SteelSeries SteelSound 5H v2 - Testing and Conclusions
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Okay, now that I’ve put this headset under a microscope and taken loads of pictures, it's time to plug it in and listen to the quality. My quality tests are very demanding, and range from playing several sound-intensive games (Unreal Tournament, Quake 4, Oblivion) and listening to different types of music (ranging from broadcast musicals to today’s rock and alternative).
The headphones. To be honest, I was shocked and pleased by the high quality of this headset when it came to sound reproduction. The highs were incredibly crisp, and the lows were surprisingly full. I own a pair of Sennheiser headphones that cost three times the price of the SteelSound, which would be given a run for the money. In game, the sounds, whether distant footsteps or the explosion of a rocket at my feet were equally detailed, and a definite enhancement to my current solution. When listening to the music, you would almost swear you were listening to a different cut of music than you’ve heard time and time again. The SteelSound draws out each individual instrument’s potential and makes it possible to hear each and every one of them.
The microphone. I tested the microphone in three ways. First, I enabled it during some choice FPS action. There's nothing like taunting your enemies as you light them up. Second, I made a few Internet “phone calls.” Third, I recorded some vocal tracks directly into windows. The outcome? The audio of the microphone produces is crisp and quite audible. At first, I had the microphone positioned a little too closely in front of my mouth, but after a few minutes and a few adjustments, the situation was rectified. My voice was loud and clear in all three test mediums.
This headset performed admirably across the board. As always, here are the Pros and Cons of this product:
Pros:
- EXCELLENT sound quality
- Retractable microphone
- Disassembles for safer transport
- Six foot extension cable.
Cons:
- Price is kind of high for the casual user (approx $99 at the time of this writing).
Yeah, this headset is awesome. Based on my usage, I give the product a score of 9 out of 10, and the Dev Hardware GOLD Award. The price is a little high, but for a true audiophile or even a hardcore gamer who really cares about sound, it's definitely worth every penny.
For those of you who want a quality headset with an integrated sound card, SteelSeries makes a SteelSound 5H v2 USB model to accommodate you.
I’d like to thank SteelSeries for sending us the SteelSound 5H v2 for review. If you’d like more information on this product, please visit SteelSeries website at http://www.steelseries.com/products/steel_sound/steelsound_5h_v2/information.
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