SteelSeries Launches the 'Arctis Nova Elite', its First 'Luxury' Gaming Headphones

Danish brand SteelSeries has announced its most ambitious product yet: a $600 USD set headphones it calls “the world’s first hi-res wireless headphones for gaming” and describes in terms that include “audiophile-grade” and “luxury.” The all-new Steelseries Arctis Nova Elite is a luxurious option indeed, costing $50 USD more than Apple’s AirPods Max and more than most flagship models from brands like Sony and Bose. So, how does they Danish brand’s latest product stack up?

Co-created with Copenhagen-based industrial designer Jacob Wagner – whose previous work includes furniture and watch design, as well as several audio products for Bang & Olufsen – the Arctis Nova Elite headphones are constructed from a mix of premium materials that combine to deliver an elevated look and feel. They feature an all-metal frame at their core that gives them a little more volume compared to an average set of gaming headphones, with further metal detailing found on frequently used areas – like the control wheel – adding to the headphones’ overall durability. Complementing this is the ultra-plush memory foam found in the oversized earcups, which offers the most comfortable fit found in a set of SteelSeries headphones yet.

Internally, the headphones are powered by custom-built 40mm carbon fiber speaker drivers that were created for and debuted exclusively in the Arctis Nova Elite. SteelSeries says these result in “new levels of accuracy and performance” when it comes to the audio quality, and describes the dual drivers as acting like pistons alternating in movement to ensure the sound is free of distortion – even at higher volumes. And with an ultra-wide frequency response of 10Hz to 40kHz, the new drivers found in the Arctis Nova Elite promise to produce what the brand calls “stunningly realistic soundscapes.”

The new headphones’ hardware isn’t their only notable feature: SteelSeries has built an array of other features into the Arctis Nova Elite that include OmniPlay (allowing users to connect to up four audio sources simultaneously), over 200 game-specific audio presets (or sound profiles), and active noise cancelling (ANC) that challenges the ANC found in other brands’ premium products.

And, when it comes to audio quality, the hi-res capabilities of the Arctis Nova Elite aren’t limited to audio playback alone: The headphones’ on-board microphones can record in 32kHz/16-bit, resulting in voice audio that more detailed and clearer than anything the SteelSeries has put out before.

SteelSeries’ CEO, Ehtisham Rabbani, said: “The Arctis Nova Elite is not just a new product – it is a statement of boundless imagination and the limitless capabilities of SteelSeries.

“With this new line, we are redefining premium gaming audio, infusing it with inspiration, aspiration, and the magic to transform every moment of gaming into something extraordinary.”

SteelSeries is no stranger to pushing limits and expectations when it comes to gaming peripherals. According to the brand, “the goal was simple: reinvent the best high-end gaming headset on the planet.” With its new Arctis Nova Elite, SteelSeries is making a statement that gaming audio can be

The Arctis Nova Elite headphones are available now via SteelSeries and select retailers worldwide, priced at £599.99 GBP / $599.99 USD / €649.99 EUR.