SteelSeries Siberia V3 Review

Back in January and during my review of the SteelSeries Sensei Wireless, I questioned and applauded SteelSeries' audacity to try and reinvent one of their favorite products on the market. The product I'll be reviewing today is no different, for the last ten years, the Siberia brand has been synonym with some of the most competent and relatively affordable headsets on the market. Unlike the Sensei Wireless, this new addition to the Siberia line-up is a lot more subtle when it comes drastic changes. It retains the same basic formula, changing only a few things here and there. But has SteelSeries done enough to justify the investment over the V2? Let's find out.

In terms of packaging it's SteelSeries standard, black and orange cardboard box, with lots of pictures and features listed on all sides in order to properly enlighten and inform the consumer before purchase.
Inside you won't find a ton of things, just the essentials, like the manual, sticker and an adapter/extension used to connect the V3 to your PC.
It's definitely not the greatest bundle ever, some might even argue that it is somewhat lacking in terms of accessories and extras. I would have to agree, this type of bundle feels lackluster in comparison to some competitors.

It's hard to talk about the V3 in terms of visual design since it looks almost exactly like its older brothers. Aside from a few changes in terms of size and slightly different ear-cups, the original Siberia design is still alive (and well).
The classic suspension system is still present and has been improved thanks to the reduced weight of this new model.
Probably the biggest change in terms of visual design and functionality would be the removal of the in-line volume controller, it's actually something that baffles me, with the Siberia V3 there's simply no easy way to adjust your audio on the fly. Why SteelSeries though this was a good idea is beyond me but it's a definite no-no in my book.

I would say that comfort is the V3's biggest strength, the lightweight structure combined with the always amazing suspension system and the new ear-cups allows the V3 to be used for hours on end without much distress to your head or neck. I would say that this is the first headset from SteelSeries that competes with the 9H in this department.

Unfortunately, and outside of games, the sound quality of the V3 is probably lower than the one from the V2 or the aforementioned 9H. In-game though, the V3 performs admirably well, with footsteps, explosions and that sort of thing coming to life and allowing you to improve your game.
The retractable microphone sounds ok but feels very quiet in my opinion, almost demanding a boost.

Final Thoughts

It's hard, maybe even impossible, to talk about the V3 without mentioning or comparing it to the famous and popular V2. Unfortunately for SteelSeries and gamers around the world, this new revision feels weaker in almost every aspect, I'm not saying that the V3 is bad, I'm saying that the V2 edition was one of the best headsets to ever be produced and its successor, the V3, falls short by comparison.
With that said, if you can't find the V2 on shops anymore, the V3 is still a very decent gaming headset. If you can spare the extra cash though, I would opt for the superior 9H.

The Good
+Familiar territory
+Comfort
+Visual design
+Great sound for games

The Bad
-Microphone sounds very quiet
-No volume controller
-Lack of extras
-V2 is still a better choice

Thanks to SteelSeries for providing the review copy

Read More

Thrustmaster Y-250CPX Review

I may be wrong about this, but I think the number of gamers who own more than one gaming system is growing with each console generation. At least that's my personal experience in regards to myself, friends and some acquaintances. All the major manufacturers in the gaming industry also seem to support this theory, at least judging by the fact that more and more gaming peripherals are being designed to be compatible with most modern consoles, PCs and mobile devices.

With the aforementioned theory in mind, today we will be taking a look at the Thrustmaster Y-250CPX, a versatile gaming headset that seems to further back up my previous claims.

For the people out there who may not know them, Thrustmaster has been around for quite some time now (1992 according to their website), designing and manufacturing all sorts of gaming accessories and peripherals. Personally, I know them mainly due to their high-quality and high-performance flight sticks and steering wheels.

The Y-250CPX comes packaged in a good looking medium-sized box that does a pretty good job in listing most of the main features of the headset, it also shows a few pictures of the actual product in order for buyers to know exactly what they're getting. On top of that it also seems to be sturdy enough to withstand a bit of abuse, a very important factor if you're planning on shipping the headset to you, we all know the horror stories after all.

Inside, and bundled with the actual headset, you will find a couple of interesting items such as a removable microphone, a few different manuals that cover the installation process for most systems and finally all the necessary cables in order to hook up the Y-250CPX to your favorite console or PC.

In a time where companies try to cut costs in every little thing, it's great to see that Thrustmaster decided to include different manuals for all the systems that are compatible with the headset. This shows great attention to detail and it helps younger or inexperienced users who may need a hand in setting everything up.

Thanks to an interesting combination of black with a few details in silver, this headset from Thrustmaster looks very elegant indeed. It's definitely not the best looking headset out there for sure, but it's also far far far from the worst.

I think the designers tried to lend an extra bit of class and charm to the Y-250CPX by moving away from your typical gaming headset design with bright lights and aggressive colors. The simple design certainly seems to have been the right choice, at least in my opinion.

Comfort-wise the headset itself performs extremely well, above average I would say. The only real issue in this department comes from the bulky in-line controller and the absurd amount of cable that Thrustmaster forces you to carry around with it.

I understand that the Y-250CPX was designed with several systems in mind and because of that, a longer cable might be helpful in some situations. But please, give us an extension instead, otherwise the excessive length of cable gets annoying really fast, trust me. The "generous" size of the in-line controller also does not help.

Moving back to the actual headset and having used it for long periods of time in games such as Alien Isolation and The Banner Saga, I noticed a slight increase in comfort after a brief break-in period. The headband protection in particular is very tough out of the box, because of this, if you're planning on buying the Y-250CPX be sure to give it some time for it to properly adapt to your head.

The ear cushions on the other hand felt great right from the get go, no problems there at all.

Like I mentioned in a previous paragraph, the Y-250CPX was mostly tested with two titles, Alien Isolation and The Banner Saga. The Alien game in particular practically demands to be played with a high quality audio solution in order for you to survive more than a couple of minutes. The Banner Saga on the other hand has a varied and very pleasant soundtrack.

In both cases the peripheral from Thrustmaster performed well.

Listening to music with the Y-250CPX on the hand felt a bit underwhelming, heavy bass tracks in particular suffered quite a bit, even after adjusting the bass nod that is present on the in-line volume controller.

Finally the microphone, it sounds decent enough and the in-line controller allows you to easily adjust its volume on the fly. A cool feature especially for console users.


Final Thoughts

Let me start out by saying that the competition is ferocious in the gaming headset world, we got a ton of big and small companies releasing new products and innovating with each new model almost on a daily basis. With that said, and taking into account a somewhat hefty price tag ($70-$90), it's hard to recommend the Y-250CPX if you're planning on using it exclusively with your PC. Thanks to the fierce competition I previously mentioned, there are a lot of other options out there that probably won't cost you as much and you give you a similar performance.

On the other hand, if you regularly use more than one platform for gaming, especially more than one console, then I can see the Y-250CPX being a very valid option.

The Good
+Elegant design
+Very versatile
+Comfortable

The Bad
-Bulky cable and in-line volume controller
-Lots of competition

Thanks to Thrustmaster for providing the review sample

Read More

Energy Headphones BT3+ Bluetooth Review

Technology is basically everywhere these days. While some people may complain about this and that, the fact of the matter is that technology allows us to at least make those boring trips from home to work and vice-versa, a little bit more bearable. Want to read a book, listen to your favorite songs or watch the latest movie? It's simple and easy with all the devices available on the market, from smartphones to laptops you can easily access your favorite source of entertainment on the go.

With the aforementioned ideas in mind, today we will be taking a look at the BT3+ Bluetooth from Energy Sistem, these light-weight and very portable headphones allow you to enjoy your favorite music and look good doing so.

This is the first product from Energy Sistem that we will be reviewing, they are a Spanish company that designs and produces a lot of tech products such as tablets, smartphones, headphones and a few other interesting devices. According to their website, they mainly target people who are interested in high quality technology at an affordable price.

The BT3+ headphones packaging is not the most sturdy I've ever seen, it does look good though, with an interesting orange, brown and black color scheme that gives the box a very elegant look. Since the headphones are so light-weight, the fact that the packaging is somewhat flimsy should not be a huge problem, still it's something to keep in mind if you're ordering and shipping them from far away.

Bundled with the actual headphones you will only find a usb cable, the manual that explains how to operate the headphones in several different languages, a paper that mentions the 36 month warranty and finally a leaflet that shows all the other products from Energy Sistem.
I personally would've liked to see included at least a little bag or pouch that would protect your headphones during transportation, since the BT3+ focuses so much on the portability factor, that seems like a really weird accessory to be missing.

When it comes to their visual design, I would say that the BT3+ headphones are among some of the most elegant units we've had for review here on NRLB. The matte black finish that covers most of the headphones blends in perfectly with the little details presented in a darker gray, nothing looks out of place here, even the somewhat small ear-cushions seem appropriate for this sort of subtle design.

One of the things that surprised me after a few hours of use was how light the headphones feel on your "noggin", while the headband has little to no padding and the ear-cushions are extremely small, the headphones still felt like they were secure to my head at all times, allowing me to move around the house without many problems. The only comfort issue I had with the BT3+ was the almost total lack of padding on the ear-cushions, it does take a toll on your ears after a while.

Functionality-wise the BT3+ worked almost flawlessly, the very discreet side buttons for adjusting the volume and changing tracks are easily accessible and straightforward to use, even without looking directly at them you can clearly feel which button is which and press them according to your needs. The bluetooth connection worked without a hitch, never having any issues pairing with the various devices I tested it with.

With each full charge, the battery life was more than sufficient to last me for at least a couple of days, it probably depends on a few factors but I would estimate the battery life to last anywhere from 6 to 8 hours using it only for music.

In terms of sound quality the BT3+ had an alright performance, I'm not an audiophile in any sort of way, shape or form, but I did feel that the highs and mids were a bit lacking when compared to the lows, the small on-ear cushions also didn't help with sound definition since they don't provide any sort of seal.

On the other hand I didn't notice any sort of distortion, even when playing music at higher volumes, the BT3+ performed admirably well.

Final Thoughts

I would consider the BT3+ headphones biggest issue to be the 39,90€ price tag. While they are well built and look absolutely gorgeous, the competition within this price range is fierce and brutal. Small details such as the lack of a carrying pouch and the almost non existent padding, both on the headband and ear-cushions, can really make a difference.

Still, I can easily recommend the BT3+ to anyone searching for a great looking pair of headphones to accompany them during their travels.

The Good
+Very elegant design
+Well built
+Intuitive side buttons
+Very light-weight
+No sound distortion

The Bad
-Lots of competition
-Lack of a carrying pouch
-Very thin padding

Thanks to Energy Sistem for providing the review sample

Read More

SteelSeries Siberia Elite Prism Review

Improvements, improvements, improvements. It's great to see a company such as SteelSeries taking the time to listen to their fans complaints and recommendations, and with them in mind, improve on previous versions of their products. This is nothing new, mind you, they have done it over and over again, with product such as the original Siberia and the H series getting several revisions in order to fix some of the biggest problems with the products, while at the same time introducing new features that make the aforementioned products even more appealing to everyone.

Today, we will be taking a look at the Siberia Elite Prism gaming headset, this is one of the latest products from the SteelSeries lineup to receive an update that tries to fix the problems that the original had, in this review, we will see if they succeeded or not.

If you want to check out our review of the original Elite headset in order to better understand if the improvements made are vital for you, check out the link below:

Link

The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Prism packaging is similar to the original product, there's nothing wrong with that since it is a well designed and sturdy package to begin with, the problem with having such similar boxes might be the issue of confusing buyers that happen to find both versions in one store, unfortunately for them, there's no mention about the upgrades on the package.

Inside the box, bundled with the headset itself and much like the original version, you will find a few interesting accessories, for starters the usb sound-card is back, along with all the necessary extras that you might need, such as both PC and mobile devices adapter, extension cable and your typical manual/quick start guide.

Visually the Prism is once again very similar to the original Elite, there are two things that stand out as different, the microphone, which has been upgraded and is now slightly thinner, and the color schemes (black/white and black/black). Aside from that, there's very little to talk about here that wasn't already stated in the review of the original Elite. (check out link above)

What has changed though, is how the headset feels once you start to use it regularly. For starters it is a lot lighter than the previous version, not really sure how SteelSeries was able to reduce the weight in such a drastic manner, but I'm glad they were able to do it.

The second upgrade you will quickly notice concerns the steel headband, if you read our review of the original Elite, you will know that it was extremely tight, especially in the first couple of days. Well, SteelSeries also fixed that, the headband now has a much more relaxed fit right from the get-go, combine this with the also upgraded ear cushions and you have a much more comfortable headset.

Functionality-wise, the Prism, much like the original Elite, is very versatile. Thanks to its software, you can pretty much configure what you want, the way you want it. Using the included usb sound-card also helps, since this will allow you to turn on some of the most interesting and unique features of the Elite lineup.

In terms of enhancements, expect to find a better microphone, while I actually found the original one very decent, SteelSeries has decided to upgraded to better suit the Elite's hefty price tag (you can find the microphone test below). No complaints there, as upgrades, updates and enhancements are always welcome.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes it's not easy to accept constructive criticism and update your products based on it, thankfully SteelSeries seems determined to better their products over and over again until they become a reference for gamers all over the world. Much like the Siberia V2, the Elite Prism is on its way to becoming one of the benchmarks that others compare themselves with.

The Good
+Comfort
+Microphone
+Construction quality
+Lots of accessories
+Sound Quality
+Supports 7.1 Surround Sound
+Visual Design

The Bad
-Expensive
-Lots of competition

Thanks to SteelSeries for providing the review sample

Read More

RaidSonic Icy Box Big City Vibes (IB-HPh2) Review

It doesn't matter if you're at home or on the go, listening to music is something that you probably do on a daily basis, fortunately the amount of options on the market when it comes to headphones is really astonishing, from cheap and flimsy to expensive and sturdy you pretty much got your preferences covered no matter how picky you are. Lately though headphones have become more than a simple audio peripheral and have started to be looked upon almost as a fashion accessory as well, the infamous Beats by Dre are a prime example of just that, more than how they actually sound, what really matters to most people is how they look.
The product we have in review today is actually a nice mix of all the elements previously mentioned, the Icy Box Big City Vibes are a pair of headphones that look and sound good while still being affordable enough to fit into most people's budget.

These stylish headphones are delivered to us in a beautiful and well designed black box, proving that RaidSonic is definitely paying attention to all the details. Opening the sturdy box reveals a hard shell carrying case that will help you protect your product during transportation, it also works as a great way to store your headphones and keep them away from your kids and pets.
The Big City Vibes also come bundled with a ton of extras, this is always a positive feature that aids to distinguish your product from the tough competition currently on the market, besides the headphones themselves you can also expect to find a microfiber cleaning cloth, a 2 m extension cable, an airplane stereo plug, 2x triple A batteries and finally a 3,5 mm to 6,3 mm adapter.
Packaging-wise I have to say that RaidSonic gets a 10 out of 10, there is nothing really important that's missing here, all the relevant accessories are included and that's something that adds a lot of value to this product.

The headphones themselves are available in a huge array of colors, the one we got for review today though was the black version, while extremely pretty this sort of piano black finish tends to attract a lot of fingerprints, hence the importance of the aforementioned microfiber cloth included as an accessory.
The Icy Box headphones are very elegant and classy, nothing about them screams cheap or distasteful, there's no huge or colorful logos here, no unnecessary lights, every little detail from the overall well accomplished design of the Big City Vibes works well together and that's extremely important in the process of making them look great.
Comfort-wise the headphones have an above average performance, the leather ear cushions ensure that your ears don't suffer too much, the relatively small weight of the headphones also helps of course.

In terms of sound quality they are still out of the audiophile "division" unfortunately, while the bass is deep, powerful and will ensure that especially your electronic and/or hip-hop playlists sound amazing, everything else will feel a bit weaker in comparison.
The much advertised "active noise-cancelling" is something that I have mixed feelings about, while it's a great feature to have in any pair of headphones, it does require a small adaptation period. Some people may also not like it, a "active noise-cancelling" on/off switch would have been a great addition in my opinion, this way even if a specific person doesn't enjoy listening to their music with this feature on, they could just turn it off.

Final Thoughts
The Icy Box Big City Vibes are a very attractive pair of headphones, visually their design is great, the black version that we received in particular looks very classy. Thankfully the sound quality also doesn't disappoint, if you're planning on listening to some bass intensive tracks the City Vibes might be exactly what you're looking for.
The fact that RaidSonic has bundled with the headphones a bunch of accessories is something that I would also like to mention, it might seem a small detail but in my opinion it shows concern and care for the customer and that's something that we all can appreciate I'm sure.

The Good
+Visual design
+Tons of extra accessories
+Comfortable
+Build quality
+Powerful bass
+Very portable
+Active noise-cancelling

The Bad
-Active noise-cancelling not for everyone
-Piano black attracts a lot of fingerprints

Thanks to RaidSonic for providing the review sample

Read More

Gioteck EX-06 Wireless Headset Review

Today we have for review the EX-06 Wireless Headset, it is indeed the first product from Gioteck that we have "under the microscope" and because of that, our expectations are high.
If you don't know Gioteck, they are a company that specializes in the production of gaming accessories for both consoles and PC, here's a little bit of their history taken straight from their website: "With a brand established for more than 10 years, Gioteck have the knowledge to understand what real gamers both need and want. Offering the most unique and quality designs, we deliver you with everything you need to distinguish yourself as a hardcore gamer"

The EX-06 comes extremely well packaged, I would say that it is one of the most well protected products that we had for review so far, while the package itself is a simple cardboard box, inside of it the headset comes tucked in a sturdy, elegant and durable plastic case that will also help you transport your headset wherever and whenever you go. A simple and apparently small detail that can make a real difference in the future if you plan on going to LAN parties or on long trips where your audio peripheral may suffer a bump or two.
Aside from the plastic case you will also find bundled with the EX-06 a few other accessories like a small manual, the removable boom microphone, a USB dongle which allows you to connect your headset to your computer/console and finally an extra cable that connects to your Xbox 360.
The EX-06 Wireless Headset comes with a lot of extras but I have to say that Xbox 360 users will probably have a few issues with it, while Gioteck says that it is compatible with the console from Microsoft, the truth is that you will probably need an adapter besides the cable that Gioteck includes, without it, using the EX-06 while the Xbox 360 is connected through HDMI is impossible.

Visually the EX-06 does not disappoint, the black rubberized finish is extremely smooth and soft to the touch, the red details scattered all over the headset help give it an unique look without being too over the top, the headband in particular has a few touches in red that really look great. The ear cups themselves have an original design, their shape is neither round or square but something in between.
The construction quality is also top-notch, during my testing period I found this headset to be very solid and sturdy, impressive especially when you consider how flexible it can become simply by folding the ear cups. I've been using the EX-06 for about a month now and they still look brand new, the rubberized finish helps to prevent fingerprints from sticking to the headset and the carrying case protects it from any freak accident that might occur during transport or storage.
Comfort-wise the EX-06 needs just a bit of work, while the headband is comfortable enough after a small break-in period, the ear cushions could use a bit more padding, nothing too troublesome though.
Aside from that, the functionality of the headset is great, both ear cups have volume and microphone controllers which help fine-tune your game and chat volume, the left ear cup has an LED that indicates if the headset's battery is charging, weak or normal.
Battery life seemed pretty consistent and charging took somewhere between 4 to 6 hours, depending if I was using the headset at the same time or not.

Sound quality surprised me really, while the virtual surround sound was not that great, the stereo was pretty solid. For gaming in particular this headset seems ideal as I personally don't enjoy playing with surround sound. Much like what it is to be expected from a gaming headset, the bass has enough "oomph" to make all the explosions going off around you feel even more powerful, thankfully the rest of the sound spectrum is not sacrificed in the process and even in situations where you have to listen to enemy footsteps the EX-06 performs remarkably well.
The detachable boom microphone worked well, while not the greatest ever, it does the job of communicating with your teammates just fine.

Final Thoughts
Despite a few flaws here and there, at the end of the day the EX-06 Wireless Headset is a very honorable entry in Gioteck's line-up, for those seeking an affordable wireless audio product to use while gaming on consoles then the EX-06 does the job perfectly.
Let's hope that Gioteck can fix the ear cups comfort issue in future revisions of the headset so that long gaming sessions are not a problem anymore.

The Good
+Protective carrying case included
+Visual design
+Rubberized finish
+Consistent battery life
+Very portable
+Versatile (PC and consoles)

The Bad
-Thin ear cushions
-Xbox 360 may need separate adapter

Thanks to Gioteck for providing the review sample

Read More

SteelSeries 9H Review

When it comes to audio products manufactured by SteelSeries an emblematic name usually pops up in most gamers minds, Siberia. What some of those gamers don't know is that SteelSeries has another line of audio products called the H series that can easily compete with the Siberia. We have in the past reviewed the 3H and the 5H, both of them high-quality audio solutions with their target audiences well defined. Today however we shall be taking a look at one of the best options currently available on the market when it comes to top of the line gaming headsets, the 9H.

Unlike the recently reviewed Siberia Elite, the 9H gaming headset comes packed inside your typical SteelSeries black and orange cardboard box. While maybe not as unique, it certainly is well designed and informative enough with a few pictures and features listed on both the back and bottom of the box.
Tucked inside the elegant package you will find a few accessories that will make the 9H compatible with most devices on the market. For starters it has USB Sound Card similar to the one found bundled with the Siberia Elite, aside from that you will also find the headset itself, one 3 pole 3.5mm jack for mobile devices and finally one PC cable with two 3.5mm jacks, one for microphone and the other for the headphone. As extras SteelSeries also included a quick-start guide and the usual sticker with their logo, no cd or dvd with drivers is included so be sure you have an Internet connection ready if you plan to use the USB Sound Card.

If you've seen/read my review of the SteelSeries Siberia Elite then you already know I prefer the visual design of the H series. The black look with just a few orange details here and there makes the H series and the 9H in particular stand out for me. When compared to most other gaming audio alternatives on the market it looks a lot more mature and serious, I understand that it's not for everyone but personally I enjoy this sort of visual design. A small detail that some people might not even notice is how well hidden the retractable microphone becomes when you pull it back, this sort of metamorphose ditches the "gaming headset look" and makes the 9H look like a pair of normal, high-end headphones.
The other aspect that also aids in lending to the 9H a more professional look and feel is the construction quality, both ear-cups are made of a very thick and rugged plastic that will most certainly withstand a few falls here and there. The ear cushions are made up of a very soft leather that besides being comfortable also isolates outside noises extremely well, that isolation is further enhanced by the "double enclosure design" that according to SteelSeries is usually only present on really high-end headphones.
The 9H headband is constructed out of a combination of plastic and some sort of metal, this metal can be seen once you adjust the headband and ensures that most consumers won't have any sort of issue with the sturdiness of the headband.

In terms of sound quality the 9H performs extremely well, especially when used for gaming. The bass is balanced and has enough "oomph" for those bigger explosions but at the same time does not drown out the mids and highs like many gaming headsets do. Thankfully when you leave your game and go listen to some music the 9H also functions perfectly, for someone like me who enjoys electronic music the slightly stronger bass really makes every track sound great.
The 9H uses the SteelSeries Engine 3 much like the Siberia Elite, this allows every user to fine-tune their experience with the headset by simply playing around with the equalizer.
Regarding the microphone I personally think it sounds very decent when compared to most gaming headsets but you can listen to my test (below) and decide for yourself.


Final Thoughts
SteelSeries has certainly confirmed our initial expectations, the 9H is one amazing product that costs around 160€ but performs and competes with audio products that cost twice as much.
While the audio quality is top-notch, it's the combination of various factors and features like the solid construction quality and extremely comfortable ear cushions that make us recommend the 9H to anyone who is currently looking for a balanced and versatile headset/headphone.

The Good
+Sound quality
+Sturdy construction
+Comfort
+Price
+Supports 7.1 Surround
+Elegant visual design
+Great software
+Microphone

The Bad
-Retractable mic is a bit short

 

Thanks to SteelSeries for providing the review sample

Read More

SteelSeries Siberia Elite Review

In order to keep up with the constant growth of the gaming market and remain competitive companies like SteelSeries have to frequently update and upgrade their product line-ups. The Siberia series has become pretty much the flagship for what SteelSeries can do when it comes to audio products, because of that a lot of expectations surrounded the third entry in this series, the Elite.
The first thing that people will notice when comparing the Elite to its predecessor is the steep increase in the price tag, $200 dollars is definitely not cheap, especially when comparing it to the original V2 that at the time of this review costs around $80-$100. While some people may consider this increase in price a negative thing, others will certainly look at it as a statement by SteelSeries that the Siberia Elite series is exactly that, elite.

The SteelSeries Siberia Elite comes neatly packed inside a sturdy and nicely designed box that lists some of the main features of the headset along with some pictures that do a good job when it comes to showing off the over-the-top design of the Elite headset.
Inside the sturdy box you will find bundled together with the headset a few other accessories that will allow you to use the Elite pretty much with any device that you can think off:

• USB Sound Card
• PC Adapter (2 x 3.5mm)
• Mobile Adapter (1 x 3.5mm)
• Extension Cable
• Manual/Quick Start Guide

When buying a product from SteelSeries most of these accessories are usually included so no big surprise there. What really stands out from the crowd is the USB Sound Card, this is an essential piece if you want to hear and see all that the Elite has to offer, particularly the shiny lights and 7.1 surround sound. While it's not mandatory to use the USB Sound Card I would recommend it unless you're already using a high-quality dedicated sound card.

Visually the new Siberia headset looks amazing, it's a lot flashier than most other gaming gear from SteelSeries. Especially when you compare the Siberia series to the H series you can clearly see how very different the visual design of these two series really are.
Of course this is a matter of taste and opinion but I personally prefer the look of the H series, still the Elite headset looks fancy enough with its extremely large ear cushions and elegant looking headband. This headband integrates the Siberia traditional suspension system that automatically adjusts to any head, it also better distributes the weight of the headset making it a lot more comfortable during long gaming sessions. The only downside in terms of comfort that I found was during the first few days of use, the headband is extremely tough and because of that will put excessive pressure on your ears, thankfully it won't take long for it to start adjusting to your head size and shape.
SteelSeries didn't focus exclusively on making the Elite look good though, this is probably the most sturdy and durable headset that I've ever tested. The aluminum headband will take a beating and keep on going while the large leather ear cushions will last you for a long time before they will start to deteriorate. If you're buying the white version get ready to give them a wash every once in a while though, apparently sweat and white leather don't go well together (big surprise there!).

When it comes to audio quality it really depends on your skill and patience to mess around with the equalizer included in the SteelSeries Engine 3 software. At default the headset sounds great and the pre-configured profiles that you can assign to your different games and applications will really help the headset sound even better. But like I said, if you have the skill to mess around with the software you can really adjust the headset to your own preferences, making the Elite one of the most versatile audio products out there.
Finally the retractable microphone, I feel that it sounds above average when compared to other headsets but you can determine that for yourself, just listen to my test recording below (Microphone Compression and Noise Reduction are On):


Final Thoughts
SteelSeries is trying to appeal to a larger audience than just hardcore gamers with the Siberia Elite and they certainly seem to be going in the right direction. For once the sound quality is very close to audiophile levels, making the headset very good not just for gaming but for pretty much anything that you can think off.
While the price will certainly be a drawback for some people I personally think that the Siberia Elite is worth the money, it doesn't just sound good, it also feels great on your head and ears. You can also expect the Elite to last you for a very long time since its build quality is top-notch.

The Good
+Sound Quality
+Supports 7.1 Surround Sound
+Construction
+Visual Design
+Great Software
+Versatile
+Microphone


The Bad
-Price
-White version gets dirty quickly
-First days are tough on your ears
-A bit heavy

Thanks to SteelSeries for providing the review sample

Read More

X2 Mars Review

A few years ago many predicted that PC gaming in general was dying and simply could not compete with the various gaming options that one now has, from consoles to smartphones you now can use your gaming library almost anywhere at any time. Fortunately for us these predictions did not come true and the fact is that PC gaming is now probably stronger than ever, thanks to a very prolific community of independent developers and a little piece of software called Steam more and more companies are designing products exclusively for gaming on the PC, such is the case with the product we will be reviewing today, the Mars 7.1 gaming headset from X2.

X2 as you might remember from our review of their XPAD are a team of gaming enthusiasts based out of Holland, they were kind enough to once again let me review one of their products.

The Mars comes nicely packed in a simple but decently designed cardboard box with a black, red and white color scheme that matches both the X2 logo and the headset color scheme as well.

Opening the box we noticed that the headset stood only between a few pieces of cardboard with nothing really to hold it in place, it's something that the team from X2 should keep in mind and try to fix in future revisions of their products in order to avoid any damage from shipping. With that said the headset is also very lightweight (367g) so in this particular case it shouldn't really be a big issue.

Besides the Mars headset itself the only other item you will find bundled with this USB powered device is a small installation manual that does a competent job in showing you how to set everything up correctly in the software provided by X2.

With a very contrasting red and black color scheme the Mars headset certainly looks like a gaming product, while I personally prefer a more subtle approach to visual design the Mars will appeal to those consumers that enjoy having flashy lights and bright colors on their peripherals.

The only real issues that I've encountered were two small differences when comparing the headset I've received and the one on the cover of the box, the headband does not have the rubber finish and the ear-cups have a piano black look and feel to them instead of the "rough" plastic that you can see in the pictures. I'm guessing it might be because this is a review sample but it's something that the folks from X2 should try and fix in future revisions of their products. 

While the headset is mostly made out of plastic it doesn't feel flimsy at all, the plastic and rubber give the Mars a lot of flexibility preventing any sort of cracks that might appear from moving the headset around a lot. The 3m red cable is also rubberized and has a bulky in-line volume controller with two buttons on each side that function as volume up/down, microphone mute and just regular mute. A more compact controller would be preferable in my opinion, still when you take the price (34€/$45) into consideration this is something that you can't really complain about.

The ear cushions are made out of leatherette and are also very comfortable, the only real problem with them comes from the fact that the ear-cups don't move, in my particular case this meant that when using the headset there was always a small gap below my ears which leaked sound and prevented the outside noise isolation that this sort of ear cushion usually provides to actually work.

In terms of sound quality the Mars gaming headset surprised me, particularly for such an affordable product. The virtual 7.1 works very well in my opinion particularly when testing it out in games like Killing Floor and Battlefield.

The microphone also works great, because it's USB it avoids a lot of the electrical noise and interference that your sound card suffers providing a better experience overall. Around this price point it's by far the best microphone that I've tested in a headset.

Final Thoughts

The Mars headset is not without its faults, a few inconsistencies in the build quality in particular could have made this review a lot more negative if not for the amazing sound quality at such a low price. The fact that it has virtual 7.1 and uses a USB connection just makes it even better, especially if you're planning on using the microphone on this headset a lot.

The Good

+Sound quality

+Virtual 7.1

+Affordable

+Comfortable

+Microphone

The Bad

-Bulky volume controller

-Some inconsistencies in visual design

Thanks to X2 for providing the review sample

Read More