SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1: A Budget Gaming Headset for Xbox

Looking for a simple gaming headset for your Xbox Series X without spending much? The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is worth considering.

It does not try to compete with expensive headsets by packing in Bluetooth, a battery, or dozens of extra features. Instead, it focuses on the basics like comfortable earcups, good gaming audio, a retractable microphone, and a wired connection that works directly with your Xbox controller.

The Nova 1 is also lightweight at around 236g, which makes it comfortable for longer gaming sessions. In this guide, I have provided a complete overview of the Arctis Nova 1, which, in my opinion, is one of the best gaming headsets for Xbox Series X.

What is SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1?

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is a lightweight, wired gaming headset with 40mm drivers, a retractable microphone, and a 3.5mm connection.

The Xbox-compatible Nova 1X connects directly to the Xbox controller and focuses on comfort and essential gaming features rather than wireless extras.

My Quick Assessment

If you ask me what the Nova 1 is really about, I would say simplicity and comfort.

You are not buying this headset because you want a premium wireless experience. You are buying it because you want to plug something into your Xbox controller, put it on your head, and start gaming without worrying about charging or pairing.

How Does the Arctis Nova 1 Connect to Xbox Series X?

The Arctis Nova 1 connects to the Xbox Series X through the 3.5mm headphone jack on the Xbox Wireless Controller. That means you don’t connect the headset directly to the Xbox Series X console.

Instead, the setup is:

• Xbox Series X → Xbox Wireless Controller → 3.5mm cable → Arctis Nova 1

The connection is completely wired, so there is no wireless transmitter, Bluetooth pairing, or battery involved. The headset also has a detachable cable, which is useful if the cable eventually becomes damaged.

This is probably the easiest way to use a gaming headset on Xbox. Plug it into the controller, and you are ready to play.

The other advantage is that you never have to worry about battery life. You could play for 5 hours, 10 hours, or even longer without stopping to charge the headset.

The trade-off is that you have to keep the controller connected to the headset with a cable. If you hate cables, this probably isn’t the headset for you.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 Specifications

The Nova 1 keeps its specifications fairly simple. There is no wireless hardware or battery because SteelSeries designed it around a traditional 3.5mm connection.

Independent testing also confirms its 235–236g weight, 40mm drivers, closed-back design, and wired-only connectivity.

1. Comfort and Design

This is probably my favorite part of the Arctis Nova 1.

The headset is lightweight, and the AirWeave memory-foam ear cushions make a noticeable difference when you are wearing it for several hours. The adjustable elastic headband also helps distribute the weight across your head instead of putting all the pressure in one place.

The earcups can also rotate slightly to better accommodate the shape of your head. I particularly like that SteelSeries hasn’t made the Nova 1 unnecessarily complicated. There is no RGB lighting or oversized wireless hardware hanging from the headset.

It looks like a gaming headset, but it isn’t excessively flashy. That makes it easier to use outside gaming as well. One thing you should keep in mind is that the closed-back design and ear cushions can still become warm during long sessions.

Also, if you wear glasses, the seal around the earcups can change and affect the consistency of the bass. RTINGS specifically found that glasses and thicker hair can affect the ear-cup seal.

2. Sound Quality

The Arctis Nova 1 uses 40mm drivers and has a slightly warm sound profile. For Xbox gaming, I think this tuning works well.

Explosions, gunfire, vehicle sounds, and other effects have enough bass to feel impactful, but the headset doesn’t completely bury voices and other details.

RTINGS describes the Nova 1 as having a warm sound profile with extra boom, while SoundGuys found its frequency response surprisingly good considering its price.

For games like Call of Duty, Halo, Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Rainbow Six Siege, the Nova 1 gives you enough detail to hear important environmental sounds.

However, you shouldn’t buy it expecting premium audiophile-level sound. The soundstage is also not particularly wide because of its closed-back design.

So if your priority is the absolute best positional detail and immersion, you will have to move toward a more expensive headset.

For normal Xbox gaming, though, the sound quality is more than adequate.

3. Weight

The Arctis Nova 1 weighs approximately 235–236g, far lower than competing headsets like Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3. That is one of its biggest advantages. A lighter headset is particularly useful when you are playing for several hours because there is less weight sitting on your head and neck.

SoundGuys measured the headset at 236g, while its product specifications list approximately 235g. This is one reason I would consider the Nova 1 a good option for long Xbox gaming sessions.

It doesn’t feel like you are wearing a heavy piece of hardware on your head.

4. Build Quality

The Nova 1 is primarily made from plastic, but that doesn’t mean it feels cheap. The overall construction is solid for a budget headset, and the adjustable headband and rotating earcups give the design some flexibility.

SoundGuys specifically praised its build quality for its price, while RTINGS also describes the headset as well-built and comfortable.

However, this isn’t an expensive, metal-built premium headset, so you shouldn’t throw it into a backpack without protection or constantly bend the headband.

But for normal home gaming, the build quality shouldn’t be a major concern. Another useful feature is the detachable audio cable.

If the cable gets damaged, you can replace the cable rather than having to replace the entire headset.

4. Connectivity Options

The Nova 1 is deliberately simple when it comes to connectivity. You get a 3.5mm wired connection. That’s essentially it. There is no:

• 2.4GHz wireless
• Bluetooth
• USB wireless dongle
• Rechargeable battery

For Xbox Series X, you connect the headset to the controller using the 3.5mm jack. This simplicity has both advantages and disadvantages.

• The advantage is that there is virtually nothing to configure. You don’t have to pair anything or remember to charge the headset.
• The disadvantage is that you lose the freedom of wireless gaming.

If you want to walk away from your console while still wearing the headset, the cable will obviously get in the way.

5. Microphone Performance

The Arctis Nova 1 has a retractable boom microphone built into the left earcup. I like this design because you don’t have to remove the microphone when you aren’t using it. Just push it back into the headset.

The microphone also includes noise-canceling technology designed to improve voice communication. SoundGuys found the microphone’s frequency response well suited to speech and rated its performance favorably compared with other gaming headsets.

For Xbox party chat and multiplayer games, the microphone does what you need. Your teammates should be able to hear you clearly without requiring a separate microphone.

Just remember that this is still a budget headset. If you want studio-level microphone quality, you should be looking at a dedicated microphone or a much more expensive headset.

6. Controls and Buttons

The controls are located on the left earcup. You get a:

• Volume wheel
• Microphone mute button

The volume wheel lets you quickly adjust the headset volume, while the mute button allows you to turn your microphone off when you don’t want your teammates hearing you.

SoundGuys also notes that the volume wheel controls the headset volume rather than the connected device. There isn’t a complicated control system to learn, which fits the overall philosophy of the Nova 1.

What are the Downsides of Arctis Nova 1?

The following are essentially the downsides of the Arctis Nova 1 gaming headset and you should know them before buying.

• No wireless connectivity
• No Bluetooth
• No active noise cancellation
• Cable can be inconvenient during gaming
• Closed-back design doesn’t create a particularly large soundstage
• Limited extra features
• Audio consistency can change depending on how the headset sits on your head

Final Thoughts

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 isn’t trying to be the most advanced Xbox headset on the market. And that’s actually the point.

If you are buying it for Xbox Series X, you are getting a simple wired headset that concentrates on the fundamentals.

It is comfortable, lightweight, easy to connect, sounds good for its price, and has a microphone that works well for Xbox party chat and multiplayer gaming.

The biggest thing you need to decide is whether you are okay with the cable.

If you are, I think the Nova 1 makes a lot of sense as a straightforward Xbox headset. You don’t have to charge it, you don’t have to pair it, and there are no wireless connection issues to worry about.

But if you specifically want wireless gaming, Bluetooth, ANC, or more advanced features, you should skip the Nova 1 and look at a more expensive Xbox headset instead.

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