Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Omni Review

SteelSeries' Arctis Nova Pro Omni gaming headset is a significant upgrade to an already highly recommended model, positioning itself just below the luxury tier at a $400 price point. Despite the cost, its high-resolution sound, long-term comfort, and unmatched versatility make it a compelling option. The headset shares a similar slim, low-profile design with the rest of the Arctis Nova line, featuring SteelSeries' signature elastic headband for comfort and secure, continuously sliding telescoping arms. The earcups are lined with plush, deep foam padding and a premium leatherette material, which, while potentially warm, creates a superior seal. Even with a slightly tighter clamp force, the comfortable ear pads allow for extended wear of up to five hours. Onboard controls are conveniently located on the left earcup, including a power button, mic mute toggle, and volume wheel, alongside a 3.5mm audio jack and a retractable microphone. The USB-C port is discreetly hidden behind a magnetic cap on the left earcup, as the headset primarily relies on its innovative swappable battery system. A key feature is the return of SteelSeries' unique swappable battery system, with one battery for the headset and another for the charging base station, ensuring continuous power. Swapping batteries takes only about 10 seconds, and with careful timing, the headset can remain powered on. Each battery provides approximately 20-25 hours of life, depending on features like ANC. The multi-purpose base station is central to the Nova Pro Omni's versatility. It offers line-in and line-out for wired connections, three USB-C ports for connecting multiple devices wirelessly, and crucially, includes Xbox's proprietary wireless protocol, eliminating the need for separate console-specific models. This allows simultaneous connection to a PC, PS5, Xbox, and an auxiliary source, plus Bluetooth, with seamless switching via the base station. While this necessitates using the base station for 2.4 GHz wireless instead of a dongle, the advantages outweigh this minor inconvenience. The base station also acts as a control hub, featuring a tactile volume dial and a touch button for navigating an LED screen, allowing on-the-fly adjustments. For more in-depth customization, the SteelSeries GG software suite offers options like custom EQ, ANC, noise gate, and sidetone. The Sonar feature within the app provides advanced tuning, including EQ band adjustments and spatial audio control, allowing for tailored experiences for competitive gaming or immersive cinematic playback. Out-of-the-box, the Nova Pro Omni delivers fantastic, clean, and detailed sound quality with clear frequencies, solid bass, and minimal distortion. It provides the positional audio necessary for high-level competitive play, accurately conveying sound cues like footsteps and gunfire in terms of direction and distance. Its ability to handle busy soundscapes in games like Final Fantasy 14, with distinct and elegant audio reproduction, is a testament to its quality. The headset also excels in delivering impactful sound and crucial subtle audio cues in games like Sorrowes. While default EQ settings are impressive, tweaking audio profiles, particularly spatial audio, can enhance immersion without sacrificing detail. The headset's audio drivers respond well to minor bass boosts, rounding out music playback. High-resolution audio playback (96 kHz/24-bit) is a feature for audiophiles, offering subtle nuances for those who seek the best possible sound capabilities. The microphone is a standout improvement over the original Nova Pro, delivering clear voice output comparable to a decent standalone mic, with minimal background noise pickup. The mic automatically mutes when retracted, a convenient addition. Compared to the Odyssey Maxwell 2, the Nova Pro Omni offers superior versatility, though the Maxwell 2 might have a slightly preferred sound profile due to its larger drivers and more spacious earcups. Both are excellent headsets, but the Nova Pro Omni's comprehensive feature set, including the multi-purpose base station, robust software, and innovative battery system, makes a strong case for its $400 price tag, especially for those looking to invest in a high-end gaming headset.