We’ve told you before that the Steelseries Siberia V2 headset was something special; a sleek, sexy light-weight, ultra-comfortable device with great sound to match its eye-catching aesthetic. We’ve now had a chance to get very, very intimate with its follow-up, the Siberia Elite…and I’m rather smitten with them.
Unbelievable comfort
I’ve never really developed strong feelings for hardware before, but I’ve really fallen in love with the Siberia Elite, and I’m convinced they love me too; they’re just so damned comfortable, that it feels like they’re making sweet love to my ears whenever I put them on. Like the Siberia V2, the Elite features large cups that wrap over even the largest ears.
Seriously, the lush comfort you’ll get from these these headphones is not something that can be overstated. It features a similar self-adjusting suspension headband that ensures a snug, but comfortable fit and the actual earcups are large and plush, leather-bedecked foam that feel like giant marshmallows taped to your head. It’s easy enough to forget you actually have them on – even after extended periods of use. I’ve taken to just putting them on, even if I’m not actively listening to anything. I suspect I might have a problem.
Unbelievable Sound
It’s not just that they’re comfortable, mind – they also happen to sound fantastic. Though gaming headsets are all the rage, very few of them actually manage good sound reproduction. That’s not the case with the Elite’s, which produce crisp highs, and wonderfully trembling lows. With that snug fit, they do a pretty good job of isolating noise too; my wife’s had to come and tap me on the shoulder to get my attention, though I think some of that may have had to do with the fact that she was asking me get the dishwasher loaded (not another way of saying “make sure the wife is drunk” I later found out”)
One of the secrets to the Siberia’s best-in-class sound is the included digital USB soundcard. It’s what enables the headset to deliver convincing Dolby-ProLogic powered 7.1 surround sound (though it features only two physical speakers). so it’s not real surround sound, but certainly delivers the sort of spatial cues you’d expect from a high-end surround headset. In my case, it let me know exactly which direction the bullet that killed me came from.
Unbelievable experience
The whole experience is powered by the new Steelseries SteelEngine 3.0 software which gives you a 10-band equaliser to fiddle with the settings to your own needs. The software also allows you to change the light you’ll find embedded in each earcup. I told you before that colour-changing lights was the new trend in gaming gear and yes, the Elite allows you to select from every one of the perceivable 16.8 million colours to illuminate your ears with. There are settings to have it as a static light, shift through colour gradients, pulse or react to volume. It’s entirely pointless, though it does look nice and allows you to make them your own.
It’s also got a retractable microphone embedded in the left cup; and it’s a noise-cancelling affair that allows you to tailor microphone sidetalk, sensitivity and compression so with a little tweaking it all sounds great when you’re telling people online what their mothers did last night. Oh…and it lights up to let you know that it’s working. On the right hand side there’s an additional 3.5mm audio jack, that lets you plug in another headset if you wish to share your aural experience with somebody else in the room.
Unbelievably Clever
If there’s one thing I absolutely hate about gaming headsets, is the necessary evil of a in-line volume control box that adds weight to the cable and tends to get in the way. The elite has a pretty ingenious solution to this; the volume controls are unobtrusively, intrinsically built in to the earcups themselves. Turn the knob in the left cup to mute the mic, and turn the right one for full volume control. It’s pretty damned clever.
If I had to say something bad about the Elite, it’s that the headset cable terminates in a weird proprietary connector, similar to a micro USB, that plugs in to the included USB sound card. It’s mitigated by the fact that it ships with an adapter to plug it in to a standard set of 3.5mm jacks though, and the package also includes another adapter to get it to work on an iPhone,iPad or other device that uses the tri-band jack. Also included is an exceptionally long extension cable, which comes in pretty handy if you’re playing games on the telly instead of at your desk.
It’s available in both black and white. We don’t know what it’ll cost when it’s available here, but it’s currently going for about $199. I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the Siberia Elite – and it is worth every cent of of its asking price. They’ve replaced all the other headsets that sit around my PC; now if only they played nice with my consoles.
Here are the specs for those who are so inclined:
SPEAKERS
Frequency: 16-28 KHz
Impedance: 32 Ohm
SPL@ 1KHz, 1V rms: 113 dB
CABLE
Length: 1.2 meters
Extension cable: 2 meters
Connectors: 3.5 mm 4-pole & 3-pole x2
MICROPHONE
Mic pattern: Unidirectional
Frequency: 75 – 16000 Hz
Impedance: <2.2K Ohm
Sensitivity: -38 dB
Last Updated: October 30, 2013
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was reviewed on PC |
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 30, 2013 at 15:35
The white version looks like it was ripped straight out of Portal with that colour scheme.
Deano
October 30, 2013 at 15:42
Looks amazing I want.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
October 30, 2013 at 15:42
Those are very expensive 0.o
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 30, 2013 at 15:58
Indeed, for that moolah I’d rather get the Razer ones
RangerMossel
October 30, 2013 at 16:03
For that moolah I’ll just buy Sennheizer.
Andrimner
November 5, 2013 at 15:24
Don’t buy Sinnheiser, I had the PC 360 GAME and they lasted for a year. The right speaker didn’t work as it should, and the microphone stopped working.
The Rich
October 31, 2013 at 10:06
Except Razer headsets get a ton of negative reviews, whereas I challenge you to find an overall, legit, negative review of the Siberia V2s. You won’t.
horrortool
January 18, 2014 at 15:11
I bought Razer Megalodon yesterday and returned them today! I will never ever buy a product from them again (unfortunately i bought a gaming mouse as well) They didn’t work right out of the box, great work guys! I’m not kidding I’ve never ever had a product this crappy as the headset!
The firmware upgrade that should iron out the wrinkles couldn’t be installed. A quick check on the net made me realise that i had made a bad decision buying that headset. I went down and returned them today an got the Siberian Elite instead and now I’m sitting here with a smile on my face.
ALKi1234
October 30, 2013 at 15:52
Where can one buy a that adapter that splits the mic and audio??iv’e been calling bloemfontein all over and no one can help me.
TiMsTeR1033
October 30, 2013 at 15:57
There is ONE downside to these…. can anyone guess what it is? Dirt! White wont look clean for too long…
Chantal Wood
October 30, 2013 at 16:01
They’ll be available in Black too 🙂
HvR
October 30, 2013 at 16:39
Can see that it can be problem for a make-up artist with dirty hands as yourself.
Charl van der Merwe
November 4, 2013 at 16:18
hahahaa
George
October 30, 2013 at 15:59
I am actually looking for a headset. I am stuck between the Corsair Vengeance 1500 and the Steelseries Siberia V2 with the 7.1 soundcard for R350 extra. I have been delaying because I don’t know if the Steelseries is really worth the extra randelas
RangerMossel
October 30, 2013 at 16:04
Roccat Kave! Do it! My best buy I’ve made.
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 30, 2013 at 16:09
I’ve got those too 😀
RangerMossel
October 31, 2013 at 08:06
It’s bestest!
Andrimner
November 5, 2013 at 15:18
worst shit ever, hate roccat. its poor made, and looks really plastic. my friend has the roccat kave.
The Rich
October 31, 2013 at 10:07
Had my Siberia V2s for a few months now and they’re incredible. And I’ve owned a ton of headsets too, so I can compare and tell you that the V2s are the greatest I’ve so far owned. (Also, I’m a bit of an audiophile – I’m the guy spending so much on my car sound that my insurance won’t cover its full value).
Chantal Wood
October 30, 2013 at 16:00
Those tags. LMAO Geoff 😛
Matthew Holliday
October 30, 2013 at 16:15
ive been desperate for a pair of these since Steelseries gave a set to Congo, 200$ is perhaps pushing it a bit.
my Razer Elektras are nowhere near dead yet…
NanoNoodle
October 31, 2013 at 07:49
Your wife should troll you by turning the volume knob up really high XD
Kensei Seraph
October 31, 2013 at 07:52
This review has some amazing timing.
My headset died sometime yesterday while I was at work. (magically)
Pity these don’t seem to be available yet.
Any idea what warranty and/or guarantee that these come with as I seem to have bad luck with wired headsets?
The Rich
October 31, 2013 at 10:08
The V2s carry the standard 1 year warranty as far as I remember. Doubt these will be any different.
Andrimner
November 5, 2013 at 15:20
Im wating for mine :)! cant wait!!
Nash
December 14, 2013 at 13:20
Does anybody know if the USB-soundcard and the 7.1 features work with the PS4?
Brian
December 21, 2013 at 03:05
Sounds is good but not overall happy with the Elites. For one I had to return my first one because if i moved my jaw the Right ear would go out. I just received my second pair and if I even touch the wire the right ear goes out.
larry
January 17, 2014 at 03:15
have the same issue. My third replacement arrives tomorrow. If its got the problem too Im out.
Aries
August 6, 2014 at 22:34
had the same issue with the Corsair’s i had, does your elite you got still work, considering buying it, had two replacements on my corsairs and still same problem
SibElite
January 11, 2014 at 19:16
I`ve got this headset yesterday on my birthday, and its the best headset i`ve ever had! and before this i got: razer kraken pro, razer pirahna, logitech g930. ( i have Elite in black ). Siberia Elite has what i think the best sound and nicest design! Recommend this headset strongly for everyone that are a true gamer.
Gienhetzwien .
January 14, 2014 at 15:12
i own a siberia elite now and i can tell all of you that the sound is amazing and the earcups feel like pillows making it comfy the BIG downside is the USB soundcard/drivers they suck big time and ruin the microphone’s quality and make it sound like you are talking through a bad mobile phone i suggest that they fix this soon otherwise it wont be worth buying
Berny Cheam
May 31, 2014 at 17:14
I firstly purchase corssair HS40 virtual 7.1 , Results = NO BASE , very high pitch is torturing my ears.
Send back for replacement + upgrade to Razer kraken pro 7.1 , Results = Awesome base, awesome 7.1, perfect for csgo. HOWEVER, ear cup leather too small for my ears, after 20mins of wearing, my ears feel like being cut off, so damm pain.
So i send back for another replacement + upgrade to ASUS vulcan pro 7.1 . Box detail written ( you can pinpoint exactly where the enemy is ) , i bought the words, and i choose it. Good full size earcup, comfortable, Nice bass for movie and music, HOWEVER, same like corssair HS40, when launching CSGO, There is NO Base , med and high pitch is really a torture. I CANT EVEN pinpoint any enemy beside me or behind me, Too much noise details. TOTALLY another failed expensive headset.
The next day, i send back for another frustrating replacement + upgrades. But this time i will try b4 i purchase . First i tried the razer chimeara 5.1 . Opened the box, take that headset put over my head, Immediately I rejected it. Ear piece too HARD, not full size , not even 1mins my ears started to feel the uncomfortable pain same as Kraken pro. Chimeara cushion is much harder than kraken pro 7.1.
So i tested another Razer Tiamat true 7.1 . Packaging looks so cool, great quality. Full sized ear cup, so i feel so comfortable. HOWEVER , the amount of bass is so little. high pitch as usual. Rejected it again. I’m tired of trying any more brands, so it’s Either Audio techica or Siberia elite.
Without much hesitate, i choose siberia elite. First impression, cool box, cool colour changing illumination, full size , VERY comfort for my ears, The most important is when launching CSGO, with the 7.1 dolby and csgo 5.1 settings. I CAN REALLY pinpoint where’s the enemy. Great sound quality, great bass, great EQ from the software. I know this my final choice.
The Siberia Elite. The only CONS is i cant buy any Hard case for such expensive headset.