Best Gaming Headsets · head-to-head

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless vs Audeze Maxwell

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Audeze Maxwell is cheaper at $299. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless or Audeze Maxwell?

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Audeze Maxwell is the cheaper at $299. Get the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for the stronger spec sheet, the Audeze Maxwell to spend less.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Audeze Maxwell
US price $349 $299
BrandSteelSeriesAudeze
Released2022-05
Connection wireless wireless
Driver (mm) 40 90
Battery hours 22 80
Surround sound Yes Yes
Mic type retractable detachable
Weight (g) 338 490
Rgb No No
Release 2022

Sources — SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: steelseries.com (verified 2026-06-15). Audeze Maxwell: audeze.com (verified 2026-07-07).

What's the difference between the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and Audeze Maxwell?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Driver (mm): SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless 40 vs Audeze Maxwell 90
  • Battery hours: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless 22 vs Audeze Maxwell 80
  • Mic type: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless retractable vs Audeze Maxwell detachable
  • Weight (g): SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless 338 vs Audeze Maxwell 490

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

Three whitelisted hands-on reviews (Tom's Hardware, SoundGuys, TechPowerUp) rank it among the best wireless gaming headsets: very comfortable, feature-packed, with very good sound that rewards EQ tuning. All reference the steep ~$350 price, and ANC quality splits reviewers. SoundGuys lab-measured battery life (22h36m at 75 dB SPL); TechPowerUp measured frequency response on a miniDSP EARS rig. (3 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)

Praised: Very good sound quality, especially after EQ tuning; Excellent comfort for long sessions; Feature-packed: hot-swappable battery and wireless base station.

Flagged: Expensive at ~$350; ANC underwhelms above low frequencies / trails class leaders outdoors; 8 kHz treble peak can sound sibilant/piercing.

Audeze Maxwell

No sourced tester review yet.

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