steelseries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Gaming Headset User Guide

: June 4, 2024
: SteelSeries

Table of Contents

steelseries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Gaming Headset
Product Usage Instructions
GENERAL
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
QUICK START GUIDE
SETUP
POWER
BLUETOOTH
MULTIMEDIA CONTROLS
MICROPHONE
REGULATORY
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

steelseries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Gaming Headset

Specifications

Product: Arctis Nova 5X Wireless
Compatibility: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation, Mobile, Nintendo Switch, Mac
Wireless Connection: USB-C Wireless Dongle
Charging Cable Length: 5 ft / 1.5 m

Product Usage Instructions

Quick Start Guide
Arctis Nova 5X Wireless can easily switch between a dongle and Bluetooth connection for seamless usability. Need to take a call while you’re gaming? Want to switch from your phone to your PC? Get started here.

2.4 GHz Mode

Connect the USB-C Wireless Dongle into the USB-C to USB-A Adapter Cable.
Plug the USB-C to USB-A Adapter Cable into your Xbox or computer directly.
Once the headset is turned on you will hear the connected sound effect and the Power Indicator LED on the headset will blink slowly.

Bluetooth Mode

To switch to BT mode, press the Quick Switch Button on the headset and you will enter pairing mode.
Go to your main device’s Bluetooth settings and pair to the Nova 5X device. Once successfully paired the blue Power Indicator LED will go from fast blinking to blinking slowly.
Now that you’re set up you can switch between 2.4 GHz mode and Bluetooth mode seamlessly with the press of the Quick Switch Button.

Setup

Xbox Connection
Set the Dongle’s Wireless Mode Switch to Xbox for Xbox connections.

Other Connections
Set the Dongle’s Wireless Mode Switch to USB for connections to PC, Android, Switch, Mac, or any other BT Device.

PlayStation 5 Audio Settings

PS5 Setting > Audio Output: Output to Headphones
PS5 Setting > Audio Output > Volume: Headphones
All Audio Set to Max for optimal experience

Power
To power on/off, press and hold the Power Button for 1 second. When the headset is powered on and connected, the Dongle’s Status LED increases brightness.

Charging
To charge the headset, connect the Charging Cable from the Headset’s USB-C Charging Jack to any USB power source.

FAQ

Q: How do I access custom sound settings using the Nova 5 Companion App?
A: Complete your setup with fast access to custom sound settings from your smartphone with the Nova 5 Companion App. Enjoy over 100+ game audio presets in-game or on the go.
Q: How can I customize equalizer settings and control my mic using SteelSeries GG?
A: Use Engine inside SteelSeries GG to set custom equalizer settings and control your mic. GG also has other amazing apps like Sonar, a breakthrough in gaming sound, that allows you to hear what matters most, through cutting-edge audio tools.

GENERAL

PACKAGE CONTENTS

Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Headset USB-C Wireless Dongle
USB-C to USB-A Adapter Cable (5 ft / 1.5 m)
Charging Cable (5 ft / 1.5 m)
Product Information Guide

SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY

Xbox Series X|S
Xbox One
PC
PlayStation
Mobile
Nintendo Switch
Mac

NOVA 5 COMPANION APP
Complete your setup with fast access to custom sound settings from your smartphone with the Nova 5 Companion App. Enjoy over 100+ game audio presets in-game or on the go.

STEELSERIES GG
Use Engine inside SteelSeries GG to set custom equalizer settings and control your mic.
GG also has other amazing apps like Sonar, a breakthrough in gaming sound, that allows you to hear what matters most, through cutting-edge audio tools.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

HEADSET

Elastic Headband*
Airweave Ear Cushions*
Retractable ClearCast Microphone
Microphone Mute LED
Volume Wheel
Microphone Mute Button
USB-C Charging Jack
ChatMix Dial
Power Button
Power Indicator LED
Quick Switch Button DONGLE
USB-C Wireless Dongle*
Wireless Mode Switch
Pairing Button
Status LED **ACCESSORIES***
USB-C to USB-A Adapter Cable*
Charging Cable*

QUICK START GUIDE

Arctis Nova 5X Wireless can easily switch between a dongle and Bluetooth connection for seamless usability. Need to take a call while you’re gaming? Want to switch from your phone to your PC? Get started here.

2.4 MODE

Connect the USB-C Wireless Dongle (12) into the USB-C to USB-A Adapter Cable (16)
Plug the USB-C to USB-A Adapter Cable (16) into your Xbox or computer directly
Once the headset is turned on you will hear the connected sound effect and the Power Indicator LED (10) on the headset will blink slowly

BLUETOOTH MODE

To switch to BT mode, press the Quick Switch Button (11) on the headset and you will enter pairing mode
Go to your main device’s Bluetooth settings and pair to the “Nova 5X” device. Once successfully paired the blue Power Indicator LED (10) will go from fast blinking to blinking slowly
Now that you’re setup you can switch between 2.4 GHz mode and Bluetooth mode seamlessly with the press of the Quick Switch Button (11)

SETUP

XBOX CONNECTION
Set the Dongle’s Wireless Mode Switch (13) to “Xbox”

OTHER CONNECTIONS
Set the Dongle’s Wireless Mode Switch (13) to “USB”.

PLAYSTATION 5 AUDIO SETTINGS

PS5 SETTING > AUDIO OUTPUT
Output to Headphones All Audio
PS5 SETTING > AUDIO OUTPUT > VOLUME
Headphones Set to Max

POWER

POWER ON/OFF
Press and hold the Power Button (9) for 1 second to power the headset on/off.
When the Headset is powered on and connected, the Dongle’s Status LED (15) increases brightness.

CHARGING
To charge the headset, connect the Charging Cable (17) from the Headset’s USB-C Charging Jack (7) to any USB power source.
The color of the power LED indicates the battery level.

Green 100–50 %
Yellow 49–15 %
Orange 14–5 %
Red 4–1 %

DONGLE PAIRING

Note: The headset and dongle come paired

If you need to re-pair:

Connect the USB-C Wireless Dongle (12) to your gaming device
Press and hold the Dongle’s Pairing Button (14) for 4s until the Dongle’s Status LED (15) blinks rapidly
Headset On – Press and hold the Quick Switch Button (11) for 2 seconds until you hear “Dongle Pairing Mode” and the Headset’s Power Indicator LED (10) blinks rapidly
Headset Off – Press and hold the power button for 2s until the Headset’s Power Indicator LED (10) blinks rapidly
When pairing is successful you will hear “Dongle Connected”, and the Dongle’s Status LED (15) will turn solid

BLUETOOTH

Bluetooth can be used independently from 2.4 GHz Wireless by pressing the Quick Switch Button (11) and hearing “Bluetooth Mode”.

PAIRING
Headset on – Press & hold the Quick Switch Button (11) for 2 seconds until you enter pairing mode and the Headset’s Power Indicator LED (10) blinks rapidly blue. To switch between dongle and BT pairing mode, press the QuickSwitch button.
Headset off – Press and hold the Power Button (9) for 2s until the Headset’s Power Indicator LED (10) blinks rapidly. If the headset is in dongle pairing mode, press the Quick Switch Button (11) to switch to Bluetooth pairing mode.

MULTIMEDIA CONTROLS

QUICKSWITCH BUTTON CONTROLS

MODE SWITCH
Switch between dongle & bluetooth mode by pressing the Quick Switch Button (11).
PAIRING MODE
Hold Quick Switch Button (11) for 2 seconds.

MICROPHONE

RETRACTABLE MICROPHONE
Out of the box, the Retractable ClearCast Microphone (3) is retracted. To use the microphone, slide it away from the headset until it reaches full extension.

POSITIONING
Position the Retractable ClearCast Microphone (3) close to the corner of your mouth with the front surface facing you.
Note: The microphone should not be used when retracted.

PERFECT FIT

There are two ways to adjust the fit of your headset. Slide the Earcups up or down to change the overall height.
Change the position of the Elastic Headband (1) on one or both sides to achieve the desired tension and flex.

REGULATORY

Europe – EU Declaration of Conformity
Hereby, SteelSeries ApS. declares that the equipment which is compliance with directive RoHS 2.0 (2015/863/EU), R.E.D (2014/53/EU), EMC Directive (2014/30/EU), and LVD (2014/35/EU) which are issued by the Commission of the European Community.
The full text of the EU declaration of conformity is available at the following internet address: https://support.steelseries.com/hc/en- us/categories/360001256111-Other-Stuff
SteelSeries ApS. hereby confirms, to date, based on the feedback from our suppliers indicates that our products shipping to the EU territory comply with REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals – (EC) 1907/2006) compliance program. We are fully committed to offering REACH compliance on the products and posting accurate REACH compliance status for the all of products.

Frequency bands and Powers (Headset and Transceiver)

Frequency band(s) in which the radio equipment operates: 2.400 – 2.4835 GHz
Maximum radio-frequency power transmitted in the frequency band(s) in which the radio equipment operates:
- EIRP: GFSK: GFSK: 9.81 dBm (Headset/ SRD)
- EIRP: GFSK: 12.68 dBm (Headset/ BT)
- л/4-DQPSK: 10.22 dBm (Headset/ BT)
- GFSK: 10.39 dBm (Transceiver/ SRD)
Firmware Version: V0033

UK Declaration of Conformity
Hereby, SteelSeries ApS. declares that the following equipment which is compliance with Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016, Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 and The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 issued by the Department for Business, Energy& Industrial Strategy.
The full text of the UK declaration of conformity is available at the following internet address: https://support.steelseries.com/hc/en- us/categories/360001256111-Other-Stuff

WEEE
This product must not be disposed of with your other household waste or treat them in compliance with the local regulations or contact your local city office, your household waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product.

Turkey RoHS Compliance
Republic of Turkey: In conformity with the EEE Regulation
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti: EEE Yönetmeliğine Uygundur

Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement
Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity: 47 CFR § 2.1077 Compliance Information
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

This device may not cause harmful interference, and
This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

FCC Caution
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.
This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.

Radiation Exposure Statement:
The device has been evaluated to meet general RF exposure requirement; the device can be used in portable exposure condition without restriction.
The portable device is designed to meet the requirements for exposure to radio waves established by the FCC. These requirements set a SAR limit of 0.11 w/kg (FHSS_Headset), 0.09 w/kg (DTS_Headset) and 0.24 w/kg (Dongle) averaged over one gram of tissue. The highest SAR value reported under this standard during product certification for use when properly worn on the body.
FCC ID: ZHK-HS43(Wireless Headset)
FCC ID: ZHK-HS43TX(Transceiver)

Industry Canada Statement
This device complies with Industry Canada license-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

This device may not cause interference, and
This device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
This device and its antenna(s) must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter, except tested built-in radios.
Cet appareil et son antenne ne doivent pas être situés ou fonctionner en conjonction avec une autre antenne ou un autre émetteur, exception faites des radios intégrées qui ont été testées.
The County Code Selection feature is disabled for products marketed in the US/ Canada.
The appliance must not be exposed to splashes or drops of water and it should not be used as a support for any object filled with liquid, such as a vase.
The portable device is designed to meet the requirements for exposure to radio waves established by the ISED. These requirements set a SAR limit of 0.11 w/kg (FHSS_Headset), 0.09 w/kg (DTS_Headset) and 0.24 w/kg (Dongle) averaged over one gram of tissue. The highest SAR value reported under this standard during product certification for use when properly worn on the body.
Result for highest Simultaneous Transmission SAR value is 0.11 w/kg (FHSS_Headset), 0.09 w/kg (DTS_Headset) and 0.24 w/kg (Dongle).

Radiation Exposure Statement:
The device has been evaluated to meet general RF exposure requirement, The device can be used in portable exposure condition without restriction.
Headset IC: 9638A-HS43
Transceiver IC: 9638A-HS43TX
Ukraine RoHS:

Restriction on Hazardous Substances statement (India)
This product complies with the “India E-waste Rule 2011” and prohibits use of lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls or polybrominated diphenyl ethers in concentrations exceeding 0.1 weight % and 0.01 weight % for cadmium, except for the exemptions set in Schedule 2 of the Rule.

European Union
Batteries, battery packs, and accumulators should not be disposed of as unsorted household waste. Please use the public collection system to return, recycle, or treat them in compliance with the local regulations.

Safety Guideline for Using Lithium Battery
Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the equipment manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Read the safety instructions carefully and thoroughly. All cautions and warnings on the equipment or user’s manual should be noted.Keep this equipment away from humidity and high temperature.

Do not leave the equipment in an unconditioned environment with a storage temperature above 60ºC (140ºF) or below 0ºC (32ºF), which may damage the equipment.
This unit should be operated under maximum ambient temperature of 35ºC (95ºF).
To prevent explosion caused by improper battery replacement, use the same or equivalent type of battery recommended by the manufacturer only.
Always keep the battery in a safe place.

The power delivered by the charger must be between min 0.25 Watts required by the radio equipment, and max 2.5 Watts in order to achieve the maximum charging speed”
European Union RED Compliance Statement

Hereby, Steelseries ApS. declares that all CE Marked Steelseries products incorporating Radio and Telecom Terminal Equipment functionality are in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of Directive 2014/53/EU.

CAUTION!
RISK OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY PACK IS NOT REPLACE BY SAME TYPE AS SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
Please keep follow all listed important warnings and cautions below while using this battery pack to avoid any damage or hazard.

The battery polarity (+) and (-) shall not be connected and charged reversely. Risk of explosion if the battery polarity (+) and (-) is reversed.
Please keep this battery pack away from fire and high heat sources (Above 60℃or 140℉) due to the explosion that might happen. Do not place your battery pack close to any heater or hot location.
This battery pack shall not be hit or impacted. This battery pack shall not be dealt with any sharp or keen objects either.
This battery pack shall not be exposed to moisture, dripping or splashing.
If any electrolyte flows out of this battery pack when touching the user’s eyes and skin, please seek medical advice immediately.

More information and support from steelseries.com

Singapore approval (IMDA)

ACMA Compliance (Australia/ New Zealand)

Direct Current