Customer Ratings & Reviews

This headset is totally awesome! The sound quality is clear, the headset is comfortable and stylish. It also connects to your phones Bluetooth so you don’t have to take them off to answer a phone call mid game. I totally recommend this headset for gaming.

I love the headset because it is very light, has bluetooth and 2.4 connections. The 2.4 dongle has a great shape for using it with my Rog Ally and Switch. You may need a usb c extender if you have a case on your Ally or Switch. With the 2.4 connection there is no latency as far as I can tell. The bluetooth connection is good for connecting to your phone or listening to music. The headset shows multiple connections on my pc for media, chat, gaming, etc. This way I can changing sound settings for each one separately. Another cool feature is you can use the app and control settings in the headset using your phone. The app has presets for many games. I think its the best headset for the money right now and SteelSeries has had gaming headset of the year before.

Headset is solid, very comfortable for long sessions and very good battery life. I like the multi purpose aspect, Xbox versions are always better than PlayStation because these can be used on PlayStation but PlayStation versions cant be used on Xbox.

The SteelSeries Nova 5X is a stellar entry into the mid-range gaming headset market. It blends impressive sound quality with comfort, features, and durability. Here's a detailed look at what makes this headset a solid choice for gamers, along with ratings per category. Design and Comfort - 4/5 The Nova 5X features a sleek, modern design with a sturdy yet lightweight build. The headset is all plastic except the aluminum headband with an elastic suspension strap for comfort. The adjustable headband and plush ear cushions ensure a comfortable fit for extended gaming sessions. The breathable cloth material of the ear cushions helps reduce spicy sessions, making it an excellent option for long hours of use. The headset also has a flexible, retractable microphone, which is convenient and easy to use. The mic hides inside the earcup and works beautifully. There is a red indicator light when the mute is activated. Adjustments can be made vertically at the earcups and the suspension headband, while the earcups turn into a flat position when around your neck or lay flat. The fit is perfect with the combination of adjustability clamp pressure and lightweight materials. The Arctis Nova 5x is intuitive and just feels natural to use, from audio adjustments to mic controls. It offers a game/chat mix separately on a dial for Microsoft things only, of course. Sound Quality - 4/5 One of the standout features of the Nova 5X is its excellent sound quality and powerful speakers. Equipped with 40mm high-fidelity drivers, it delivers clear and immersive audio and supports 360 spatial audio. The surround sound capabilities provide an edge in competitive gaming, allowing you to hear directional cues with precision. This should INSTANTLY improve your awareness and give you the jump on enemies. Whether playing an action-packed shooter or a story-driven RPG, the audio experience is rich, detailed, and powerful. Passive noise isolation could be better, but it is a trade-off when using mesh vs. leatherette, which I gladly accept instead of spicy ears. Microphone Performance - 4/5 The retractable microphone on the Nova 5X is another MAJOR improvement over the last release. This mic release is a SIGNIFICANT upgrade and brings it up to par with others. SteelSeries has finally addressed my biggest issue with their headset, sounding tinny and low quality, NOW IN THE PAST. With the inclusion of ClearCast 2.X microphone's high-bandwidth chipset, clearer and fuller voice transmission is here! This means 2x the bandwidth and 2x the clarity supporting 32KHz/16Bit audio. Communication with teammates is crisp and clear, crucial for coordinated gameplay. The flexibility of the microphone allows for easy positioning and storage without needing to keep track of a mic, as with other headsets. The mic is sibilant, so a pop filter helps with plosives, but you will lose the red mute indicator. Durability and Battery Life - 5/5 SteelSeries is known for its durable products; the Nova 5X is no exception. The headset feels robust and well-constructed, capable of withstanding the rigors of daily use. Since it is plastic, remember that sitting on or dropping it on a hard floor is the most significant danger to your ownership, but these are not cheap materials. The braided cable adds an extra layer of durability, reducing the chances of tangling and damage over time. Battery life is a nonissue, and I stop caring since you get up to 50 hrs of 2.4GHz wireless or 60 hrs of Bluetooth. If you forget to charge them, so what? 15 minutes of charging is good for 6 hours of play. Compatibility and Features - 5/5 The Nova 5X is versatile in terms of compatibility. Whether an average gamer or a streamer/e-sports player, it works seamlessly with PCs, consoles, and mobile devices, making it a versatile addition to your gaming setup. The USB-C dongle is a T-shaped dongle that often blocks other ports nearby, which is the biggest downside. This should have been designed in an L shape, as with other dongles or the basic thumb drive shape. The controls are intuitive and allow for easy adjustments on the fly. There are dials for chat/game audio mix (Xbox Only) and volume to dial in your audio. Buttons are all laid out intuitively, and everything is tactile. Additionally, the headset supports further customization in the audio settings, enhancing the overall user experience. The BEST part of this headset is the app! With all the presets, there is bound to be something for what you are doing. There is Bluetooth 5.3 with a quick switch, so when playing, you can answer a call and switch back to the game automatically. Connectivity is solid, and connections happen within 1-2 seconds of powering on or switching modes. It must be known that Bluetooth is not simultaneous, so you need to press a button to toggle between the two. Software and App - 5/5 The SteelSeries GG software and app get their own section because it is THE BEST in the industry! On PC, you get the most functionality and customizability, unlocking their fullest potential. For Android and iOS, you get app control with everything needed for on-the-fly adjustments. Sonar makes the audio shine and SteelSeries GG Engine apps integrate to trigger actions within your SteelSeries ecosystem. Over 100 professionally tuned game-specific EQs are fully customizable for a more immersive experience. This user experience on PC and app should be the standard implementation for all other vendors! When designing apps and implementing EQ and other audio controls for on-the-fly adjustments without needing a PC, turn to SteelSeries. **When modifying your EQ presets, connect to a PC**. This is the first headset I can confidently say you do NOT need a PC to get its full potential. With a mobile app, you can do more than ever effortlessly. Pros: Comfortable and lightweight design Excellent sound quality with surround sound Clear and flexible retractable microphone Durable construction yet lightweight Bluetooth & 2.4GHz wireless 100+ Finely tuned game presets Up to 60hrs battery life Works on Microsoft, Apple, and Sony gaming platforms Cons: Out of the box, a flat profile sounds bad There is no EQ control in the app No wired mode or 3.5mm headphone jack Conclusion - 4.5/5 In conclusion, the SteelSeries Nova 5X is a fantastic mid-range gaming headset that offers great value for its price. I ONLY recommend this headset now to any other friends and family who aren't spending more than $140 on headsets. This is for you if you value a comfortable design, superior sound quality, and durable build. Whether you're a casual player or a competitive enthusiast, the Nova 5X will surely enhance your gaming experience and boost your experience.

The comfort, build, and sound from these headphones are exceptional. There are a lot of great qualities from these headphones but also a few downsides. The first thing I noticed when I put them on was how incredibly comfortable they are. I can honestly say this headset is the most comfortable I have ever used. It had me oohing and aahing. The cushion around the ears and the elastic on top work together in harmony to really make wearing them an enjoyable experience. Along with the adjustable frame, the elastic band is also adjustable as it can be lowered it or raised according to preference and head/hair size. It does seem to run a bit small, and I doubt it will fit people with larger heads or with a lot of hair volume up top. Setting it up took less than a minute on each device I connected it to. I connected it to several devices and had no issues with of them. This included via the USB with my Xbox, PC, and iMac, along with via Bluetooth with my iPhone. It is necessary to connect it to a phone in order to use the app as I could not find the app available for PC or iMac. The app is called SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5. When I first used the headset, I thought the sound was no good as it was just flat and muted. Once I downloaded the app and connected the headset to my phone that all changed. There are so many EQ presets. Basically, any commonly used game has its own presets along with a few modes for movie watching and music listening. I even listened to music with it, and it bumps with the right preset. It even gives a good output for deep or punchy bass. Somehow though, there is still something lacking during gameplay. For example, playing Battlefield, the sound is somewhat distant sounding and the bass during explosions is not there. My lower priced headset has better sound output and less tinkering needed in the app. That said, the presets can be updated through the app by SteelSeries and I am holding out for an update that will really bring out the missing qualities because it is evident the sound range and quality is there when I listen to other things. It is notable that though, these are not noising cancelling, they certainly block out a lot of noise. The microphone mutes with a button. It can be used regardless of if it is pulled out or retracted, but when retracted, the voice sounds far. The closer it is to the mouth, the louder it picks up voice, particularly when speaking in a low tone. It even picks up whispers quiet well. Ambient noises and tapping sounds are very slightly picked up, while people talking in the background are softly picked up. Not enough to discern what they are saying or to really be a distraction though. One thing I will note is that, although I like that the distance from mouth is easily adjustable, I personally prefer the flip-to-mute kind because of the effectiveness and rapidness of the action at a moment’s notice. Overall, I am enjoying them for most purposes but for certain games I prefer my other headsets. I like the versatility and how easily it connects to so many devices despite being marketed specifically for Xbox. The long battery life, comfort, durable construction, and app are a big plus for me. I am sure certain presets can be updated in the future, so I hold out for updates that will make this headset truly live up to its full potential.

While I've had gaming headsets and blue tooth headsets, this is my first gaming blue tooth headset. Usually I just plug in the old headphone wire into my computer and everything works just fine, but this headset really changes my perception of what technology can do with just a headset. First -- this headset has EQ for over 100 games. I didn't even use it at first because it sounded so much crisper out of the box, but once I spent a little bit of time testing out the options, it made a noticeable improvement in the sound quality. I was able to switch from Fortnite to Apex Legends to Minecraft and had no idea that these games could sound even better than they already do. Really easy and cool feature. Next, I've been burnt on some occasions thinking I had muted my headset. This one has a red glow that confirms I'm muted with a button that is clearly popped-up. Nice feature so I can vent about my friends when they make bonehead mistakes. I have the option to use either blue tooth or the dongle that comes along with it so I'm no longer tethered to my computer -- fortunately I have blue tooth and I get nearly a week out of it before I need to charge. If you ever let the batteries wear out, there is a great quick charge feature where a 15 minute charge buys you 6 hours of use -- I will be grateful for this at one point. Finally, these headphones are just super comfy, no matter how long I play. It's super light and my head never feels squeezed or sweaty, thanks to the adjustable band and pillowy cushioning. Sometimes it's the small things, but this one is particularly noticeable. Overall, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is the best gaming headset I've ever used. It's got everything you need for an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience – great sound, easy controls, tons of customization options (although it's really great just out of the box), and a super comfortable design. Highly recommended!

left ear side goes out intermittently. Will be returning it to hopefully get a well working one. Other than that, it has great sound quality when both sides are working.

Nice……………………. Headsets …………………………………………………………………..

My first pair of Steelseries headphones, and I'm so glad I waited. Steelseries has come highly recommended from many of my gamer friends and I've always preferred my PC wireless brands ( I will not name them. That's not what we're here for.) Given the opportunity to try these Arctis Nova 5X Wireless,( Yes. It makes a difference.) as these are the ones that work for everything you can possibly game on. Unlike my PC brands and many other wireless gaming headphones, these Artis Nova 5X say they are for Xbox series X, but the beautiful truth is, as i said earlier, they work for everything from the Xbox Series consoles, Playstation 5, Switch, PC, and even your smartphone. But that's not the real reason you're getting these. You'll want them for the superb sound quality. Probably the best sounding Steelseries headphones you'll get this year. While they are still not as clear as a couple of my PC brands, these are darned close. I have listened to the mics from my friends while gaming and the usually sound like aviators talking to the flight tower. But these almost sound like you're talking to your friends in the same room. The controls aree easy to get to on the left cup and there''s also hideaway mic, which I find to be pretty sweet and it keeps you fromlooking like that gamer guy/girl that uses his gaming headsets to talk on his/her smartphone( Even though you totally are and looking slick as heck while doing so. There's also an app that'll help you with your phone experience. The battery life is roughly 60 hours and a 15 minutes chare can get you from 5 and a half to 6 hours of listening time. That's a day's worth of gaming in itself. I think the sound could be a little better if there was a boom cover over the mic, but I guess I also heard that that would cover the mute indicator. But there's also a sound that indicates that you on mute. The headset is comfortable even for people that wear glasses like me. Plus they're light. Negative, they're made of a cheap feeling plastic. There's a dongle n the box along with an AUX cable a type C charging cable. There are a couple other Steelserie Arctis styles( For other consoles ), but these are the ones you want to get.

I have used a lot of wireless headsets over the years, but this is my first from SteelSeries. I have used a few keyboards and mice from them, which I liked, and I had always heard good things about their Arctis headset lineup. With all of that I mind I was looking forward to trying out the new Arctis Nova 5X. Build Quality/Design The 5X is a closed back design with a concealed mic and suspension band setup. The build looks nice and clean – no visible wires, edges of the plastic are smooth, and the headset goes on without any creaky plastic noises. The headset is the X version, so it’s compatible with Xbox (Series and One). The USB transmitter also works with PC, Playstation, Switch, and mobile devices. The transmitter is USB-C, but an adapter cable is included. It can also connect via Bluetooth 5.3 to PC, mobile, Playstation and Switch as well. The headset uses the Arctis Nova 5 companion app to adjust listening modes and EQ profiles. The suspension band design for the headband is adjusted with a couple of push through studs like a snap-back hat. All parts on the headset are plastic, which keeps the weight down. The earcups are wrapped in a breathable cloth and are filled with soft padding. The earcups themselves can rotate and lay flat, which is great for tossing in my laptop bag. The suspension band can adjust for a couple of different things – larger or smaller heads, and more/less compression on your head. The suspension band attachment points allow you to connect to 1 or 2 studs on either side, and each side has 3 studs going up the headband. Connecting 2 points vs. 1 creates a tighter fit on you head. The earcups can also pull down and extend the size of the headband just like you would adjust a regular headset. The 5X puts controls on each earcup, which changes things up from the standard loaded left earcup. The left earcup in this case carries a mute button, the volume wheel, and the concealed mic. The right earcup holds the USB charge port, chat mixer wheel, and buttons for power and source switching. The volume and chat mixer wheels have upper and lower stopping points, and the chat mixer has a small hump at the halfway point. Holding the power button for 2 seconds turns on the headset and returns it to the most recent used source – 2.4 or Bluetooth. You will hear a tone when the headset turns on or off, and a voice prompt occurs when you switch the source. The mic boom is fully concealed within the left earcup – the mic tip fits flush to the earcup body. It’s fairly easy to pull out from the earcup and it extends just shy of 5”. The boom is thin bendable cable that does a good job of holding its position. The tip of the mic a red LED to indicate you have your mic muted, but turns off when the mic is active. Sidetone is enabled by default and can be adjusted within the app. Specs on the headset are solid. The headset has a 60 hour battery life with Bluetooth and 50 hrs on 2.4 – that’s a lot of game sessions before I need to recharge them. After a dozen hours of games I’m down to around 70%, so I have a long ways to go. The effective range on either 2.4 or Bluetooth seems to be about 40 ft from my time with it. The earcups come loaded with 40mm drivers, which seems to pretty standard on a lot of headphones I’m seeing. Comfort I have a lot of love for suspension band setups. I have several from multiple brands like Corsair, the Rig series, Turtle Beach, Logitech, and now the Nova 5X. It has routinely been the design I find the most comfortable, so it’s what I seek out. Not all suspension band headsets are perfect on comfort for a few reasons – weight and thin/unpadded bands. A heavy headset can be balanced with a wide and padded band. Thankfully the 5X’s are fairly light so they don’t have to compensate for any excess bulk. The 5X’s the band is nice and wide, and possibly the widest I have seen at 1.75”. There is no padding on the band, which I think is the only downside to the setup. Something like what my Corsair HS80’s use would go a long way, which is just a thin leatherette pad attached to the band. This is a mild misstep, but I can understand the omission since they are still quite comfortable. The earcups are use a cloth like covering over a the earpads, which in turn use a soft foam for padding. The cloth and foam pad feel comfortable against the side of my head and conform nicely around my glasses. The cloth material is not as isolating as a leatherette, but as a trade-off they do stay cooler. The earcups do appear to be removable so you can swap them out as needed. Compatibility The 5X’s are made to be compatible with Xbox consoles. The included USB receiver works with both Xbox One/S/X, and Xbox Series X/S. The receiver has a small switch to toggle between Xbox and USB mode. When connecting to anything other than an Xbox the receiver needs to be set to USB. Per the manual the receiver can be used to connect to PC, Switch, Playstation, and mobile devices. The Bluetooth connection will also pair with any Bluetooth compatible device. I am honestly surprised the receiver works on both Xbox and Playstation – I don’t have a Playstation to test this on, so I will have to take their word for it. The only downside it seems is you lose the chat mix ability on Playstation. My other headsets from TurtleBeach and Rig, which are also Xbox specific variants, don’t come with transmitters that are compatible with Playstation (only Bluetooth is supported. So that’s a novel advantage if you have both systems. Connecting to my Xbox I used the included extensions cable and hooked it into the back of my Series X. A notification saying the headset was assigned popped up, and it was ready to go. All of the audio options in the Xbox menu are greyed out, so the controls are handled by the headset or within the Nova app. Within the app you can set different EQ’s – some are basic like Flat or Bass Boost, which you would see on any device with an EQ mixer. However, SteelSeries has included over 120 game-specific EQ profiles that you can select from. Since I was playing Halo Infinite I chose the Halo Infinite preset. I will not claim to be an expert on the different EQ’s, but I did try out a quite a few different ones. A game like Halo has a dynamic sound stage, so picking something flatter is noticeable. Picking another dynamic game like COD Warzone would have a similar sound profile but maybe some slight variations. A larger difference was felt when I used an EQ from a Role-Playing game like Assassins Creed – much less emphasis on boosting explosions there. You can also connect the headset via Bluetooth to any Bluetooth compatible device. The Bluetooth mode has its own separate EQ profile in the app. You can set one for profile for 2.4 and a different one for Bluetooth which is useful. The controls on the headset do not affect any system volume – just the headset levels are affected. Sound Playing around with the multitude of preset EQ’s that are offered I found myself fairly satisfied with the sound reproduction of the 5X’s. Game audio sounded full and clear. Nothing felt overwhelming or like an assault on the senses. Rather the dynamic sounds of the game were handled well. I had no issue separating out gunshots or clanks from a bouncing grenade from the overall noise of the battlefield in Halo Infinite. Combine that with my party chat, which is often difficult to get balanced right for me, and the 5X’s handled the sound processing well. Switching over to a more “serene” game like Hellblade I was able to appreciate how well the more subtle sounds were handled. The game is mostly environmental noise, but with bursts of dynamic noise from attacks and skirmishes. The grumbling/heavy moments where Senua’s psychosis bears down on her were handled well by the 40mm drivers. With a full 7.1 system you can feel the weight of the moment by how the sound mixing drops things down. The headphones don’t have that much sound stage presence, but they do a solid job of maintaining that feel. Listening to music has also been a pleasurable experience. Fast/punchy music is handled just as well as melodical tunes. Bass heavy tracks come off a little underrepresented, but I expect that shortcoming as these aren’t pricy studio monitors. Mic The mic coils up inside the left earcup when not in use, and it pulls out easily. However, you can use the mic even without pulling it out because retracting the mic doesn’t mute it. You can still use the mic when its retracted, but it’s a little muted compared to pulling it out. With the mic pulled out and angled you get the most out of it. The side tone can be adjusted in the app, but at default I can hear myself reasonably well. I took a couple of phone calls with it and the other person reported that I sounded good. Background noise was minimal and that’s with a box fan and my HVAC blowing just a few feet behind me. On Xbox party chat the mic held up well again. My party members said I sounded just fine and again there was limited background noise from my kids talking and playing their own games. The only downside to this style of mic is it’s awkward to retract, and it can’t easily be done with 1 hand. A mic that flips up out of the way is much easier to deal with, but the trade-off is it’s always there and can’t disappear. Conclusion Overall, the new Arctis Nova 5X’s are a really great headset platform. They are little upmarket from a entry-level headset as far as price goes, but I feel like they would hold their own. They are a comfortable enough headset to wear for long sessions, and there’s enough adjustment in the design to fit any head shape. The hidden mic is cool even if it’s a little awkward to stow away. The breadth of system compatibility out of the 5X’s is fantastic, and the best I have seen out of wireless headset. If you have multiple systems then I would seriously take a look at the 5X’s – even over the Nova 5’s (PC), and 5P’s (Playstation).

Design and Build Quality The Arctis Nova 5X is designed with a focus on comfort and durability. The headset features a sleek and ergonomic design suitable for long gaming sessions across various platforms including Xbox, PC, PlayStation, Switch, and mobile devices. The build quality feels premium, with sturdy materials that ensure longevity. Audio Performance One of the standout features of the Arctis Nova 5X is its audio performance. Powered by custom-designed Neodymium Magnetic Drivers, the headset delivers exceptional sound quality with clear highs, precise mids, and deep bass. The 100+ game audio presets available through the Companion App allow for tailored audio experiences across a wide range of games, enhancing immersion and gameplay awareness. Wireless Connectivity and Battery Life The headset supports both 2.4GHz wireless for gaming and Bluetooth 5.3 for versatile connectivity. Switching between these modes is seamless, thanks to the dedicated Quick-Switch button. This flexibility allows users to easily take calls or listen to media without interrupting their gaming experience. The impressive 60-hour battery life ensures extended gaming sessions without frequent recharging. Additionally, the USB-C Fast Charge feature provides 6 hours of use with just 15 minutes of charging, ideal for quick top-ups between sessions. Microphone Quality The ClearCast 2.X microphone offers enhanced clarity with a high-bandwidth chipset supporting 32KHz/16Bit audio. This results in clear and accurate voice communication, crucial for team coordination in multiplayer games and clear calls. Cross-Platform Compatibility With its compact USB-C dongle, the Arctis Nova 5X supports seamless connectivity across multiple platforms, including Xbox, PC, PlayStation, Switch, and mobile devices. This versatility ensures that gamers can use the headset across various gaming setups without hassle. On-Headset Controls Convenient on-ear controls for power, mute, volume adjustment, and Quick-Switch to Bluetooth make operation intuitive and accessible during gameplay. The headset's design prioritizes ease of use, allowing gamers to stay focused on their gameplay without needing to reach for external controls. Conclusion The Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Gaming Headset excels in delivering a premium gaming experience with its exceptional audio quality, long-lasting battery life, versatile connectivity options, and ergonomic design. Whether you're gaming on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, or Switch, this headset offers the comfort, performance, and flexibility needed for extended gaming sessions across different platforms. It's an excellent choice for gamers looking to elevate their audio experience without compromising on comfort or functionality. This headset package includes essential accessories such as charging cables and extension dongles, further enhancing its value and convenience straight out of the box.

this is the 6 pair of wireless headphone i own for my XBOX. I have many other brands and always find something good or bad with each pair so lets go. first these are light weight from the overhead strap to the ear cups. The material in the ear cups are very soft and breathable i didn't feel to hot when i had them on playing. I did have a little issue with the way they cup my ears they are a little tight around the ears not a lot of space. Also the depth of the ear cup is very deep. It felt like my ears were right on the speaker so not a lot of room. Also the head strap tha fits over the head isn't very long so i think i have it at the longest it will go. I'm sure they will fit most people i just ahve a bigger head. This does have a plug to use for the XBOX just plug it in and pair it and your ready to go. the range on this is as good as the others i have i can walk upstairs on my other ones and still stay connected this lost connection and i had to restartthe headset to connect it back. The mic on this is awesome i had it in all the positions from extended all the way out to halfway. The best sound that i got from what i was told is when i had it around a inch or 2 out from the mic port. There was no back feed of distortion form this all night. Now this isn't Dolby or Noise Canceling it does have a lot of pregame audio settings on this that you can access this from your phone when you download the app and pair it. It has all the games listed on the app to pick from. This has a 60hr battery life that i will never reach thats a lot of gaming. you have to volume wheels on it one on each side one for chat and one for gaming. You have a power button and a mute and a pair button. Simple and easy nothing to complicated. Quality is good Looks are nice Mic works great Range could be better but nobody needs to walk around the house playing Easy to use Easy to set up Easy to set up app Battery life 60hr is great Weight very light

I have multiple devices and I needed a dependable headset no matter which device I plugged it into. Most of my devices are USB-C, for my legacy hardware I use a different headset. I'm also a heavy gamer. So I searched around and settled on Steelseries. And I LOVE it. Definitely the right choice. In interest of making things short, easy to read and clear, I set things up in bullet points. Crisp Sound Quality: Features a tight sound stage, enhancing the detection of enemy movements and environmental cues in games. Extensive Battery Life: Up to 50 hours of use with the 2.4 GHz wireless connection. Up to 60 hours with Bluetooth. (as reported, I never fully timed the exact time) Fast charging capability via USB Type-C. Multi-Device Flexibility: Was able to use on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Seamless switching between 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth. Comfort: Soft memory foam ear cups and adjustable headband , I was able to use for extensive hours without feeling fatigue/tight. (And I have a big head) Minor inconvenience with placement, a little disorienting. Software: Unfortunately my PC had trouble detecting the software, I had to uninstall my current steelseries gear, then reinstall the software, then redetect, minor inconvenience, but I had to take a star away from this as it should work right ouf of the box. Overall : Excellent choice for gamers seeking high-quality audio, long battery life, and versatile connectivity. Everything felt immersive, tight, and comfortable. And if it wasn't, I was able to adjust so that it would be.

I’ve been using the Steelseries Arctic Nova 5X for a little while now and I’m thoroughly pleased. I’ve used lots of wireless headsets before with my setup but never anything by these guys and as mentioned, I’m really impressed. Build quality is good. Yes they’re plastic but so are most headsets, this is not a cheap feeling plastic at all and doesn’t sound like it’s about to break when ever any pressure is applied. It uses suspension for the head band which is very comfortable. The ear-cups are soft and don’t cause me any heat issues while wearing. These are probably the most comfortable headset I’ve used as they’re very light weight with adequate clamping force that doesn’t make you feel pressure on your head. As mentioned the suspension band isn’t something I notice and heat isn’t an issue with the cups. The controls are easy to use and easy to find. Sound quality is really good while having good lows it maintains nice highs and mids and doesn’t get muddy. You can hear things from all directions and it really does help with your surroundings in games like Warzone. You also have app compatibility which offers plenty of presets to change your sound, but I was happy with the out of box sound. These will work with not only the Xbox one and series console but will also work with PS5, PC, Switch and mobile, making this the perfect headset for gamers like me that have all consoles and a gaming PC If you’re looking for a gaming headset that has all the features, sound quality and comfort but doesn’t cost you multiple hundreds of dollars then this is the headset for you

The best thing about this wireless headset is, it’s compatible with everything. Even though this model is designed for the XBOX, it works equally as well with the Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and mobile. It’s the perfect headset for those who need something versatile. This is my second SteelSeries headset. I bought one 4 years ago for my son to use with his Switch and PC. He never had any issues getting it to work, and more importantly, the build quality was solid. I’m hoping the Arctis Nova 5X lasts just as long. Another impressive feature of this headset is its range. I can walk into other rooms and down the hallway and I never lose connection with the 2.4GHz wireless transmitter. Other gaming headsets I own from other brands cannot match the range of this headset. Speaking of the 2.4GHz wireless adapter, it works perfectly for the Switch. Because of its low-profile T shape design, it neatly plugs into the bottom of the Switch’s USB C port. This allows you the ability to hear audio and voice chat with others through this headset. You could connect the headset to the Switch through Bluetooth, but the Switch doesn’t support mic usage through Bluetooth. So why would you do that when this headset has the perfect spot for the adapter. One downside of the low-profile T shape adapter is it can block other USB ports on your computer. SteelSeries does provide an short cable/adapter to help in this case. While its compatibility is impressive, the accompanying software and apps need improvement. There are simply too many of them to download and it’s not clear which ones are needed. It would have been helpful to have some guidance or instructions in the box. The only instructions included is a sheet notifying you to download the Arctis Nova 5X app for your phone. After doing so, it became clear that many of the useful features built into the headset can only be controlled or setup from the various programs you can download to your computer. If you take the time to understand how to setup and use the programs, there are many useful functionalities. Another thing that was confusing when setting up the headset for the first time was the ability to update the firmware. Updating the firmware is one of the first things I do when using new hardware. Again, there was no guidance or instructions in the box, app, or on SteelSeries website, that showed you how to initiate an update. Doing so may have addressed an issue I was having with the sidetone setting on the mic. In addition to Off, there are 10 levels the sidetone can be set at; when setting the sidetone to level 1 out of 10, the mic picks up a considerably amount of outside sound. For example, I could hear my gaming laptop’s fans loud and clear from setting level 1. This is something that can probably be fixed with a software and firmware update, but until I figure out how to do it, the mic’s sidetone is too loud in my opinion. Overall, I really appreciate how this headset works with almost any device. I only wish it included a standard 3.5mm jack. Including a headphone jack would have made this even more compatible. But unfortunately, the trend in electronics today is the removal of a jack for wired connections. The sound it produces is acceptable for standard gaming. It does a great job with directional audio. It also has decent base. Not the lowest frequencies around, but it does produce enough bass for standard gaming needs.

TL:DR - This headset is great once you figure out there's a mobile companion app, otherwise the out of box EQ is "Flat" and it sounds just as it says... flat! I didn't enjoy it out of the box sound experience, and I thought there was memory on the headset, so I downloaded the PC app and it didn't help me in the slightest for Xbox gaming. It does have a ton of compatibility though, it works on Switch, PC, PS5, mobile, etc. Overall, once I discovered the companion app, the experience got significantly better. Though some of the presets I think are gimmicks. Like COD MW3 preset, vs COD MW2, COD MW, and COD MW2 are basically the same sounds to my ear. Anyway I'd recommend it with the caveat of the mobile app is required! ---- When I first unboxed the headset, I was pretty happy with the fact it came with some stickers. I also LOVED the fact the headsets laid flat which for me storing them when not in use was really nice! I dislike the fact the Xbox Series X itself doesn't have a USB-C port, but it comes with a pretty decently long cable that can easily help you put the adapter in front of the console. It still looks a little weird on your entertainment center, but it's not a deal breaker. The comfort for me out of the box wasn't there. Luckily I had the option to adjust the inner headband to fit my Tweety bird sized head! I ultimately ended up removing the inner band for longer sessions though. I like it the inner band because the outer band is this rubbery like material and can pull my hair, so the cloth inner band is ideal, but again for my huge head, and for longer gaming sessions with the pals, it's more comfortable since there's less bearing down on top of my head. Speaking of playing with the fellas, the mic is great. No complaints from the receiving friends, and they thought my voice sounded more crisp than they remembered during our XDefiant play throughs. I did enjoy minimizing the audio for voice and pumping up the game volume and visa versa when needed. --- Now for the sound --- Honestly at first I hated it. I thought it was just too flat. What's weird about the whole thing is nothing on the box from what I could tell, or the instruction manual mentions a mobile companion app! I'm not sure if this is common knowledge or not, but for me it wasn't and on the second page of the manual, it says, "Use Engine Inside SteelSeries GG to set custom eq settings an control your mic" and tells you to go to the website to download it. So I did, thinking this would help me set a sound profile that will sound better than the default. Because like I said, the default wasn't good IMO. Luckily for the desktop app, you don't need to sign in, but I went ahead and created an account, just to discover that the headset doesn't save anything. It's just a sound profile for PC gaming. Which I tested and I now knew the headset had significantly better sound to offer. I just didn't know how to get it on the headset. Went to Steel Series website and noticed it has a companion app. Went back to the manual, looked on the box, and nothing stood out to me. Nothing at all indicating there was a mobile app. Once I paired my headset to my iPhone... it basically opened up a bunch of sound profiles to use on Xbox and there's so many! In fact 99% of them are unnecessary! My feedback to them is to redesign the app a little bit and sort the EQ profiles into a three tiered expanding form. So for example, the first drop down could be something like, "General, Gaming, Movies, Music, and Podcast" then once I select that, it'll offer the next options, and then another. For example if I choose Music, the next drop down can filter the results to say "Jazz, HipHop, Rock, Pop, etc." Then the next tier can say some bands you may listen to where it's tuned for. Or if I said, Gaming for the first option, then "Shooter, Action RPG, Sports, Adventure, etc., then list off the games. Right now everything is just listed in one section so it's hard to find what you want when you're quickly switching sound profiles to test out the differences. Speaking of the sound profile differences... A lot of it is unnecessary. For example all the various Call of Duty sound profiles are practically identical. Battlefield 2042 and Halo sounded very similar to my ears and the Starfield sounded great, but was it necessary to have a specific one for Starfield? Overall I like the option, but I think organizing it more so it can be filtered would be ideal. I will say that once you find the EQ you like it really does change the sound for the better. At the end of the day, I did enjoy using these headsets and easily has me not wanting to use anything else on Xbox. So yes, I do recommend these for anyone wanting a good pair of headsets, BUT ONLY if you know about the app. The app is a requirement and no the app doesn't require an account, so even better!

These are my very first pair of SteelSeries headsets. I have had every brand of gaming headsets you can imagine. First impressions: Very plain looking headset. No RGB. No crazy colors. Very simplistic design. All the buttons on both sides of the headset initially give a what does this button do. Thankfully there is an actual hard copy owner's manual to reference. Ear Cups: The earcup cushions feel very comfortable and the cloth material is very soft. Softer than my aging Corsair Void RGB Elite. Cups have the right amount of give to not push my eyeglasses against my temples. Each cup is marked L and R. The earcups fold flat but do not fold. Headband: Not a fan of the headband at all. There is a 3 way adjustment of the headband. I prefer a headband with memory foam on it instead of the elastic band. Fortunately it is still very comfortable and doesn't pull one's hair. I also don't like the adjustment of the earcup holder length. Takes a lot of force to pull them down. Sound/Mic: On a scale of 1:10 the sound is about an 8. You can make adjustments using the Arctis Nova 5 Companion App. Sounds good with bluetooth but I feel like the headset was built more for the 2.4GHz playback when connected to the Xbox Series X. No feedback with Mic (mic retracts). Sounds good and a little better than the corsair and on par with my wired HyperX wired headset. What comes in the box: You get a usb-c cable and another usb-c cable extension (no power brick), wireless dongle, and info guides along with some stickers. Charges: It rapids charge with USB-c. I just used my apple ipad pro charging block. The LED breathes green when charging. Final Thoughts: These headsets are packed with additional features that my son and I will never used. Get the xbox version because it can connect to just about everything. The build is solid and I hope the battery lasts a very long time. It does not have a 3.5mm jack so when the battery no longer holds a charge I guess it is end of life for the unit. I have not checked if usb-c charging port also seconds as a headphone jack. These do run a little small IMO opinion. If you have a larger than normal size head you should probably stay away or run them without the elastic band. The elastic band is removable but the actual plastic headband isn't lined with cushioning.

The best thing about this headset is its build quality. They feel very solidly built and I think they’ll be able to take a beating from your little ones, or from those of you who might just toss them onto your desk or wherever after you are done gaming. The headband, earcups are very strong and the earcups are quite comfortable. But to my ears, the sound quality is just alright. I’m very picky about headphones though, and I own some high end headphones. So to most consumers, these will probably get the job done. But if you’re an audiophile or expecting amazing sound out of these, then I would say look elsewhere. I played rocket league, Fortnite, and call of duty with these headphones on and they sound bright. To my ears they lack bass and miss, so most games are going to sound trebly. They are loud though, and voices in chat come through loud and clear. The microphone is cool because it retracts fully into the earcup. You’ll have to mute it with the press of a button otherwise it stays active when retracted. My only other complaint is the usb c dongle it comes with. The Xbox series x only has the OG USB ports for it, so you’ll have to use the long adapter that they provide in the box to use these wirelessly. I can’t blame the headset for it, this is Microsoft’s fault, for not putting a usb c port on the Xbox series x. The adapter is just unnecessarily long. For Pc, or Nintendo switch though, this will not be an issue as the wireless dongle will connect and pair great. All in all, I love the brand. They make a very good headset for most casual gamers. I would recommend these for your kids, they are very tough and should take a beating. They will be content with these. For serious gamers and audiophiles? I would suggest you spend a little more and get something better.

I’m a Sony fan and wanted the Pulse Elite to be my new replacement headset. I had been using the same old wired set for about 10 years and wanted to finally go wireless. Unfortunately the Elites were heavy and huge. The one size fits all set up was terrible. I have a small head (6 7/8 hat size) and the Elites just slid right off my head with any movement. I tried the Pulse 3D after. I heard they fit better and tighter. Wrong! I saw SteelSeries had something new coming out so I decided to wait a bit and I’m glad I did. They fit like a glove and are super light. I went with the 5X so that i could use them on Xbox and PS5. They’re very good. Also works with PS Portal as long as you’re in range of the PS5. Only small gripe is that the Nova 5 skipped the 3.5 jack. Pretty silly if you ask me but it is what it is. Can’t go wrong with these for $130. Sound is great and there are a ton of presets with the app. Also has bluetooth. Nice for watching TV through a Roku and such. Very good purchase.

TLDR: The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X offers up an impressive 60 hours of battery life along with very good audio quality when using the included 2.4GHz dongle but comes up way short on Bluetooth audio quality compared to its competition. CONFIGURATION I initially configured the Nova 5’s on my Windows PC, which is my primary gaming PC. I would recommend initial configuration be completed with a PC before using the 5X with other devices due to a mandatory firmware update this is required on first power up. Fortunately, the firmware update to both the dongle and the headset completed quickly and without any fuss or issues. One thing SteelSeries needs to work on is their Windows apps. They have a total of 5 different apps you can download that are applicable to the 5X. Users must download the Gaming Gear app for firmware updates and then a separate app, Sonar, for audio configuration. While both apps are easy enough to use, I don’t like the multitude of different apps. Not to mention the other 3 offerings for game captures, recording, etc. While separate apps do make for a much lighter weight install than SteelSeries’ competitors, it also makes it cumbersome to find the app you want when you want to make changes. USE The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X boasts an impressive battery life, up to 60 hours! With a 15-minute fast charge option that nets you up to 6 hours of use. Wow! Using them for several hours playing games on the PC didn’t faze the 5X’s as they were still showing 98% battery life. Outstanding. Like other manufacturers have started doing, the 5X’s allow the user to switch seamlessly between the 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth with just a press of a button. It works well & I was able to switch between my PC (2.4) and my iPad (Bluetooth) with ease. I’m glad manufacturers have started making it simple to switch between multiple devices. SteelSeries states the Nova 5X’s can reproduce the full audio spectrum, 20Hz – 20,000Hz using their included 40mm drivers. When I first tested them, I was concerned that the 40mm drives would be substantially weaker than the now standard 50mm drivers found in most premium headphones. I was surprised at their ability to reproduce such low bass frequencies with drivers that are 20% smaller than a lot of the competition. Speaking of audio quality, the Nova 5X do a very good job sonically using the included 2.4GHz dongle. Audio is punchy and decently accurate (note that these do not offer any noise cancellation). There are over 100 different presets available in the either the Windows Sonar app or the SteelSeries companion app to help tailor the Nova 5’s to your liking. To be honest, 100 different presets is really overkill. Listed mostly by game (though there are several presets for movies and music) each preset is just a very subtle variation of the next and I couldn’t tell a discernible difference between most of them. I like other manufacturers’ approaches where they offer a basic configuration based on the game genre and then let you just fine-tune the settings from there, as like I said, the differences between 100 different presets are minimal for the most part. NEGATIVES As much as I enjoyed the sonic performance of the 5X’s while using the 2.4GHz dongle, I dislike their performance over Bluetooth. Quite frankly, these are some of the worst performing headphones over Bluetooth I’ve used in a long time, regardless of price point. Audio was muddied, muted, and lackluster to say the least. No amount of fine tuning via companion app was able to correct the poor audio quality. To add insult to injury there was a very noticeable Bluetooth lag. So much so, that only after about 20 minutes, I had to stop watching a movie with them. It was too distracting having the screen so far out of sync with the audio. Ugh. FINAL THOUGHTS I really enjoyed gaming with the Nova 5X’s linked to the included 2.4GHz dongle. The audio was very dynamic and aggressive. More aggressive than many others. The Sonar spatial audio works well and is very convincing at creating a virtual surround sound environment along with offering many different adjustments to help tweak the audio to your liking. What I don’t like, is that I cannot use Dolby Atmos or DTS Headphone X with the Nova 5’s. However, what really holds these headphones back is their poor Bluetooth performance. I have ear buds that cost 1/3 as much as the Nova 5’s that sound better via Bluetooth. I will give the Nova 5’s a recommended rating if being used with the 2.4GHz dongle. But, if used solely with a Bluetooth connection, it would be a not recommended. RECOMMENDED with caveats.