GHS Eternal vs Arctis Nova 1: Honest Headset Comparison

Both the Glorious GHS Eternal and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 land at $59.99. Both use 40mm drivers and 3.5mm wired connections. The real differences show up in the details: the GHS Eternal has a padded headband, a detachable omnidirectional mic, and a wider mic frequency floor (70 Hz vs. 100 Hz). The Arctis Nova 1 is lighter, includes SteelSeries' Sonar software suite for EQ and spatial audio, and picked up an Editor's Choice from Tom's Hardware. Neither headset "wins" outright - they trade features differently at the same price.

The Headline Comparison

At the same price point, this comes down to which trade-offs you'd rather make. Here's the full spec breakdown, sourced from the official product pages and independent lab testing.

Both headsets ship at the same MSRP with the same driver diameter. From there, the two companies made different bets: Glorious put its budget into the headband and mic hardware, while SteelSeries put its budget into a software ecosystem that only fully unlocks on PC.

Mic Clarity: What the Specs (and Reviews) Actually Say

This is the section most buyers skip past and shouldn't. Your mic gets used every match. Here's what's actually verifiable.

The GHS Eternal runs an omnidirectional, detachable mic with a frequency response of 70 Hz–10 kHz and sensitivity of -40 dB @ 1 kHz. [Spec: verified, product sheet, Phil 2026-05-11] Omnidirectional pickup means it captures your voice from any angle without needing precise positioning - useful if you talk with your hands or shift around mid-match. PC Gamer's review found the mic "fine for video calls and Discord chats," with one specific caveat: "the lack of a squishy windscreen means you should expect some distortion from breaths and plosives" (Jess Kinghorn, PC Gamer, 2026).

The Arctis Nova 1 runs a bidirectional ClearCast Gen 2 mic with a frequency response of 100 Hz–10 kHz and sensitivity of -38 dBV/Pa. Bidirectional pickup rejects sound from the sides while picking up front and back - different tuning, not better or worse on its own. Tom's Hardware rated the mic highly: "Audio quality is very good on the Nova 1's mic, especially for a headset mic. It picks up your voice easily and delivers loud, clear audio" - while also noting it "struggles with noise isolation" and that the AI noise-cancellation feature lives in SteelSeries' Sonar software, which is PC-only and still in early access (Sarah Jacobsson Purewal, Tom's Hardware, 2026).

So: the GHS Eternal captures 30 Hz more of the low end and works identically on every platform with zero software. The Arctis Nova 1 has a narrower low-end floor but gains an AI noise-reduction layer - if you're on PC and willing to install Sonar. Trade the software ecosystem for platform-agnostic simplicity, or trade the wider frequency floor for extra processing. Neither spec sheet makes the other mic worse; they're built for different setups.

For a deeper breakdown of what to check in any headset mic before buying, the gaming headset buying guide covers mic polar patterns and frequency response in more detail.

Comfort Over Long Sessions

Comfort is where clamp force, materials, and headband design matter more than the spec sheet lets on.

The GHS Eternal uses a soft cushioned headband and memory foam ear cups. PC Gamer's hands-on take: "the cushioned headrest and plush earcups make this a comfortable gaming headset to wear for extended periods," adding that "the clamping strength of the earcups is firm enough to feel secure without becoming uncomfortable" (Jess Kinghorn, PC Gamer, 2026).

The Arctis Nova 1 takes a different approach entirely: a plastic headband with a stretchy elastic strap and 4 points of adjustment, distributing weight without any dedicated headband padding. Tom's Hardware called it "the lightest headset in the series" at 253g (235g as independently measured), and noted the AirWeave memory foam ear cups are "roomy enough to surround your ears without pressing on them" - though the elastic strap design is "reminiscent of SteelSeries' older 'ski goggle' straps, which are comfortable but have a tendency to stretch out over time" (Sarah Jacobsson Purewal, Tom's Hardware, 2026). Fine on the slopes. Less fine three years and a lot of stretching into ownership.

Both headsets earned genuine comfort praise from their reviewers - this isn't a case where one is comfortable and the other isn't. The difference is mechanism: the GHS Eternal distributes weight through headband padding, while the Arctis Nova 1 distributes it through a lighter build and a suspension-strap design. If you've had elastic straps stretch out on you before, padded cushioning ages more predictably. If ultralight weight is your priority, the Nova 1 is the lighter headset on paper.

Price-to-Feature Parity at $60

At the same $59.99 price, you're choosing between two different value propositions, not a better or worse deal.

The GHS Eternal includes a detachable mic (useful if you want to use the headset as regular headphones), full platform compatibility with zero setup, and a 2-year warranty. No app to download, no account to create - plug in a 3.5mm cable and it works the same on a Switch as it does on a gaming PC.

The Arctis Nova 1 includes access to SteelSeries' Sonar suite: a 10-band parametric EQ, 360° spatial audio, and ChatMix, on top of the AI noise-reduction feature mentioned above. That software is a value-add if you're PC-first and willing to spend time in the settings menu - but it doesn't travel with you to console or mobile, where the Nova 1 runs as a standard analog headset with no EQ or spatial audio access. The AI noise-reduction feature is also still in early access, which is software-speak for "promising, come back in a patch or two."

Which One Should You Buy?

Pick the GHS Eternal if: you want a mic and headset that behaves identically across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile with no software required, you prefer a padded headband over an elastic strap, or you want the option to detach the mic and use the headset for daily listening.

Pick the Arctis Nova 1 if: you're PC-first and want access to a full EQ and spatial audio suite, or ultralight weight is your top priority.

Both are legitimate $59.99 headsets. This isn't a case where one is the obvious upgrade over the other - it's a case where the right pick depends on whether you value platform-agnostic simplicity or a deeper software ecosystem more.

FAQ

How does the Glorious GHS Eternal compare to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1? Both are $59.99 wired headsets with 40mm drivers. The GHS Eternal has a wider mic frequency floor (70 Hz vs. 100 Hz), a padded headband, and works identically across every platform with no software. The Arctis Nova 1 is lighter and includes SteelSeries' Sonar software suite for EQ and spatial audio on PC. Neither wins across the board - they're built around different trade-offs.

Which headset has the better microphone, the GHS Eternal or the Arctis Nova 1? Both mics are competent for the price. The GHS Eternal's omnidirectional mic captures a wider low-end range (70 Hz–10 kHz) and works without a windscreen, which PC Gamer noted can add some distortion on breaths and plosives. The Arctis Nova 1's bidirectional mic was rated "very good" by Tom's Hardware for voice clarity, though it "struggles with noise isolation" and its AI noise-cancellation only works through SteelSeries' PC-only Sonar software. Pick based on whether you need cross-platform consistency or are willing to tie mic performance to a PC software suite.

Is the GHS Eternal or the Arctis Nova 1 more comfortable for long sessions? Both were rated comfortable by their reviewers, through different designs. The GHS Eternal uses a padded, cushioned headband with memory foam ear cups. The Arctis Nova 1 uses an elastic suspension strap (253g per SteelSeries' official spec, independently measured at 235g by Tom's Hardware) with AirWeave memory foam ear cups. If you want predictable long-term comfort from padding, the GHS Eternal's headband ages differently than an elastic strap. If ultralight weight matters most, the Nova 1 is lighter.

Do I need extra software to use either headset? No, both work as plug-and-play analog headsets out of the box. The Arctis Nova 1 can optionally connect to SteelSeries' Sonar software on PC for EQ, spatial audio, and AI noise-reduction features - none of which carry over to console or mobile use. The GHS Eternal has no companion software and performs identically across every supported platform.

Which headset works with more devices? Both connect via a universal 3.5mm cable. The GHS Eternal is rated for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile. The Arctis Nova 1 adds Chromebook and Mac to that list on its official spec page. Functionally, both work with any device that has a standard 3.5mm audio jack.