Is a $600 Headset Worth It?

It may seem like a high price, but this might be the ultimate headset for you.

When we say that our headsets take things to the next level, those aren’t just empty words. With the release of Arctis Nova Elite, our gaming headset lineup grew with an offering unlike our previous entries.

Crossing into the realm of audiophile headphones, Arctis Nova Elite is unique in the gaming headset space. It’s our first hi-res wireless audio headset that also allows you to seamlessly mix up to four sources. With improved ANC and new AI mic noise rejection, it’s truly the all-in-one headset, especially since it works with virtually any platform.

It’s the culmination of features from the entire Arctis Nova lineup, and more.

Reviewers have also raved about it. It’s easy to fall in love with the beautiful Sage & Gold, made with premium materials. Is this price tag worth it? Let’s discuss a few reasons why it’s worth the splurge.

Incredible Audio Quality: World's First Hi-Res Wireless Certified Gaming Headset

Playing games with Arctis Nova Elite is unlike any other headset experience. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself deeply in a story-driven game like God of War or Ghost of Yotei, or you play some Fortnite and Call of Duty with your buddies, the special-made carbon fiber drivers produce truly outstanding sound. No other SteelSeries headset offers this kind of driver currently, which makes Arctis Nova Elite truly a class of its own.

Lightweight yet ultra-rigid for faster response, the drivers lower distortion while emitting smooth clarity without harsh peaks. Brass surround holds driver in place, enabling a truly pistonic motion, for ultra-accurate sound reproduction.

In a world first, this is a gaming headset that is hi-res wireless certified, producing 96kHz/24-bit audio. SteelSeries received a certification from the Japan Audio Society, an authority in this space.

Hi-res audio packs a much higher sampling rate and bit depth, bringing out a lot more detail; up to 3x more than other headsets! In combination with the carbon fiber speaker drivers, the sound quality of the Arctis Nova Elite is mind-blowing. And you can take it even further by using the mobile Arctis Companion app which has game-specific audio presets to tune the EQ.

Also, everyone loves ANC. You've got the best Active Noise Cancellation in gaming with Arctis Nova Elite; it's 42% more powerful than other gaming headsets, reducing up to 89% of background noise. This way nothing gets in the way of your pure hi-res wireless audio.

Awesome Quality-of-Life Features

I think when we say “quality of life” we mean that you’ll be living like royalty. The era of waiting on your headset to be charged is over. What we call the Infinite Power System is actually an extremely efficient system that eliminates downtime for your hi-res audio. When using one battery, your GameHub is always charging up the other, ready for a super-quick switch. We’ve heard lots of feedback that once you experience this feature, you won’t go back.

It's not all about listening, either. Arctis Nova Elite features two microphones. Your voice is clearer than ever with a ClearCast microphone that removes up to 97% of background noise. It's so good, we had to use a helicopter to test it out. There is also a secondary, discreet beamforming mic included, so when you're out and about, there's no need to pull out the main one.

There are more reasons why Arctis Nova Elite is not just great at your gaming station, but everywhere else.

Headset for Every Situation

Traditionally, headsets have been confined to our desks. It’s time to let go of that notion, because you can truly get so much more out of them. Especially from a headset like Arctis Nova Elite. With its powerful, completely seamless multi-source mixing, you're no longer tied to wires. Start up the playlist from your Spotify and go for a walk with your headset.

You can mix up to 4 audio sources at once without any loss in quality. Zero distortion. Even if that sounds like too much, you can basically keep your Bluetooth always connected to your Nova Elite, so whether you’re actively gaming or not, you can take a call or listen to other media. And as mentioned above, it’s such a seamless transition that you’ll forget about your AirPods completely. You’re ready to go, and with much higher audio quality to boot.

“But what if I get a call when I’m walking around? I don’t want this microphone sticking out…” Don’t worry as mentioned above, that’s solved as well. You can keep the main microphone completely retracted – there’s a secondary discreet onboard mic that will automatically activate. You won’t cramp your style at all. Not to mention that the headset is really eye-catching and stylish.

When you get back home, your GameHub awaits, which can serve as your ultimate media center, since you can plug in your console and PC. OmniPlay allows you to connect, mix, and play on any system, with three system inputs. Whether you play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, or any handheld such as Steam Deck or ROG Xbox Ally X, it just works.

The Critics Love Arctis Nova Elite

Don’t take just our own word for why Arctis Nova Elite is a game-changer. Multiple reviewers have been raving about Arctis Nova Elite, calling it a “Masterpiece” or the best-gaming headset they’ve seen. For instance, IGN has given it a full 10! Here’s what they had to say:

“The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is the best gaming headset that I've ever tested, offering small, meaningful, and multi-faceted upgrades over the already-excellent Arctis Nova Pro Wireless… If you want the ultimate gaming headset at any price – an all-in-one offering that works brilliantly across PC, consoles, and mobile – this is what I'd recommend.”

IGN

HiFi Oasis also praised Arctis Nova Elite in their review, calling it the “all-in-one headset that the luxury audiophile gamer is looking for.” Defying the typical categories, step into that audiophile territory but with a headset aimed at gamers. Remember that only with SteelSeries you can get access to 200+ EQ presets that are specifically tuned to games, raising immersion or granting audio advantages not found anywhere else.

Hypebeast also raved about Arctis Nova Elite, saying that “SteelSeries is no stranger to pushing limits and expectations when it comes to gaming peripherals.” They point that Apple’s AirPods Max are actually similarly priced. So why not stand out with an incredibly good-looking headset that you can take with you everywhere?

Is the Arctis Nova Elite worth buying?

This headset has a set of features that you really can't find anywhere else. It's the first hi-res wireless-certified game audio system. It allows you to listen to console, PC, and mobile simultaneously. Arctis Nova Elite offers so much, making it a really attractive package.

If you’re up for it, all you need is to decide on which design speaks to you more: