The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 Shows That Good Sound Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

SteelSeries gave a bit of a shock to the realm of gaming headsets when it put out the $600 Arctis Nova Elite, which earned a rare 10/10 for doing several things that other headsets just don't do even at the high-end. But one of SteelSeries' biggest strengths is having viable budget-tier options across the board (look at the Rival 3 Gen 2 mouse I reviewed last year, for example). The latest version of the wired Arctis Nova 1 has been out for a little while now, but it still fills that gap for headsets admirably by sporting many of the design principles of the more expensive options while providing solid sound quality worthy of its reasonable price tag. You can hear the advantages in more sophisticated headsets, for sure, but the Arctis Nova 1 is no slouch when it comes to clarity and comfort for the value, making it tough to beat in its price range. You may recognize the physical makeup of the Arctis Nova 1…because it looks like every other headset in the lineup. And that's a good thing since it's a sleek, no-nonsense design. A few fancy bits have been trimmed off to fit its role as a budget option. The frame and headband is mostly a sturdy plastic that's durable enough to handle wi