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I absolutely love reviewing hardware. It gives me a chance to really put the thousands of games I have to the test. Headsets are always fun as well as I dig into each and every feature. This time around I am checking out the latest high-end models of the SteelSeries line called the NovaPro. I got to spend a couple weeks with both the wired and wireless models of these sets and came away impressed. The sound is amazing and I adore the LED display on the base unit. There are some hang-ups though to discuss so without further hesitation, let’s get right into this.

Presentation

The packaging for both headsets is packed with quality. The thick cardboard protects the device and comes with a carrying bag and all the necessary wires to get setup. The base unit is a sleek design with a front LED display that is easy to navigate. The dial changes volume while clicking once switches to setting game audio and chat audio. Holding down the button then opens up the advanced settings such as equalizers and mic monitoring. It is all intuitive and looks great.

MSRP: $349.99 (wireless) $249.99 (wired)
Price I’d Pay: $349.99

The headphones themselves are compact with removable ear cups for customization. They feel good, but I was disappointed after using the recent Lucid Sound headset with its ear cooling pads. My ears were definitely toasty after an hour or so of play with the Nova Pro. The fit feels good for any head size. The band at the top keeps from giving me a headache, which is an issue for a lot of sets I have used. The cups are also smaller than other sets I have used and the left cup was so close I could feel it rubbing against my ear at times. They are compact but it comes with some costs.

Functionality

The controls on the headset itself are much of what you would expect. The microphone is hidden within the headset itself. It can be challenging to extend it. There is a thumb grip, but I found myself stumbling with it every time. There is also an optional puff filter that can be added, so having that as a separate piece feels clunky. The volume dial feels good and the mute button is easy to reach. The power button on the left cup serves three purposes. Obviously holding it turns the headset off. A single press will turn on/off ANC (auto-noise canceling), while a double tap will activate talk-through mode. This allows for better hearing of your surroundings. Good when you have kids and need to hear them telling you what they recently broke.

The right cup has a Bluetooth button that also has multifunctionality. Pressing it once will play and pause if you are playing audio through it from a phone or other device. This will also answer and hang-up calls on a phone. Double pressing the button will skip to the next track while a triple one will go back. The included base unit has a ton of extra options including preset equalizers as well as a custom one. There is also mic-monitoring, switching between Bluetooth and game audio (for the wireless set) and so much more. There is truly a ton of customization in the device.

Sadly the included cable will only provide a few feet of leash. Thankfully it is just a USB-A to USB-C cable so it was easy to replace if I needed more length. This is more imperative for the wired set as even with both cables, it was simply not enough length to enjoy comfortably on my chair in front of the TV.

Comparing Wired to Wireless

We had the opportunity to compare both versions of the Nova Pro. For the most part both headsets themselves are identical. They feel the same on my ears and both sound impressive. The wires are the biggest deterrent here. As I mentioned the length of the included wires is simply not enough for playing away from the TV. This feels designed to be used sitting at something like a computer desk. Replacing the cable is easy and cheap so it’s not a huge downside. The wire rarely got in my way, but I would be lying if I didn’t say the wireless option was much more convenient. Sadly, I did run into an issue with the wireless set. During play time I would have drops and interference where the game sound and chat audio would come across robotic. It happened in multiple sessions. I am assuming it was due to interference from other devices, but it was annoying nonetheless.

Sound Design

One area the Nova Pro excels is sound. From the minute I put these on it was incredible. The bass pounds and the dynamic audio is excellent. I spent a ton of time playing online shooters and single player experiences and it was amazing. Hearing gunshots ring in the distance and explosions rocking my ears was truly amazing. The surround is incredible. I could hear footsteps behind me in Overwatch, while thumping along to some amazing chiptunes in classic games. These headphones sound amazing and that is what is important.

The preset equalizers offer up plenty of range and being able to customize is excellent. I was able to tweak things exactly the way I wanted. The mic quality is also excellent. People told me they could hear me clearly and likewise I could hear them perfectly. Everything sounds great mixed together. This headset definitely delivers where it counts.

Conclusion

This is a price headset, but it comes with enough bells and whistles to make it worthwhile. The sound quality is excellent and the build is solid. I have a few gripes but I can easily see this becoming my new go-to when it comes to console headsets. I recommend spending the extra money to get the wireless for sure, but the wired ones are solid with an upgrade cable for length if you intend to game in a normal environment. SteelSeries continues to make some of my favorite console headsets and the Nova Pro is no exception.

Review hardware provided by publisher.