SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset
The most personal listening experience
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro represents the pinnacle of closed-back gaming headsets. Its secure-fitting earcups ensure effective passive noise cancellation. For the noisiest rooms, active noise cancellation neutralizes sounds that distract gamers. 360-degree spatial audio ensures that competitive gamers will always anticipate approaching danger. The Arctis Nova Pro can connect simultaneously to multiple sources with Bluetooth and a low-latency 2.4 Ghz wireless protocol. However, some gamers find its tight clamping force and leatherette earcups lead to aches and sweat buildup. Also, different versions are needed for console users, depending on which system they own.
Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro
Opening up a new world of sound
Gamers not satisfied with the sound of closed-back headsets can expand their listening experience with the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro. With a relaxed yet secure fit and breathable earcups, escaping sound surrounds gamers with ultra-realistic layers of audio. The MMX 330 Pro offers extremely balanced lows, mids, and highs to hear games and music as producers intend. Microphone quality is top-notch, making studio-quality headphones more convenient for gamers. On the other hand, the MMX 330 Pro struggles with noise cancellation and demands a high asking price for a wired headset.
Buyers who find gaming headsets too confining might not realize the advantages ofopen-back headphones. Traditionally used for mixing audio, these headphones are gradually establishing more of a presence in the gaming world. With attached microphones, open-back headsets are now practical options for gamers looking for improved sound quality and comfort.
Complicating matters, closed-back headsets aren’t without their own unique benefits. Budget and the importance of noise cancellation can affect buying decisions. Software and features that make gaming more enjoyable are also worth considering. A comparison in all these categories can help determine what type of headset best meets the needs of the average gamer. Readers will also find recommendations for thetop gaming headsetswith closed and open-back designs.
Comfort
One of the most common complaints about gaming headsets is that they feel too confining on ears and heads. That’s often the case with the more common closed-back variety of these peripherals, which attempts to seal gamers off from the outside world. Even though headsets like theSteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wirelessfeature thick memory foam cushions, their clamping force can be extreme. The advantage is the improved passive noise cancellation, but that can come at the expense of comfort.
Open-back headsets, including theTurtle Beach Atlas Air, have a far looser fit. This Turtle Beach headset is perhaps an extreme example, but floating earcups make only light contact with earlobes. Likewise, its headband adjusts with velcro straps and puts minimal pressure on a head’s most sensitive points.
At just 301 grams, thewireless headsetis more portable than most wired open-back competition, like the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro. The Atlas Air also addresses one of the main drawbacks of the beyerdynamic alternative by offering a detachable mic. Although this headset is only compatible with the Xbox using a cord, it easily connects to PlayStation consoles and PCs. Bluetooth functionality allows it to switch between a variety of other sources seamlessly.
Turtle Beach Atlas Air
The Turtle Beach Atlas Air demonstrates the advantages of open-back gaming headsets with outstanding comfort and sound quality. With a unique floating earcup and headband design, the Atlas Air causes no annoying aches and pains during extended gaming sessions. Gamers will enjoy a more realistic soundscape while connecting wirelessly to PCs, PlayStation consoles, and the Nintendo Switch. Battery life is outstanding, maxing out at an incredible 50 hours. A high-bandwidth microphone with amazing recording quality saves gamers from needing an open-back headphone and standalone mic combination.
The breathability of open-back headsets also has other benefits for intensive gaming hours. With exposed speaker grilles that allow more air to enter and escape the earcups, the Atlas Air’s porous nature makes competitive gaming less stressful.
Gamers shouldn’t assume that every closed-back headset will lack comfort. Some headsets are better suited for larger heads than others, so it’s important to research any potential purchase. The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless works for most gamers thanks to adjustable headband tension and ear cups with a generous height range. Regardless, open-back headsets score a clear victory in this category.
Sound Quality
Whether a gaming headset is open or closed back significantly affects the type of sound produced. Of course, sound quality is partially subjective, but many producers and professional mixers rely on open-backstudio headphones. This design leads to a more natural representation of instruments and vocals. Closed-back headphones and headsets compress sound in earcups over a small area. With open-back headsets like the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro, some audio escapes through vents, creating a much more expansive soundscape.
Achieving a fine balance between low, mid, and high tones is often how high-end gaming headsets separate themselves from the pack. By surrounding listeners with different pitches of sound, an open-back headset has more space to define drums, vocals, and violins clearly. Story-driven single-player focused games, includingFinal Fantasy VII,tend to maximize this expanded soundscape blending in music and dialogue.Counter-Strike 2is an example of a competitive FPS title with a more limited audio package focused on gunfire and explosions. However, it’s still critical to identify the subtle footsteps of enemies.
Audeze Maxwell Gaming Headset
The Audeze Maxwell Gaming Headset defies the notion that audiophile-grade headsets can’t be wireless or intended for gamers. The Maxwell simply leaves other wireless gaming headsets in the dust with its 90 mm planar magnetic drivers pumping out rumbling bass effects. The headset has a tank-like construction with a spring steel headband.The Maxwell Gaming Headset is available in two versions compatible with PlayStation or Xbox consoles, with either variety perfect for PC gamers. With just a 20-minute charge, the wireless headset can endure 80 hours of gameplay.
Just because a gaming headset is closed-back doesn’t mean it can’t output high-quality sound. Earlier this year,Game Rant reviewed the Audeze Maxwelland learned how 90 mm Planar drivers deliver gaming audio with exceptional clarity. Much larger than average, the drivers minimize distortion, using magnets to push against diaphragms with smooth and natural motions. They also excel at pumping out convincing bass, which makes the Maxwell popular with audiophiles who enjoy first-person shooters. Considering it’s wireless, the fact that the Maxwell achieves this level of sound quality is more impressive.
As capable as the Maxwell is, it still can’t compete with equally premium open-back competitors in ideal settings. For the latter, that’s either a soundproof studio or a quiet gaming room where minimal noise leaks into a headset. The much pricierAudeze LCD-GXshows how Planar drivers thrive with more breathable earcups. Even so, the reality is that most gamers don’t play in especially serene environments. Consequently, the winner of the sound quality battle isn’t as obvious as it may seem.
Spatial Audio
Spatial audio can immerse players in virtual worlds as they explore strange environments where danger lurks at every corner. Some closed-back headsets, like theJBL Quantum 910, take this concept to the extreme. Using head-tracking technology, the Quantum 910 will shift soundscapes when gamers look in one direction or another.
Manufacturers labeling spatial audio with terms like QuantumSound or SteelSeries Sonar makes it easy for gamers to get confused. Competitive gamers are attracted to these features because they claim to enhance vital audio cues that give players an advantage. Sony has its own approach to positional audio with Tempest 3D, which works with anyPS5 headsetwith a stereo configuration. Adding to the dilemma, Dolby Atmos and DTS: Headphone X apps are compatible with many headsets.
JBL Quantum 910 Wireless Gaming Headset
The JBL Quantum 910 is a professional-grade wireless gaming headset with JBL QuantumSPHERE 360 environmental sound. The JBL QuantumENGINE, which powers QuantumSPHERE 360, also supports DTS Headphone X: v2.0. Not only does the headset have high-quality surround sound, but it also supports Active Noise Canceling technology. This allows the user to focus on the content instead of the background noise. The JBL Quantum 910 uses a low latency 2.4 GHz connection, which eliminates lag from gameplay audio.
However, many listeners are often disappointed with the effects of spatial audio in a closed-back headset. Limited by the small stature of an earcup, it’s difficult to fully appreciate more dynamic gaming audio.Surround sound speaker setupsgenerally feel more immersive for movies and games, as positional audio reaches its potential in room-wide configurations.
With closed-back designs dominating gaming headsets, manufacturers don’t tend to stress spatial audio with their open-back counterparts. Still, that doesn’t mean the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro isn’t one of the best ways to experience precise multi-channel sound. Because it allows some audio to escape its earcups, listeners are almost fooled into thinking sound emanates from a 5.1 or 7.1 channel speaker array.
Closed-back headsets often have software with EQ profiles for specific titles that adjust spatial audio to make games more enjoyable. Their seal-offed fit also limits any chance of background distractions interrupting immersive gameplay. That gives closed-back contenders a slight edge for strictly gaming purposes. On the other hand, without apps manipulating a sound mix, open-back headsets present multi-channel audio in the most realistic manner possible. Open-back headsets are also excellent options for watching big-budget movies with surround sound.
Noise Cancellation
Gamers frequently shop for headsets because of the privacy they offer.Powerful soundbarsand PC speakers output authentic positional audio, but roommates may not appreciate them at higher volumes.Noise-canceling headsetsnot only keep sounds from bothering bystanders but also filter out background conversations or the sound of traffic. The most effective noise-cancelling headsets are exclusively closed back since their tighter-fitting frames form a barrier against the outside world. With so much money at stake, the top esports pros always use some form ofnoise-cancelling earbudsor headsets during competition.
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro matches the capabilities of the best wireless gaming headsets but improves upon them in every way imaginable. The Stealth Pro is powered by 50mm Nanoclear drivers that are hand-selected to reduce discrepancies between left and right audio channels. Active Noise Cancellation can reduce unwanted background noise by as much as 25 dB.For maximum listening time, the Stealth Pro allows for easy swapping of 12-hour batteries, with one battery continuously charged to avoid disappointing gamers. The Stealth Pro comes in two versions for compatibility with the PC/Xbox or PC/PS4/PS5 and is capable of simultaneous connections to Bluetooth sources.
TheTurtle Beach Stealth Prois one of the most potent noise-blocking gaming headsets. While its leatherette earpads envelope earlobes like suction cups, what stands out about the headset is its active noise cancellation. The Stealth Pro generates sound waves that neutralize background interference, reducing noise levels by as much as 25 dBs. If looking for negatives, some gamers find its headband too stiff despite excellent build quality, lacking the low-pressure design of most open-back headsets.
Open-back headsets are a poor choice in this category when noise control is the priority. Their breathable earcups allow unwanted noises to interfere with gaming and music listening. Friends and family in close enough range may also hear the sources listeners are playing.
Budget
Buyers aren’t lacking options when it comes to feature-packedbudget gaming headsets. Unfortunately, most open-back headsets are aimed at the higher-end market and cost well more than $100. That leads gamers to consider affordable closed-back models like the wiredRazer BlackShark V2 Xor the wirelessLogitech G435.
The Logitech G435 provides decent sound quality, but its plastic-dominated construction makes some question its build quality. It’s also aimed at smaller and medium-sized heads, so the G435 is far more confining than an open-back headset with ample adjustability. Yet, its 165-gram weight and Bluetooth connectivity make it ideal for traveling.
Open-back headsets are typically modeled after expensive studio headphones. The wired Drop + Epsos PC38X still requires a significant investment but is one of the most affordable options in this category. Originally a product of a collaboration with another German audio giant, Sennheiser, the PC38X flexes its breathability with large exposed grilles on the device’s earcups.
Drop + EPOS PC38X Gaming Headset
The Drop + EPOS PC38X gaming headset is an upgraded version of the beloved PC37X. The new version comes with improved comfort, build quality, and sonic performance. With advanced audio technologies, the PC38X can deliver more accurate locational audio information, which might help the player score some extra kills or avoid the enemy. The drivers from EPOS deliver some of the best quality audio available. The headset has a noise-canceling microphone optimized to handle voice communications.
Another open-back contender that’s a strong value, considering its cordless connectivity, is the Turtle Beach Atlas Air. Nearly all other breathable headsets are wired, but the Atlas Air pairs wirelessly with PCs, PlayStations, and Nintendo Switch consoles. This peripheral can also last up to 50 hours without recharging, negating some of the advantages ofwired headsets.
Despite some reasonably priced targets, budget buyers will have difficulty finding a low-priced open-back headset. As a result, closed-back gaming headsets dominate the affordability comparison.
Verdict
As is often the case with gaming peripherals, deciding which type of headset is best for gamers is not straightforward. There is a much larger selection of closed-back gaming headsets to choose from, including budget-friendly options. Many of these headsets excel at passive and active noise cancellation and are ideal for hectic college dorms or public places. Closed-back models focus more on gaming-oriented features, while open-back alternatives prioritize the needs of professional audio mixers.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro should be the primary target of buyers who demand the highest build quality and performance from a closed-back headset. For gamers dealing with background distractions, it offers the stellar passive and active noise cancellation that open-back headsets lack. The wireless Arctis Nova Pro also boasts powerful software that enhances games with a 360-degree soundscape. When looking for negatives, the headset isn’t particularly breathable, leading to overheating earlobes after prolonged listening.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro showcases the strengths of closed-back designs. With above-average noise cancellation, it filters out conversations and other noises that can disrupt immersive gaming. Its software tightly integrates theheadset with shooters likeRainbow Six Siege, amplifying sounds that can make gamers more competitive.
Open-back gaming headsets like the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro have more benefits than some gamers may realize. The well-built MMX 330 Pro is a product of German engineering and built to last. Ventilated earcups let just enough sound travel around listeners, giving games a cinematic feel. Its breathable construction also reduces body heat buildup, leading to neverending comfort levels. On the other hand, background noise can impede sound quality, and it’s very pricey for a wired headset.
For a similar price, gamers will find the fit of the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro less restrictive. Memory foam cushions covered with velour lightly brush against ears without the extreme clamping force of some closed-back headsets. Its wider soundstage makes players believe they exist in the virtual world in which games are set. Sadly, open-back headsets do come with negatives like a higher cost and an absence of noise cancellation.
With different advantages, no single open or closed-back headset is the right choice for every gamer. If buyers can’t decide which route to take, some modular headsets, like theAstro A40 TR, offer the best of both worlds. As circumstances change, gamers can purchase a mod kit with alternate ear and headband cushions that improve noise isolation.
FAQ
Q: Are open-ear headphones and headsets healthier?
Open-ear headphones and headsets keep listeners more aware of their surroundings. This can be critical to avoiding dangers like traffic when outdoors. Even indoors, gamers and music fans can more easily hear if there is a phone call or emergency.
Q: Do closed-back headsets cause tinnitus?
Normally, closed-back headsets don’t cause tinnitus, but they can contribute to hearing loss if played at excessive volume. If concerned about hearing issues, open-back headsets have a looser fit and cause less trauma to eardrums.
