SteelSeries is a company that has produced some amazing models so far. They have often faced competition from rivals like Logitech (their favorite rival), and Turtle Beach. Of course, there are other manufacturers like HyperX and Razer as well.
Today in this post, we will be reading about two phenomenal gaming headsets that are priced under $400. Let us read to find out whether they are worth your money & time using them. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headphones are a magnificent model.
You would be astounded by the amazing comfort levels and sound quality, which is something the maker is famous for. We may say that they are aiming to set a new gold standard in the gaming models here.
They come with connectivity options, including a wireless transmitter that can be used as a battery charging station. There is also Bluetooth in there for good measure. It is capable of blending audio from a console and a smartphone simultaneously.
Sadly, we have read that the model’s hinges are not up to the mark and may sometimes break shortly. But they are ideal for wireless gaming. The model has an excellent mic that filters a lot of noise.
Similar to gaming headphones, they have poor noise isolation. However, when you make use of them, it should not worry you, if you are in a quiet room. It has a premium build quality and could be a marvelous option not just for gaming, but as a daily set of headphones.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro headphones are a fantastic model, and the manufacturer has cemented itself as one of the best in the gaming headphone market. It has been one of the most popular brands for more than 10 years now.
You would be amazed to know that the Stealth Pro is one of the best gaming headsets this year. Similar to the SteelSeries that we will be reading about in this post, it is priced under $330. That simply means the unit is more expensive than your Xbox Series S or Nintendo Switch.
Though it is hard to digest, most of the popular headphones cost close to $300 at least, so this should be a deal-breaker. You can also find the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro in the same category. These models do provide you with sublime performance, comfort, and good durability.
Let us now read the column to find out more about the models. To help you decide better we have provided you with the pros & cons of the models. We have also mentioned the winner at the end of the post.
 |  |
|---|---|
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro | Turtle Beach Stealth Pro |
| PROS | PROS |
| Elegantly designed. Robustly build. Phenomenal audio and microphone reproduction. Impressive battery system. Wireless via USB transmitter and Bluetooth. | Beautifully designed. Comfortable wear. Fantastic audio quality. Powerful features. Good battery. |
| CONS | CONS |
| Poor noise isolation. | The sound performance needs improvement. |
| CHECK ON AMAZON | CHECK ON AMAZON |
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro vs Turtle Beach Stealth Pro – Price & availability
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headphones are priced under $350. We can say that SteelSeries has done its best to deliver headphones that can work not only for regular users but also for professional gamers.
After all, that is the whole point of this post. We are comparing two exceptional gaming headphones, and the price does play a crucial factor in the end. The model can be used on the go, during casual meetings, and watching movies.
We may say that the only thing that really holds this headset back is its price. On the other hand, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro headphones are priced under $331. It has all of the features that make a top-notch model.
The unit can be got in two models. One is for the Xbox gaming console but can be used also for the PS5, PC, and mobile via Bluetooth. The second one is for the PS5 gaming console but can’t work on the Xbox gaming console.
When you want to get the best value for your money, then you might want to go with the one that is meant for the Xbox gaming console, because you can use it on several devices. The price point between them is the same.
Winner: The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro though the expensive model comes with a barrage of features and capabilities. Turtle Beach is also a good choice, but not worth the price.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro vs Turtle Beach Stealth Pro – Design & comfort
We will now see the design & comfort of the headphones. Whether you want to use the headphones for regular use like browsing, listening to music, watching movies, or for gaming purposes, they should be produced from top-notch materials.
This is considering the fact that you are going to spend close to $350 on them. So, let us read and find out which model is better when it comes to design & comfort. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headphones have a similar design to the Arctis series of headphone models.
If you have owned one earlier or have used it, then you might not be able to tell the difference between the two, which is not something you would expect normally. When you are going to shell out so much money, you do want something that is uniquely designed and different.
You can notice a wide metal headband that has a pronounced curve wrapped in an elastic strap. This is done so that you can adjust the fitting according to your head. Users have commended the look and feel of the model.
It is like holding a premium, luxury model. Yes, they are somewhat cumbersome to hold because of their weight, which is a feature throughout any SteelSeries headphone. They are comfortable to wear for a few hours, but not more.
If you are a professional gamer and want to wear headphones for more than 3-4 hours, then you might not want to do that. You can wear it for 2 hours without discomfort. We noticed that the earcups are padded and are large to occupy large-sized ears.
They come with breathable and soft padding that feels nice. In contrast, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro headphones come well-designed and elegantly built. They are quite comfortable to wear and are tweaked from most of the other ski-goggle units.
It can sit comfortably on your head, despite the additional weight that is associated with most wireless headsets. The metal and plastic feel quite robust and elegant in there. We did notice that the earpads have a faux leather material that can heat up after a few hours of wear.
However, the moment you look at it, the unit does not have any resemblance to that of a gaming headset. We do not see anything wrong with that. The need to use flashy colors, aggressive designs, and so on to give that gamer’s look is often not required.
The simple, but elegant design is good enough, without unobtrusive logos and RGB accents. The model is quite sturdy with a metal-reinforced headband. We thought it looked a bit stiff, but that it was alright.
When we notice the other Stealth models, then we can feel that they are produced from plastic. The comfort is good, and it may squeeze your head a bit. We are not sure how it may fit larger heads, but the soft memory foam ear cushions and headband do a decent job.
Winner: The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is our winner in design & comfort. We liked the fact that it came with a more robust design, elegant look, and comfortable fit than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headphones.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro vs Turtle Beach Stealth Pro – Audio performance & connectivity
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headphones have an indescribable audio performance and decent connectivity. SteelSeries headphones have always been known to provide users with amazing sound quality.
The frequency response was pretty good-sounding and had a slight emphasis in the bass range (around 100Hz). We can’t say that this frequency response is good, but it does provide you with everything that you want for having an impressive and enjoyable listening experience.
Users have mentioned that the headphones do well when listening to music of various genres. You can distinguish the high-end sounding clear and the bass guitar. We felt that instrumentals can come out just the way that you would want them to.
It is a fantastic choice for those who are looking for a gaming headset. You can play a wide range of games using it without having to worry about the hearing capability. You can listen to the footsteps, bombs, and even the background noise easily.
These elements more often than not are missing in many headphones. We also want to mention here that active noise canceling is superb with noise isolation. It is possible because of the closed-back and sturdy design.
You may use it in a noisy environment. The sound of the outside traffic or crossing the road may get suppressed with the ANC on. The battery life is around 10 hours of continuous use, and you can get 13 hours of playback time.
The connectivity is also good with the SteelSeries Engine desktop app. It can be useful, especially for gamers. There is also a graphic equalizer, live mic preview, DTS surround sound, and others.
It has excellent non-Bluetooth wireless connectivity. You will be glad to know that the audio latency is quite low, so the video & audio does not fall out of sync. It has a good line of sight range, away from the audio source.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro needs to produce an opulent sound performance to be able to beat the SteelSeries Arctis here. Let us find out. The model does come with a good audio performance, and you can hear everything that you want because of the closed design.
The maker has done a good job in producing a headset that is ideally balanced for regular and gaming purposes. The 50mm Nanoclear drivers are capable of giving you with an exceptional sound performance, where no frequency range feels lost.
You can use their signature Superhuman Hearing feature for enhancing the sound quality when playing games. You can now hear the footsteps that are around you clearly. Besides, you may also use the audio hub app for tweaking your EQ presets as well.
The ANC is fantastic, and you are virtually deprived of everything that is happening around you. We feel that it is an ideal option for officegoers. The battery life of the unit is also good at 12 hours on a charge.
The battery can be easily removed and replaced if you want to. It also comes embedded with a wireless transmitter that can be connected to a PC through a USB cable. The connectivity of the model is good too, being able to work flawlessly.
When you are connected to a device wirelessly, you are charging the second battery. If the battery life is over in the first, you can swap it to the transmitter, and then place it into the fully charged.
This is a perfect shot for solving situations where you need to remove your headphones when the charge is gone.
Winner: The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headphones are the winner here as they can produce outstanding audio performance along with sublime connectivity.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro vs Turtle Beach Stealth Pro – Microphone
The microphone feature is an essential one for those of you who use headphones for the sake of communicating with others. It could be due to personal or professional reasons. When it comes to professional reasons, then the mic better work properly.
Users have mentioned that there is a hissing noise at times, which is because of setting the microphone sidetone level to 0. We cannot confirm this problem, but if you know anybody who is facing this issue, then please do let us know about it.
More importantly, it is a retractable boom microphone that comes infused with an optional windscreen. The microphone can provide you with exceptional recording quality, whereas the speech recorded offers you with a full-bodied, clear, and detailed sound.
Sadly, the mic does not come with volume control, and you need to have the maximum volume. However, you can reset the wireless transmitter, update the firmware, and give it one more try. It has an incredible noise-handling feature and can separate your voice from noisy environments, so your voice is heard with clarity.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro comes built with a decent microphone. The model has a detachable cardioid boom microphone with built-in microphones. This is a useful feature to use to attend calls and also make use of the voice assistant, without needing the boom microphone in front of your face.
We are delighted to say that the microphones on this unit work fantastically and did a solid job of getting rid of the background sound. But we can’t say that the microphone is better than the other headsets found on the market.
Verdict
Our winner in this comparison write-up between SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro vs Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is the SteelSeries Nova Pro because of the innumerable features and capabilities. Although it is a tat pricey, it comes infused with tremendous features.
Some of them include comfort, noise cancellation, and it has good sound performance. Moreover, the battery working life is fantastic delivering a sublime battery that can be swapped as well.
The model’s wireless base station also helps you to experience terrific gameplay. So, if you are a professional gamer, then you won’t regret your $349 decision. Besides, it is extremely well-designed, and you could use it as a regular headphone, and as a gaming headset.
Of course, when you are not particular about wireless connectivity, then you can also make use of the cheaper SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headphones. The model uses a similar frame as the Nova Pro Wireless unit that has a cheaper build quality, with a battery life of 41 hours.
However, just like the Nova Pro, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro headphones can come as a solid pair of conventional models that has good active noise canceling, and other customization features, when paired with a device through Bluetooth.
This probably makes the model such an incredible piece of technology. Now, you can use the headphones on all platforms without having to compromise on the feature is perhaps, one of the best qualities of a unit.
It comes in Xbox and PlayStation models. You can find that the unit has a transmitter, two USB-C cables, a headset, two batteries, and a detachable boom microphone. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro could be the better headphone as it comes with a noise-canceling microphone, 10Hz lower low-frequency, and connectivity.
The model also comes with 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, 3.5mmvs2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, active noise cancellation (ANC), and a detachable cable. The unit also has a 4-hour longer battery life, a removable microphone, and a removable battery.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro has a 10mm bigger driver unit. It is safe to say that SteelSeries Arctis Now Pro is more versatile than the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro. It is definitely more comfortable, more portable, and has a superior control scheme.
Moreover, it comes with a better battery life, and also swappable dual batteries. The model can be used on wired connectivity, unlike the Turtle model. However, the Turtle Beach Stealth can provide you with audio that has more consistency.
James Smith has always been intrigued by electronic products since his childhood. After his post graduation in electronics from a popular university, he decided to pursue a career in the electronics sector. But his calling for writing about these marvellous pieces of work got the better of him. That is how UBG was started. With a writing career spanning more than 12 years, James has worked on several hundred product reviews. During his free time, he like to spend time with his pet dog and relax in the swimming pool.