How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a complete gaming audio solution you wear on your head, choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P; if you need a dedicated desktop microphone to capture your voice for streams, Discord or recordings, choose MAONO DGM20S. These two products sit in completely different categories — one is a wired gaming headset, the other is a USB condenser microphone — so the "winner" depends entirely on the job you're hiring it to do.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P — biggest strength: A full over-ear gaming headset with 360° spatial audio, a noise-cancelling boom mic, and multi-platform 3.5mm wired connectivity for PS5, PC, Xbox, Switch and mobile.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P — biggest trade-off: It's wired only, so there's no wireless freedom, and its mic is built for in-game chat rather than broadcast-grade voice capture.
• MAONO DGM20S — biggest strength: A plug-and-play USB condenser mic with one-click noise cancellation, controllable RGB, gain control and zero-latency monitoring, bundled with a boom arm, shock mount and pop filter.
• MAONO DGM20S — biggest trade-off: It's a microphone, not a headset — you get no speakers and no headphone drivers, so you still need separate audio output for game sound.
• Pick the Arctis Nova 1P if you want one wired headset that handles both game audio and voice chat across consoles and PC.
• Pick the MAONO DGM20S if your priority is your audience hearing you clearly on streams, podcasts or Discord.
The Arctis Nova 1P is built around the idea of a single wired headset that follows you across platforms. The custom Nova acoustic system pairs high-fidelity dynamic drivers with a 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range and 36-ohm impedance, and SteelSeries layers 360° spatial sound on top so positional cues — footsteps, reloads, voice lines — land where they should. On PS5 it supports Tempest 3D Audio, and it also plays nicely with Microsoft Spatial Sound, which matters if you split your time between a console and a Windows PC.
Comfort is the other half of the pitch. The ComfortMAX system gives you rotatable, height-adjustable ear cups, an expandable band and AirWeave memory foam pads, all at a fairly light 269.5g. Four adjustment points means it's easier to find a fit that survives a long session, and the over-ear leather enclosure keeps things sealed. The ClearCast Gen 2 mic claims up to 25dB of background noise reduction, and you can fully retract it into the ear cup when you're not talking — a genuinely nice touch for a cleaner look. Volume and mute live right on the headset, and the 3.5mm jack means no dongles, no pairing, no charging.
Who should buy it? Anyone who wants one headset for PS5, PC, Xbox, Switch or even a phone, and who values spatial audio and a retractable boom mic over wireless convenience. Who should skip it? If you've gone fully wireless, or if your main goal is professional-sounding voice capture for streaming, the wired connection and chat-focused mic won't be the right fit. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
The DGM20S is a different tool entirely. It's a USB condenser microphone aimed at gamers who stream, record or podcast, and its headline feature is one-click noise cancellation paired with a cardioid pickup pattern. Cardioid means it focuses on sound arriving from the front of the mic, which is exactly what you want when your voice is the point and your keyboard, fans and room reflections are the noise you're fighting. The 50Hz–20kHz range and 73dB signal-to-noise ratio back up the idea that this is a voice-first microphone, not an ambient recorder.
The feature list reads like a streamer's checklist. There are nine RGB lighting modes you can cycle and switch off with a long press, a tap-to-mute button on top, a gain knob so you can dial your level in without digging through software, and zero-latency monitoring so you can hear yourself in real time. It's plug-and-play over USB or USB-C, no drivers required, and it works with Windows, Mac and PS4/PS5.
What you actually get in the box matters here: the mic itself, a metal boom arm, a shock mount, a pop filter and the USB/USB-C cable. That's a complete desk setup, not just a mic. The boom arm lets you pull the mic close when you're live and fold it away when you're not, the shock mount cuts vibration and machine noise, and the removable pop filter tames plosives without blocking your screen. Who should buy it? Streamers, Discord regulars, content creators and podcasters who want clear voice capture and a tidy boom-mounted setup out of the box. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs game audio in their ears — this is input only, so you'll still need headphones or speakers.
• Best for game audio and voice in one device → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. It's a headset, so output and mic are combined.
• Best for voice quality on stream or in recordings → MAONO DGM20S. A dedicated cardioid condenser with gain control beats a headset boom for capture quality.
• Best for console gaming → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. The 3.5mm jack covers PS5, PS4, Xbox and Switch, with Tempest 3D Audio support on PS5.
• Best for positional/spatial awareness in competitive games → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. 360° spatial sound is the whole point here.
• Best for a complete desk setup out of the box → MAONO DGM20S. Boom arm, shock mount, pop filter and cable are all included.
• Best for long-session comfort → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. Four adjustment points, AirWeave memory foam and a light 269.5g build.
• Best for a clean, customizable on-camera look → MAONO DGM20S. Nine RGB modes you can match to your stream or switch off entirely.
• Best for a no-fuss, no-driver setup → MAONO DGM20S. Plug into USB or USB-C and you're recording; the Arctis needs a 3.5mm jack but never needs charging or software either.
In my opinion, these two aren't really competitors — they solve different problems, and picking between them comes down to what's missing from your setup. If you need to hear the game and talk to your team in one wired device, I'd buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P. Its spatial audio, comfortable over-ear design and retractable noise-cancelling mic make it the more versatile single purchase for a console or PC gamer. I'd choose the MAONO DGM20S only if your voice is the product — streaming, recording or podcasting — and you already have headphones for game audio. If your setup needs both, they're complementary, not either/or.
They're not the same product type, so "better" depends on the job. The Arctis Nova 1P is a wired gaming headset with spatial audio and a boom mic; the MAONO DGM20S is a USB condenser microphone for voice capture. For gaming audio, pick the headset. For streaming voice quality, pick the mic.
Many streamers do run both — the mic for their voice and a headset for game audio and monitoring. Since the DGM20S only captures sound and has no speakers, you'll need headphones or a headset regardless if you want to hear your game.
Yes. It lists PS4 and PS5 alongside Windows, Mac, laptops and desktops as compatible devices, and it connects over USB or USB-C with no drivers needed. Just plug it in and it's ready.
Both are simple, but in different ways. The Arctis Nova 1P plugs into a 3.5mm jack and needs no charging or software. The MAONO DGM20S is plug-and-play over USB/USB-C and comes with its boom arm, shock mount and pop filter ready to assemble. Check the current price on Amazon for each before you commit.
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