I was very happy when I found out that I get to test the new Steelseries Arctis Nova 3, in that I loved my old Steelseries Arctis 7. One is always curious what kind of improvements the Danish Steelseries has succeeded in making in recent years.
The Steelseries Arctis Nova 1, 3 and 7 were released last year and before we start the review let’s go over what differentiates the different models – because it’s not that easy even for me to keep track of this:
Nova 1: Nova Acoustic System, Ultralight headphones with ComfortMAX System that fit all PC and console platforms with a 3.5 mm jack.
Nova 3: Same specification as Nova 1, but also with RGB lighting, ClearCast Gen 2 noise reduction microphone and USB-C compatible.
Nova 7: Same specification as Nova 3 but this is also wireless and has Simultaneous Wireless (which makes it possible to mix games and mobile sound).
When you go through the above comparisons, you understand why Steelseries chose to add the following advantages to the box: Retractable Mic, RGB-Lights and Multi-Platform USB-C.
The reason is simply more to help the consumer understand more easily why you should choose Nova 3 over Nova 1. Because I can personally say that RGB lighting doesn’t really appeal to me who is 40+ and I really don’t think it’s this headset’s strongest advantage. But more on that later.
When we unpack the box, we find the following, apart from the headphones themselves:
1.2m USB-C to USB-C main cable
1.5m USB-C to USB-A adapter/extension cable
1.2m USB-C till 3,5 mm analog kabel
Stickers
I, who primarily play on PS5, will use the USB-C to 3.5 mm analog cable and therefore RGB lights will not work… This only works if you use USB-C, but having a cable from PS5 to the sofa seems I’m not really optimal – especially not when the one included is 1.2m.
All of you who read my tests know that I play a lot of FPS games, which in my opinion is one of the best ways to test headsets. Both in terms of sound quality and to test the microphone. So the last few weeks I’ve been playing APEX, Call of Duty as well as Hogwarts Legacy and Returnal to really test Sony’s Tempest 3D Audio.
The first thing you notice when you put on the Nova 3 is how light they are (285 grams!), but also how well they fit. The ComfortMAX system allows you to adjust the frame in four places and then the stretchy band ensures that the weight is distributed evenly. It’s a little trial and error in the beginning with the right setting, but really smooth and nice once you find the right one.
Nova 3 p memory foam AirWeave, which is used in the ear cups, is extremely soft and keeps the ears cool even after several hours of playing. The soundstage itself is really good and I didn’t expect anything else from Steelseries and PS5. 3D Audio sounds fantastic in Returnal. The only thing missing is some form of Noise Cancelling, but that’s also not something I expect from a headset in this price range.
The final test is how well the microphone works and my teammates in Call of Duty were really impressed with the noise reduction that the microphone uses (AI algorithms to reduce background noise). Then it’s also really convenient to be able to easily put the microphone back in the headset when you’re not using it.
Finally, the question is which Nova model should you choose? If you want a wireless connection, the Nova 7 is of course the choice, but if you want a wired connection to console/PC where you only have to use a 3.5mm connection, it might be worth looking at the Nova 1. Recommended price of Nova 3 is about SEK 1200 which I think is too expensive, this price is of course driven by the currency (since it costs 99 dollars in the USA) and I think the price should be there, around SEK 1000. Then the Nova 1, which costs around SEK 750, is a better choice if you don’t need RGB lights, USB-C and don’t need the microphone as much.
In summary, the Nova 3 is a really good headset, which sits very comfortably for a long time, with both very good sound and a nice microphone. However, the price point is a bit high and it’s a shame that the RGB lights only work with USB-C and the included cables are too short for console gaming.