SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 vs Nova 5 vs Nova 1
Comparison SteelSeries Arctis Nova gaming headsets
- You can wirelessly connect this headset to your favorite platform.
- Thanks to surround sound, you can hear where your enemies are.
- This headset is made of sturdy materials like metal.
- Without noise canceling, you're less focused while gaming.
- You can wirelessly connect this headset to your favorite platform.
- With the special app, you can choose from over 100 audio profiles.
- You don't have to charge this headset as often thanks to the long battery life.
- This headset is made of plastic, so it's less sturdy.
- You can connect this wired headset to every platform.
- Others can understand you better thanks to the noise-suppressing microphone.
- With memory foam, you can play for a long time without getting sore ears.
- Due to stereo sound, you can hear the direction of shots aimed at you less clearly.
Comparison SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 vs Nova 5 vs Nova 1
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 | SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 | SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless | Yes | Yes | No |
| Surround sound | Yes | Yes | No |
| Memory foam | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life | 38 hours | 60 hours | - |
Connect
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 and 7: wireless
You can wirelessly connect these SteelSeries headsets to your favorite platform. That way, you game with more freedom of movement and you can quickly get up to grab a drink. SteelSeries made these gaming headsets in a PlayStation and Xbox version, so you can always game wirelessly.
Arctis Nova 1: wired
You can connect the Arctis Nova 1 to any platform via a 3.5mm cable. That way, you can easily switch from your Nintendo Switch to your PlayStation 5. This does mean you're always bound to a cable, so you have less freedom of movement. Cables also wear out faster, so noise and crackling sounds start to occur more often.
Sound reproduction
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7: surround
This gaming headset has surround sound. That means you can hear where the sound is coming from better. You can clearly hear it when a helicopter flies overhead or where an enemy is walking, for example. That's useful for games like Call of Duty or Fortnite.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5: surround with app
Just like the Nova 7, the Nova 5 has surround sound. As an extra, the Nova 5 has its own app. Here, you can choose from 100 audio profiles. That way, you can choose the sound that sounds the best with your game. This software was only available on PC at first, but you can also set up the sound well on other platforms thanks to this app.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1: stereo
The Nova 1 only has stereo sound, so it's less easy to estimate where the shots aimed at you are coming from. You can clearly hear the treble and bass with the Artcis Nova 1 and the other Nova headsets thanks to the Nova Acoustic System. You can still immerse yourself in your game this way, but the experience is better with surround sound.
Materials
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7: metal
This SteelSeries headset honors the company name, as the headset has a metal headband. That means the Nova 7 can take a hit better. The Nova 7 is a bit heavier, but it's still light for a sturdy headset at 325g.
Arctis Nova 1 and 5: plastic
The Nova 1 and 5 are made of plastic. This makes the headsets much lighter, but also more sensitive to damage. You always have to store this headset carefully. You'll also see stains faster on the plastic casing.
Conclusion
Is the most important thing to you that you don't want to disturb anyone while you're gaming and don't mind wired gaming? The SteelSeries Artcis Nova 1 is the headset for you. If you want to game wirelessly and adjust the sound yourself, the Arctis Nova 5 is a good choice. For a sturdy wireless headset with surround sound, we recommend the Arctis Nova 7.
