Will the upgrade to the Siberia headset do
the original justice?
When you first look at the SteelSeries
Siberia v2 Frost Blue headset, it might be a bit baffling where the 'Frost
Blue' in the name comes from, given that it's finished in white and light grey.
Plug them in via the USB cable, however, and you'll be treated to a
Cyberman-esque light blue glow from each earcup. Fortunately, the option exists
in the downloadable software to turn this off, to have it pulse at varying
rhythms or trigger based on the current audio intensity.
SteelSeries
Siberia v2 Frost Blue
The headband design may look odd at first,
as there are actually two separate parts to it, but this is easily forgotten
once you're wearing the Siberia v2, because it's a very lightweight and
comfortable headset indeed. With the dual rails over the top of the headband
supporting most of the headset's weight, the headband itself feels very light
and exerts very little pressure on your head. It's also very adjustable,
enabling you to find the perfect fit.
The earcups, meanwhile, which feature some
very soft circum-aural ear cushions, should be large enough to cover most ears
nicely. They also fit tight enough so as to stay in place and provide a decent
level of external noise cancellation, but they're light enough to ensure that
your ears don't start to roast, even after long sessions.
The 50mm drivers in the headphones deliver
a very well-balanced sound. Bass is full, with a pleasant warmth to it,
although it could be slightly punchier. Likewise, the mid-range remains clear
even in heavily distorted songs or explosive action scenes, and the high-end is
well defined but doesn't dominate the overall sound. Whether in games, movies
or music, the Siberia v2 provides a lovely audio experience, with the clarity
only diminishing at the very highest volumes.
At
$160, the Siberia v2 is a rather expensive headset, but it does an admirable
job nonetheless
For shouting instructions at your gaming
buddies, a retractable mic is provided. It's a simple design but works well, as
it's easily adjustable. The voice quality is clear for the most part, but the
real bonus is the active noise cancellation, which does a great job of cutting
out background noise and isolating your voice. The line-in controller is about
as simple as they come, with a volume wheel and a slider to mute and unmute the
microphone.
As well as the option to customize the
light show your ears produce with the Siberia v2, the downloadable software
allows you to customize and save equalizations for the built-in sound card in
up to eight different profiles (pre-made equalizer settings are also provided).
There's no quick way to switch between them, however, so you'll need to open up
the software before switching profile.
At $160, the Siberia v2 is a rather
expensive headset, but it does an admirable job nonetheless. Its comfort is a
major plus for it, as its adjustable and lightweight, and the sound quality is
also great. The software too, though rather simplistic, is a nice touch, but
headsets like the Asus Vulcan ANC are available for $32 less, with similar
levels of comfort and sound quality, as well as active noise cancellation in
the earcups themselves. Ultimately though, the Siberia v2 is a solid choice if
you can afford it.
A comfortable and great sounding headset,
just a bit too expensive
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Details
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Price:
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$160
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Manufacturer:
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SteelSeries
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Website:
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www.steelseries.com
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Required spec:
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USB port
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Quality:
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9
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Value:
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8
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Overall:
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8
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