SteelSeries' Arctis Nova Pro wireless gaming headset comes with an all-new design that sets it apart from previous Arctis models. It is not only in terms of audio and quality-of-life features, but also in terms of style and overall craftsmanship; the name Nova comes from the Latin word novus, meaning "new. As befits a gaming headset that ventures into somewhat uncharted territory, but pays a premium for the privilege of gaming at the cutting edge, consider around $350 (£330).

To make the price worth it, SteelSeries' plan is to make the Arctis Nova Pro an "everything" headset, not just for gaming. 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity to two different devices simultaneously via Bluetooth The multi-system connect feature, which allows you to connect to two different devices simultaneously via 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth, is the true champion of this product; the freedom to listen to a podcast on your phone while gaming on your PC, then switch off the Wi-Fi and walk out while listening without being disturbed, is in a way revolutionary for SteelSeries.

The Arctis Nova Pro is now more portable with hot-swappable lithium-ion batteries. These batteries slot into the side of the ESS Sabre Quad-DAC or are charged within an hour through a USB Type-C charging cable connected to the headset. When the batteries are about to run out, they are simply replaced, but it takes two and a half days of full use.

Recharging the lithium battery is easy and, if done quickly, will not cause it to run out of power in the process. While lithium-ion batteries have their drawbacks, such as being sensitive to temperature and not recharging when completely depleted, the spare battery fully recharges in less than an hour, and I am convinced that more gaming headsets should include this feature. There is little reason to remove the Arctis Nova Pro from my head other than to watch, as it is a truly unbounded experience. I have even taken it into bed with me.

When I finally removed it to put it around my neck as the most expensive piece of jewelry I've ever owned (rather comfortably), I was shocked to remember how much ambient noise is generated in the real world by the Nova Pro's active "four-mic hybrid system" After experiencing the noise cancellation and three levels of hear-through, I had almost forgotten how loud the Razer Blackwidow X Chroma's (opens in new tab) ticking green switch was.

The fully retractable ClearCast Gen2 microphone is a bit fuzzier than expected in default mode, but the noise reduction feature does a great job of disabling it; it even has AI noise cancellation, but it's not as loud as Nvidia's RTX Voice ( Open in new tab), for example, but it's still a bit ahead of the curve.

Sadly, my friend could hear me blasting out a sacred 10-hour Wii music loop with the microphone fully retracted (the fact that it sits flat in the earcups, for example, makes the Razer Kraken X (open in new tab) than when wearing, say, the Razer Kraken X (opens in new tab)), though it means I don't look like a flight controller. However, the AI functionality is still under study and will eventually be improved through software.

Speaking of software, the SteelSeries GG software has introduced something called Sonar, which is a great companion to the Nova Pro. At the forefront is a comprehensive equalizer. Instead of a simple slider, it operates with a fully adjustable parametric curve that gives audiophiles a lot to play with.

I, too, was impressed by its ability to increase bass and gain without distortion. My inner raver was supremely pleased when I discovered that Minecraft traps actually slap (open in new tab). The same could not be said when listening to the same song on an Arctis 7X (open in new tab) with the same Sonar settings.

While there are hardware-specific Sonar features like the upcoming AI noise cancellation, the Sonar equalizer curve could benefit any older headset. In particular, this is because it highlights which parts of the curve are related to specific sounds in the game (footsteps, explosions, etc.). To make the most of this insider knowledge, we have even delivered presets for the top games, with more presets being added as time goes on.

Sonar's spatial audio is precise, with sliders to control performance and immersion. There are many other toggles to achieve the audio you want, including game chat, microphone, and master mixer. There are also several levels of sidetone to choose from, allowing you to convey an impressive sound to others without delay.

The DACs for both the PlayStation and Xbox versions are well designed (each looks slightly different) and keep many of these settings close at hand so you can switch between them without alt-tabbing out during the game. Both have a 3.5mm line in/out as well as two USB Type-C connections for "gaming's first" multi-system connection, so you can keep your PlayStation 5 and PC connected at all times.

The DAC also functions as a 96kHz/24-bit amplifier similar to the Arctis Pro + (open in new tab), boasting a wide frequency response of 10-40 kHz; when combined with the Sonar equalizer, the quality of the newly designed drivers becomes very apparent becomes.

Unfortunately, Sonar EQ can only be used with a wireless connection, but with Bluetooth you can pause and skip music by tapping or double-tapping a button on the headset. In other words, it's a win/win situation.

And all this in a snazzy, PVD-coated steel frame, brushed gunmetal look; at 12 ounces (338 g), the HyperX Cloud Alpha (open in new tab), which currently holds the #1 spot It's not as light as it could be, but it still manages to be super comfortable. Especially thanks to the mega-soft, cushioned earpads, swivel earcups, and four-point adjustable padded tension band.

The Nova Pro is better than any headset on our list when it comes to quality-of-life features, but it is also very much more expensive than the average wireless gaming headset. Still, the absolute torrent of functionality really makes us want to recommend the Nova Pro.

On the one hand, you can buy this ultra-high-spec gaming headset, redesigned to take into account the successes and failures of the previous generation, or you can pay $100 and get a cheaper gaming headset. Frankly, I'd rather invest the full $350 and have the Nova Pro screwed into my head permanently.

Although, I will unscrew it if I need to go outside of the device's range.