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SteelSeries

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (Base)

Name: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (Base)
Brand: SteelSeries
SKU: B0B8Q4CR52
Price: 58.03 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

$58.03

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Key specs

Connection Type

Wired-3.5mmMost common

Wired-3.5mm34%Bluetooth26%2.4GHZ26%Wired-usb-c11%

Wired-3.5mm is the most common — on 34% of the 197 gaming headsets we've cataloged (of 145).

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

Sound

Acoustic Design: Closed-back
Driver Size: 40 mm
Frequency Response: 20-22000 Hz
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

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 relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.

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.

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

SoundGuys 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.

✓Liked: Excellent value, Solid comfort, Detachable headphone cable, Retractable microphone

✕Could be better: Limited set of features

Read the full SoundGuys review →

Owners

How we verify owners

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Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.

Own the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (Base)?

Three answers, four quick reads, one sentence nobody tells you before buying. Shown under a pseudonym. Sign-in needed to publish.