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For competitive shooters, start with SteelSeries Sonar’s built-in FPS Footsteps preset. If you prefer a manual curve, reduce sub-bass by 1–3 dB, add a restrained lift around 1–4 kHz, and avoid aggressive treble boosts. For dialogue, trim a little low end and raise 1–2 kHz. For open-world games, keep most bands near flat so music, ambience and effects retain their weight.
Those settings are starting points, not universal measurements. The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has a warm response with slightly emphasized bass and slightly underemphasized treble, while fit, glasses, ear seal, hearing and each game’s mix can change what you hear. Tune at a comfortable volume, save separate profiles and keep Flat available as a fallback.
Recommended Nova Pro EQ curves at a glance
The following values assume a conventional 10-band equalizer with bands from 31 Hz to 16 kHz. They are deliberately moderate: enough to change masking and speech presence without making gunshots, consonants or cymbals painfully bright.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches| Use case | 31 Hz | 62 Hz | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1 kHz | 2 kHz | 4 kHz | 8 kHz | 16 kHz | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Footsteps / competitive FPS | −3 dB | −2 dB | −1 dB | 0 dB | 0 dB | +1 dB | +2 dB | +2 dB | +1 dB | 0 dB | Less rumble and more presence for transient cues without a severe brightness spike. |
| Dialogue clarity | −2 dB | −1 dB | −1 dB | −1 dB | 0 dB | +2 dB | +2 dB | +1 dB | 0 dB | 0 dB | Reduces low-frequency masking and emphasizes speech presence. |
| Open-world / RPG | 0 dB | +1 dB | +1 dB | 0 dB | 0 dB | +1 dB | +1 dB | 0 dB | 0 dB | 0 dB | Preserves a warm, spacious balance for music, ambience and dialogue. |
Keep the preamp or overall output control low enough that positive boosts do not clip. If Sonar uses parametric EQ instead, reproduce the same broad tonal direction with low-Q filters rather than narrow notches.
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- Almighty Audio - Experience ultimate clarity and sound quality with Premium High Fidelity Drivers. Fully customize the sound experience with the Sonar Software by using a first-in-gaming Pro-grade Parametric EQ.
- 360° Spatial Audio - Immersive surround sound transports you to the gaming world, letting you hear every critical step, reload, or vocal cue to give you an advantage. *Fully compatible with Tempest 3D Audio for PS5 / Microsoft Spatial Sound.
- Active Noise Cancellation - Immerse yourself in your virtual world as a specialized 4-mic hybrid system designed for gaming tunes out ambient noise. Use Transparency Mode with variable levels to adapt to any situation.
- Infinity Power System - Hot-swap between using one battery while charging the other to keep your headset going and going and going.
- OLED Base Station - Dual USB ports let you connect your PC, Xbox, Mac, PlayStation, or Switch, swap between them with the press of a button, charge your spare battery, take full control over your EQ, volume, & ChatMix directly without leaving your game
Why the Nova Pro can make footsteps sound muffled
Footsteps often occupy the upper-bass, midrange and presence regions, but explosions, vehicle engines, music and environmental rumble can mask them. A warm headset response adds enjoyable weight yet may make quiet movement cues less obvious when the game mix is busy. Lowering 31–125 Hz removes some of that masking before you add high frequencies.
The Nova Pro Wireless is not perfectly consistent from one wearing position to another. Ear-pad compression, glasses and the seal around your ears can change bass more than a one-decibel EQ adjustment. Peaks and dips in the high-mid and mid-treble regions can also make one sound distant while another becomes aggressive. EQ therefore works best as a controlled correction, not a hunt for a supposedly perfect curve.
Best settings for footsteps in competitive FPS games
Use the FPS Footsteps preset first
On PC, SteelSeries Sonar includes an FPS Footsteps preset intended to emphasize information such as footsteps, gunshots and objective cues. It is the fastest starting point for games such as tactical shooters and battle-royale titles. Listen for whether movement becomes easier to locate without making gunfire painfully sharp. If the preset sounds thin or fatiguing, return to Flat and use the manual curve in the table.
What the manual curve is doing
- 31–125 Hz: Small cuts reduce explosions, engine noise and other low-frequency material that can cover quiet steps.
- 1–2 kHz: A modest lift improves the intelligibility of many movement and interaction sounds.
- 4 kHz: The +2 dB lift adds definition to transients and directional detail, but is intentionally limited.
- 8 kHz: Only +1 dB is used because more can make gunshots, hiss and “s” sounds harsh.
- 16 kHz: Leave it flat; adding air rarely fixes masked footsteps and can increase noise.
Footstep-focused EQ is an information profile, not a cinematic profile. Music, explosions and ambience may feel less powerful because some of their low end has been reduced.
Best settings for clearer dialogue
Use the dialogue curve when character voices are intelligible but seem buried under music or room tone. The low-frequency cuts reduce masking, while +2 dB at 1 and 2 kHz brings speech presence forward. The small 4 kHz lift can improve consonants without turning every voice into a sharp radio effect.
Correcting common dialogue problems
- If voices remain muffled, increase 1 kHz by only 1 dB at a time.
- If voices become nasal or honky, undo the most recent change or reduce 1 kHz rather than boosting treble broadly.
- If “s,” “sh” or breath sounds become piercing, reduce 4–8 kHz by 1–2 dB.
- If a particular game has very quiet dialogue, check its voice-volume slider and subtitle settings before applying a large EQ boost.
Dialogue EQ trades some low-end weight for intelligibility. It is useful for story-heavy games, but it may make orchestral scores and cinematic impacts less full.
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Best settings for open-world and RPG games
Open-world mixes combine speech, music, weather, wildlife, combat and long stretches of ambience. A heavily boosted presence curve can make that sound narrow and fatiguing. The open-world profile keeps 31 Hz flat, adds only 1 dB at 62 and 125 Hz for warmth, and applies gentle +1 dB lifts at 1 and 2 kHz so dialogue remains present.
Choose this profile when immersion matters more than extracting the last positional cue. If a game’s explosions overwhelm dialogue, lower 31–125 Hz by 1 dB first instead of switching immediately to a full footsteps profile. If music sounds too thin, restore the low bands and use the game’s own music-volume control.
How to apply EQ on a Windows PC with Sonar
Sonar processing is software-routed. The game must use the Sonar Gaming playback device for the Game-channel EQ and effects to affect it.
- Install or open SteelSeries GG and update it if the application offers a firmware or software update.
- Open Sonar, then select the Game tab.
- Set the Nova Pro Wireless as the output device for the Gaming channel. Do not leave the game pointed at a different Windows playback device.
- Choose the FPS Footsteps preset, or select a custom equalizer and enter the values from the table.
- Verify that any spatial, smart-volume or automatic effects are intentional. Automatic effects can change perceived loudness when scenes change.
- Launch the game and confirm that its audio output is set to the Sonar Gaming device if it has a separate output selector.
- Save the result as a named profile such as Valorant Footsteps, Dialogue or Open World.
Sonar’s Gaming-tab equalizer and effects apply only to applications routed through the Sonar Gaming device. If the curve appears to do nothing, routing is the first thing to check.
How to apply EQ on PlayStation and Xbox
Console users do not use the PC Sonar routing path. Use the GameDAC Gen 2 or the Nova Pro Wireless base station after updating its firmware.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Connect the GameDAC or wireless base station to the console according to the headset instructions.
- Update the headset, base station or GameDAC firmware when the SteelSeries software reports an available update.
- Open the hardware’s Audio Options menu.
- Select Equalizer, then choose a preset or Custom.
- Enter the bands from the footsteps, dialogue or open-world table.
- Play the same short scene at a comfortable level and adjust one or two bands only if necessary.
Because the console workflow is stored or processed on the hardware, a Sonar profile made on a PC does not automatically become the console’s active EQ. Check which profile is selected on the base station whenever you change platforms.
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- 360° Spatial Audio - Immersive surround sound transports you to the gaming world, letting you hear every critical step, reload, or vocal cue to give you an advantage. Fully compatible with Microsoft Spatial Sound for Xbox /Tempest 3D Audio for PS5
- Active Noise Cancellation - Immerse yourself in your virtual world as a specialized 4-mic hybrid system designed for gaming tunes out ambient noise. Use Transparency Mode with variable levels to adapt to any situation.
- Infinity Power System - Hot-swap between using one battery while charging the other to keep your headset going and going and going..Note:If you face issue in Bluetooth connectivity please turn off the Bluetooth function for a couple of minutes, then turn it back on
- OLED Base Station - Dual USB ports let you connect your Xbox, PC, Mac, PlayStation, or Switch, swap between them with the press of a button, charge your spare battery, take full control over your EQ, volume, & ChatMix directly without leaving your game
A safe, repeatable tuning method
Use a repeatable scene rather than changing EQ while jumping between unrelated games. A familiar hallway, indoor fight or dialogue exchange makes small differences easier to hear.
- Start with Flat and set a comfortable listening volume. Do not compensate for a quiet mix by turning the headset up before tuning.
- Change only one or two bands. Large simultaneous changes make it impossible to know what helped.
- If explosions or music cover footsteps, cut 31, 62 or 125 Hz by 1–3 dB before adding treble.
- If dialogue is muffled, add 1–2 dB around 1–2 kHz. If the voice turns nasal, reverse the last change.
- If gunshots, cymbals or “s” sounds are sharp, reduce 4–8 kHz by 1–2 dB.
- Compare the modified profile with Flat at the same volume. A louder setting can seem more detailed even when it is not.
- Save separate Footsteps, Dialogue and Open-world profiles, and keep Flat unchanged as a reference.
Parametric EQ translation
Some Sonar versions or third-party audio paths present a parametric EQ instead of ten fixed sliders. Recreate the intent with broad filters:
- Apply a low-shelf cut of roughly 1–3 dB below about 125 Hz for footsteps or dialogue.
- Use a broad bell boost of 1–2 dB centered around 1.5–2 kHz for speech and presence.
- For footstep definition, add a broad 1–2 dB bell around 3–4 kHz.
- Keep the filter Q low or moderate so the change spans a useful region rather than creating a narrow, artificial notch.
- Leave the extreme 16 kHz region flat unless you have a specific, repeatable problem.
Exact center frequencies and Q values are not established by a universal measurement for every Nova Pro fit, so broad filters are safer than chasing narrow peaks.
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Positive EQ boosts consume headroom. If several bands are raised, lower the preamp or overall gain by at least the largest boost, then adjust the headset volume to taste. Clipping can sound like crackling or brittle distortion, especially during gunfire and explosions.
Extreme treble is not a substitute for positioning skill. It can exaggerate hiss, controller noise and compressed game audio while tiring your ears. If a profile sounds exciting for a minute but uncomfortable after a match, reduce 4–8 kHz or return to Flat.
Use the game’s own dynamic-range, dialogue, music and effects controls where available. An EQ cannot restore details that the game mix has removed or that are being limited by a night-mode setting.
Rank #4
- Almighty Audio - Experience ultimate clarity and sound quality with Premium High Fidelity Drivers. Fully customize the sound experience with the Sonar Software by using a first-in-gaming Pro-grade Parametric EQ.
- 360° Spatial Audio - Immersive surround sound transports you to the gaming world, letting you hear every critical step, reload, or vocal cue to give you an advantage. *Fully compatible with Tempest 3D Audio for PS5 / Microsoft Spatial Sound.
- Active Noise Cancellation - Immerse yourself in your virtual world as a specialized 4-mic hybrid system designed for gaming tunes out ambient noise. Use Transparency Mode with variable levels to adapt to any situation.
- Infinity Power System - Hot-swap between using one battery while charging the other to keep your headset going and going and going.
- OLED Base Station - Dual USB ports let you connect your PC, Xbox, Mac, PlayStation, or Switch, swap between them with the press of a button, charge your spare battery, take full control over your EQ, volume, & ChatMix directly without leaving your game
Fit, spatial audio and game settings matter
Place the ear cups evenly and adjust the headband so both pads seal without excessive pressure. Glasses arms can create a leak that reduces bass; compensating with more low-end EQ can then make the headset muddy when the glasses are removed.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Use one spatial-audio system at a time while troubleshooting. Combining console or Windows spatial processing with additional headset effects can alter the tonal balance and positional cues. First establish a clean stereo or native game mode, then add the spatial option you actually intend to use.
Game mixes differ. A curve that reveals cloth movement in one shooter may make another shooter’s weapon reports harsh. Competitive profiles also sacrifice some cinematic weight. Judge the setting by whether it improves the sounds you need without damaging the rest of the mix.
Troubleshooting common Nova Pro EQ problems
The EQ does nothing on PC
Confirm that Sonar is open, the Nova Pro is selected as the Game-channel output, and Windows and the game are using the Sonar Gaming device. Applications routed directly to another headset endpoint bypass the Sonar Game EQ.
Footsteps are still muffled
Lower 31–125 Hz another 1 dB, check the ear-pad seal and reduce music or effects in the game. Do not immediately add a large 8 or 16 kHz boost; that often increases harshness without improving the masked cue.
Footsteps sound thin or distant
Restore part of the low end, especially 125 Hz, and compare with Flat. You may have removed too much body from the game mix. A smaller 1–2 kHz lift can preserve presence without the hollow quality caused by excessive bass cuts.
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Gunshots and consonants hurt
Reduce 4 and 8 kHz by 1–2 dB, disable any automatic effect that raises perceived loudness, and lower the overall volume. Sharpness is commonly a sign that the presence region has been pushed too far.
Dialogue changes volume between scenes
Check the game’s dynamic-range or night-mode option and Sonar’s automatic effects. Automatic processing can change perceived volume as the soundtrack becomes louder or quieter. Keep the EQ static while diagnosing the game’s own mix.
The console sounds different from the PC
Verify that the GameDAC or base station is using the intended Custom profile. Sonar settings are software-routed on PC; the console uses the hardware’s Audio Options and Equalizer controls.
When to keep Flat
Flat is the right choice when you switch between many genres, prefer the Nova Pro’s warm character, or cannot identify a repeatable problem. It is also the best reference for judging whether a custom profile truly helps. Save it as an untouched fallback before experimenting.
There is no single best Nova Pro curve for every listener. Ear seal, glasses, hearing, platform, game mix and personal tolerance all change the result. Start with the restrained values above, make the smallest change that solves the problem and keep a separate profile for each genuinely different use case.
Quick Recap
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