SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5: Switch Between Gaming and Phone Audio Deliberately

A phone call arriving during a game is a small event that can expose a large misunderstanding about a wireless headset. Supporting both Bluetooth and a USB wireless connection does not necessarily mean hearing both sources together. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 is built around switching between them, so that behavior should be part of the buying decision.

This assessment covers the black Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, model 61670. It is not the Nova 5X, Nova 5P or another Nova generation. Check the exact model and the included dongle before comparing compatibility claims across similarly named listings.

Choose switching instead of assuming mixing

SteelSeries' support documentation is explicit: Quick Switch moves between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth, with only one active at a time. The other source remains on standby. If your plan requires a game soundtrack and a separate phone stream to play together continuously, that is a different requirement.

The supplied USB-C dongle provides the gaming connection, while Bluetooth can connect a phone or another compatible device. Think through which source you want to hear during an interruption, and when you want to return to the original activity.

The manual describes answering a call with a single press of the QuickSwitch button. If the call is answered while in 2.4 GHz mode, the headset returns to that mode after the Bluetooth call ends. Try that sequence with your actual phone and application before relying on it during a session.

Map the dongle to the device

The quick-start guide shows direct USB-C use and a USB-C to USB-A adapter-cable arrangement. Check the host's available port, the space around it and the connection route before assuming the compact receiver can stay permanently attached.

The documented setups include PC, PlayStation and Switch arrangements, as well as compatible USB-C devices. That does not make every console edition interchangeable. In particular, do not borrow a compatibility promise from a Nova 5X listing and apply it to this model.

After connecting, confirm the output and microphone selected by the game or calling program. Moving a dongle between devices is convenient, but a connected receiver does not prove that every application has changed to the intended audio path. Make a short listening and microphone check after a move.

Use presets with a repeatable comparison

The Arctis Companion app provides more than 100 game-audio presets, and the product page describes separate saved EQ profiles for gaming and Bluetooth. Those options can be useful when you want different listening settings for different activities.

Start with a familiar scene or recording and change one setting at a time. A preset name is not proof that you will hear every cue more clearly, win more games or prefer the result. Keep a setting because it suits your listening, rather than because its label sounds competitive.

The manual instructs users to position the retractable microphone near the corner of the mouth. Check its placement, mute state and the receiving application's result before changing several processing settings. This assessment does not provide an original microphone-quality comparison.

Build a charging and control routine

SteelSeries advertises up to 60 hours of battery life. Treat that as a stated maximum, rather than a schedule guaranteed for your own settings and use. Decide where charging will happen and check the battery before a session that matters.

The support guide describes broad color ranges for the power indicator: green covers 100 to 50 percent, while yellow covers 49 to 15 percent. A green light therefore does not mean the battery is almost full. The low-battery warning is a useful prompt to recharge, not a reason to wait until an important session ends abruptly.

Choose the Nova 5 when switching between a dongle-based game and Bluetooth fits how you use a headset. Check another design if simultaneous sources or a different console connection are essential. Its value depends on a clear audio route, usable controls and a routine you can repeat; no original battery, latency or sound-quality test is claimed here.