SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P Review: Premium Comfort at a Budget Price

Overview

SteelSeries has a knack for making gaming headsets that people actually want to wear for hours. The Arctis Nova 1P is their entry-level offering, slotting in at $99 AUD from Scorptec and Mwave, and it carries forward the comfort-first philosophy that made the Arctis line famous. This is a wired, multi-platform gaming headset that works with everything from your gaming PC to your Nintendo Switch.

In a market flooded with $99 headsets that promise the world and deliver headaches, the Nova 1P takes a refreshingly honest approach: nail the fundamentals — comfort, sound quality, and build — and don't pretend to be something it's not.

Specifications

Comfort & Design

This is where SteelSeries earns their reputation. The Arctis Nova 1P is featherweight at 236g — you'll genuinely forget you're wearing it after ten minutes. The headband uses SteelSeries' ski goggle-inspired elastic strap that distributes weight evenly across the top of your head, eliminating the hot spots and pressure points that plague cheaper headsets.

The ear cushions are AirWeave fabric — a breathable mesh material that stays cool during long sessions. If you game in an Australian summer without aircon (brave soul), you'll appreciate this. They don't get sweaty or uncomfortable even after 3-4 hour sessions. The cups are oval-shaped and large enough to fully encompass most ears, providing good passive noise isolation.

The adjustable steel slider feels premium and holds its position firmly. The overall design is understated — matte black with subtle SteelSeries branding. This headset won't embarrass you on a video call. The rotating ear cups fold flat for portability, which is a nice touch for Switch gamers or commuters.

Sound Quality

The Arctis Nova 1P runs a balanced, flat-ish sound signature that SteelSeries calls their "Signature Sound." Here's what that means in practice:

Gaming: The sound stage is good for a closed-back headset. In FPS games like CS2 and Valorant, directional audio is clear — you can reliably identify footstep directions and distances. Explosions and gunshots have impact without being overwhelming. The mid-range clarity means dialogue-heavy RPGs and story games sound excellent.

Music: The balanced profile means music sounds natural and detailed. Vocals, guitars, and drums all sit well in the mix. The one area where some users might want more is bass — it's present and accurate, but not boosted. If you're coming from a bass-heavy headset or want thumping EDM, the Nova 1P might sound a bit lean. For most genres, though, it's excellent.

Movies & Content: Dialogue clarity is a standout. Voices come through clean and intelligible without needing to crank the volume.

For a $99 headset, the sound quality punches into the $150+ tier. It's not going to compete with audiophile headphones, but for a gaming headset at this price, the tuning is smart and versatile.

Microphone

The ClearCast Gen 2 microphone is detachable — unplug it when you're not chatting and the headset looks like regular headphones. When attached, it's a bidirectional noise-cancelling mic that does a solid job of rejecting background noise while keeping your voice clear and natural.

In Discord calls and competitive gaming, teammates reported our voice as clear and natural-sounding, without the "tin can" quality that plagues many budget headset mics. It's not podcast-quality, but it's among the best you'll find integrated into a headset at this price.

The one annoyance: there's no flip-to-mute or inline mute button. You have to mute via software or remove the mic entirely. This is a cost-saving measure, but it's felt in everyday use.

Build Quality

The Nova 1P feels durable without being heavy. The headband uses a steel core with plastic covers, and the ear cup hinges are smooth with no creaking. The 3.5mm cable is braided and detachable — if it breaks, you replace a $10 cable, not the whole headset. The 1.2m cable length is fine for controller use but might need an extension for desktop PC setups where the jack is on the back of the case.

Multi-Platform Experience

The 3.5mm connection means universal compatibility:

• PC: Plug into front panel or use a USB DAC for better audio
• PS5/PS4: Works perfectly with the DualSense/DualShock controller
• Xbox: Full compatibility with Xbox controllers
• Switch: Works in handheld and docked (via Pro Controller)
• Mobile: Direct 3.5mm or USB-C adapter for phones without a jack

No drivers, no software, no dongles. Plug in and play. In a world of proprietary wireless dongles and platform-locked features, this simplicity is refreshing.

Australian Pricing Context

• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P: $99 at Scorptec, Mwave
• HyperX Cloud Stinger 2: ~$79 at JB Hi-Fi
• Corsair HS55 Stereo: ~$69 at Amazon AU
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3: ~$149 at JB Hi-Fi (USB + 3.5mm, ChatMix)
• Logitech G435: ~$99 (wireless Bluetooth/Lightspeed)

The Nova 1P sits right at the $99 sweet spot. The Logitech G435 offers wireless for the same price, but with worse build quality and smaller ear cups. The cheaper HyperX and Corsair options sacrifice comfort and audio quality noticeably. If wireless is non-negotiable, the G435 wins; if comfort and sound matter most, the Nova 1P is the clear choice.

Who Should Buy This?

• Long-session gamers who prioritise comfort above all else
• Multi-platform players who want one headset for everything
• Competitive gamers who value accurate positional audio
• Minimalists who want a clean, understated design

Skip this if wireless is a must-have, or if you want booming, bass-heavy audio for music.

Verdict

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P proves that $99 can buy genuinely good gaming audio. The comfort is best-in-class at this price, the sound quality is balanced and versatile, and the build is solid enough to last. It doesn't try to do everything — no wireless, no surround sound processing, no RGB — and that focus on fundamentals is exactly what makes it excellent. For Aussie gamers who want a reliable, comfortable headset without breaking the bank, the Nova 1P is our top recommendation under $100.