Gadget Overview: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni – Digitally Downloaded

I firmly consider {that a} good headset is definitely worth the funding. You can discover headsets on the market for beneath $100, in supermarkets or low cost shops. They’re typically handy and wi-fi, and I’m not going to recommend they don’t work, as a result of they do. But a lot effort goes into sound design {that a} premium headset helps you correctly hear and recognize the inventive intent behind the sport you’re taking part in, movie you’re watching or music album you’re listening to. You don’t should be an audiophile to understand that and, so, headset is for a broader vary of individuals than simply the audiophiles. SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova Pro Omni is an effective headset, properly definitely worth the funding.

To be clear, it’s an funding. This headset retails for round $850 AUD, give or take just a few tenners. That is, amazingly sufficient, not the costliest headset SteelSeries has launched within the Arctis Nova line, that honour goes to the Elite, which is round $500 greater than the Pro Omni, But clearly, the Omni is a considerable funding, in order that must be famous up-front.

Like different entries within the Arctis Nova Pro collection, the Omni comes boxed-in with a helpful DAC unit, which permits you fast management over numerous options whereas utilizing the headset by way of 2.4GHz connection. It additionally permits you to join as much as 4 audio sources concurrently, permitting you to modify between gadgets with out ever needing to take the headset off. Which is good as a result of after making this sort of funding, you’ll wish to use it for almost every thing that you would be able to. Those occasions that you would be able to’t join the system to a DAC, you’ll be able to fall again to a Bluetooth connection as properly, and because of its beautiful, smooth profile, this can be a headset you need to use comfortably on the practice or airplane with out having folks choose your vogue sense.

It’s headset to be used in public, too. Even over the inferior and comparatively gradual (for gaming) Bluetooth connection, the lively noise cancellation (ANC) is noticeably extra highly effective than what you get in lots of competing headsets. SteelSeries claims it’s an enchancment of greater than 40 per cent in comparison with different headsets with ANC, and whereas I don’t know the place that quantity comes from – I’ve no means of measuring if it’s really only a 39 per cent enchancment and SteelSeries is exaggerating that declare – I can affirm that the headset is best at blocking out the ambient noise on, say, a busy practice, than headsets I’ve used prior to now.

You’ll recognize that as a result of the 96kHz, 24-bit audio, delivered by way of 40mm Neodymium Magnetic drivers, sounds as they do buzzwordy. This is backed up with a microphone that can also be designed to be used in noisy areas. SteelSeries claims that it blocks out as much as 96 per cent of background noise, and once more, I can’t affirm that it’s not simply 95 per cent background noise, however I did really use the microphone on a piece name in a café at one level, and the folks on the opposite finish of it had no concept that there was loads of chatter round me.

Further supporting the concept that you’ll by no means wish to take this headset off, SteelSeries present a twin battery system with the Nova Pro Omni. You can cost one within the DAC whereas getting 30 hours of life out of the opposite, after which hot-swapping them as wanted. It doesn’t take 30 hours to cost the battery, which means that you simply successfully have limitless battery life until you’re on the highway and don’t have the DAC with you.

As far as sound high quality is anxious, the distinction between the Omni is nearly similar to the Elite, sharing all the identical options, strengths and (negligible) weaknesses. The Elite is ever so barely extra premium in end and maybe a tiny bit extra snug on the ears, although which may even be as a result of I’ve been utilizing the Elite for lengthy sufficient now that it has higher match my ears and I simply want to present the Omni extra time to mould in. The materials used for the cups is gentle, and the burden distribution band is ideal, permitting for a headset that feels such as you’re carrying nothing in any respect.

Ultimately, this can be a gaming headset, and whereas SteelSeries’ software program permits you an extremely wealthy set of EQ profiles and balancing, in case your single biggest precedence is placing on a recording of an opera or symphony, you’re nonetheless going to be ever-so-slightly higher off with audiophile headsets for this value level. The Omni is designed for sound results over soundtracks, typically with heavy base, whereas permitting you to go voice chat and dialogue excessive. For gaming, it’s troublesome to argue that there’s something higher on the market.

Perhaps one of the best ways to summarise the Arctis Nova Pro Omni is that it’s SteelSeries’ answer to the one downside the Elite had when it was launched final 12 months: The value. Yes, $850 and alter remains to be a giant up-front funding, however at round 2/3rds the price of the Elite, whereas providing the identical primary function set and even some enhancements in areas like ANC, the Omni is definitely extraordinarily good worth. Dare I say it’s even a discount at its value? If you respect sound high quality in any respect, then you’ll rapidly discover that you simply use the Pro Omni for completely every thing involving sound.