Gaming Headsets
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni
8.4SoundGuys scoreRead our review ›
$399.99at Amazon
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1 / 9SteelSeries
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 (Base)
Sound
4.4/ 5
SoundMDAQS Overall4.4
1.05.0
A 4.4 puts its audio quality in the top third of gaming headsets we've measured.
Measured on 19 of the 149 we've cataloged.
Key specs
Battery Life Wireless
40 hAbove average40 h
8 h90 h
above average for gaming headsets — based on 83 of 149 we've cataloged.
Bluetooth Codec
AAC, SBCMost commonSbc46%Aac28%LC38%Others18%
Aac is the most common — on 28% of the 72 gaming headsets we've cataloged (of 149).
Bluetooth Version
5.3Most common5.342%5.230%5.018%5.17%
5.3 is the most common — on 42% of the 60 gaming headsets we've cataloged (of 149).
Connection Type
Wired-3.5mm32%Bluetooth29%2.4GHZ25%Wired-usb-c10%
2.4GHZ appears on 25% of the 182 gaming headsets we've cataloged (of 149).
Battery
- Battery Life Wireless
- 40 h
- Charging Method
- USB-C
- Battery
- Yes
- Fast Charging
- Yes
Connectivity
- Bluetooth Codec
- AAC, SBC
- Bluetooth Version
- 5.3
- Connection Type
- Bluetooth, 2.4ghz
- Dongle Connector
- USB-C
- Headphone Jack
- Yes
- Platform Compatibility
- PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
- Wireless Protocol
- 2.4GHz + Bluetooth
- Console Certification
- Designed for Xbox, none
- USB Charging
- Yes
- Multipoint Devices
- 2 devices
Design
- Headband Type
- Adjustable over-head
- Ear Pad Type
- Memory foam, fabric
- Foldable
- No
- Weight
- 260 g
Features
- Companion App
- IOS + Android
- Control Type
- Physical buttons
- Eq Customization
- Presets only
- Chat Mix
- Yes
- Rgb Lighting
- Yes
- Rgb Zones
- 2
Microphone
- Boom Style
- Detachable boom
- Bit Depth
- 16 bit
- Microphone
- Yes
- Is Detachable
- Yes
- Is Retractable
- No
- Sample Rate
- 32 kHz
Sound
- Acoustic Design
- Closed-back
- Driver Size
- 40 mm
- Ambient Mode
- Adjustable level
- Anc Modes
- Off
- Driver Type
- Dynamic driver
- Frequency Response High Hz
- 22000 Hz
- Frequency Response Low Hz
- 20 Hz
- Frequency Response Signature
- Warm
- Noise Cancellation Type
- Passive
- Passive Isolation
- 30 dB
- Surround Sound Format
- Tempest 3D AudioTech, none
SoundGuys review
Read the full review ›Isolation5.0
Battery life9.2
Comfort & fit7.0
Connectivity7.5
Design6.0
Portability7.0
The verdict
The Nova 3X succeeds in bringing the excellent Arctis mobile app experience to a budget price point, but makes too many audio quality compromises to earn an easy recommendation.
✓What we like
✓App with plenty of EQ presets
✓Dual Wireless
✓Microphone quality
✓Lightweight
✕What could be better
✕May not fit larger heads well
Lab data
How we test ›Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 (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
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 3.6 |
| 25 | 4.3 |
| 32 | 4.3 |
| 40 | 5.0 |
| 50 | 4.3 |
| 63 | 3.7 |
| 80 | 5.5 |
| 100 | 6.5 |
| 125 | 6.0 |
| 160 | 5.4 |
| 200 | 4.2 |
| 250 | 2.3 |
| 315 | -1.0 |
| 400 | -3.8 |
| 500 | -3.3 |
| 630 | -1.1 |
| 800 | -0.1 |
| 1000 | -0.1 |
| 1250 | 0.9 |
| 1600 | 3.6 |
| 2000 | 7.6 |
| 2500 | 9.6 |
| 3150 | 9.5 |
| 4000 | 4.6 |
| 5000 | -1.6 |
| 6300 | 8.8 |
| 8000 | 12.0 |
| 10000 | 10.3 |
| 12500 | -2.3 |
| 16000 | -8.9 |
| 20000 | -22.6 |
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 (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
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 2.1 |
| 26 | 2.3 |
| 33 | 0.1 |
| 41 | -0.8 |
| 52 | 0.0 |
| 65 | 0.2 |
| 82 | -1.2 |
| 103 | -1.4 |
| 130 | -0.6 |
| 163 | -0.4 |
| 205 | 0.7 |
| 259 | 1.6 |
| 325 | 2.9 |
| 410 | 1.5 |
| 516 | 0.3 |
| 613 | 1.6 |
| 772 | 5.4 |
| 972 | 7.7 |
| 1220 | 13.1 |
| 1540 | 16.8 |
| 1940 | 25.7 |
| 2440 | 26.0 |
| 3070 | 23.2 |
| 3870 | 31.9 |
| 4870 | 35.3 |
| 6130 | 35.9 |
| 7720 | 35.1 |
| 9720 | 40.4 |
| 12200 | 27.0 |
| 15400 | 37.0 |
| 19400 | 32.8 |
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 (Base)
4.4
4.2
4.4
4.4
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (1–5), modeled from the measured response. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
Features & Opinions
More from the team ›Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
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Christian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.
Tom TriggsContributor
Christian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.Tom TriggsContributorMore Gaming Headsets
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