SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 vs Arctis Nova 3
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Arctis Nova 1 (left) and Arctis Nova 3.
Differences Summary
Connectivity and Controls
Headphone Audio Quality
Microphone Audio Quality
Comfort and Build Quality
Verdict
Differences Summary
The Arctis Nova 1 connects using a 3.5 mm connection. It comes with a 3.5 mm cable and a splitter in the box. The controls are on the left earcup. There’s a mic mute button and a finite scroll headphone gain wheel.
Nova 3
The Nova 3 connects to SteelSeries Engine.
The Nova 3 only has a USB-C port for connecting, but there are multiple adapter cables included in the box to make it compatible with many devices.
The USB-C to USB-C cable is the primary method of connecting. If your target device doesn’t have an available USB-C port, there’s a USB-C to USB-A adapter in the box also. Connecting via USB is necessary to use SteelSeries Engine and to customize the RGB effects and other settings on PC.
The final connection option is using the USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter which is also included.
The controls on the Nova 3 are a headphone gain wheel (finite scroll), mic mute toggle, and an RGB on/off switch.
Headphone Audio Quality
Warzone with the Nova 1.
The Nova 1 and Nova 3 have similar drivers both with a frequency range of 20 Hz - 22 KHz. The differences are slight, so you can get both to sound almost identical to each other with a bit of EQ tweaking.
The Nova 3 sounds more detailed overall. Ambient sounds like the mold in Resident Evil 7 (and 8) really feel like they’re creeping all around you. On the other hand, the Nova 1 has a bit more volume in the sub-bass. In a frequency test, 20 Hz was barely audible in the Nova 3, but I could feel some of the vibration in the Nova 1.
Both devices perform admirably in FPS games, though I’d give the edge to the Nova 3 because it leans on the Arctis Nova lineup’s strength which is the textured treble and upper midrange.
Resident Evil 7 with Nova 3
I don’t enjoy either of these devices for music. The boost to the upper mids and highs and gutted bass can be helpful in competitive environments, it’s obnoxiously piercing for anything else. Vocals are very airy, and sibliant voices and instruments like hi-hats can be physically painful.
If you enjoy this type of sound signature, then you’ll have an amazing time with the Nova 3 and you’ll only need minor tweaks to the Nova 1 to get it to sound perfect. However, if you like any type of bass and you want natural sounding vocals, these are a pass.
Microphone Audio Quality
The Nova 1 and Nova 3 have serviceable mics, but nothing I’d join a business call with or start a podcast on. Noise cancellation is pretty weak on both - the only slightly reduct background noise and keyboard clicks. The mics mainly differ in terms of tuning and volume, not quality.
The Nova 3 is very sibilant which I probably should have expected considering how sharp the headphone audio is. The Nova 1 is again warmer sounding, but nothing as full as a dedicated standalone mic.
The biggest advantage the Nova 3 has is due to the USB connection. The pre-amp boosts the volume to a workable level right out the box. Normal speech was topping out at about -15 dB which is low, but it’s not terrible.
The Nova 3’s higher volume is a big deal on PC.
As you can hear in the included mic samples, speech on the Nova 1 gets stuck in the -25 and -30 dB purgatory. To solve this, you’ll need a massive volume boost from software on your computer or from your console’s mic settings. In either case, the noise floor will increase drastically as well, hurting the overall audio.
I give the advantage to the Nova 3 because it’s a much louder mic. The Corsair HS80 is still the only consumer “gaming” headset that I’ve heard decent microphone audio from.
Comfort and Build Quality
Nova 3 (left) and Nova 1.
The only difference between the build of these headsets is the Nova 1 has a slightly shorter headband frame. This makes the fit tighter, and it was uncomfortable over longer periods for me.
The Nova 1 and Nova 3 are both made of plastic with AirWeave ear cushions, and they have the same adjustment mechanism.
You can extend the headband frame down to change the length and the elastic band inside can be be tightened or loosened to control the clamping force. Both have swivel.
The notches let you loosen or tighten the clamping force. This is the Nova 3, but the same is on the Nova 1.
The material prevents heat buildup, but those that prefer softer material that fits more snug will benefit from a headset with faux leather. There’s also no metal reinforcement anywhere, so use caution.
Verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 is better than the Arctis Nova 1, but not by a large margin. The headphone audio on both is not drastically different, and the builds are almost the same.
If you’re a SteelSeries fan, I’d get the Nova 3 for PC use. It connects to SteelSeries Engine where you can save your EQ and other settings to the device itself even if you want to use it on other hardware later. For console only use, get the Nova 1 since it can still plug right into a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X controller. It has no special features, but if you liked the previous SteelSeries headsets, you’ll enjoy this.
If you’re NOT already a SteelSeries fan, I’d skip these and pick up the HyperX Cloud Alpha, Astro A40, or Drop + EPOS PC38X. They’re very comfortable and they have fuller and higher quality bass.
