The popular SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 gaming headphones are back for a thousand crowns. Alza hasn't had them this cheap for almost a year

Are you looking for headphones with a microphone for your computer or console and don’t want to pay more for them than for a new AAA game? The popular SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are back to around a thousand crowns after a long time. With code ALZADNY40, you can buy them at Alza for 1,014 CZK instead of 1,690 CZK, a 40% discount. The retailer hasn’t offered them this cheaply for almost a year.

Quick summary:
✅ They are suitable for you if you want a lightweight headset for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch and don’t want to deal with batteries or a wireless receiver.
⚠️ Be aware that the construction is entirely plastic, and some customers complain about the microphone or cracks near the earcup joint.
💡 For 1,014 CZK, you get headphones that Alza customers rate 4.4 out of 5, and this is the cheapest they’ve been in almost a year.

The long-awaited deal

Alza normally sells the headphones for 1,690 CZK. With code ALZADNY40, they now cost 1,014 CZK, which is 676 CZK cheaper. The last time they reached such a price was last November, when they cost 999 CZK; you are now only 15 CZK away from that previous low. According to HlídačShopů, a service whose verification Alza displays for the product, this is a genuine discount, and more than five pieces are in stock.

What do you get for a thousand crowns?

The headphones connect with a 3.5mm jack, so you can plug them in practically anywhere – into a computer, PlayStation or Xbox controller, Switch, or even a phone. You don’t charge anything, and you don’t need any software for listening. Inside, 40mm drivers are at work, and the manufacturer states compatibility with Tempest 3D Audio spatial sound on PS5 and Microsoft Spatial Sound in Windows. On a computer, you can fine-tune the sound in the SteelSeries Sonar application, which offers a ten-band parametric equalizer and presets for specific games.

According to Alza, the headphones weigh only 236 grams. The earcups around the ears have a fabric cover with AirWeave memory foam, a flexible headband adjustable in four positions hugs the head, and the earcups can be rotated flat, so the headset fits into a backpack with a laptop. The second-generation ClearCast microphone retracts into the earcup when not needed, and the manufacturer promises that it will reduce keyboard clicks and ambient noise by up to 25 dB. The volume wheel and microphone mute button are located directly on the earcup.

What to watch out for with a computer?

The headphones do not have active noise cancellation. The surroundings are only muffled by the closed-back design with over-ear earcups; noise filtering applies to the microphone, i.e., what teammates hear. A few customers were caught out by this confusion in reviews.

Directly on the headphones is a 1.2-meter cable with a single jack, which fits into a laptop, controller, or phone. For a desktop computer with separate connectors for headphones and a microphone, you will use an extension cable with a splitter, which customers say is included in the package. However, according to several of them, the connection between the two cables sometimes disconnects.

Comfort praised by most, microphone divides opinion

At Alza, the headphones have 4.4 out of 5 stars from 291 ratings, are recommended by 85% of customers, and over 5,000 units have been sold. Among 90 written reviews, praise most often goes to the sound quality for the price, low weight, and comfort even after several hours of gaming. Some miss bass, but according to some owners, this can be compensated for with the equalizer.

The microphone is a weaker point. Some customers found it quiet, others reported it unresponsive at first, and more people report that the microphone can pick up sound from the headphones, so teammates hear your game as well. Criticism of the more fragile plastic also recurs, with several owners describing a crack near the joint above the earcup after months of use. Alza reports a return rate of 4.43%.

When to look elsewhere?

If you want wireless freedom, the wired Nova 1 won’t provide it, and you’ll have to pay extra for a wireless model. Similarly, if the headphones are often tossed into a backpack or given to a child who doesn’t handle them with care, the plastic construction might not last long. And anyone who streams or talks into a microphone a lot would do better with a standalone microphone.

Who will be happy with Nova 1 for 1,014 CZK?

The Arctis Nova 1 will be appreciated mainly by those looking for their first proper headset for a computer or console, or a replacement for worn-out headphones, and who don’t want to deal with charging. For 1,014 CZK with code ALZADNY40, they are practically back to last November’s price, and for this money, you get a headset from an established gaming brand. Anyone who needs wireless connectivity or a more durable construction should budget more.

Do you prefer playing with a wired headset, or can you no longer do without wireless headphones?