SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
Bottom line: The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite ($599.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-07): 96kHz/24bit Hi-Res certified wireless over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth via LC3+ codec; main trade-off: gameHub base station is required for 2.4GHz, battery swaps, and OLED control.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-07. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 96kHz/24bit Hi-Res certified wireless over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth via LC3+ codec
- ✓ Carbon fiber 2-piece drivers with brass surround for low-distortion pistonic response
- ✓ ANC blocks up to 42% more ambient noise than rivals in Aug 2025 lab tests
- ✓ OmniPlay triple inputs mix up to 4 sources: PC, console, Bluetooth, line-in
- ✓ Two swappable batteries: 30h each, 15-min fast charge yields 4 hours
Cons
- ✗ GameHub base station is required for 2.4GHz, battery swaps, and OLED control
- ✗ 4-source Multi-Source Mix is exclusive to Elite, so cheaper Arctis models can't match it
- ✗ Arctis Companion app on iOS/Android is needed for full game, BT, and mic EQ access
Manufacturer description
A gaming peripheral unlike any other, experience World’s First Hi-Res Wireless Gaming Headset with the Arctis Nova Elite. SteelSeries once again shatters convention with a gaming headset designed to deliver expectation-upending audio. With rich 96kHz/24bit sound emitted over 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, experience audiophile performance. Featuring LC3+ codec for low-latency, high-fidelity wireless audio, paired with next-level Carbon Speaker Drivers for unreal clarity, constructed with a brass 2-piece that holds the construction in place and enables a pistonic motion for ultra-accurate sound…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the gaming peripherals category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the gaming peripherals category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for gaming peripherals of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Key Features
- WORLD'S FIRST HI-RES CERTIFIED WIRELESS GAMING HEADSET — Arctis Nova Elite delivers breakthrough performance with 96kHz/24bit audio over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, powered by the new GameHub and next-gen LC3+ codec
- CARBON FIBER DRIVERS — Lightweight yet rigid for faster response, low distortion, and high clarity. 2-piece design with brass surround supports a pistonic motion for ultra-accurate sound
- BEST ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION IN GAMING* — Arctis Nova Elite sets a new bar in ANC, reducing up to 42% more ambient noise than rivals* *Independently lab-tested against key competitors. (Aug 2025)
- OMNIPLAY FOR ALL SYSTEMS — Connect, Mix, and Play on any System. Triple inputs for PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, and more. Seamless mixing between up to 4 sources (PC, Console, BT, Line-in) only on Elite
- AI NOISE REJECTION — Be heard clearly with onboard AI for PC, console, mobile, and more. Reduces up to 97% of background noise* *Independently lab-tested against key competitors. (Aug 2025)
- 2 BATTERIES — Zero Down Time. The Infinite Power System uses swappable batteries. One powers your headset while the other charges in the GameHub. Up to 30h per battery + Fast Charge 15 min=4 Hours
Full Specifications
| Brand | SteelSeries |
|---|---|
| Color | Sage & Gold |
| Impedance | 38 ohm |
| Model Name | Arctis Nova Elite - Sage & Gold |
| Form Factor | Over Ear |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, 2.4GHz |
| Model Number | 61663 |
| Compatibility | PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, Android, iOS |
| Ear Placement | Over Ear |
| Noise Control | Active Noise Cancellation |
| Series Number | 61663 |
| Control Method | App |
| Connection Type | Wireless |
| Frequency Range | 20Hz - 96,000Hz |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Antenna Location | Gaming |
| Audio Driver Type | Dynamic Driver |
| Compatible Devices | Cellphones, Desktops, Gaming Consoles, Laptops, Music Production Equipment, Tablets |
| Enclosure Material | Steel, Aluminum, Vegan Leather |
| Additional Features | Noise Cancellation, Hi-Res Audio, AI Noise Rejection, GameHub, LC3+ Codec |
| Full listing title | SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite - Hi-Res Wireless Gaming Headset — 96kHz/24bit — Carbon Fiber Speakers — ANC — AI Noise Rejection — App — 2.4GHz + BT — Multi-Source Mix — OmniPlay PC+PlayStation+Xbox |
Ready to buy?
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite - Hi-Res Wireless Gaming Headset — 96kHz/24bit — Carbon Fiber Speakers — ANC — AI Noise Rejection — App — 2.4GHz + BT — Multi-Source Mix — OmniPlay PC+PlayStation+Xbox is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-07. Price and availability subject to change.
Related Gaming Peripherals
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Best CPU Cooler for AM4 + Ryzen 5000 in 2026
- Ryzen 5 5600G vs Ryzen 7 5700X for Budget 1080p Gaming
- RetroPie Handheld Build Guide 2026: Hardware & Setup
- Best Mouse and Mousepad for FPS in 2026: G502 Hero + SteelSeries QcK
- Voodoo3 3000 PCI No-Display Troubleshooting on Windows 98 SE (2026)
- Qualcomm Enters the Data-Center Market With Its Own AI Processor
- Best Budget Battlestation 2026: 5 Picks That Punch Up
- Noctua-Style Raspberry Pi 5 NAS Build Goes Viral — What Pi 4 Owners Can Borrow
- How to Make Steam Deck Intros Last Longer (2026)
- Gemini 3.6 Flash vs 3.5 Flash-Lite: Cloud Tier or Local RTX 3060?
- Crucial BX500 vs Samsung 870 EVO: Best 2.5" SATA SSD for a Budget Build
- Claude Mythos: What Anthropic Found + Why Regulators Were Briefed
- Ryzen 7 5800X vs 5700X for a Dual-Duty Gaming and Local-LLM Build
- DeepSeek V4.1-Flash on One RTX 3060 12GB vs Two: Which Local Agent Rig Wins in 2026
- Sound Blaster Audigy FX in a Period-Correct WinXP Build: 2026 Install and Tuning Guide
- Best Parts for a Dual RTX 3060 24GB Local-LLM Build in 2026
- Crucial BX500 vs SanDisk SSD Plus vs WD Blue: Best Budget SATA SSD for a Boot Drive
- llama.cpp Vulkan vs CUDA on a 12GB RTX 3060: Which Backend Wins?
- Best Controller for PC Gaming in 2026: Wired vs Wireless Compared
- Best Gaming Mouse for FPS Esports in 2026 (Tournament-Tested Picks)
- Intel Arc B390 Handhelds vs Steam Deck: The Predator Atlas 8
- vLLM on an RTX 3060 12GB: Is It Worth It for Single-User Chat?
- Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 vs Ryzen 7 5800X: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
- DeepSeek V3 VRAM Requirements: What 671B Really Needs
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090