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

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SteelSeries Sensei Wireless Review

How do you improve upon one of the best gaming mice ever conceived? According to SteelSeries, you remove its wires, add a rubberized finish and conclude the process by including a nice and long-lasting battery so that your gaming sessions can last as long as you want.

Upon first hearing about SteelSeries' decision, I was honestly baffled, a wireless hardcore gaming mouse? A thing of science fiction surely!

Joking aside, there are a few wireless gaming mice out there that perform really well, particularly the G700S from Logitech and both the Mamba and Ouroboros from Razer. That's definitely some tough competition, can the Sensei Wireless surpass them? Let's find out.

As with previous products that we've reviewed from SteelSeries, the packaging of the Sensei Wireless does not disappoint. Visually it has a very attractive design, keeping SteelSeries traditional orange and black color scheme. In terms of protection, it also excels, ensuring that your peripheral will arrive in pristine conditions in most cases.

Inside you won't find a great deal of accessories unfortunately, besides the actual mouse and charging base, you will encounter the manual, a usb cable and finally a sticker with the SteelSeries logo. For a product that costs around 160€ at the moment of this review, this lack of extras is a bit disappointing.

Visually this new iteration of the Sensei does not distort the original design, it perfects a few details here and there, keeping everything else pretty much unchanged. For people who loved the original Sensei then this will be good news, if on the other hand you never really liked the minimalist design, then this Wireless revision probably won't change your mind.

One of the changes made by SteelSeries was the addition of a rubberized surface very similar to the one found on the Rival (Our review: Link), this apparently small change adds a new level of comfort to an already extremely pleasant product.

Functionality-wise don't expect to find any differences in this wireless revision, this is a good thing mind you. The Sensei Wireless delivers the same performance as the wired version, keeping input lag out of this equation thanks to its proprietary 2.4 GHz wireless connection.

On the other end of the aforementioned wireless connection, you will encounter a very sexy and very well built charging base. It not only looks good but will also be able to provide you, the player, with a bit of visual information regarding how much battery is left on the mouse. Customization is obviously an option here as well, if you don't like the default color scheme just change it in the "Engine 3" software. This is also true for the LED's present in the actual mouse.

Finally let's talk about the build quality, I've been using this new Sensei for a couple of months now and I've gotta say that it is top notch in terms of construction. A small feature that shows great attention to detail is the the metallic "outline" present on the charging base, it may or may not be pointless in terms structure integrity, but it certainly looks good.

Final Thoughts

Going wireless was certainly a risky move by SteelSeries, fortunately it seems that this revision of the Sensei has everything to be another success. Yes, the price tag is certainly an obstacle that will keep some people away, on the other hand, the sturdy construction ensures that the Sensei Wireless will last you for a very long time.

At the end of the day it's up to you to decide if these upgrades are reason enough for you to spend the extra cash.

The Good
+Wireless without latency
+Precise
+Sturdy construction
+Minimalist design
+Customization options
+Comfortable
+Long battery life
+Ambidextrous design

The Bad
-Lack of extras
-Price

Thanks to SteelSeries for providing the review sample

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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

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SteelSeries DeX Review

Competitive gaming is here to stay, no matter the way you look at it, professional gamers are more and more common with each day that goes by. With that being said, high profile companies such as SteelSeries try to innovate and improve their products every so often, it's important for them that not only the aforementioned "pro gamers" use their products but also that reviews and opinions of such products turn out generally positive.
With that being said today we have for review the DeX, the latest mousepad from SteelSeries, a company that thanks to their QcK series, has a very positive reputation when it comes to this type of gaming accessory.

The SteelSeries DeX comes neatly rolled up in a rectangular cardboard box, I mentioned in a previous review my preference for mousepads that come packed in a way that doesn't involve any distortion of their shape, this basically means that I prefer a flat box. Still, and for what it's worth, SteelSeries did a fine job when it comes to the package visual design, the usual black and orange color scheme is present, accompanied by a bit of information about the product itself. What sets the DeX packaging apart from the competition though is the little square-shaped cut present in the front of the box, this allows you to touch the mousepad itself and see if you enjoy the feel of the new rubbery surface presented by SteelSeries.
Contents wise there's really not much to talk about, once you open the box you'll find the mousepad itself and a few stickers with the SteelSeries logo on them and that's about it.

The mousepad itself looks very elegant indeed, while it is a gaming mousepad first and foremost, I personally can see it working well in an office or some other professional environment because there's nothing in the DeX (no bright colors of elaborate drawings) that indicates its gaming roots. Even the SteelSeries logo is somewhat hard to spot if you're not looking for it.
The only bright color you will find is orange and that's on the base of the mousepad, meaning that it will probably remain hidden most of the time.

Functionality-wise the DeX works well most of the time, unfortunately it has a few drawbacks that I certainly wasn't expecting to encounter in a product from the folks that also designed the great QcK.
Probably the most important flaw is the silicone base, it's not as effective as it should be, meaning that after a long playing session you probably won't find your mousepad on the same spot where it originally began. This sliding movement is not very drastic since it will happen very slowly, it probably won't affect your gameplay much but it's still something that SteelSeries needs to iron out in future versions of the DeX. If you're wondering, I tested the mousepad on a regular Ikea desk.
Moving on to more positive aspects, the actual surface where your mouse will move around is great and the first of this kind I have ever found, it's made of some sort of high-tech-rubber that gives you, the player, a tremendous amount of feedback while at the same time allowing for some very fast movements and reactions. I would say that it is a mix between your typical hard-surface that allows very fast reactions and a soft-surface aimed more at precise movements.

Final Thoughts
SteelSeries has once again delivered us a very interesting product, if you look at its actual performance, I would say that the DeX is probably one of the best gaming options currently available on the market.
Unfortunately a few drawbacks like the silicone base and a high price tag (40€) prevents us from recommending it to everyone, we "prescribe" the SteelSeries DeX to those of you who take their competitive gaming very seriously.

The Good
+Innovative
+Performance
+Comfort
+Elegant design
+Well built

The Bad
-Price
-Silicone base

Thanks to SteelSeries for providing the review sample

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SteelSeries Introduces the Siberia Elite WoW Edition for Warlords of Draenor

SteelSeries, the global leader in premium gaming peripherals, in collaboration with Blizzard Entertainment, today announced the upcoming release of the Siberia Elite World of Warcraft Edition Headset. Gamers will soon be able to experience epic quests, intense raids, and endless adventure across Azeroth and Draenor while wielding a premium headset with jet-black ear cushions, illuminated runes, and a lightweight over-the-head suspension style designed for hours of comfortable gameplay.

“Our partnership with Blizzard Entertainment to create unique gear for the World of Warcraft community has culminated in this bold new version of our premium and award-winning headset—a perfect complement to Blizzard’s upcoming Warlords of Draenor expansion,” said Tino Soelberg, SteelSeries CTO. “Players deserve the best quality audio to experience the music and sounds of Draenor; this exclusive edition of the Siberia Elite headset delivers epic audio quality in a beautiful World of Warcraft-themed design.”

ILLUMINATE YOUR PATH TO VICTORY
The ring of runes is where gamers can see the power of the headset. Players can choose from millions of color options that can also be saved in an endless number of audio profiles. In addition to color, there are options for a pulsating glow, dynamic lighting based on your in-game actions, or no illumination at all—the choices are endless.

HEAR THE ROAR OF BATTLE
The headset is equipped with multiple Dolby technologies and a closed-type earcup design that provides listeners with a virtual 7.1-channel surround sound experience. Players are able to create and save their own unique audio profiles through the SteelSeries Engine 3 software by tuning their own equalizer settings, microphone functionality and much more. Gamers can control their microphone mute as well as speaker volume from directly on the headset by turning the easy-to-find dials on each earcup, making quick adjustments simple and convenient.

The SteelSeries Siberia Elite World of Warcraft Edition headset is available for pre-order now on the SteelSeries Web Shop for $209.99 MSRP. For more information about the new headset and the rest of SteelSeries’ official Blizzard Entertainment licensed products, please visit www.steelseries.com/worldofwarcraft.

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SteelSeries Announces The SteelSeries Rival: Dota 2 Edition Gaming Mouse

SteelSeries, the global leader in gaming peripherals, today announced the SteelSeries Rival: Dota 2 Edition Gaming Mouse. Based on the award-winning Rival Optical Mouse, this ultimate performance device will also include an exclusive in-game item, Hell’s Glare for Doom. This weekend, attendees of The International 4 Dota 2 Championship in Seattle, Washington will be among the first to have access to the new SteelSeries Rival Dota 2 Edition Gaming Mouse.

“We believe that Dota players deserve the best, so we set out to give fans a mouse with a design they would love without sacrificing the functionality they require,” said Tino Soelberg, SteelSeries CTO. “We extensively tested our Dota 2 Edition of the Rival Optical Mouse with professional players from Natus Vincere, Invictus Gaming and Fnatic which has resulted in one of the most powerful mice we’ve ever built – and to make it even more special for the Dota 2 community, we’ve added a unique in-game item.”

TOURNAMENT-GRADE PERFORMANCE
Whether you’re part of the Dire or Radiance, winning is everything. This precision gaming tool was carefully crafted after a rich history of tournament-grade mice created for the best professional players around the globe. Gamers can tune their CPI, polling rate, mouse acceleration, and a full arsenal of performance mods in an easy to use interface courtesy of SteelSeries Engine 3. All of these things together create a mouse that is guaranteed to never be the reason why you miss another last hit.

ENDLESS CUSTOMIZATION, DOTA STYLE
The SteelSeries Rival Dota 2 Edition is the ultimate mouse built for fans of the globally loved title from Valve. Each part, from the stone-gray body and side buttons to the blood-red rubber grips is carefully crafted to be a true item of beauty. Players can further customize the mouse using exclusive Dota 2 themed illumination modes that can shift according to player preference.

EXCLUSIVE IN-GAME ITEM
A once divine weapon, now corrupted by the devouring darkness of its new master, this Radiance-inspired sword is a must-have for any Dota fan. The Hell’s Glare for Doom has been exclusively designed and only available with purchase of the SteelSeries Rival: Dota 2 Edition Gaming Mouse.

The SteelSeries Rival Dota 2 Edition Gaming Mouse will be available for pre-order after the conclusion of The International 4 Dota 2 Tournament for $69.99 / €69.99 MSRP. For more information about the SteelSeries Rival Dota 2 Edition and the rest of SteelSeries’ official Dota 2 licensed products, please visit www.steelseries.com/dota2

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SteelSeries Rival Review

Competitive gaming in general has been growing exponentially in the last few years, little by little more and more professional gamers appear and make tournaments more fun to watch and enjoy, with this in mind, the need to improve the odds in your favor also increases dramatically. To ensure that their products are up to snuff, more and more companies are starting to work in collaboration with professional gamers in order to take their advice into consideration when designing and manufacturing new peripherals, such is (probably) the case with the mouse we have for review today, the SteelSeries Rival.

Taking a quick look at the very stylish and elegant  package in which the Rival comes tucked in you really cannot make a mistake when guessing the company responsible for it, SteelSeries has once again delivered us a product that is more than just a gaming peripheral, it is a whole new experience that still feels very familiar at the same time.
If you have ever bought a gaming mouse from SteelSeries before you pretty much know what to expect, lots of information on the box itself and the traditional orange and black color scheme that seems to suit all of their products. Aside from that you also get a window on the front of the package that allows you to see and test out the way the Rival feels in your hand.
Much like the streamlined design of the Rival, the content bundled with it is basic to say the least, there's no fancy weight system and no extra "skates" here, only the mouse itself matters, at least that seems to be the message from SteelSeries. The only extra included is an interchangeable nameplate bearing the SteelSeries logo and name, while it's an interesting concept I would rather see a pair of extra feet included, but maybe that's just me.

Moving on to the mouse itself you will surely notice how simple it is in terms of design, it almost feels like a throwback to the Microsoft 1.0/1.1/3.0 days, it is clear that getting back to the basics while at the same time improving on the formula was SteelSeries number one objective, thankfully they seem to have hit their mark.
A word of warning, if you're left-handed you might want to look somewhere else, unlike SteelSeries' previous efforts with the Sensei, the Rival is designed with right-handed people in mind.
There's virtually not a single plastic surface on the Rival that isn't rubberized or extremely soft to the touch, in particular the grips on each side of the mouse feel very solid, durable and give a more responsive feel to your gaming experience as a whole. The SteelSeries engineered switches (up to 30 million clicks) give a clear and tactile response with each click, this further contributes to the aforementioned "experience".
Of course that any mouse will only be as good as its sensor, thankfully in this regard the Rival is probably one of the best options currently on the market, its Pixart PMW3310 optical sensor feels extremely precise and hardware-acceleration-free. While I'm not a pro gamer of any sort I still felt like the quality of my gaming in general improved while using the SteelSeries Rival.

Finally let's talk about the build quality, once again nothing too fancy here, just simple and sturdy construction that promises to last a very long time if you take good care of it, no part of the mouse feels loose or flimsy at all.
Being supported by SteelSeries Engine 3 is another good feature about the Rival, by using the Engine 3 you can pretty much configure the mouse just the way you like it, from the color of the back light to the function of each of the six programmable buttons everything is easy to access and change if you so desire.

Final Thoughts
The SteelSeries Rival starts off on the right foot thanks to one "über" precise and at the same time versatile optical sensor (50-6500 dpi), the fact that its elegantly designed and extremely comfortable only makes it an even better choice for any competitive gamer out there.
The 59.99€ price tag is a relatively attractive number when you compare it to other options on the market, even when taking the lack of extra accessories into consideration few in this price range can compete with the SteelSeries Rival.

The Good
+Precise optical sensor
+Elegant
+Comfortable
+Six programmable buttons
+Uses the SteelSeries Engine 3
+Build quality
+Satisfying clicks
+Price

The Bad
-Lack of extras
-No weight tuning system
-Can be a bit too simple for some gamers

Thanks to SteelSeries for providing the review sample

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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

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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

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SteelSeries Introduced the Sensei Wireless Gaming Mouse

SteelSeries, a global leader in the gaming peripherals and accessories market, today introduced the SteelSeries Sensei Wireless Gaming Mouse. Packed with the best hardware on the market, the new mouse features SteelSeries’ premium switches, configurable CPI settings, more than 16hrs of wireless gaming and delivers lag-free, wireless performance on par with the best wired gaming mice.

“The Sensei name and line-up has always been about delivering best-in-class performance to users who want a mouse that takes what is considered “good” and exceeds expectations on performance, technology, software and capability,” said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. “The Sensei Wireless holds true to its name and was built to be the best wireless gaming mouse on the market with a wireless performance and features that will sure to impress its users.”

Sensei Performance Goes Wireless
Recognized as one of the best gaming mouse line-ups on the market, the SteelSeries Sensei line has been winning awards and eSports tournaments thanks to its flawless combination of technology performance, comfortable design and customizable functionality. The new Sensei Wireless continues this legacy through its premium laser sensor with configurable CPI up to 8,200 (and DCPI up to 16,400), premium SteelSeries switches designed for 30-million click lifespan, fast response and great feel, 8 programmable buttons and SteelSeries’ ExactTech settings that can be completely configured through SteelSeries Engine software.

The Sensei Wireless is ambidextrous with rubberized accents for added grip and 4 zones of illumination: on the scroll wheel, SteelSeries logo, on the base station and pinhole on the mouse for battery and connection status. Users can choose from 16.8 million color options and store color settings. In addition to ExactTech settings, 16.8 million colored illumination choices can be saved per profile; one profile saves directly on the mouse while an unlimited amount of profiles can be configured, assigned and saved through the SteelSeries Engine software.

Endless, Worry-Free Play
The wireless functionality has a 1-millisecond response time, which means no detectable lag. On a full battery charge, the Sensei Wireless averages 16 hours of non-stop wireless gaming, and up to 20 hours for common gaming treatment. Users will appreciate mouse’s base station, which is its dock for charging, wireless transmitter and receiver as well as indicator for battery life, even when it’s off the base. It can be directly plugged into (via included USB connector) creating a wired mouse option as well as charge-and-play functionality.

Pricing & Availability
The SteelSeries Sensei Wireless Gaming Mouse will be available on SteelSeries.com beginning in March 2014 for$159.99 / €159.99 MSRP.

For more information about the Sensei Wireless Gaming Mouse and to be notified once it is available to order, please visit http://steelseries.com/senseiwireless.

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SteelSeries Introduces the Stratus Wireless Gaming Controller

SteelSeries, a global leader in the gaming peripherals and accessories market, today introduced the SteelSeries Stratus Wireless Gaming Controller, specifically designed for console-style gameplay on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch running iOS 7, as well as on your HD TV via AppleTV using AirPlay Mirroring from your iOS device with supported games.

“The Stratus Wireless Controller, the first wireless gamepad controller ever to be supported in iOS 7, forever alters the mobile gaming landscape,” said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. “With Stratus, gamers have easy and direct access to a growing roster of great games on iPad that were intended for an immersive, controller-enabled experience. We’re incredibly excited to be the first gaming peripherals company to develop a standalone controller for iOS devices and are thrilled to see an abundance of high quality game titles rolling out from publishers everyday.”

A Game Changer

iOS 7 features embedded controller support—and as a result a new platform of gaming is emerging. For the first time on iOS, developers can create games that use traditional console control schemes to provide for an immersive and challenging gaming experience on iOS devices. The Stratus Controller from SteelSeries is the first Bluetooth controller for iOS devices; its sleek, lightweight design has a comfortable grip with 10+ hours of battery-life and features that are ideal for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch gaming.

Complete Control

The Stratus Controller features a familiar console-style layout with the a pressure-sensitive directional pad (D-pad), 4 pressure-sensitive action buttons and 4 pressure-sensitive shoulder buttons, in addition to dual analog sticks, a dedicated pairing button to connect to iOS devices via Bluetooth and a convenient on/off switch to save on power. The battery life is estimated to be approximately 10 hours on a full charge, with an average full charge time estimated at 2 hours. It charges with an included USB connection cable.

The red LED indicator lights found in the middle of the controller display the number of controllers or player connections during multi-player gameplay – allowing up to 4 controllers to connect to a single device. There are a growing number of game titles available on the App Store that support game controller functionality in iOS 7 and more titles are likely to be added over the coming months.

Pricing & Availability

The SteelSeries Stratus Controller is available for pre-order today on SteelSeries.com for $99.99 / €99.99 MSRP.

For more information about the Stratus Controller, please visit http://steelseries.com/stratus.

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SteelSeries Introduces The New H Wireless Headset For Multi-Platform Gaming and Entertainment

SteelSeries, the leading global manufacturer of gaming peripherals and accessories, today introduced the multi-platform H Wireless Headset. Its robust sound, lag-free wireless and versatile functionality bring superior audio to a wide range of platforms, including PC, Mac, mobile devices, consoles, home entertainment, streaming devices and more. Packed with features that combine comfort with technology and convenience, the new headset meets the demands of even the most discerning gamer in a wireless audio solution for the living room.

“SteelSeries headsets deliver three important things to gamers: great sound, incredible comfort and technology that makes it easy and convenient to use,” said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. “We have always prided ourselves on delivering exceptional audio for gaming. The H Wireless headset does that and takes it to the next level, bringing a world-class audio experience to every aspect of our users’ gaming and entertainment lives.”

CUTTING-EDGE WIRELESS PERFORMANCE

Powered by SteelSeries’ next-generation drivers, the H Wireless produces rich, balanced, accurate audio with the surround-sound of three Dolby technologies:

• Dolby Digital reproduces multichannel audio for a cinematic audio experience
• Dolby Headphone recreates the sensation of up to 7.1-channel multi-speaker surround sound in headphones
• Dolby Pro Logic IIx optimizes the surround sound experience for the most realistic multi-directional sound

The biggest challenges in wireless gaming audio have always been interference and lag, and the H Wireless headset uses best-in-class technology to deliver a smooth, lag-free wireless performance unlike any other. The H Wireless achieves this through a fixed-latency, frequency-hopping system that is continuous and automatically searches between available wireless frequencies to ensure responsive and uninterrupted audio performance for the listener. Gamers will find that using the H Wireless Headset enables them to enjoy the sound quality and signal reliability of a wired headset without the tangles and inconveniences of cables.

INNOVATIVE GAMING FEATURES

The H Wireless headset brings to market two gaming-specific audio functions that have been designed to create the optimal chat and audio experience.

ChatMix lets the user set the right balance between game audio and chat audio for the perfect balance of game volume and communication levels

LiveMix brings automation to that process, dynamically reducing game audio to the level of the user’s choice only when chat audio is detected

STEELSERIES SOUND: EVERYWHERE, WITH EASE

While delivering an excellent wireless gaming experience across PC, Mac, Xbox and PlayStation, the H Wireless also extends well beyond gaming audio and into broader forms of entertainment like TV, movies or streaming from an Apple TV, Roku or other media devices. Users can even connect the H Wireless headset to their mobile devices; the included mobile cable connects to the headset’s Sound Share port, which allows for use with any mobile device. All of the cables and accessories that make these connections possible, ship with the H Wireless.

The all-black headset, with contrasting glossy and matte black finishes, has virtually an unlimited battery life. It ships with two 20-hour lithium-ion batteries, meaning one can charge while the other is in use, so listeners never have to go wired. For added convenience, the sleek transmitter box doubles as the extra battery’s storage and charger.

The H Wireless is lightweight for longwearing comfort, thanks to memory foam ear cushions and extra padding on the headband, both with a smooth, leather-like surface for passive noise reduction. The headset’s retractable microphone features an LED indicator to indicate when it is muted. SteelSeries also advocates sharing: the headset includes a Sound Share port, which enables another user to connect his or her own headset and listen in.

Controlled either from the transmitter box directly or through a clickable scroll wheel found on the top of the right earcup of the headset, the H Wireless Headset allows its user to control everything without having to get up from the couch. Users will even appreciate its ability to save up to 5 audio profiles for easy and quick access to customized sound settings when switching from different types of gaming and entertainment. The transmitter is a small, compact box that blends easily into any desktop or entertainment center. Its bright OLED display clearly shows menus and setting options from connectivity to battery, Dolby status and audio settings like LiveMix. It delivers multiplatform compatibility, thanks to an array of inputs and outputs, which includes: USB (mini), Optical In and Out (S/PDIF), Analog In (3.5mm, 3-pole)
 and Chat Out (3.5mm, 3-pole).

The SteelSeries H Wireless Headset is available for $299.99 MSRP and will begin shipping this month. More information about the headset can be found at http://steelseries.com/hwireless.

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SteelSeries 5Hv3 Review

Today we will be taking a look at the SteelSeries 5Hv3, one of the big brothers of the 3Hv2 that we reviewed just a few days ago (Link).
SteelSeries, for those of you who don't know, is one of the leading companies when it comes to gaming peripherals, they focus heavily on creating high performance gear to be used in professional competitions.
Their products usually are pretty straightforward, focusing on getting the job done right, before thinking about fancy colors or extravagant shapes, the 5Hv3 fits perfectly in that profile, it's a good headset for gaming in general but looks a lot more "serious" than most of its competitors.
With that said, let's move on to the actual review.

As always, we will begin by talking a bit about the packaging and its contents.
Starting with the box itself we can see that it stays true to SteelSeries traditional black and orange color scheme, it also presents tons of visual and technical information to any buyer thinking about taking the plunge.
Moving to the insides of the box, we quickly realize that there aren't a ton of accessories bundled with the 5Hv3, besides the actual headset you will find an adapter for most mobile devices like tablets and phones, a 2m extension cable, a small quick start guide and as always, a SteelSeries sticker.
It does not bring anything out of the ordinary, basically just the essentials, it's clear that SteelSeries really focused on keeping the product affordable without cutting any corners when it comes to the actual headset quality.
The only thing we would like to see included would be a carrying pouch, much like the 3Hv2, the 5Hv3 is very portable thanks to its easy to dismantle design, a small bag would help protect the headset from any scratches that might occur during transport.

The SteelSeries 5Hv3 presents itself in a very stylish black with small details like the stitching in orange, for those of you who prefer a discreet looking gaming headset, then this one is for you, it looks good without being over the top.
Like I mentioned before, the 5Hv3 has an interesting feature that allows it to be quickly dismantled and stored almost anywhere, very useful for gamers that travel from competition to competition.
Just a quick note, the mechanism for dismantling the headset seems pretty durable so far, essential when you're dealing with this sort of thing.

Now let's talk about what I believe to be the strongest aspect of the 5Hv3, comfort.
Everyone knows that competitive gaming requires a lot of training, hours upon hours in front of the computer, entire days with your headset on your head, because of this, comfort should be one of the top priorities when choosing a gaming headset.
Comparing the 5Hv3 to other audio solutions I found them to be probably on my top 3 in the comfort department, the leather ear cushions are incredibly soft and adapt really well to your ears, the headband while not as good as the one from the SteelSeries Siberia is still well above average.

Regarding the retractable microphone I got to say that it sounds great, my gaming buddies had no complaints, while professional quality is still far away, it certainly does the job of communicating with your teammates flawlessly.
In terms of sound quality the 5Hv3 seems to be well balanced, the bass was lacking a bit more 'oomph', odd when you consider that usually gaming headsets have too much bass. When it comes to audio positioning the 5Hv3 excels, you will easily be able to pinpoint your enemies positions, unless they are of course ninjas, in that case you're doomed.

Final Thoughts
If you're in the market looking for a high quality and affordable audio product you may have just found it, the SteelSeries 5Hv3 is a decent improvement over its predecessors, it's one of the most comfortable headsets I ever had the chance to try out and at the end of the day, despite the relatively low price ($79,99), it compromises very little when it comes to build and sound quality.

The Good

-Very comfortable

-Good sound quality

-Portable

-Retractable microphone

-Good build quality

The Bad

-Bass felt a bit weak

-No carrying pouch

Thanks to SteelSeries for providing the review sample

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