MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite
The MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite is the perfect gaming headset I’ve ever examined, and gives probably the most full general bundle {that a} wi-fi headset can supply proper now, from design and options to sound high quality and mic.
Pros
- The most full gaming headset available on the market
- First-class gaming audio on all gadgets and different media, too
- Premium design and construct of each single half
- Tremendous connectivity and suppleness
- Brilliant ANC and microphone
Cons
- Only absolutely at its peak on PC
- Made for a *very* particular fanatic viewers
- features a smooth case solely – not exhausting
MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
The MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless continues to be an excellent wi-fi headset and might cowl you throughout all platforms and supply beautiful audio, regardless of the sport.
Pros
- Superb sound high quality throughout video games and platforms
- Very detailed audio in-game
- Great battery life and resolution
- Versatile and nice connectivity options
Cons
- ANC is sweet, however not world-beating
- Physical controls can take getting used to
The MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite vs MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless matchup has simply change into a really actual titanic conflict of two high-end gaming headsets, given the previous’s current launch into the gaming headset market.
Personally, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless was at all times my go-to advice to anybody who has a good finances within the headset house. I gave it 5 stars once I initially reviewed it for our sister web site, GamesRadar+, and can hold recommending it so long as I can. However, the arrival of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite has modified this – it is actually the perfect gaming headset I’ve ever utilized in all my years of reviewing gaming gear. It’s unbelievably good.
As a result, the Arctis Nova Elite vs Nova Pro Wireless matchup is one I have skin in the game of; I’m invested in this battle, and am a huge fan of both.
Therefore, I’m here to guide you through your comparison of the two premium sets to help you navigate to the best match for you and the best purchasing choice you can make.
I’ll be covering all the important stuff here, such as price and value, features and specs, and even dimensions and design, to help you pick your new premium wireless gaming headset from these two titans.
MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite vs MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: Price and Value
We are swimming in premium to super-premium gaming headset waters right here, so we’ll be throwing round some hefty worth tags. However, that is to not say we won’t discuss real worth on the similar time.
The MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite prices $599.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,349, and the MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless retails for $379.99 / £329.99 / AU$735.
Both are chunky quantities of money, there isn’t any doubt, however I’ve usually caught by the worth that MetalSeries headsets supply, and much more so after they go on sale.
The worth hole is a sizeable one too on the headsets’ itemizing costs: $220 / £270 or a 58% or 82% bounce within the US and UK, respectively. This is big, and US of us appear to have obtained away with one right here in the case of straight comparisons between the 2 sides of the Atlantic.
However, in the event you’re on this web page, you are doubtless available in the market for a super-duper headset, and thus are prone to be braced for such worth tags. And, in brief, I genuinely suppose each supply worth as premium units at their record costs.
You’ll doubtless get much more bang on your buck out of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless now, as it’s often discounted. However, you’ll be sacrificing a number of options and most of what makes the Elite distinctive. You’ll even have to make sure you get the appropriate model from a compatibility perspective, whereas the Elite works throughout all programs.
The Elite, nonetheless, has solely simply launched, so will doubtless be retaining its record worth for some time earlier than any reductions – and any we do see might be fractional, in my estimates. However, if you examine the audiophile-grade Hi-Res audio providing of the Elite to related wi-fi audiophile headphones, you’ll be able to immediately see that it’ll get you masses on your cash in a wi-fi gaming headset.
In phrases of worth cuts and offers, nonetheless, a severely discounted Nova Pro Wireless goes to be a world-beater in the case of worth, and if we see deep worth cuts on that headset to match its file low (round $230 / £200), or one thing even additional this Black Friday, then it might achieve an enormous edge in a straight up contest.
MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite vs MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: Specs & Performance
While a number of similarities lie within the meat of each units, the distinction in specs and efficiency is the place the principle contrasts are between the 2 premium headsets.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite |
MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless |
|
Price |
$599.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,349 |
$379.99 / £329.99 / AU$735 |
|
Weight |
13.4oz / 380g |
11.85oz / 336g |
|
Drivers |
40mm carbon fiber with brass encompass |
40mm neodymium |
|
Compatibility |
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile |
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile |
|
Connection kind |
Hi-Res wi-fi (2.4Ghz through dongle), Wired (USB-C and audio jack), Bluetooth 5.3 (LE Audio, LC3, LC3+) |
Wireless (2.4Ghz through dongle), Wired (USB-C and audio jack), Bluetooth 5.3 |
|
Battery life |
Up to 60 hours (2 x fully-charged batteries), Infinite Power System |
Up to 60 hours (2 x fully-charged batteries), Infinite Power System |
|
Features |
Certified Hi-Res audio (96kHz/24-bit), 40mm carbon fiber, brass ring encompass drivers, ClearCast Gen 2.X – Retractable Boom Mic and Smart-Switching On-Ear Beamforming Microphone with AI noise rejecting, ANC, Omniplay GameHub (join 4 gadgets concurrently) |
40mm Neodymium, ANC, magnetic drivers, 360-degree spatial audio, retractable ClearCast 2.X mic |
|
Software |
MetalSeries GG/Sonar (PC), MetalSeries Arctis Companion App (iOS & Android) |
MetalSeries GG/Sonar (PC) |
While the 2 headsets broadly look related on the skin (see extra on that beneath), they’re positively totally different on the within.
In phrases of the drivers delivering your audio, each headsets have the identical dimension: 40mm. But that is the place the similarities differ. The Elite has brand-new custom-designed carbon fiber drivers that sport a brass encompass ring. In distinction, the Nova Pro has MetalSeries’ trademark neodymium drivers. Both ship superior, superior sound, however there’s something actually particular and superior concerning the Elite’s newly designed drivers.
Both headsets’ wi-fi connectivity is finished by the standard 2.4Ghz dongle, however the Elite can transmit bona fide Hi-Res audio over it. The Elite additionally gives a lift to Bluetooth over the Nova Pro, providing a number of extra bells and whistles in the case of high-end audio codecs over that connection.
With tinkering and customisation, each will be altered to your take a look at, however with one key distinction. Sadly, MetalSeries’ good Arctis Companion App got here too late for the Nova Pro Wireless to see its advantages, however you’ll be able to nonetheless tailor that headset in MetalSeries’ GG or Sonar app on PC. The Elite does are compatible with the Arctis app, nonetheless, and subsequently will be altered on the fly whereas enjoying on console or out and about, and this actually is an additional feather within the cap for the dearer set.
The Elite gives extra within the microphone division. Largely as a result of it has a dual-mic system that gives on-ear built-in microphones in addition to a barely souped-up growth mic. Representing this within the type of numbers, the Elite’s growth mic gives a frequency response of 100-14,000Hz, and the Pro Wireless gives 100-6500Hz. The on-ear mics of the Elite are glorious too, and actually assist this be an excellent pair of headphones when out and about for taking calls too. But that is to not say the mic on the Pro Wireless is unhealthy – it stays the most effective I’ve had suggestions on from my on-line gaming mates and teammates. Tying a bow on this a part of the matchup is the very fact aht each have ANC, and whereas the Pro Wireless’ is nice, the Elite’s is excellent.
Audio high quality is the proof-giving pudding, although, in gaming headsets, and let me inform you straight away right here that both headset provides you with nice, nice gaming audio. They actually will. However, for me, the Elites do ‘win’ right here in the event you had been to attempt to be as goal as attainable and examine the 2. In each method, throughout my intensive testing and residing with the Elites, it doesn’t matter what recreation style, regardless of the media, the Elite’s audio is solely astounding and actually one thing actually particular.
However, the Elite’s mere existence and premium audiophile-grade providing does not imply the Pro Wireless’ audio high quality now tumbles down by default or is subpar. For me, the Nova Pro Wireless had the perfect out-of-the-box audio till the Elite appeared!
So, on paper, the Elite has it in the case of sheer specs. However, I actually wish to emphasize that the extent of efficiency you get from the Nova Pro Wireless continues to be glorious, and in the event you do not want all of the tremendous high-end bells and whistles that the Elite gives, you are still going to have a wonderful time with the Pro Wireless. There’s a cause (properly, a number of) it was my PS5 headset and my PC gaming headset for the perfect a part of three years.
MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite vs MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: Design and dimensions
The Elite and Nova Pro Wireless are clearly minimize from the identical fabric, design-wise, and you’ll inform that instantly. Indeed, like all of the headsets within the Arctis Nova vary, they share the identical design language and kind. The DAC items are additionally similar. However, the Elite does supply a extra thrilling colorway possibility within the beautiful sage and gold variant (in addition to a traditional obsidian black model), which is extra attention-grabbing than the Nove Pro Wireless’ black or white choices.
It’s not straightforward to manually measure a headset, however by the appears to be like of my tape measure, they’re precisely the identical when it comes to crude dimensions, although they do differ a bit in weight: the Elite is available in at 13.4oz / 380g, and the Nova Pro Wireless is available in at 11.9oz / 339g.
While that is a 1.5oz / 40g distinction on paper, in actuality, you will not discover it, and I actually have not cared one bit concerning the Elite’s further mass comparatively when carrying it for hours and hours.
Connectivity is a division the place the Elite has the sting. While each headsets can connect with a number of gadgets directly by the wonderful DAC unit, the Elite may concurrently play audio from all of them directly – which is usually a bit a lot, however may also be a wonderful characteristic in the event you prefer to hearken to music whereas enjoying video games, and so forth.
The Elite additionally does this throughout PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and cell, straight out of the field, whereas you’ll have to make sure you purchase the Xbox variant of the Pro Wireless to get the utmost compatibility that one gives. Bluetooth is identical 5.3 model on each, however the Elite is best outfitted for high-end audio codecs over that connection.
Elsewhere, the ports are largely the identical, with a USB-C connection and audio jack connection obtainable on each headsets, and the microphone – whereas totally different spec-wise, seems and features the identical on each too.
Broadly talking, you’ve got additionally obtained the identical buttons on each headsets, however the Elite’s do really feel a bit extra premium everytime you interact with them, particularly on issues like the amount/management wheel. And whereas our unique overview by Michelle described the controls on the Nova Pro Wireless as not that intuitive, I’d barely disagree and say that each headsets have extremely intuitive controls, and all are properly spaced out and simple to interact with.
MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite vs MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: Verdict
Whichever facet of the fence you are considering of going, your determination on whether or not to go large on the Elite or go large on the Nova Pro Wireless will doubtless come all the way down to a few elements.
If you are a gamer who at all times desires probably the most performant peripherals and strives for the final word setup, then the Elite will instantly enchantment. It is the perfect gaming headset I’ve ever examined, and I stick by that. If you are an audiophile gamer, somebody who merely desires the perfect gaming audio expertise going, then the Elite might be a very good match. If you will have a multi-device gaming setup, then the Elite is even higher and will certainly have you ever coated, too, whereas it is also an excellent pair of headphones for different media.
Alternatively, in the event you suppose you are not going to care or admire each single tiny audio nuance that an audiophile-grade headset can ship, however nonetheless need one thing premium, then the Nova Pro Wireless continues to be going to be the most effective headset purchases you may make. Equally, if you would like one thing high-end however do not wish to spend a console-price-tag on one thing, then the Pro Wireless is a good decide.
It nonetheless gives a premium headset expertise, and by – comparatively – shirking a number of the further premium options discovered on the Elite, it gives a beautiful all-around high-end bundle. It can nonetheless cowl you throughout a number of gadgets, too, so it is nonetheless good in a multi-faceted setup, and its audio continues to be great. And now we’re seeing an increasing number of offers and reductions on the Nova Pro Wireless when it goes on sale, it is solely going to be extra engaging, significantly throughout gross sales occasions like Black Friday.
Whichever one you decide, you are in for a cracking time audio-wise; nonetheless, and whereas I’ve fallen for the Nova Pro Elite, I’d nonetheless suggest both of those glorious headsets to anybody, regardless of their platform or what video games they play.
MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite
Pros
- Noticeable efficiency and visible upgrades over the PS5
- PSSR providing each constancy and efficiency is dreamy
- Extra particular with 120Hz shows
- 2TB of storage is superb
- Wi-Fi 7 is a great addition
Cons
- Graphical developments aren’t actually transformative
- No disk drive or stand included
- High price ticket instantly impacts worth
MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
Pros
- Gameplay of as much as 4K/120fps
- Stunning controller that options haptics
- Beautiful, quick UI
Cons
- Size of the OG mannequin is cumbersome
- Usable house on the 825GB/1TB SSD fills up rapidly
- Only a single technology of backward compatibility
The finest audiophile headphones and headsets for gaming