The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Dragon Edition roars onto the scene with a unique design, promising top-notch audio, and AI-powered features. But does it truly live up to its mythical namesake? Let’s delve into the headset’s strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if it deserves a place in your gaming arsenal.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Dragon Edition: Unboxing

As you crack open the sleek, premium box of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Dragon Edition, a fiery red beast awaits. It comes adorned with its pre-installed dragon-themed earplates. This bold statement piece isn’t just about looks, it comes packed with a USB-C charging cable, a wireless dongle, and a handy Type-C to Type-A adapter for broader compatibility. The integrated microphone eliminates the need for separate components, ensuring clear communication, while documentation guides you through setup with ease.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Dragon Edition: Design and Build

Beyond the fiery aesthetics, the ComfortMAX System truly sets this headset apart. As a gamer with a sensitive head, I was initially sceptical about the Nova 7 Dragon Edition’s comfort claims. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the plush memory foam earcups and breathable fabric support and steel headband, which truly felt like they were designed for extended wear. Even after hours of gaming, I didn’t experience any discomfort or pressure points. No more heat build-up, even when using them outdoors, thanks to the clever design. It also helps that the headphones are quite lightweight and therefore do not add pressure on the top of my head while wearing it.

The fiery red aesthetics, especially with the dragon-themed earplates (easily interchangeable with the included SteelSeries logo plates thanks to magnets), definitely appealed to my inner mythical creature enthusiast. While primarily plastic, the build feels surprisingly solid and creak-free, exceeding expectations for its price range. Buttons are conveniently placed and within easy reach for seamless in-game adjustments. A minor caveat to the comfort is the spongy ear cushions, which, while comfortable, tend to absorb sweat and may not be ideal for sharing.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Dragon Edition: Performance

Sound

While audiophiles might find the sound profile lacking in bass and treble, translating to a somewhat flat music experience, the Nova 7 Dragon Edition truly shines in the realm of gaming. Reviewers, including yourself, have lauded its crystal-clear in-game soundscape, allowing you to pinpoint every footstep, gunshot, and environmental detail with precision. The ability to directly adjust player chatter through the headset itself using the ChatMix dial is a valuable feature, ensuring clear communication without distractions.

The ClearCast Gen 2 microphone’s performance though, despite SteelSeries advertising its AI-powered noise cancelling capabilities, is quite disappointing in my opinion. The quality of my voice is clear and crisp, however, the headphones failed to cancel out the ambient noise beyond that. I had many friends and family members comment that calls are very noisy on my side, although they did mention that my voice sounded very clear.

While some people might see that as somewhat of a deal-breaker (albeit in a less serious case), I appreciate the fact that the microphone can pick up outside as it’s very useful to hear people calling me when I’m wearing the headphones. It’s also useful when I’m outside as I use this a lot during my commute to work and I can hear oncoming traffic. I also love the fact that the microphone is retractable. It is super convenient to just pull out the microphone when you need to use it as opposed to something like my Cooler Master MH751 headphones where I have to detach the microphone and have to store it somewhere else.

Connection

One of the standout features of the headphones that I never knew I’d want in other wireless products is the dual 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth connection. This is great because it allows you to use the Nova 7 Dragon Edition across many devices; from your PC to your phone to your consoles. The added convenience of simply answering a call from your phone that’s connected via Bluetooth while you’re on your Nintendo Switch is awesome.

Connecting the PS5 and Nintendo Switch with the included dongle is a breeze, although using the Type-C to Type-A adapter for the PS5 creates a slightly awkward setup due to the cable length. This results in a long cable dangling from the PS5 itself. However, the automatic connection upon plugging in the dongle is a welcome convenience, eliminating any pairing hassle.

Another great thing about the Nova 7 Dragon Edition is that it supports Tempest 3D audio on the PS5. Playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 with the headphones is an amazing (pardon the pun) experience. You can hear which direction the action is coming from. Moreover, some of the smaller more subtle noises come through absolutely beautifully. This might sound strange but I truly love the sound an enemy makes when Spider-man whacks the guy on a steel beam or pipe. The way the sounds go off coupled with the rumble of the DualSense controller is a satisfying experience.

Battery life

Impressively, the battery life lives up to SteelSeries’ 38-hour claim, offering several days of use before needing a recharge with average daily usage, perfect for extended gaming sessions. So far, after a week’s continuous use, the headphones managed to last about 4 hours 20 minutes, far longer than what SteelSeries advertised it for.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Dragon Edition also comes with fast charging capabilities. The company says that a 15-minute charging time is supposed to give you 6 hours of use. Based on my tests, it didn’t actually reach 6 hours but it did come close. I managed to squeeze around 5 and half hours on a 15-minute charge which is still pretty good I’d say.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Dragon Edition: Verdict

For gamers and comfort seekers who value bold design, powerful audio with the convenience of an integrated microphone, and the included dragon-themed earplates, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Dragon Edition is a formidable contender. The wireless freedom, low-latency connectivity, and impressive 38-hour battery life come at a premium price tag. However, for those who prioritise performance, style, and a mythical touch, it might be worth the investment. Nevertheless, budget-conscious gamers or those who prefer detachable microphones might find other options more suitable.

You also have a choice of purchasing the normal Arctis Nova 7 headphones. It features everything the Dragon Edition has except the crimson colour scheme and the dragon-themed earplates. Not to mention, the normal version is a tad cheaper than the Dragon Edition.

Pros:

• Comfort: Plush memory foam earcups, breathable fabric headband, and lightweight design ensure comfortable wear for extended sessions.
• Sound: Clear and precise audio for gaming, allowing for accurate spatial awareness.
• Convenience: Integrated microphone with retractable design, dual 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth connection. Also has an automatic dongle connection, long battery life (38 hours), and fast charging support.
• Design: Bold and fiery red aesthetics with interchangeable dragon-themed earplates.
• Other: Tempest 3D audio support on PS5, good voice quality through the microphone (according to the user).

Cons:

• Sound: Lacking bass and treble, not ideal for music listening.
• Microphone: While clear, doesn’t effectively cancel out background noise.
• Price: Premium price tag for the Dragon Edition.
• Connection: Slightly bulky setup due to adapter needed for PS5 connection.
• Ear cushions: Spongy material absorbs sweat, not ideal for sharing.
• No detachable microphone: This might be a dealbreaker for some users.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Dragon Edition currently retails for RM1,099. The headphones can be purchased through the official SteelSeries store on Shopee. You can also purchase the normal SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 headphones there as well.