



🎮 Level up your audio game with Siberia v2 — where pro comfort meets pro sound.
The SteelSeries Siberia v2 USB Gaming Headset combines professional-grade 50mm dynamic drivers with a virtual 7.1 surround sound USB soundcard, delivering immersive, directional audio for gamers and audiophiles alike. Its lightweight suspension headband and thick leather earcups ensure all-day comfort, while the retractable uni-directional microphone offers clear communication. Compatible with PCs and Xbox, this wired headset offers plug-and-play USB connectivity and passive noise isolation, making it a versatile, high-performance choice for extended gaming and multimedia use.
| ASIN | B002Q8IHEK |
| Additional Features | Lightweight |
| Age Range Description | Adult |
| Audio Driver Type | Dynamic Driver |
| Brand | SteelSeries |
| Brand Name | SteelSeries |
| Cable Features | Retractable |
| Color | Black |
| Compatible Devices | PCs, Xbox, Gaming Consoles |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Control Method | Remote |
| Control Type | Volume Control |
| Customer Package Type | Standard Packaging |
| Customer Reviews | 3.9 out of 5 stars 295 Reviews |
| Ear Placement | Over Ear |
| Earpiece Shape | Over-ear |
| Enclosure Material | Leather |
| Form Factor | Over Ear |
| Frequency Range | 50 Hz - 16 kHz |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 05707119006484, 08138100121386 |
| Headphone Folding Features | Over Ear |
| Headphone Jack | USB |
| Headphones Ear Placement | Over Ear |
| Impedance | 32 ohm |
| Item Weight | 1.5 pounds |
| Manufacturer | SteelSeries |
| Model Name | v2 |
| Model Number | 51103 |
| Noise Control | Sound Isolation |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Specific Uses For Product | Gaming |
| UPC | 813810012138 777786243258 002541065586 898029666334 081381001213 151903083475 863121575716 132017644110 887632592963 846764228560 |
| Warranty Description | 1 year manufacturer warranty |
| Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant |
B**N
Excellent headset
This isn't my first Steelseries headset (previous models being the 3H for PC and the Siberia Neckband), but it may be my last! At least until they release something that beats it, that is. Or it breaks, whichever comes first. Anyway, moving on. I actually bought this headset for use with my Astro Mixamp, which unfortunately didn't come in until much later than this headset. Not knowing Astro had changed the hookups for their A40s and thus not knowing that the A40 + Mixamp would NOT come with the cable I needed to use the Siberia V2, I've yet to fully realize this purpose. The Y Adapter is on the way, and I'll update this review after getting to use it for a bit. I have so far sampled the sound through the Mixamp, and it is excellent. The best of the thousands of dollars of headsets I've used over the last few years. Now, I can say, the USB sound card that comes with this headset is excellent. It may not be as good as the Mixamp, but I'm not sure anything compares in that case. It had very clear surround sound, and was a breeze to setup and configure. The headset itself is the most comfortable I've ever had the pleasure of placing on my head. More comfortable than the Siberia Neckband, which I fell asleep while wearing the first night of owning it. This headset auto adjusts to your head. No need to wrestle with tightening, loosening or with it sliding out of position. It holds on tight, and stays comfortable while doing so. Having recently gotten a pair of Astro A40s as well, I had a very clear line with which to compare. The A40s only arrived last week, so I've been using them to judge which headset I'll ultimately use with the Mixamp. After comparing sound quality in games, music, and movies (Avengers Assemble!) over the last week, I can say for sure that when my Y adapter arrives I WILL be using the Siberia V2 over the Astro A40. At least when it comes to sound sound quality. I've always been a fan of the pull out microphone on the Steelseries headsets, and this one picks up my voice better than any of the others. As of right now, the only microphone I would choose over this one is the A40s boom mic, and only barely. The bottom line is this: if you're looking for a PC headset on a budget (or not), I highly recommend this one. If you're planning to use the included USB sound card, it works wonderfully. If you have, or are planning to get, an Astro Mixamp it works amazingly with that as well (microphone comparisons through the Mixamp coming later). I know I only talked about it in comparison to the A40, but here is the complete list of headsets it was being compared to: Turtle Beach X1 Turtle Beach X11 Turtle Beach X12 Tritton AX720 Razer Carcharias Razer Moray+ Earbuds Sony PSP Go Earbuds w/ Inline Mic Astro A40 Steelseries Siberia Neckband Steelseries 3H UPDATE (Cinco de Mayo, Twenty-Thirteen): I intended to get back to this much sooner, just never got around to it. Suffice to say, I've had zero issues using the Siberia v2 with the Astro Mixamp. It's a perfect match (aside from when you need to hear your surroundings). I did forget to mention that in the original review: Wearing this headset is almost like being in a vacuum. People can be standing right next to you talking rather loudly, and you can't hear a thing. Good for some situations, bad for others. I've completely missed severe thunderstorms rolling through with this baby on. But hey, for times when I need to listen for a knock at the door or someone to yell, "I've fallen and I can't get up!" I've always got the neckband version to toss on. I also did a more in-depth test with the microphones, and of all of those listed above the Siberia v2 was the most clear and picked up the least background noise. Even this long after the initial review, I'm still satisfied with the purchase. It may be time to pick up one of the Diablo III headsets, which is just a fancier version of the Siberia.
S**.
Fantastic headset for PC gamers!
This review is for the Siberia V2 USB Gaming headset. So you (the reader) can have a sense of reference for my review, let me start off by saying that I am a PC gamer and planned on using this headset primarily for that purpose alone. As a gamer I am interested in the following: 1) Sound quality 2) Comfort 3) Directional sound 4) Design/construction of headset 5) Drivers/software The games I wanted to use it for were: Battlefield 3, Mass Effect 3, Portal 2, and others (as I purchased/played them). That being said, I can not and will not cover any movies or music usage aspects of this headset in my review, since I am not an expert at those two at all. I have recently tried out the Corsair Vengeance 1500 USB Headset as well (my review can be found on there too), and decided to go with the Steelseries V2 Siberia. 1) SOUND QUALITY = A Really, really good. The virtual 7.1 surround sound (achievable with the included USB sound card) actually works! The 50mm drivers sound wonderful and are able to accurately reproduce everything from base-rich explosions to light footsteps. I personally did not hear any background "hissing" sounds. And my mic quality was superb as well (verified with friends over Skype, in-game voice). 2) COMFORT = A I really think THIS is where Steelseries has an edge over other similarly-priced headsets. Their design (although appearing flimsy) allows for an insanely comfortable fit. I do not have a very large head, nor do I have over-sized ears, but most of the other headsets were uncomfortable for me (the Corsair Vengeance felt like it was constantly squeezing my head). This is not so with these! I can wear them for hours and not feel ANY discomfort. While the leather ear pads are very comfortable, they affect the "breathability" aspect and it becomes somewhat warm around the ears after a long session of gaming. However, that is something that you'd have to deal with no matter which headset you get, if it has (p)leather cushions. 3) DIRECTIONAL SOUND = A Great! As mentioned earlier, the 7.1 surround sound works very well with the included USB soundcard. There's even a nifty little test you can do from within the software, to test out the speaker placement. It allows you to literally see the sound direction it's playing for you on the monitor. It felt very accurate to me! Secondly, I had no issues with sound direction whatsoever in the games I played. 4) DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION = A- While I love the headset, its construction does appear to be a little flimsy. The top headband is a very thin cushioned strip that is connected via two paper-clip type strands to springs within the ear pieces. The mic can be taken out or retracted into the ear-piece. This not only looks cool but is very very functional. This is by far my favorite feature on this headset! My only thing is, when the mic is pushed-in all the way, it still sticks out slightly (by less than a quarter of an inch, mind you). This leads me to believe that the winding mechanism inside the ear-piece isn't terribly precise. Which is fine because you can't really tell that mic is not fully retracted by merely a few millimeters, but it is an indicator of craftsmanship. At the end of the day, in my case at least, the headset is just going to be sitting on my desk if I'm not using it, so the "strong-enough construction" factor is really not that important. Overall though, the design of the headset is very cool and it does look and feel phenomenal. The in-line controls are nothing fancy but completely functional and intuitive. 5) DRIVER/SOFTWARE = B+ The software isn't terribly intuitive but it does its job. It's got some cool features like the ability to turn 7.1 on/off with a click of a button and a surround sound test that lets you see on the screen the directional speakers that the headset is trying to imitate. The driver shows the headset as a "USB PnP Sound Device", which is fine really for all intents and purposes, but it shows the amount of programing polish and time that went into the software side of things for this headset; they didn't bother to create fully-formed drivers that actually spelled-out the name of the device itself ("Steelseries Siberia V2 USB Headset"). Lastly, the accompanying software, again, lacks the polished look and feel that you'd expect from a popular audio device manufacturer. It looks more like something that a small start-up created for their new product. However, since it does its job, and does it well, the bells and whistles beyond that are really unnecessary anyway. >>CONCLUSION: Awesome headset with no major issues in any arena. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a virtual 7.1 USB headset for PC gaming, for under $100. It's comfort and functionality really make it a contender with the higher-priced headsets too! P.S. Contrary to most of the other low reviews on this product due to "Wrong product received", I received the exact headset outlined on this page and I actually got it within 1-day instead of 2 (thank you Amazon Prime)!
M**Y
I love it, BEST Headset I've ever had! Great for gaming and basic audio.
PC gamers best friend. Also want to add that it works great with Windows 8, even though it isn't listed as being compatible with it, it is. Ok well, I looked for a headset after my Turtle Beach headset broke. I had a PX22, and while they are comfy to a degree they are both heavy and broke within a month. The earcup snapped off, and tape only works to a point. After the PX22 I went to the PX3 wireless Turtle beach headset. This was a disaster. The transmitter wouldn't connect and I ended up sending them back since they worked for a day and then nothing. At this point I was kind of scrambling to find something quality. I've had turtle beaches and logitech and these trump both. I almost went with Astro a40s, but they are way too expensive even on sale, and from the reviews if you want the great sound you need the mixamp, which the V2 will work with if you get it. Not only that but the V2 has been compared to astros (which for those who don't know are supposedly the best of the best and worn by a lot of pro gamers) and been found to be almost as good and some prefer them, Overall I wanted something I could play Elder scrolls online with (when it comes out, the Beta is awesome by the way), listen to music with, and watch movies. While I can't tell you how these are for FPS games and such, the reviews I watched said even footsteps were easy to hear and directional accuracy was good. All I know is music and movies are so much better on these than the Turtle beach products I have used. I only used the Px3's for a day but I'm not even upset that these aren't wireless. If I have to put up with a wire for this quality I sooo will. Here is a breakdown: Setup : plug and play, so easy you don't need to even read directions. Though you do need to download drivers from the provided website. Takes a min but improves quality Sound: 8/10 I'm in love, has a good base, but not overwhelming, good volume. Even those who want to drown out the world can do so. One con is that those around you will hear what you are listening to. I give it an 8/10 because the mixamp from astro can make it better, but on this scale turtle beach Px22 is a 6, and PX3 is a 7. The USB sound card is really nice for the fact I can use it with my laptop to make the sound the same as what I get from my desktop (which has a good soun card on board.) And if you need to hear what is going on around you, you can.. if you just don't turn them up full blast. If you do, the world is pretty much drowned out. Comfort: 10/10 OMG, they are the most comfortable headset ever. I just had my ears pierced (one cartilage piercing and two on the bottom, and my ears are super sore even two weeks after) and these don't even hurt me. I was worried since a lot of people say they sit on your ears instead of going around them. They do a little of both but they feel so nice! I was at first concerned about the suspension like band, but that thing makes them feel so light on your head. Mic: 9/10 Better than turtle beach. I'm sure there are some better ones out there which is why it only gets 9/10 I don't doubt the comfort and sound is why people use these for professional gaming. If you need to wear these for hours, noooo problem. If you want something to watch movies and listen to music with, without the need for gaming or voice programs to talk to your buds you might want to just get some super quality headphones, but this in my personal opinion is a GREAT choice for someone looking for an all around good headset that you can do everything with. For hardcore gamers: Save yourself some money and grab these and an astro mixamp if you want the best of the best. For gamers and those wanting this for music etc: Great headset, for a beginner
C**Z
Great product, while it lasted. HORRIBLE support.
First, let me say that I have been using this headset for almost a year now for gaming, video and audio production, and talking on Skype. As much as I liked this headset, the entire experience was sullied for me when, after 11 months, the left can went silent on me while using them. Despite being miffed about the left channel going on me, when I contact SteelSeries Support, they offered to replace them under warranty. This is where the happy thoughts have ended. 18 days later, I still don't have my headset. What I do have is a lot of anger and frustration over the HORRIBLE technical support I have received this far. Note: there is NO way to call this company, their tech support is all done through ZenDesk, which frustrates the matter even more. Their lack of communication with me over the process has been a consistent theme, leaving me days with out a reply to my messages as I try to figure out what is happening. Finally, after complaining, I am told that they will have my headset shipped to me and would provide me the tracking number within 24 hours. During those 24 hours, the only update I got from them was a repeat of a message they sent me over a week ago confirming they have received my headset and would verify the problem was covered under warranty. Naturally, since I was promised a tracking number, this upset me even more. Not to mention that, as of this post, we're well past 24 hours from when my tracking number was promised to me. Doing more research on the company's tech support, or lack thereof, I find that my experience is not at all uncommon, something that I wish I knew before buying one of their products. I did my best throughout the entire process to hold it together, but I don't think that will last much longer. Needless to say, I will NEVER be giving SteelSeries my business again. Here's my overall rundown: Pros: - Most comfortable headset I've ever owned - GREAT sound; excellent highs and lows, crystal clear - Excellent clarity from the mic Cons: - Left can went dead after 11 months of normal use - Customer service is absolutely, inexcusably, HORRIBLE I really hope that SteelSeries gets their act together. When people drop this kind of cash on a headset, I'm sure they are expecting more than 11 months of normal use out of them. UPDATE: 9/19/2013 I have finally gotten my replacement headset. They sent me a completely new one, which I certainly appreciate. I did not, however, receive any real apology for the poor service, nor did I receive any real attempt to keep me as a customer. I will certainly not be purchasing SteelSeries products in the future. With the cost, I would expect that under normal use, they should last a long time. Furthermore, I would expect that a company that charges so much for a product would have better customer service.
D**D
Lightweight, powerful bass, well-thought-out cabling
I work full-time in a call center wearing a headset, and I needed a headset I could wear at home for gaming that is lightweight and comfortable for 4+ hrs so I could still have some long gaming sessions after a day at work. If you're in a similar situation, look no further. This headset is feather-light, THE most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. Some of the highlights of this product: * lightweight and ergonomically designed. It may look a little cheap and plastic-y, but don't let that fool you - most of the framework has metal inside that gives it a solid, yet light feel. * the tension band works in concert with the earpads to provide even pressure across the head. It almost doesn't feel like you're wearing it. * the pull-out mic is a flexible metal tube that seems pretty durable. * the 50 mm drivers have GREAT bass reproduction. There's only one other pair of headphones I've ever listened to before that could reproduce bass as well as these. They may not be audiophile quality, but they're definitely above average. * analog 3.5mm jacks allow you to hook these into nearly anything. I bought a 3.5mm - RJ9 adapter cable so I could possibly use them at work as well on the phone. Haven't tested out this setup yet. * the USB soundcard produces "ok" sound (not anything better or worse than my laptop's). The 7.1 surround feature of the USB software is a bit gimmicky, but is noticeably different from regular 2-channel audio mode. According to the manufacturer, they include the soundcard not b/c it's supposed to produce better audio than a laptop card, so much as because it has its own internal processor that offloads some computational work from the computer, hopefully improving gaming performance. * a nice side-feature is that a 3.5mm extension cable is included. The length of the cable that is permanently attached to the headset is just long enough for an mp3 player to be connected to it in your pocket. If you need a longer cord when sitting at your computer, you've already got the extension cables to prevent any discomfort with short-cord problems. I've tried a few different cheaper headsets and finally decided to spend the big bucks on these not because they're necessarily the best audio quality (though for me, these are eargasm quality), but because they're very ergonomic. You can wear these things for hours and not feel it at all afterward.
A**R
fine
good headset , the sound card honestly is terrible , i removed it and used to headset alone , the mic does good , and the sound is clear and good , i recommend it for cs players , but the standard edition
E**C
Was Great While it Worked
The SteelSeries Siberia V2 headset is a great headset...until it breaks for no real reason. While some may attribute its breaking to user-error or just plain old bad luck, I am willing to say it is neither of those. Pros - 7.1 Surround Sound was pretty good. - Overall sound was great for games, movies, video editing, etc. - Very comfortable around the ears and over the head. - Never experienced any discomfort from the headphones after wearing them for long periods of time. - Considering the material of cushions on the headphones plus the 7.1 USB device, the price was and is not too bad. - USB device and headphone cord feature quick methods to adjust volume and mute mic - I really like how you can retract the microphone cord into the earphone. I use a different microphone myself so getting the headset discretely out of the way is quite nice. Cons - There only problem I had was that SteelSeries headsets break down on me like clockwork. I have had 3 SteelSeries headsets over barely 3 years. All of these headsets suddenly fall apart in some way after about 1 year and 1 month of owning them (I'm not kidding, all of my headsets have broken down in about that much time exactly). The first two were 5H V2's. After the first 5H broke (right earphone stopped working and almost completely fell off) I figured it was the result of unfortunate luck. Having been past the 1 year warranty, I ordered another 5H V2. 13 months later, same exact thing happens to that pair. Considering SteelSeries' consistently high ratings for most of its equipment, I figured it was a 5H problem. So then I bought the Siberia V2. Another 13 months go by and the headset stops working. The only difference was that this time (due to its construction) the right earphone abruptly stopped working. To add insult to injury, this happened (for a third time) 1 month after warranty expired. Now some of you may be thinking that I just am terrible at handling headphones or that every 13 months I go into some bizarre rage that result in the identical failure of all 3 of my headsets, but I honestly don't. Among watching movies, tv, and video editing, I use the headsets mostly for gaming. However, I am not one of those angry gamers who likes to throw childish fits over things that happen on the internet. If anything, I did my absolute best (especially with this 3rd set of headphones) to ensure nothing I did could possibly promote their breakdown. Why should you believe me? 1) These headphones are nice and I don't like breaking nice things. 2) These headphones are expensive, I don't like breaking expensive things either. Overall, I can still safely recommend SteelSeries anything vs. Razer anything if that is the dilemma you find yourself in. That being said, I am personally going to stop purchasing SteelSeries headsets and switch to someone else (probably Logitech as all of their stuff has lasted me more than 6 or 7 years so far). I highly suggest you avoid SteelSeries headsets as my experience with them has suggested that something about their design isn't as good as it appears to be on the outside. These headphones are great while they last, they just don't last for much past the warranty expiration.
P**O
Best Headset I've owned.
I've had a variety of headsets over the years and I have to say that this one has been the best overall for me. My previous headsets included ones like Creative Labs Fatal1ty Professional Series MKII (which fell apart twice and had lousy customer support), the Corsair Vengeance 1500 (which was like wearing a giant vise on your head and almost no bass), and the Plantronics GameCom 780 (it had good sound, but was uncomfortable and cheaply made). The Siberia v2 in comparison has been so positive that when mine finally dies I'll be buying another. Pros: 1. Comfort. After so many uncomfortable headsets this has become my number one priority when looking for one. The Siberia is significantly lighter, doesn't clamp down on my skull, doesn't put odd pressure on my jawline, and allows me to wear the headset for several hours before needing a break. Other headsets I would only last an hour or two at the most. 2. Good overall sound quality, in both games and movies. 3. I find the mic quality average, but I was more worried that its retractable nature would wear it out with continually pulling it out and pushing it back in. I thought that it might just be a gimmick, but I actually found it to be useful in getting the mic out of the way and storing the headset without damaging the mic. At the end of the day I ended up liking this feature. Cons: 1. Price. Try to find it on sale if you can. The quality of materials and limited warranty didn't make me happy to pay what it was going for. 2. Build quality. Some of the wiring is extra thin! I handled this headset like it was a precious artifact, because I knew that if the wiring got caught on something with just a little yank that would spell the doom for this headset. 3. The software could be a little better. After 2 years its started to get a little wonky with the sound and the ear pads are starting to fall apart. I wish they had included an extra set of ear pads for the price. The long wiring along with the USB cable makes it a little clunky and awkward. I'd like to see the cans a fraction bigger. I'm not a huge guy with giant bunny ears, but I find it just fits. I don't think it would work as well for some of my bigger friends. I've seen this set go for as high as $130 in the past which I think is too much. I payed just under $90 and I'd do it again, but not more than that. I'm hoping my current one lasts me at least 6 more months before it finally bites the dust. Overall, I'm pleased with this headset and even with its cons I would buy it again.
F**A
Excellent Headset
Hey guys, short but sweet. So for the past few year I've been purchasing fairly low-end, bargain and very basic headsets. I thought, you know what, I'm gonna spend a little more and get a headset that's got a really quality mic and something that's gonna last longer than 6 months. Ok, so the headphone quality is outstanding - it's got perfect sound and they really cup round your ears - good if you're spending several hours with them on. In regards to the mic, I think it's absolutely fantastic, I mean I'm not comparing it to a lot, considering my previous mic have been desktop and pick-up a lot of static. When using the USB, I believe that it means that it won't rely up on the soundcard (which is good my situation cause I've just got stock parts and they ain't anything special. In my opinion, the mic is flawless. Basically: - Very comfortable - Amazing sound quality - Brilliant Microphone - Brilliant price (considering you could easily spend £100+ on a similar headset). This does the job very well and I don't think it's worth spending more when these are already brilliant, and £30-£40 cheaper. Would very much recommend these headphones
B**M
Recommended
I really like the SteelSeries Siberia V2 USB Gaming Headset. It has very clear sound and fits comfortably around the head. I received this product yesterday and I couldn't be happier. Previously, I had the original SteelSeries Siberia V2 (without the USB soundcard), so there was no 7.1 Surround Sound software. However, after I got this, I got to experience the 7.1 Surround Sound for the first time and it really does work - honestly! The 7.1 Surround Sound software for your soundcard USB can be found with a simple search on the web. The driver application also includes a kareoke mode where the user can adjust their input/output settings which includes some goofy input modifications (microphone) like monster or squeaky voices. I tested this headset with various games like Counter Strike: Global Offensive and I could hear the enemy's footsteps much clearer and crisper than before. I fully recommend this headset because it has very good sound quality, it is very comfortable around the head and includes an innovative 7.1 Surround Sound USB sound card that works flawlessly.
A**R
Excellent rapport qualité / prix
Un excellent casque multi-fonctions : bon rendu des basses (pourvu que l'on ne mette pas le son au maximum, ce qui de toute manière devient vite intolérable vu la puissance des drivers) pour une utilisation stéréo purement musicale, et dès que l'on plug les deux jack dans la carte son 7.1 usb, on a accès à la spatialisation, même si le PC n'en est pas pourvu à la base. Les jeux sont transformés, et l'immersion est garantie. Si on y ajoute les confort des coussins qui permettent une utilisation plusieurs heures d'affilées, le micro (d'excellente qualité) rétractable dans l'écouteur gauche, et le contrôle du volume / mic mute sur le câble, on a là un des meilleurs rapports qualité / prix que je connaisse, pour un casque sorti il y a un certain temps déjà ! Pour l'utilisation de toutes les fonctions 7.1, aller sur le site de steelseries et télécharger les logiciel de contrôle audio de la carte USB, qui permet d'activer la spatialisation. Très satisfait du produit et de la livraison Amazon, comme toujours (produit reconditionné pour ma part, commandé le week end et reçu dans la semaine, en excellent état)
M**L
Cuffie fantastiche
Premetto che venivo da due paia di Logitech G35, che si sono puntualmente disintegrate dopo 2 anni esatti dall'acquisto. Non potevo fare una scelta migliore, decidendo di cambiare: le Siberia sono decisamente più leggere e più confortevoli. In quanto a qualità audio, non si discostano molto dalle Logitech, quindi siamo sempre ad ottimi livelli. Non saranno cuffie professionali, ma per la fascia di prezzo in cui si trovano, contando che godono anche dell'effetto surround, non si può trovare di meglio. Ottime per film, giochi e musica. Consigliatissime!
D**C
Superb MP gaming enhancement
If you are more than an occasional multiplayer gamer, you need a headset. Why? Because you then have the edge over opponents who do not have a headset! Imagine not only hearing the approach of an enemy but being able to tell from which direction they are coming. Where are the shots in game coming from? Zero in on snipers more easily! Plus, if you wish to communicate with other players in-game, how much easier is it to speak than to type?! Essential for team games, too. So, how does the Steelseries Siberia V2 headset with USB soundcard measure up? Packaging is robust but leaves the product accessible - you won't be wrestling with sealed plastic bubbles that cut your fingers - open the box, undo the cable ties and you are in business. There are two things you won't find in the box: instructions and a driver for the soundcard. The first is a minus - surely a leaflet could have been inserted, saving much experimentation to get the headset working optimally (but read on and you should bypass any headaches). A sound driver for your particular operating system has to be downloaded from the Steelseries website (so best check the OS is supported before you purchase). Installation of the driver (before plugging anything in) was problem-free and, when connected, the soundcard was recognised and installed under Windows 7 32-bit Home Premium without any problems. Now came the "interesting" bit. The soundcard has four buttons on it, labelled MUTE, MIC, + and -. Plus and minus are pretty self-explanatory, providing an element of volume control. MUTE mutes the headphones. MIC MUTES the microphone! The LED on the MIC button should be OFF when the mic is live and illuminated when it is muted. When the soundcard is in use, you'll see the green LED on the MUTE button flashing. Don't press it unless you wish to turn your phones off. The headset is equipped with a very stylish and adaptable extending microphone that pulls out of the left speaker. It's made from a coil of steel and coated in plastic so you can position it exactly as you want. The headset sits comfortably over the head (wide skulls don't appear to be a problem) and one can play for several hours without suffering discomfort. The weight is distributed very well using a leather strap that goes over your head. The phones are well padded and block out external distractions without one having to turn up the volume excessively. The volume control is sited on the cable that runs from the left speaker and is a simple dial. The supplied extension cable is a must for most users, I'd say. It tends to tangle over time but any long cable does with use. Sound quality is excellent both in games and when listening to music. The microphone required some fine tuning. Output was too weak and it was necessary to both turn the volume up within Windows audio settings and enable microphone boost to achieve an acceptable output level. Once done, the problem was solved and I have not had to tinker with anything since (though this is a Windows issue rather than a hardware issue, one would expect a manufacturer to include some form of troubleshooting guide with their product which was not the case with this soundcard. Similarly I could find no useful information on the Steelseries website to help me through this. I have let them know my feelings on the subject so, by the time you read this, this documentation deficiency might have been looked after.) At a penny under eighty quid, you may think this a little expensive. In this case, you do get what you pay for. Steelseries products are in use by pro gamers and one can see why. Build quality is excellent, comfort is excellent and, most importantly, audio is excellent. After a couple of hundred hours of play with these beauties installed, I couldn't do without them. If you don't expect true plug-and-play straight out of the box, I'd recommend this product. If Steelseries fixed the instructions/help deficit, it'd be worthy of five stars indeed!
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