SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni review: A highly versatile video gaming headset
Audio bods SteelSeries are back with yet another brilliant set of headphones that offer gamers multiple ways of connecting to all their consoles, PCs and handhelds at the same time
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni
This amazing headset is about as all-round a sonic experience you’ll ever want in your gaming set up.
Because maker SteelSeries has gone truly all-out to deliver a pair of headphones that can connect to every conceivable device you may have – all at the same time.
The aim is clear, the Pro Omnis want to be omnipresent in a gamer’s life.
So if you’re jumping from Xbox to Playstation for different games, going out and about with your Switch 2 handheld and even just listening to music on a commute, you never have to take these bad boys off.
The Pro Omni costs around £350 and delivers high-end quality audio for gaming in particular, while doing very well indeed on general music playback too.
There are three colourways to purchase, black and white of course but also a cool midnight blue design.
You get a GameHub unit to help control your sounds alongside the headset
The headset itself isn’t overly out-there. The blue version for example is all the same colour throughout, from ear cushion to headband to plastic body.
It feels fairly light in the hands but also like it won’t break easily if dropped.
And the comfort is obvious from the off, with a soft, flexible floating suspension headband sitting beneath a more rigid top, cradling your head for long play sessions.
The ear cups are thick and well padded, with soft leather at their core to reduce sweatiness in lengthy gaming moments.
There are a handful of buttons on the sides. A bluetooth connection one, volume wheel, mic mute and on-off switch.
The mic itself is hidden within the body of the left ear cup, and simply pulls out or retracts inside again depending on how you want to use the Pro Omni.
Very neat indeed and incredibly flexible.
But it’s the versatile tech here which really allows this set to stand out.
This is a universal headset for all types of gamers with multiple ways of playing today’s plethora of video games.
So you have a base control unit bundled with the earphones that can be plugged into three devices via USB-C cable, that’s probably your PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC taken care of.
They’re just as good for music listening as gaming
It also has a classic line-in which works for something like a Nintendo Switch.
Then you can also Bluetooth direct to a device too, so that’s your phone for gaming, music and audio calls.
That is unrivalled connectivity and means that you can seamlessly move between games and consoles without even taking the headset off.
And let’s not forget the batteries.
You get two switchable batteries that pop in and out of the right ear cup behind a clever magnet-snap cover.
What this means is you’ll never ever lose power, because one can be charged in your base unit while the other is in play, then when the power is drained on-set, swap them and repeat.
Sound-wise the set features 96kHz/24 bit wireless audio pumped through 40mm neodymium magnetic drivers.
What that means in the real world is that these earphone absolutely kick ass, delivering gut-punching bass alongside crystal clear highs for both explosive gaming effects and vocal work that still cuts through.
They’re incredibly well-rounded and, even on general music, offer a full bellied, defined and nicely smoothed audio for song fans.
The omnidirectional mic is clear and comes across natural for comms with fellow gamers or phone callers.
AI-powered noise rejection is built into the mic to works across any system – PC, console, and mobile. Blocking out clicks, chatter, and chaos so voices cut through cleanly, wherever gamers play or chat.
There’s a midnight blue version as well as black and white
This on-board technology is said to reduce up to 97% of background noise.
And of course you can tweak your EQ to your heart’s content thanks to the Arctis Mobile companion apps, plus there’s advanced mixing options using the free Sonar Software Audio Suite.
The GameHub desktop unit that comes with the headset has an inbuilt OLED screen and command wheel, allowing a multitude of other adjustments on-the-fly, including new display modes such as showing audio levels across multiple
devices and the mic.
Overall, SteelSeries has delivered a massively versatile gaming headset that’s just as good as for your music on commute and phone calls.
It looks excellent, not too over-the-top, sounds immense in all settings and delivers great comfort.
VERDICT 5/5
