How Effectively Does a $600 Gaming Headset Sound? I Had a Hear.

Let’s say you’re in search of a gaming headset improve, and you’ve got plenty of consoles multi functional place. The newly introduced MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite headset might provide audiophile-quality sound for avid gamers who wish to take heed to the cacophony of their consoles (each Xbox and PlayStation), a PC, and a telephone unexpectedly. Sounds good, proper? Just know the Elite will rip open your pockets in a determined seek for $600.

See MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite at Amazon

The Arctis Nova Elite prices a lot cash, I might anticipate earcups to be product of stable 24K gold. No gold, sadly, although the body and management wheel are each product of sturdy steel. The $600 headset was constructed for the high-end luxurious avid gamers, with the corporate’s declare that it pushes hi-fi sound devoted to audiophiles, avid gamers, and a mixture thereof. The headset’s acknowledged 24-bit/96KHz transmission is comparatively customary for lossless audio, although whether or not that is the “world’s first” hi-fi gaming audio setup—as MetalSeries claimed—is extra muddled. The $350 Sony Inzone H9 II headset, which makes use of the identical drivers as the corporate’s main WH-1000XM6 headphones, provides a special number of high-quality audio, although the Nova Elite helps the LC3+ codec. MetalSeries advised me that is the primary product of its form licensed by the Japan Audio Society. The headset is accessible beginning right this moment, Sept. 30, although the massive query is whether or not it’s definitely worth the obscene value.

Solid sound, however is it price $600?

All that basically issues is how effectively it sounds whenever you strap the Nova Elite over your noggin. I slapped the plush reminiscence foam earcups over each my ears and listened to a couple minutes of music and performed a spherical of Counter-Strike 2, making an attempt to get a variety of bass-heavy and lighter songs. From what I might inform, the audio was very effectively balanced. The bass felt thick, although I wasn’t round lengthy sufficient to check simply how far I might push it. I might add the lively noise cancelling (ANC) and tight earcups stored out surrounding noise to hush a close-by dialog whereas the music was enjoying. The system makes use of 40mm carbon fiber speaker drivers surrounded by a brass ring to allow a “pistonic” habits near your ears. MetalSeries claims it may possibly characterize between 10Hz and 40Hz frequencies with help for spatial audio.

If it was simply hi-fi audio as a promoting level, the Nova Elite would appear much more ludicrous. The different massive addition is GameHub. It basically acts because the headset’s 2.4GHz connection level, akin to different costly headphones just like the Razer Kraken V4 Pro. This hub permits as much as three connections to numerous recreation PCs and consoles. Normally, headset makers must craft a tool particular to Xbox and PlayStation, as Microsoft’s console requires a particular connection kind. GameHub allows you to join an Xbox Series X/S, PS5, or Nintendo Switch and easily change between the three utilizing the on-device controls. It helps the consoles and PC, in addition to Bluetooth and aux audio, all concurrently.

The closest we’ve needed to a seamless multi-console headset was Logitech G’s Astro A50X. That headset makes use of a base station to behave as an HDMI passthrough for all of your consoles to the TV. Logitech additionally simply launched the A20X, which prices much less and makes use of a tiny PlaySync Base for connecting as much as two consoles’ audio indicators directly. The Nova Elite’s GameHub permits for extra fine-tuned audio controls with out having to make use of the headset or software program, although you’ll inevitably soar to an app to modulate equalization choices.

The GameHub hides a particular shock

MetalSeries tried to indicate customers could be keen to make this their principal headset for extra than simply gaming. The earcups fold 90 levels to simply match contained in the felt-lined carrying case. On the transfer, you’d must go for the Arctis app, helpful for the corporate’s extra cell gadgets like its Arctis GameBuds. If you’re taking it about city, the Arctis Nova Elite ought to get round 30 hours of battery life on common. While that’s actually not as sturdy as gadgets just like the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2’s promised 250 hours, it helps a hot-swappable battery in the event you can’t stand the thought of plugging in your headset. There’s an additional battery hidden contained in the GameHub you’ll be able to seize in an emergency.

MetalSeries has a good few budget-end headsets, just like the Arctis Nova 3P, that we discover help comparatively good audio for the worth. The firm’s final high-end headsets, just like the Nova Pro, launched at $350 and got here with the identical swappable battery and retractable mic. Now, prospects are being requested to have a look at the other finish of the spectrum—testing whether or not avid gamers are keen to spend a lot, far more for what could be their solely headset.

See MetalSeries Arctis Nova Elite at Amazon