We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-06 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired gaming headset that doubles as a desk centerpiece and still travels well on your commute, choose Mytrix Cherry Blossoms; if you need lightweight, all-day comfort with serious spatial audio for competitive play, choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1.
• Mytrix Cherry Blossoms — biggest strength: a full cherry-blossom theme with RGB gradient lighting and a 360° noise-cancelling rotating mic, all over a simple 3.5 mm plug-and-play connection.
• Mytrix Cherry Blossoms — biggest trade-off: the RGB lighting only works when the USB plug is powered, so the glow is a desk feature, not a portable one.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 — biggest strength: a purpose-built gaming audio package — hi-fi drivers, 360° spatial audio, a 10-band parametric EQ, and a ClearCast Gen 2 mic that cuts background noise by up to 25dB.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 — biggest trade-off: the styling is plain black and utilitarian, so it won't decorate a desk the way the Mytrix does.
• Pick Mytrix Cherry Blossoms if you want personality, a wired 3.5 mm setup, and a headset that matches a cherry-themed desk.
• Pick SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 if you want the lighter, more adjustable headset built for long competitive sessions.
The Mytrix Cherry Blossoms is a wired over-ear headset built around a look. The cherry blossom LED shape cycles through a rainbow aura on the earcups, and it only lights up when you connect the USB plug to a powered port — a console or a computer. That tells you a lot about intent: this is a headset you plug into a desk setup and enjoy as part of the scenery. The 6.56-foot cable gives you room to move without yanking the jack out.
Functionally it's straightforward. A single 3.5 mm jack handles audio, and a Y-shape converter is included for devices that keep sound and mic on separate ports. The 360° rotation mic is noise cancelling, and there's in-line control for volume and mute — a knob and a switch, not touch controls. The skin-friendly foam earmuffs and soft head cushion are pitched at long wearing sessions, and the 80 ohm impedance with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz dynamic driver is a standard stereo setup rather than a spatial one.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1: Who It's For
The Arctis Nova 1 is the opposite philosophy: everything is in service of gaming performance and comfort. The Nova Acoustic System pairs custom high-fidelity drivers with a 20 Hz–22,000 Hz frequency range, and 360° spatial audio is there to help you place footsteps, reloads and voice cues. It's compatible with Tempest 3D Audio on PS5 and Microsoft Spatial Sound, and the Pro-grade Parametric EQ — a 10-band equalizer — lets you shape the sound yourself. That's a level of tuning the Mytrix simply doesn't offer.
Comfort is where the spec sheet really stands out. The headset weighs 236g (8.32 ounces), and the ComfortMAX system adds height-adjusting, rotating earcups, AirWeave memory foam cushions and a stretchy band that spreads weight evenly. Four points of adjustability mean it should fit a wide range of head sizes. The ClearCast Gen 2 mic is bidirectional and noise cancelling, reducing background noise by up to 25dB, and it fully retracts into the earcup when you're not talking — handy if you also use the headset for calls or on the go.
Who should buy it? If you play competitively, or you wear a headset for hours and care about weight and fit, this is the obvious pick. The 3.5 mm jack covers PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile, and on-board volume and mute controls keep things simple. Who should skip it? If you want a headset that looks like a piece of decor, or you specifically want RGB lighting, the black Nova 1 won't deliver that. It's a tool, not an ornament.
• Best for competitive gaming audio → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. 360° spatial audio, hi-fi drivers and a 10-band parametric EQ are built for positional awareness.
• Best for desk aesthetics → Mytrix Cherry Blossoms. The cherry-blossom RGB gradient and sakura theme are the whole point.
• Best for long-session comfort → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. At 236g with AirWeave memory foam and four points of adjustability, it's engineered for marathon sessions.
• Best for mic clarity in a noisy room → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. The ClearCast Gen 2 mic cuts background noise by up to 25dB and retracts fully.
• Best for simple plug-and-play on consoles → Mytrix Cherry Blossoms. One 3.5 mm jack, plus a Y-shape converter for split audio/mic ports, and in-line volume and mute.
• Best for taking on the go → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. Lighter, no USB power needed for its features, and a retractable mic for a cleaner look.
• Best for a themed setup → Mytrix Cherry Blossoms. If your desk is already cherry-blossom coordinated, this ties it together.
• Best for tuning your own sound → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. The parametric EQ and Sonar-style customization give you far more control.
If I were buying for myself, I'd take the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. In my opinion, the combination of 236g weight, AirWeave memory foam, four points of adjustability and 360° spatial audio makes it the better headset for actual gaming — and it's the one I'd also toss in a bag for commuting, since the retractable mic and light build travel better. The Mytrix Cherry Blossoms is the more fun object, and if your priority is a wired desk showpiece with a cherry theme, I'd recommend it without hesitation. But for performance and all-day comfort, the Nova 1 wins. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
how much gaming headphones
That varies a lot by brand and features, and this page doesn't quote prices. The two headsets here sit in different tiers of build and audio capability, so check the current price on Amazon for each before deciding.
how to game with bluetooth headphones
Both of these headsets are primarily wired — each uses a 3.5 mm jack, which is the most reliable low-latency option for gaming. If you game on a console or PC, plug into the 3.5 mm port; the Mytrix also includes a Y-shape converter for devices with separate audio and mic inputs.
is gaming better with headphones
For most players, yes — a headset keeps you immersed and, on a spatial-audio model like the Arctis Nova 1, helps you place footsteps and directional cues. The Mytrix Cherry Blossoms is stereo only, so it's better for atmosphere than competitive positional awareness.
are gaming headphones good for calls
They can be. The Arctis Nova 1's ClearCast Gen 2 mic is bidirectional and noise cancelling, reducing background noise by up to 25dB, and it retracts into the earcup when not in use. The Mytrix uses a 360° rotating noise-cancelling mic with in-line volume and mute, which works fine for casual calls.
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