and midrange sound, the high-range frequency response is much wonkier, with a significant dip at 5 kHz and a significant overemphasis at 7 kHz.
The lows, mids and highs
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 produces generally good audio quality; however, the bass focus can obscure some music’s finer elements. In Polyphia’s song, the whistling that enters during the song’s bridge is incredibly difficult to detect due to the bass guitar’s overwhelming presence.
The competing guitar parts sound much less distinct in the song’s louder sections. However, vocal recordings can often suffer more noticeably. Take Wilco’s Falling Apart, where Jeff Tweedy’s voice frequently blends in with the guitar and bass.
However, it seems like this will work just fine for gaming. A gaming headset will typically have a little more emphasis on the bass, but because the sub-bass isn’t unduly enhanced, the rumble of explosions and gunshots shouldn’t be too overwhelming.
There are workarounds for the midrange dip, which may make voices seem a little less distinct. First, SteelSeries Sonar makes it simple to EQ both the game and chat audio channels. You can always increase conversation volume to compensate for difficulty hearing individuals during voice chat.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 handles Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 on PlayStation 5’s mixture of punk music and in-game noises quite well. Additionally, SteelSeries Sonar’s integrated spatial sound capability performs admirably.
Positional audio cues were generally presented with decent precision while I was playing Apex Legends on the PC. Additionally, the headset does a great job with the PlayStation 5’s 3D audio capability.
Can voice chat be done on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless?
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7’s microphone is pretty good for a gaming headset. Although it doesn’t sound like something you might use to record a podcast, it works well for voice chat because it is loud, clear, and has good sound.
Keystrokes and room reflections will undoubtedly be audible due to the microphone’s poor noise rejection (unless the program you’re running mutes that kind of sound). You should be likely to prevent breath noises instead simply because of the microphone’s flexibility, at the very least.
This is undoubtedly a possible solution if you’re searching for anything to help you get through lengthy Zoom sessions while working from home.
Should you purchase the Wireless SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7?
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless would be the perfect option if you liked how the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless looked but simply couldn’t afford it. The default sound is underwhelming, however other than that, this gaming headset is pretty well perfect.
It has excellent battery life, is very easy to use, and is comfy. Fast charging makes up for the inferior battery life, which was already a little setback. SteelSeries Sonar does a great job of filling in the gaps in almost any (gaming) feature.
What are the differences between the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless and Arctis 7+ Wireless?
Although the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 borrows heavily from the Arctis Nova Pro, the Arctis 7 hasn’t been around for that long. Although it lacks the fresh appearance of its Nova cousin, the SteelSeries Arctis 7+ Wireless is unquestionably still competitive.
First of all, it is less expensive and will likely become more affordable now that the Nova 7 is out. It utterly destroys the newer headset with a battery life of over 71 hours and the same USB-C dongle.
However, the Arctis 7+ sounds poorer in all the identical ways that the Arctis Nova 7 sounds a little off. The emphasis on the bass is much increased, and the apex of the high-range sound is similar.
You might find it essential that the Arctis 7+ does not support Bluetooth. In other words, you might be better off purchasing the Arctis 7+ if battery life is your priority. If not, the USD 10 premium for the Arctis Nova 7 will be more than justified.
What alternative should you choose over the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless?
There are several excellent options if you’re looking for a nice wireless gaming headset around $200 USD. First off, with a battery life of more than 327 hours on a single charge, the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless offers the best battery life available for a gaming headset (or a headset of any kind, for that matter).
Its compatibility is limited outside popular gaming platforms because it lacks a wired connection option and a USB-C dongle, but it also sounds far better than the Arctis Nova 7.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 is an inexpensive option if you’re looking for something. While the Arctis Nova 3 does not enable wireless connectivity, it does have USB-C and 3.5mm device interfaces and is compatible with practically everything.
Fewer treble peaks and troughs are present in the frequency response, resulting in a marginally more constant audio output. Instead, you may purchase the Razer Barracuda X for the same USD 99 (2022).
The Barracuda X in 2022 has a closer frequency response to our goal curve, Bluetooth and USB wireless audio, and well under 60 hours of playback on a single charge. Although the headset isn’t quite as comfy, it is substantially lighter, which can significantly reduce problems.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Are Arctis 7X good?
The SteelSeries Arctis 7X is a fantastic wireless gaming controller. Using their USB dongle, you can wirelessly connect with extremely little latency to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, and Nintendo Switch consoles. The battery life of these headphones is slightly under 24 hours, and they fit well.
Is the Arctis Nova 7 better than the Arctis 7?
The headset’s audio quality has improved from the Arctis 7’s last release but is still far from flawless. Nevertheless, this is a decent alternative at a fair price that works almost anywhere.
Does Apple own SteelSeries?
Gaming devices and accessories from SteelSeries, a Danish company, include headphones, keyboards, mice, controllers, and mousepads. GN Store Nord purchased SteelSeries in 2021.
Is Arctis 7X surround sound?
The 7.1 Surround Sound technology in the headset provides a more realistic gaming experience.
Why is Arctis 7 so quiet?
The following techniques can be used to increase the volume of your headphones:
- Disabling the volume cap
- By boosting the Audio Gain
- Using third-party software
The SteelSeries Arctis 7 wireless gaming headphones have audio sensitivity of 98 dB, which is loud enough. But others have complained that Arctis 7 is excessively quiet.
Does the Arctis 7X have noise Cancelling?
Although the Arctis 7X lacks active noise cancellation, it can separate mild ambient noises like down-the-hall music or side chatting while gaming. It might, however, have trouble blocking out louder noises, such as nearby traffic or roaring air conditioners.
Conclusion
The SteelSeries Nova 7X review is an overall enhancement, which is all you need to know if you’ve been a fan of the SteelSeries Arctis line. The new design offers an appearance in step with stylish headphones, making the build more robust and more comfortable.
Sonar, one of the most comprehensive audio apps you’re likely to discover on PC, includes dozens of expertly calibrated presets for well-known games like Apex Legends and Destiny 2. The hardware manufacturer has also improved its software offerings.
However, you give up that control when using a console, and your out-of-the-box sound, which is more natural and balanced and doesn’t emphasize the bass or highs, might not be what you’re going for. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X would be ideal if SteelSeries could develop a mobile version of Sonar for headsets.
As it is, this is a remarkable development of the Arctis sound, all contained in a thin and incredibly comfy packaging that you’ll be happy to wear for hours.