SteelSeries SteelSound 4H - A closer look
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As I said earlier, we have recently reviewed both the SteelSound 3H and the 5H v2. I've taken the liberty of photographing all three of them together, to get an idea of how they compare with each other.
In the above picture, we have the 5H v2 on the far left, the 4H in the center, and the 3H on the right. The 3H is what we call an "on ear" headset, since the ear pads actually rest on the ear directly. The 5H v2 and the 4H are both "over the ear" headsets, since the pads sit around the ear, surrounding it with sound.
As I said earlier, the 4H was designed to be a simplified 5H v2. So what's the difference? There are a few, to be honest. Here's the breakdown, as I see it:
- The wiring - The 5H v2 has a braided cord, which is a bit tougher than the standard plastic-coated cords most headsets (including the SteelSound 4H) have.
- Collapsible - The 5H v2 has a collapsing feature, where you can actually remove each of the earpieces from the top bar and pack them separately. This leaves less to break if they get jostled in transit.
- Padding - The top bar of the 5H v2 has over ½ inch of padding, to make it more comfortable.
- Longer Cord - The 5H v2 headset itself has a shorter cord than the 4H, but the 5H v2 comes with an extension cord (about six feet in length) to plug into the back of your PC.
- Minor aesthetic differences - The 5H v2 has a much more polished appearance, including a decorative metallic circle around the ear cups.
Here's a picture of the top bars of the 4H and 5H v2 a little closer. You can see the difference between the two.
Obviously, the 4H on the top is less padded than the 5H v2 on the bottom.
Next: Testing and conclusion >>
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