How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want featherweight in-ear immersion built for VR and long console sessions, choose MEE audio M6; if you need a full over-ear headset with a noise-cancelling boom mic and deep sound customization, choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X.
• MEE audio M6 biggest strength: A 19.87 g in-ear design with two swappable cables (a short VR cable plus a headset cable with inline mic), a mounting bracket and Velcro cable management — genuinely built around VR comfort.
• MEE audio M6 biggest trade-off: It's an in-ear monitor style, so it isolates sound passively through fit rather than active noise cancellation, and it relies on a 3.5 mm jack that may need an adapter on devices with split mic/headphone ports.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X biggest strength: Over-ear comfort with the ComfortMAX system (height-adjusting, rotating earcups, AirWeave memory cushions), 360° spatial audio, a 10-band parametric EQ and a ClearCast Gen 2 mic that cuts background noise by up to 25 dB.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X biggest trade-off: At 269.5 g it's a much heavier, bulkier headset than an in-ear, and its wired 3.5 mm connection means no wireless freedom.
• Pick MEE audio M6 if VR, portability and near-weightless wear matter most to you.
• Pick SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X if you want one headset for competitive console/PC play with clear voice chat and tunable sound.
The MEE audio M6 is essentially a set of in-ear monitors that MEE audio adapted for gaming. It borrows from the brand's professional musician lineup, which tells you the priority here is audio fidelity in a tiny package. The 16-ohm impedance and 20 Hz–20,000 Hz dynamic driver mean it's easy to drive from a controller, phone or headset jack without extra amplification. For VR specifically, the design makes sense: a short cable, a mounting bracket and Velcro straps keep cords routed out of the way so you stay immersed instead of untangling yourself. An included extension also lets you switch between the headset and external speakers without yanking the cable out.
The two detachable cables are the real story. One is short and tuned for VR headsets; the other adds an inline microphone and remote for PCs, consoles and mobile. That makes the M6 a flexible pick for someone who games across an Oculus Quest, a Switch and a laptop, and who hates the heat and weight of over-ear cups during long sessions. The included carrying case (about 3 ounces on its own) reinforces the portable angle — these are the kind of earphones you can genuinely pocket.
Who should skip it? If you want active noise cancellation, a retractable boom mic, or software EQ, this isn't that product. Its noise control is passive sound isolation through the ear tips, and the inline mic is basic compared to a dedicated boom. It also assumes a 3.5 mm headset jack; on devices with separate headphone and mic ports, you may need an adapter for the microphone to work. If you play in a noisy room and need your voice to cut through, or you simply prefer the feel of over-ear cups, look elsewhere.
The Arctis Nova 1X is a full over-ear gaming headset aiming at players who want one wired pair for basically every platform. Multi-platform support is the headline: a single 3.5 mm jack covers Xbox, PC, Mac, PlayStation, Switch and mobile. The ComfortMAX system gives you four points of adjustability — height-adjusting, rotating earcups plus a stretchy band and AirWeave memory-foam cushions — so it should sit comfortably for marathon sessions despite the 269.5 g weight. The 36-ohm impedance and 96 dB sensitivity suggest it's built to run off typical controller and phone outputs without a dedicated amp.
Audio is where SteelSeries leans hardest. The Nova Acoustic System pairs high-fidelity drivers with 360° spatial audio, and there's a first-in-gaming pro-grade 10-band parametric EQ for shaping your own sound. On PC you also get Microsoft Spatial Sound, and PS5 owners get Tempest 3D Audio support — useful if positional cues like footsteps and reloads matter to you. The ClearCast Gen 2 mic reduces background noise by up to 25 dB and retracts fully into the earcup when you're not talking, which keeps the look tidy. Headset controls handle volume and mute.
Who should skip it? Anyone who values a minimal, pocketable setup. This is a wired, over-ear headset — it doesn't fold away like an in-ear, and the weight is nearly fourteen times that of the M6. If you mainly game in VR and want cords strapped out of your face, the bulk and boom-mic format work against you. It's also fully wired, so there's no wireless option here.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for VR gaming → MEE audio M6. The short cable, mounting bracket and Velcro routing are designed specifically to keep cords clear of a headset.
• Best for long-session comfort (over-ear feel) → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X. The ComfortMAX system's rotating earcups, memory cushions and stretchy band adapt to your head.
• Best for near-weightless wear → MEE audio M6. At 19.87 g, it's about as light as it gets versus the 269.5 g Arctis.
• Best for sound customization → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X. The 10-band parametric EQ and 360° spatial audio give you far more tuning than the M6 offers.
• Best for portability → MEE audio M6. Two detachable cables and a small carrying case make it a true take-anywhere option.
• Best for passive isolation without power → MEE audio M6. Its ear tips block sound through fit; the Arctis uses active noise cancellation.
• Best for a single do-everything console/PC headset → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X. One 3.5 mm jack covers Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC and mobile.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X for most people. In my opinion, its combination of over-ear comfort, spatial audio, EQ customization and a genuinely capable noise-cancelling boom mic makes it the more complete everyday gaming headset. That said, I'd steer VR-first players and anyone who hates the weight of over-ear cups toward the MEE audio M6 — for that specific job, its in-ear design and cable management are simply the better fit. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one variable specs can't settle for you.
Yes — that's its core purpose. It ships with a short cable, a mounting bracket and Velcro straps to route cords out of the way, and it works with headsets that have an accessible 3.5 mm jack, including the Oculus Quest and Valve Index.
Yes. Its ClearCast Gen 2 mic is designed to reduce background noise by up to 25 dB on any platform, and it retracts fully into the earcup when you're not using it.
For positional cues, the Arctis Nova 1X has the edge thanks to 360° spatial audio plus Microsoft Spatial Sound and Tempest 3D Audio support on PS5. In-ear monitors like the M6 lean on fidelity and isolation instead.
The Arctis Nova 1X uses a single 3.5 mm jack for consoles, PC and mobile. The M6 also uses 3.5 mm, but on devices with separate headphone and mic ports, an adapter may be required for its microphone to work.
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See also: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X vs TOZO Open X2, Amazon Renewed SteelSeries Arctis Nova vs FIFINE USB Gaming Headset, SteelSeries Siberia v2 vs MANBASNAKE Gaming Keyboard