SteelSeries takes another stab at gaming headsets with Siberia v2

We played with the original Siberia headset from SteelSeries, which was specifically designed to emphasize "gaming noises" like grenade pin pulls and footsteps -- but didn't do much good for listening to anything else. The Siberia Headset v2 looks to solve some of that with slightly larger speakers, an enclosed design to reduce ambient noise, improved frequency response and increased volume. There's also a built-in mic now. We took a listen and found the music listening capabilities much improved, especially in the bass end, but still no challenge for "regular" over the ear headphones. Still, serious gamers should get what they need out of the cans, which will be offered in models with and without a USB 7.1 virtual surround soundcard in November. No word on price until then.

We also got a quick look at the new Xai and Kinzu gaming mice. The ambidextrous-friendly nature of the pair is nice, materials are great, and mousing around briefly on a fancy SteelSeries mousepad certainly felt effortless and accurate, but mouse technology is so wild these days it's hard to differentiate one multi-megapixel optical or laser sensor from another -- to these untrained eyes, anyway.

SteelSeries hands-on

[piam101 Posted Sep 18th 2009 5:29PM]

It's a shame they don't sound that great, if it had better sound quality I'd probably be interested in it.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 5:46PM]

I used the original Siberia headset for quite a while. Combined with my old Sound Blaster Live! card, they provided outstanding sound in Counter-Strike 1.6 and other games. Being able to hear subtle sounds really provides an enormous advantage in FPS games.

[ndrwme Posted Sep 18th 2009 6:34PM]

The only Siberias I've heard were pretty good (not these though).

[samrum Posted Sep 18th 2009 5:43PM]

How is the mic quality?

[thefourthheat Posted Sep 18th 2009 8:48PM]

Forget the mic quality, the build quality was AWFUL on these. I wore my set once and then the thing commited seppuku via shoddy soft plastics trying to hold onto eyeglass-sized screws to hold everything together...in areas with tension. Seriously it's like a crackhead engineered it.

[husher Posted Sep 18th 2009 5:44PM]

shafted.
i got a pair at PAX 09 of v1.
i'm not digging how the mic is separate from the "headset" wires everywhere.
i only did it because they were offering them for 50% off

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 6:22PM]

Its not really a headset though, i wish they (siberia) would stop calling it that.

[husher Posted Sep 18th 2009 7:39PM]

yeh, how it is a headset if the mic isnt built into the damn model?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 19th 2009 8:50AM]

If you would've actually read/looked at the pictures, you'd see that in v2 there is a built in mic.

[husher Posted Sep 19th 2009 12:23PM]

IF you would have read and looked at my comment, im ranting about how they sold me v1 when v2 is right around the corner.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2009 11:53PM]

hence the 50% off.

you knew what you were getting.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 6:20PM]

Eh?
My siberia is fine for listening to other stuff, and i love how light it is, and the openness combined with the on ear gave it great airflow.
As far as im concerned, the only problem with it is using the mic, which depends on your desk setup.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 19th 2009 6:04AM]

Agreed, I loved my Siberas (until they broke) due to their open design. I hate big thick headsets. O well, looks like the V2 takes away the only thing I loved about them.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 7:32PM]

This looks nice and all, but Razer has them beat as of a couple months ago with the Megalodon. It's a 7.1 USB same as this one with a built in sound card. I have it and LOVE it, sounds great as does the mic on the other end, and i haven't had any problems with it. It also looks way cooler.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 10:17PM]

I picked up the Steelsound 5H v2 a couple years ago, and they've been the best headset I have ever owned. At the time I was deciding between the Siberia v1 and the 5H.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2009 11:28PM]

Build quality for SteelSeries has always sucked. The corded mice invariably separate for the cords in short order. Would trust them to engineer a ham sandwich.

[Poop Chef Posted Sep 19th 2009 3:13AM]

The quality of the headset is of no importance, the audio integrity is dependent on how much your cords cost. Dr. Dre knows this.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 19th 2009 9:15AM]

The basic design of the framework is flawed, I've had two of these, the ear crossbar breaks easily if dropped, I see they have not changed the design of that since V1... :( no sale....

[Disabled Posted Sep 19th 2009 9:52AM]

http://www.hwhell.com/wp-content/gallery/icemat-siberia-headset-review/icemat_siberia_7_large.jpg
hmmmm those look awfully fimilar....
i have these headphones and i love them to death
sound ok for the most part but they just so damned comfortable and your ears dont sweat in a hot room

[Wwhat Posted Sep 19th 2009 10:34AM]

The zalman 3d sound headphones weren't that good either, and also not that sturdy, and some other manufacturers had the same story, seems it's hard to get someone to design these things with good sound and a quality materials for some reason, and that goes for everybody that tried, weird.

[famikom Posted Sep 19th 2009 12:01PM]

they look like a modified AKG k701 no?
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f288/Rome101style/AKG-K701-Studio-Headphones-thumb-58.jpg

[ryan92084 Posted Sep 19th 2009 12:55PM]

i've had my original sibera's for a couple of years. prolonged wearing comfort on them is the biggest selling point for me (a glasses wearer). I'm no audiophile so i won't comment on the sound.

never had any build quality issues on my or my brother's set

and icemat=steel series