Once you've set the equalizer, they start to really shine, with a bigger, more boomy sound that I haven't found on similarly-priced headset. There's an available richness that's really impressive, and you can hear it when you flick the EQ on and off in the app. With the preset profiles applied, games really come to life, with the right pings and pops of action games cutting through, and music in cinematic games swelling dramatically. There are EQ profiles for most games; Anytime I launch a game for the first time, I go into the settings to see if there’s a profile for it, and I’m a little bummed when there isn’t one, which is rare.
As someone who often takes on long hours of farming in World of Warcraft while listening to podcasts, or puts on a movie while playing Magic: the Gathering Arena, I really appreciate how well the Nova 3 handles different audio sources with conflicting EQ requirements. That's largely thanks to the SteelSeries GG software, which can separate audio from different programs into groups. Unfortunately, there's a downside, but I'll get into that.
The only notable absence is Dolby Atmos for Headphones, which I've seen popping up recently on more budget-friendly headsets. The good news is the Nova 3 still has spatial audio support, and the built-in equalizers offer a ton of specific value for games and media. I'm not really bothered by the lack of support, particularly when the alternative is more appealing, and there’s a short list of games that support the tech anyway. If that's a key feature for you, I'd recommend checking out Corsair's Void V2 Wireless (8/10, WIRED Review), although I think these are more comfortable.
Lightweight Comfort
Photograph: Brad Bourque
The Nova 3 is the most comfortable gaming headset I’ve tested. Even after a full work day with them on, it feels like I'm wearing nothing at all. They’re exceptionally light, particularly compared to my normal Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (8/10, WIRED Recommends), but even alongside other similarly priced headsets like the Xbox Wireless Headset (8/10, WIRED Recommends). I've expressed before that I have a big noggin, and that wasn't an issue at all.