Turtle Beach and SteelSeries’ new models can do wireless hi-res audio, but it’s not the key reason you should upgrade. The $399 Nova Pro Omni and the $349 Stealth Pro 2 are both great for several reasons, but they aren’t worth buying based on their hi-res audio capabilities alone. The Stealth Pro 2 is the better option if you don’t have all of your gaming devices in a centralized location, while the Nova Pro Omni is more like everyday wireless headphones and has a multi-source GameHub.
Turtle Beach and SteelSeries’ new models can do wireless hi-res audio , but it’s not the key reason you should upgrade. Turtle Beach and SteelSeries’ new models can do wireless hi-res audio , but it’s not the key reason you should upgrade.is an editor covering deals and gaming hardware.
He joined in 2018, and after a two-year stint at Polygon, he rejoined, so the company didn’t have to say much to get me excited about its successor. The $399 Nova Pro Omni that came out on May 5th has a similar design to the 2022 model, but with some new and improved features — support for wireless hi-res audio , better mic quality, and compatibility with all consoles in every model, to name the big ones.
All theBut things got interesting when, just a few weeks before the Omni was announced, Turtle Beach showed off its Stealth Pro 2. To say that it’s inspired by previous SteelSeries headsets is putting it lightly. It has swappable batteries, a battery-charging wireless base station, a companion app for quickly changing audio settings, and the ability to listen to 2.4GHz and Bluetooth audio simultaneously.
To top it off, it offers wireless hi-res audio support, too,So, I did what was necessary: I called in both to test them concurrently to see which I thought was the best value. What I realized was that SteelSeries’ $399 Arctis Nova Pro Omni and Turtle Beach’s $349 Stealth Pro 2 are both great for several reasons, but they aren’t worth buying based on their hi-res audio capabilities alone — a major selling point for both.
I couldn’t notice the hi-res difference compared to the default bit rate on my Windows 11 PC. The GameHub charges a spare battery and serves as the brain for your audio devices. On it, you can swap sources and adjust many headset settings. The Stealth Pro 2’s base station just charges a battery and transmits audio.
I wish it did a little more. The Stealth Pro 2 includes two 3.7Wh batteries, while the Omni includes two 2.5Wh batteries. Battery life isn’t an issue since their included base stations can keep the spare charged. , which is full of little location-based sounds that can hint at my impending doom.
I can’t consider myself an audiophile because I have tinnitus, which prevents me from hearing some high-frequency sounds. Regardless, I’m in good company with many other people who cannot reliably spot the hi-res difference. It all sounded the same to me. Good, but not good enough to encourage you to spring for a new headset.
Functionally, the AirPods Max-inspired Stealth Pro 2 is the better option if you don’t have all of your gaming devices in a centralized location. Mine are sprinkled around my apartment, so I like that the Stealth Pro 2 has a button that toggles between transmitters .
The Nova Pro Omni look more like everyday wireless headphones, and it’s nice to be able to tuck in the boom mic when I’m not gaming. The Stealth Pro 2 has an AirPods Max-esque headband design with some aluminum detailing around the ear cups. The multi-source GameHub might make the Omni worth buying for those who have all of their gear within reach of its two included 5-foot cables.
Both the Omni and the Stealth Pro 2 let you make on-the-fly adjustments to equalizer and mic settings through a mobile companion app over Bluetooth, so you won’t have to race to your PC to tweak settings. However, Turtle Beach’s headset gives you more on-device control options. You can shuffle through equalizers with a button on the Stealth Pro 2, and there are three dials to adjust USB source and Bluetooth volume independently and adjust game / chat mix levels.
You can also customize what some of its additional inputs do in its app. SteelSeries delegates most of the controls to the GameHub station. The Arctis Nova Pro Omni is a bit different in execution, but similar in function and design to the Nova Pro Wireless. Its station is the audio brain for all of your gaming gadgets, assuming all of them are within 5 feet for its two included USB-C-to-USB-A cables to reach.
It can receive four wired audio sources , and mix up three at once, including Bluetooth. The mic works across platforms, too. The Omni is the best option if its USB audio source-swapping base station is always within reach. These headsets are capable of rich, balanced audio that made me feel immersed in games.
Even without their good active noise cancellation effects turned on, their ear pads muffle a good amount of outside sound. Both headsets’ software offers in-depth equalizer customization through their PC apps, but I preferred how the Omni sounds even with identical EQ waveforms across headsets. It has stronger mids and highs with warmth when content calls for it, more controlled bass, and better delineation between frequencies. The Stealth Pro 2 is close, though.
One area where SteelSeries pulls ahead is with mic quality. Its retractable boom mic is superior to what’s offered by Turtle Beach’s detachable flip-to-mute mic. My voice sounds warmer and has more detail . Though, neither sounds better than a dedicated desktop mic.
Here are mic samples from the Arctis Nova Pro Omni and the Stealth Pro 2 , recorded through the Sound Recorder app in Windows 11: Here’s a snippet of audio from the Nova Pro Omni's boom mic Here’s a snippet of audio from the Stealth Pro 2's boom mic Most people have probably already figured out which headset gels best with their setup. The Stealth Pro 2 has a more appealing price that’s $50 less than the Omni, plus several great features that I’m more used to seeing offered in a SteelSeries headset.
Then again, it might not be the right fit for everyone’s setup or sound preferences. The Omni is a fantastic headset, too, but if your budget is locked to under $300, the SteelSeries Nova Pro Wireless is still a heck of a headset that’s commonly sold for around $270. Its lack of wireless hi-res audio isn’t a downside to me, and there’s still plenty to love about the look, feel, and performance of the last-gen model. One of Intel’s fastest desktop CPUs is $50 off
Wireless Hi-Res Audio Turtle Beach Steelseries Nova Pro Omni Stealth Pro 2 Gamehub Active Noise Cancellation Equalizer Customization USB Audio Source-Swapping Base Station
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pro-family conservatism needs an economic visionBeating the woke Left isn't enough. Conservatives need a real economic agenda for families, starting with a baby bonus and zoning reform.
Read more »
Pro Slammed With Unusual Penalty on First Tee at PGA ChampionshipGarrick Higgo's opening par in the first round turned into a double bogey.
Read more »
The Honor 600 Pro shows Samsung what an affordable flagship should look likeTech Product Reviews, How To, Best Ofs, deals and Advice
Read more »
Noble Audio To Launch FoKus Apollo Pro Headset For $699Anna has been a freelance writer for more than a decade. In that time, she's covered everything from electronics to esports, from marketing to magic.
Read more »