The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni is a wireless gaming headset that offers a premium experience at a more affordable price point compared to its audiophile-focused sibling, the Nova Elite. With a familiar design and a host of impressive features, it's a worthy successor to the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. In this review, I'll delve into the headset's design, connectivity, audio quality, and performance, offering my personal perspective and analysis along the way.
Design: Familiarity Breeds Comfort
The Nova Pro Omni boasts a design that is nearly identical to its predecessor, the Nova Pro Wireless. It comes in three sleek color options: black, white, and midnight blue. The headset features matte plastic earcups adorned with soft memory foam earpads, wrapped in supple faux leather. This design ensures a comfortable fit, allowing for extended gaming sessions without fatigue. The earcups are mounted on quarter-circle supports, providing a 90-degree rotation for convenient storage.
The headband is a two-part masterpiece, combining an upper flat metal strip with a rubberized underside for stability and a lower elastic strip for suspension. This design ensures a secure and comfortable fit, even during intense gaming sessions. While the Nova Elite may have a slight edge in terms of premium feel, the differences are subtle and only noticeable when comparing the two headsets side by side.
Connectivity: Versatile and Upgradable
The Nova Pro Omni's connectivity options are where it truly shines. It supports wireless connectivity with PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox, and mobile devices via either a USB-C connection to its 2.4GHz base station or Bluetooth 5.3. The 2.4GHz wireless link is hi-res audio certified, capable of delivering 96kHz/24-bit audio, while Bluetooth supports SBC, LC3, and LC3+ codecs for low-energy and hi-res audio.
One of the standout features is the addition of a third USB port on the base station, allowing for simultaneous connections to PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. This is a significant improvement over the older Nova Pro Wireless, which required users to choose between PlayStation and Xbox versions. The Nova Pro Omni's versatility is further enhanced by its ability to support Microsoft and Sony's systems without compromising on features.
Audio Quality: Immersive and Balanced
The Nova Pro Omni delivers exceptional audio quality, offering a rich and balanced sound that caters to both casual gamers and audiophiles. I listened to various music tracks on the headset through an LC3+ Bluetooth connection to my phone, and the results were impressive. The bass test track, The Knife's 'Silent Shout', showcased the headset's ability to deliver powerful and detailed sound, with the kick drum hitting with force and the Bass Boost mode adding an ear-vibrating intensity.
During testing, Yes' 'Roundabout' sounded clear and well-balanced, with the opening acoustic guitar plucks full in the lower frequencies and enough treble finesse to convey fine string texture. The busy mix of the track was easily discernible, with each instrument receiving adequate attention. The Nova Pro Omni's audio quality is a significant improvement over the Nova Pro Wireless, offering more detail and a richer sound.
Gaming Performance: Spatial Audio Excellence
The Nova Pro Omni's gaming performance is where it truly excels. Thanks to Sonar's spatial audio processing, games sound immersive and detailed. During testing, Pragmata's approaching robots had solid directionality, and the weapon blasts had a good amount of low-end force. The banter between Hugh and Diana was clear and crisp, even during intense fights when the sounds of combat and the game's soundtrack competed for attention.
The headset's spatial imaging was particularly impressive in Apex Legends, allowing me to accurately pinpoint the source of bullets and determine the direction of footsteps. This level of spatial audio processing provides a tactical advantage, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
Microphone: Top-Tier Clarity
The Nova Pro Omni's microphone is a standout feature, delivering top-tier clarity and noise cancellation. Test recordings sounded clear and full, with the noise cancellation effectively blocking out background noise, such as the buzz and whine of my 3D printer. This makes it an excellent choice for casual recording and streaming, though dedicated mics are still recommended for serious content creation.
Conclusion: A Premium Experience at a Reasonable Price
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni is a wireless gaming headset that offers a premium experience at a more reasonable price point compared to the Nova Elite. With its familiar design, versatile connectivity, exceptional audio quality, and top-tier performance, it's a worthy successor to the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. While audiophiles may prefer the Nova Elite for its carbon fiber drivers, the Nova Pro Omni provides an excellent balance of features and affordability, making it a compelling choice for gamers seeking a high-quality wireless headset.
