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SteelSeries

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (Base)

Name: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (Base)
Brand: SteelSeries
SKU: B0B8Q4CR52
Price: 36.49 USD

The Arctis Nova 1 is a budget-oriented gaming headset with a focus on comfort, but does it deliver on sound quality as well?

Current price · Amazon US

$36.49

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Price last checked 1d ago

Key specs

Connection Type

Wired-3.5mmMost common

Wired-3.5mm32%Bluetooth29%2.4GHZ25%Wired-usb-c10%

Wired-3.5mm is the most common — on 32% of the 182 gaming headsets we've cataloged (of 149).

Connectivity

Connection Type: Wired-3.5mm
Headphone Jack: Yes
Platform Compatibility: PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
USB Charging: No

Build

Material Ear Cups: Memory foam, AirWeave mesh

Design

Headband Type: Elastic band with adjustable earcups
Ear Pad Inner Dimensions: 44×57 mm
Ear Pad Type: Fabric mesh
Foldable: No
Weight: 235 g

Features

Companion App: IOS + Android
Eq Customization: Full parametric EQ
Rgb Lighting: No

Microphone

Boom Style: Retractable boom
Frequency Response High Hz: 10000 Hz
Frequency Response Low Hz: 100 Hz
Noise Reduction Type: Active noise cancellation
Polar Pattern: Bidirectional
Microphone: Yes
Is Detachable: No
Sensitivity: -38 dBV/Pa

Sound

Acoustic Design: Closed-back
Driver Size: 40 mm
Frequency Response High Hz: 22000 Hz
Frequency Response Low Hz: 20 Hz
Impedance: 36 Ω
Sensitivity: 93 dB/mW
Surround Sound Format: Virtual 7.1, Windows Sonic

Battery

Battery: No

SoundGuys review

Read the full review ›

SOUNDGUYS rating

7.0/ 10

Recommended

Reviewed byRiley BallantyneWriterReviewed September 2023

Isolation3.8

Comfort & fit8.5

Connectivity6.5

Design7.5

Portability7.0

Features6.5

The verdict

Useful both at home and on the go thanks to its minimal design, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 delivers comfort, build quality, and acceptable sound all at an excellent price point. It won't please those who want the flashiness that other gaming headsets offer, but it's a strong contender regarding pared-down gaming headsets.

✓What we like

✓Excellent value

✓Solid comfort

✓Detachable headphone cable

✓Retractable microphone

✕What could be better

✕Limited set of features

Read the full SoundGuys review →

Lab data

How we test ›

Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.

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SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (Base)SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve

Measured frequency response (dB) against the SoundGuys house target — the dashed curve. The closer the measured line tracks the target, the more neutral the tuning; peaks ride above the target, dips fall below it.

Frequency response — measurement data

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (Base): frequency response, as measured in the SoundGuys lab. Frequency in hertz.
Frequency (Hz)	Response (dB)
20	-0.7
25	0.3
32	0.8
40	0.4
50	0.8
63	-0.5
80	0.3
100	1.6
125	1.7
160	1.7
200	1.5
250	0.8
315	-1.7
400	-4.2
500	-4.1
630	-1.8
800	-0.2
1000	-0.0
1250	1.8
1600	3.3
2000	4.5
2500	5.4
3150	6.0
4000	-0.3
5000	3.2
6300	8.1
8000	9.6
10000	8.3
12500	-2.8
16000	-6.4
20000	-19.5

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (Base)

Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.

Passive isolation — measurement data

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (Base): passive isolation, as measured in the SoundGuys lab. Frequency in hertz.
Frequency (Hz)	Attenuation (dB)
21	2.9
26	3.0
33	-0.5
41	0.3
52	-0.3
65	-0.3
82	-1.5
103	-0.6
130	-1.6
163	-1.7
205	-1.3
259	-0.8
325	1.2
410	0.4
516	-0.2
613	1.2
772	5.3
972	11.0
1220	12.6
1540	22.9
1940	22.0
2440	28.3
3070	29.1
3870	32.5
4870	37.5
6130	40.4
7720	34.4
9720	36.1
12200	14.0
15400	26.6
19400	39.0