We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a full-size over-ear headset that does double duty for immersive single-player games and long PC sessions, choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P; if you need a low-profile in-ear monitor built specifically to hear footsteps and pin down direction in competitive FPS matches, choose Sony INZONE E9.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P — biggest strength: an over-ear design with high-fidelity dynamic drivers, 360° spatial audio, a retractable noise-cancelling boom mic, and a lightweight ComfortMAX build that works across PS5, PC, Xbox, Switch and mobile over a single 3.5mm jack.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P — biggest trade-off: it's a wired headset with a 4-foot cable and no wireless freedom, and its over-ear frame is physically bulkier than any earbud.
• Sony INZONE E9 — biggest strength: a sealed, noise-isolating in-ear monitor tuned with Fnatic for FPS positional audio, with four eartip sizes, a flexible ear hook, an included USB-C audio box for 360 Spatial Sound, and INZONE Hub EQ control.
• Sony INZONE E9 — biggest trade-off: it's a wired IEM with a narrow cable and no boom mic, so it's built for personal listening and solo focus rather than full-size comfort or built-in voice chat.
• Who each is for: pick the Arctis Nova 1P if you want one headset for everything; pick the INZONE E9 if competitive FPS clarity and a low-profile fit are the priority.
The Arctis Nova 1P is the "one headset for my whole setup" pick. It runs on a universal 3.5mm jack, so the same pair plugs into a PS5, a PC, an Xbox, a Switch or a phone without adapters or dongles. SteelSeries builds it around the Nova Acoustic System with custom high-fidelity dynamic drivers, covering a 20–22,000 Hz range at 36 ohm impedance, and adds 360° spatial audio plus compatibility with Tempest 3D Audio on PS5 and Microsoft Spatial Sound. In plain terms, that's a headset designed to make directional cues — footsteps, reloads, voice lines — easy to place while you play.
The comfort story is the other half of the pitch. SteelSeries lists it at 236g/0.52lbs with the ComfortMAX system: height-adjusting, rotating earcups, AirWeave memory foam cushions and a stretchy suspension band that spreads weight across your head. It's over-ear with oval earcups, so your ears sit inside the cushions instead of against a driver. If you wear glasses or game for hours at a stretch, that over-ear approach is usually kinder than anything that presses into your ear canal.
Comms are handled by the ClearCast Gen 2 bidirectional mic, which SteelSeries says reduces background noise by up to 25dB and retracts fully into the earcup when you're not talking. On-board volume and mute controls sit right on the headset, so you're not alt-tabbing to change levels.
Who should skip it: if you want wireless freedom, or you specifically want the sealed, in-ear isolation of an IEM for tournament-style FPS play, this isn't the shape you're after. The 4-foot cable is also short for a big desk setup, and the listed connectivity is wired-only in practice.
Sony INZONE E9: Who It's For
The INZONE E9 is a different animal entirely. It's a wired in-ear monitor developed with Fnatic esports players and tuned specifically for FPS games, with the goal of sharpening positional awareness so you can hear footsteps and gunfire direction with accuracy in fast, chaotic matches. Sony's own acoustic design and balanced armature drivers (20–20,000 Hz, 16 ohm, 101 dB sensitivity) are aimed at spatial detail rather than thump — which is exactly what you want when the difference between winning and losing is hearing someone rotate behind you.
The physical design is where it earns its keep for competitive players. It's a low-profile IEM with a flexible ear hook that sits snugly and stays put during long sessions, and it ships with four eartip sizes plus both noise-isolation and hybrid tip options. Sony calls it their first sealed-body IEM with isolating tips, and the point is simple: block out the room — a crowd, a roommate, a noisy house — so you can lock in. The 1.8m narrow cable and small form even let it sit under earmuffs, which matters at LAN events and tournaments.
Sony also throws in a compact USB-C audio box that enables 360 Spatial Sound for gaming and works with the INZONE Hub software on PC, where you can tune EQ and save game-specific profiles. Everything packs into the included carry case along with the audio box. It weighs just 4.7g per bud, so once it's seated you largely forget it's there.
Who should buy it: competitive FPS players, tournament and LAN attendees, and anyone who wants sealed, in-ear isolation with a low-profile fit and PC-side EQ control.
Who should skip it: if you want a built-in boom mic for voice chat, or you simply don't like things inside your ears, the E9 won't suit you. There's no boom mic listed, and the sound-isolating seal is the whole point — which some people find claustrophobic rather than immersive.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for all-round gaming and voice chat → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. The retractable ClearCast Gen 2 mic and on-board volume/mute make it a complete comms setup out of the box.
• Best for long-session comfort, over-ear style → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. 236g with AirWeave memory foam, rotating earcups and a stretchy suspension band.
• Best for low-profile, glasses-friendly, hat-or-earmuff-friendly wear → Sony INZONE E9. 4.7g per bud with a flexible ear hook and a narrow 1.8m cable that tucks away.
• Best for multi-platform plug-and-play → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. One 3.5mm jack covers PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox, Switch and mobile.
• Best for PC sound tuning → Sony INZONE E9. INZONE Hub gives you EQ and game-specific profiles plus 360 Spatial Sound via the USB-C audio box.
• Best for noise isolation → Sony INZONE E9. Sealed IEM design with isolating tips and four sizes for a proper seal.
• Best for spatial audio on console → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. It supports Tempest 3D Audio on PS5 and Microsoft Spatial Sound.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P for most people. In my opinion, it's the more versatile product: one wired headset that covers consoles, PC and mobile, with a real boom mic, spatial audio and over-ear comfort that suits long sessions and voice chat alike. I'd only steer you to the Sony INZONE E9 if competitive FPS is your main game and you specifically want sealed in-ear isolation with a low-profile fit and PC EQ control. Different tools, different jobs — pick the shape that matches how you actually play.
FAQ
For pure competitive FPS, I'd lean toward the Sony INZONE E9 — it's tuned with Fnatic specifically to sharpen positional awareness, and its sealed design blocks room noise. The Arctis Nova 1P still gives you 360° spatial audio, but it's a broader all-rounder rather than an FPS specialist.
Yes. It has a retractable bidirectional ClearCast Gen 2 mic that SteelSeries says cuts background noise by up to 25dB, plus on-board volume and mute controls. The Sony INZONE E9 doesn't list a boom mic, so for voice chat the Arctis Nova 1P is the safer choice.
It's a wired IEM with a 3.5mm jack, so it connects to standard headphone outputs, and the included USB-C audio box unlocks 360 Spatial Sound and EQ control through INZONE Hub on PC. The Arctis Nova 1P is the more explicitly multi-platform option, listing PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox, Switch and mobile.
That depends on what bothers you. The Arctis Nova 1P is over-ear and light at 236g with memory foam cushions and a suspension band — great if you dislike things in your ears. The INZONE E9 is just 4.7g per bud with a flexible hook and four tip sizes, ideal if over-ear headsets feel heavy. If price matters, check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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