SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X wireless review
I've never been one to be bothered by a heavy headset. Or at least, so I thought. For me, sound quality is king, and I'll happily take a chunkier model if it delivers chunky sound to match. But after using the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless for the past few weeks, I may have been converted to the light side.
SteelSeries' latest headset comes in at a practically featherweight 277 grams. That makes it something of a non-event to pull from the substantial packaging, as something ringing in the back of my brain still thinks that heavy = well-made. On closer inspection, however, the Nova 5X reveals a build quality that, on first appearances, goes some way to justifying its $130 price.
Twisting it around in my hands, it feels springy, with tight tolerances and smooth joints. Inside the headband is an adjustable soft-touch piece of fabric with a neon green patterned design, but really that's the only giveaway that this is a gaming headset. You can absolutely wear the Nova 5X in public without looking like you've brought your hobbies out into the big wide world.
That's helped by the fully retractable mic design that neatly tucks itself away inside the chassis of the left earcup. Combine that with a subtle, matte black finish, and there's really little to tell you this is anything other than a good-looking pair of regular wireless headphones. Given that it can switch between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 connections at the touch of a button, the restrained design doesn't make me feel like too much of a prize plum using the Bluetooth mode on the train.
Connection: 2.4 GHz wireless (via USB Type-C dongle), Bluetooth 5.3
Type: Closed back
Frequency response: 20 Hz – 22 kHz
Drivers: 40 mm with neodymium magnets
Connector: USB Type-C
Microphone: Clearcast Gen 2.X bidirectional noise cancelling mic with fully retractable boom
Weight: 277 g
Price: $130/£130
It's very comfortable, too. That soft-touch headband and some cushy memory foam ear cups make for a headset that barely
