SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P Specifications, Tests and Review

Headphone type
Full size
Connectivity
Wired
Frequency Response
20 - 22000 Hz
Sensitivity
93 dB
Impedance
36 Ohm
Microphone
Boom

Complete technical specifications, details, expert ratings and review of SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. Find out how your chosen headphones stack up against the competition and whether they are the ones that best meet your expectations with the headphone comparison feature.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P Full Specifications and Details

design and dimensions sound quality microphone remote control cable features connections others

DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P
Product Type Headset - wired - 3.5 mm jack
Weight 236 g Worse than 70 % of headphones rated.
Colour Black | White
Body Material Memory foam, airweave
Recommended Use Game console, portable electronics, computer
Gaming Yes

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P are wired headphones. In the case of studio and professional DJ headphones, a wired connection is a standard and a necessity. In this case, connecting via cable reduces audio transmission delays and prevents unwanted battery drain as it would be in case of wireless headphones. The same is de facto true for gaming headsets. In case of headphones for normal music listening, the cable is rather a relic, although it still has its fans. However, the wireless option is much more popular for everyday use in today’s world.

The design of the headphones is around the ears. Because of this design, the headphone envelops the entire ear and isolates the ear better from surrounding noise when listening compared to for example on-ear headphones. With that, they offer high-quality listening without interference. However, they are most likely heavier by design and less practical for frequent carrying. The weight of the headphones is 236 g.

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SOUND QUALITY SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P
Headphones Form Factor Full size
Connectivity Technology Wired
Sound Output Mode Stereo
Sound Effects 360° Spatial Audio
Frequency Response 20 - 22000 Hz Better than 72 % of headphones rated.
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) <1%
Sensitivity 93 dB Worse than 90 % of headphones rated.
Impedance 36 Ohm
Diaphragm 40 mm Better than 75 % of headphones rated.
Magnet Material Neodymium

The sound quality can be affected by many factors. When it comes to frequency range, the wider it is, the more detail you will hear when listening. However, the range a person can perceive is highly individual. The average person is able to perceive frequencies in the range of 16 to 20 000 Hz. So the most common frequency range you will see on the market is 20 to 20,000 Hz. Lower frequencies up to approximately 256 Hz are considered bass frequencies. Therefore, the lower the bottom value is, the better the headphones will reproduce bass. Conversely, values from approximately 2 048 Hz upwards are treble. That is why headphones with a high upper value will provide a much more accurate reproduction of high notes. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P offers a frequency range of 20 - 22000 Hz. The sensitivity parameter determines how sensitively the headphones can receive the signal from the source. The higher the sensitivity value, the louder the headphones will be able to play with less power consumption. In general, a higher listening volume also means a higher power load for the connected device. So if you're buying headphones to listen to music from your mobile phone, for example, this is relevant to think about as you don't want to drain your phone's battery too much. Lower values around 85 dB are more suitable for listening in more quiet environments (for example, at home or in the office). Medium values of around 90 dB can provide good listening quality in noisier environments (for example, on public transport or in cafés). Headphones with high sensitivity values of around 100 dB or more are designed for really noisy environments, such as concerts. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P has 93 dB.

The device connected to the headphones also plays a role most times. The lower impedance value (approximately 100 to 150 Ohms) is suitable for playback from mobile phones, laptops or other portable players that do not have a powerful enough amplifier. The lower impedance will ensure that the required volume level is achieved with less power, thus extending the life of the player. However, at the same time, with lower impedance, there is more distortion of the sound. Headphones with a higher impedance of around 250 Ohms and above are then more suitable for playback from really powerful signal sources or using a headphone amplifier, otherwise the sound coming out of them might not be loud enough. At the same time, higher-impedance headphones will also ensure less distortion in the sound. In the case of these headphones, the impedance reaches the 36 Ohm value.

An important part of these headphones is the diaphragm, which, simply put, converts the electrical signal into a sound. The thin diaphragm that is around 6 mm thick can react quickly to changes in the audio signal and improves high-frequency listening. However, it is less sensitive to bass. The medium-thick diaphragm of around 10 mm provides a fairly balanced sound profile, allowing you to enjoy both bass and treble. A thicker diaphragm of around 20 mm cannot react so quickly to changes in the sound signal, thus impairing bass listening. However, it is more sensitive to higher frequencies. This model features the 40 mm. Total harmonic distortion is one of the parameters you will come across and usually includes the average value of the distortion when reproducing all frequency bands. This parameter is not critical when choosing headphones, but it is important to remember that higher harmonic distortion can negatively affect sound quality. In case of these headphones, the total harmonic distortion is Audio Output | Total Harmonic Distortion.

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MICROPHONE SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P
Form Factor Headset microphone
Type Boom
Microphone Operation Mode Bi-directional
Noise Cancelling Yes Better than 94 % of headphones rated.
Frequency Response 100 - 10000 Hz Better than 58 % of headphones rated.
Sensitivity -38 dB
Microphone Features Retractable microphone

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P has a boom–type microphone. The microphone sensitivity is -38 dB. A lower microphone sensitivity will generally ensure that even quieter sounds are caught. On the other hand, in noisier environments, distortion of the recording may occur. With a higher sensitivity, the microphone will not distort the recording even in noisy environments. On the other hand, the microphone will not pick up quieter sounds. So it depends on the environment and the purposes you plan to use the headphones for. A nice benefit of the microphone of the Headphones SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P is the Noise Canceling technology that suppresses ambient noise and allows a clearer sound recording to be captured.

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REMOTE CONTROL SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P
Controls Mute, volume
CABLE SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P
Cable Type Audio cable - detachable - 1.2 m
Cable Length 1.2 m
Detachable Cable Yes
FEATURES SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P
Features ComfortMax System, Nova Acoustic System, High Fidelity Drivers
CONNECTIONS SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P
Connector Type Headset (mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm)
OTHERS SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P
Included Accessories Audio cable
Compatibility Mac, Windows
Service & Support Europe: limited warranty - 2 years
United States: limited warranty - 1 year
Asia: limited warranty - 1 year

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