Siberia SteelSeries V3 Headset Review
I can’t decide if I like the SteelSeries Siberia V3 or not. Actually, that’s a lie, I love the V3; what I can’t decide is if I like it more than the old Siberia V2 I’ve had for the best part of 2 years. See, essentially they’re the same headset, almost identical design, similar audio quality on both the mic and the speakers, and only some minor changes here and there. But for some reason, I’m struggling to enjoy my time with the V3, and I think it may be because my V2 now fits so well.
The design of the V3 is essentially the same as the V2 in the areas that matter. The head support is a separate entity to the plastic tubes that connect the two ear cups, meaning the headset will automatically adjust to the size of your head as soon as you put it on. On the V3, the material for this headrest is of a higher quality, offering what feels like more flexibility, although perhaps at the cost of a bit more weight. The two support pipes feel near identical to the V2 and the mic remains inside the left ear cup and can be pulled out when in use.
The mic itself is not of particularly amazing quality, but again, much like the V2, will do the job. Leave it inside the ear cup and the echo will be unusable, and I did also have some reports of echo when using the mic normally at the higher end of the windows sensitivity scale, which I never had with the V2, although from my admittedly basic test it did sound slightly better. It’s never going to win any awards, and probably shouldn’t be used for podcasting or voiceovers. For in-game chat or VOIP calls it will do the job just fine.
Sound quality is in a similar boat in the fact that it is serviceable and decent enough, although audiophiles will certainly not want to use this. For a mid-range headset it is what you would expect: it handles bass well, and can scale to handle loud volumes adequately, but if you want to splash out on a great-sounding headset, probably look elsewhere.
The ear cups are the factor that I really can’t decide on. To those unfamiliar with the Siberia range they may look identical to those on the older V2, yet they don’t quite feel the same. There seems to be a higher amount of pressure on the tops of my ears compared to the V2 and this is especially noticeable if I put on a pair of glasses while using the headset. Where I recommended the V2 to my bespectacled friends, due to its comfort levels I can’t see myself doing the same for the V3. Of course, this could be because my V2 has been moulded to my head for the last two years and I have only had the V3 for a month, but I specifically don’t remember it being this uncomfortable when I got it.
That being said, for those of us who don’t wear glasses all the time the comfort levels are incredible. In fact I would go as far to say that for the price this is the comfiest headset available for those long sessions at the PC. They also work well as a portable headset for listening to some tunes on the move, thanks to the transforming cable that is by default a single 3.5mm jack, but can be plugged into an extension cable to convert to a headphone and mic pair of 3.5mm jacks for PC use. While they may be a bit bulky for on-the-move listening, the decent sound quality and unique look can make them an attractive prospect.
The few noticeable minor changes from the V2 such as the position of the mute mic switch (it’s now on the back of the left ear cup not on a switch in the cord) and the new matt finish (instead of the glossy V2) are both things that I’m not overly keen on but ultimately can live with. The design still looks incredibly cool when compared to other headsets that have a more traditional look and again, unlike some competitors, the design doesn’t make your ears too hot (unless you are wearing them for 4 hours straight on the hottest day of the year).
The Siberia V3 headset is by no means bad in any way. Every aspect of it is great and it really is one of the best headsets available. I just can’t see why anyone who had a V2 would upgrade to this model (the pricier options in the new line are a different matter). The sound quality is pretty good, the mic is serviceable and the comfort levels are top notch, but not more so than the V2. If you’re on a budget, try and find an older model, but if you want a good headset that should fulfil all your needs you can’t go wrong here.
