By Steven Iglesias-Hearst
Manufacturer: SteelSeries
Product Name: Siberia Elite Gaming Headset
Model Number: 51151
UPC: 5707119020664 EAN: 813810017355
Price As Tested: $199.99 (Amazon | Newegg)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by SteelSeries.
SteelSeries peripherals and headsets are well known for their sleek design, high quality and excellent functionality among enthusiasts and gamers alike. Today Benchmark Reviews will be taking a look at the newest line from SteelSeries; The Siberia Elite Gaming Headset (model# 51151). We will put them through their paces in a variety of scenarios including watching films, listening to music, and of course – gaming.
The Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is intended to improve on and replace the Siberia V2 headset, which has been very successful in it’s own right, but I think the Siberia Elite is a whole different monster altogether. The Siberia Elite Gaming Headset (available in back or white) incorporates metal into its design for extra strength, and has thicker padding all round for added comfort. The 50mm speaker drivers are a next-generation design with dual neodymium magnets to deliver rich sound and low frequency power. Compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, Android and iOS mobile operating systems straight out of the box, the Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is SteelSeries’ most versatile headset that they have created to date.
The features and specifications below were taken from the Siberia Elite product page of the SteelSeries website and the Siberia Elite product page at Amazon.com respectively.
Features
- Next-generation SteelSeries proprietary 50mm speaker drivers with dual neodymium magnets deliver rich sound and low frequency power
- Dolby Headphone and Dolby Pro Logic IIx surround sound technologies for up to a virtual 7.1-channel immersive audio experience (PC or Mac with USB port for use with sound card)
- Closed-back design for outstanding accuracy, clarity, and detail
- Retractable unidirectional microphone for crystal clarity with active noise cancellation
- Advanced audio customization including 10-band EQ, microphone volume control, microphone background noise rejection, auto microphone gain, custom sidetone
- Compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS
- Dolby ProLogic Iix produces rich immersive soundscape
- Flat, soft, tangle-free cable with 8-pin mini connector
- Headband features lightweight perfect-fit suspension design
- Includes cable ends for PC, Mac, and mobile devices
- Intuitive control through rotary dials on ear cups
- Memory-foam ear cushions and headband for long wearing comfort
- Available in Black or White
Specifications
Speakers
- Frequency: 16Hz~28 KHz
- Impedance: 32 Ohm
- SPL@ 1KHz, 1V rms: 113 dB
microphone
- microphone pattern: Unidirectional
- Frequency: 75 – 16000 Hz
- Impedance: <2.2K Ohm
- Sensitivity: -38 dB
Cable
- Length: 1.2 meters
- Extension cable: 2 meters
- Connectors: 3.5 mm 4-pole & 3-pole microphone/headphone splitter
Product Dimensions
- 5.4 x 7.6 x 8.1 inches / 12.8 ounces
Source(s): steelseries.com / amazon.com
In this section we take a look at the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset and discuss the main features. Siberia Elite is currently available online for $199.99 (Amazon | Newegg).
First impressions are that the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is ridiculously huge. Gaming headsets are traditionally oversized but SteelSeries have taken this to new heights. Despite the size and construction, the Siberia Elite isn’t too heavy. Weighing in at around 400g, you barely notice you have these on your head. Plush memory foam cushions in the head band and ear pads provide a great level of comfort for extended usage.
A steel arc gives structure to the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset and the signature suspension head band ensures hassle-free automatic adjustment to all head sizes. The retractable microphone is also an original innovation created by SteelSeries. The microphone boom is not as flexible as I would have liked but it works well all the same and serves its purpose just fine.
The original Siberia Headset had a plastic arc for structure which keeps weight down but compromises on strength. The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is built with stronger and higher quality materials for better durability and longevity.
Despite the appearance of 35mm thick ear pads, the cushions on the inside are only around 15mm thick. The speaker enclosure is the largest part of the ear cup assembly, which is great for sound reproduction, and is cleverly disguised as the ear pad for better aesthetics.
The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset has a unique flat SATA style cable with a proprietary 8-pin mini connector unique to this headset. The cable measures 1.2m and comes with a few different end connectors as seen below.
The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset ships with the USB Soundcard V2 accessory as default. I would only recommend using this accessory to users who don’t have a dedicated sound card or who don’t have a very good quality on board sound solution. A 2m extension cable gives extra flexibility if you have a large PC desk or if you need a bit of range to move around while on your PC. The next accessory is a 8-pin to 4-pole 3.5mm jack connector for mobile devices such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops. Last but not least is the 8-pin to headphone/microphone splitter for users who have their own dedicated sound solution.
In this section we take a closer look at the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset and discuss its finer details.
The USB Soundcard V2 that ships with the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is a real simple design and has minimal I/O. The USB solution is essential if you want to enjoy all of the features of the Siberia Elite such as the LED lighting, game specific sound profiles, a 10-band EQ and Dolby headphone technologies. The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset will work independently of the USB Soundcard V2, and its use is recommended if you don’t have a dedicated sound card solution. The construction is not of the highest quality and would benefit from better materials or just better quality control. The unit was not falling to pieces but it did feel like it wouldn’t take much effort to break it.
Looking here at the right ear cup, the keen eyed will have noticed an extra 3.5mm jack port. this port works as input or output and allows users to daisy-chain their headphones and share one sound device between multiple users. The white dimpled plastic ring towards the center is actually a rotary volume control dial, it’s placement makes for intuitive and easy access for volume control on the fly. The dial has a rubberised coating for for extra grip while in use.
The left ear cup houses the retractable microphone and also has a rotary dial which controls microphone mute on/off. If it were up to me I would have the microphone auto mute when it is retracted into the ear cup, and I would use the dial to control microphone volume level instead.
The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset retains the innovative suspension head band design that was introduced with the original Siberia headset from SteelSeries. This great design removes the need to adjust the head band to suit your head. Instead, the Siberia Elite seems to mould itself to your head for a custom fit. There is plenty of range in the head band for large heads or big hair and small heads alike. Extra comfort is afforded by six individual memory foam ‘pillows’ incorporated into the head band.
The ear pads have a generous amount of padding and have a faux leather outer material that keeps your ears from overheating. The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is all set for long usage periods without discomfort or sweaty ears. Despite looking like there is 35mm of ear pad, there is only 15mm of actual cushioning. 15mm is still quite generous, and the rest is a clever disguise for the large speaker enclosure and makes for nicer aesthetics.
In this section we will take a brief look at the SteelSeries Engine 3 software suite. Firmware for the USB Soundcard V2 and the Siberia Elite Gaming Headset was updated to version 4.15.0.7 during the review with no noticeable differences from the previous version.
The USB Soundcard V2 software provides various essential headset controls and some optional enhancement settings to provide a richer experience. The ‘configs’ button in the bottom left corner allows you to assign settings that will auto-apply when a particular program/application is launched.
The Siberia Elite Gaming Headset provides the same essential headset controls and optional enhancement settings to provide a richer experience. The ‘configs’ button in the bottom left corner allows you to assign settings that will auto-apply when a particular program/application is launched. The live preview toggle switch (when set to ON) allows you to instantly experience the amended settings without clicking save and waiting for the changes to apply. This makes for a seamless configuration experience and of course you only need to hit save once you are finished and happy with your configuration.
Selecting the LED icon to the right of the headset image brings up a second window with access to the LED controls. From here you can choose from a full RGB color palette and from various LED ‘modes’. LED modes include: Steady – Single color always on, Breathe – Single color fading in and out at user defined speed, Audio Volume Trigger – White LED which reacts to audio source, and finally, ColourShift (detailed below).
The ColorShift LED mode gives you a selection of four pre-defined color range patterns to choose from. The first three transition to the next color without turning the LED’s off while the fourth selection fades each color in and out before selecting the next color. It would be nice to be able to edit the color shift patterns or create your own, but the default selection is more than enough for most users.
The ear cup LED’s generate very rich and vibrant colors. The colors were not always true to the selection palette but they weren’t too far away. The image above gives you a brief idea of the color reproduction but really does not do the Siberia Elite Gaming Headset any justice, the colors are much more bright and vibrant in person.
The microphone also has a built in LED which illuminates when the microphone is muted and turns off when the microphone is active. The microphone LED is very bright and can be very distracting so you may want to retract the microphone when you mute it.
Choosing the right headphones or gaming headset is a very personal quest. A great experience for person #1 may be a different experience for person #2 and gets even more convoluted when you have an eclectic taste in music. There is a lot of hype surrounding top brands and price is not always a good indicator of performance. I’m not an audiophile or purist by any means but I am very keen on getting a good audio experience and I insist on comfort too.
I’ll try to be as descriptive as possible and give answers to any questions you may have, but the best way to tell if you like how this headset performs, sounds and feels would be to try them out for yourself if at all possible.
I used AudioCheck.net’s sound tests to check frequency response, dynamic range, sound quality, driver matching, wiring, binaural signal, and full music playback on my PC. When using the tests on AudioCheck.net it is advisable to first download the samples to your computer and play them in a good media player. Some of the tests can be skewed by the audio compression of the online version. For mobile music/gaming I paired the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset with my Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone. I also tested the headset in other usage scenarios such as Gaming and watching Movies/TV shows on my PC for extended periods of time to gauge comfort and wearability.
I generally listen to Urban / Alternative styles of music such as Dance, Dubstep, Drum and Bass, Rap and HipHop and UK Grime. These genres tend to be very heavy on the bassline front, and I personally prefer bass that can be felt rather than heard. You also get a fantastic mixture of instrument sounds and samples within these genres too, as the artists and producers are more willing to play and experiment with sound, more so than your average pop icon or recording artist would.
- SteelSeries USB Soundcard V2
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ASUS Z87I-PRO On-board Realtek ALC1150 8-Channel High Definition Audio
- Logitech Desktop PC Sound-system
- Samsung Galaxy S3 Smartphone
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Comparison Products: V-Moda Crossfade M100 Headphones + ASUS ROG Vulcan ANC Gaming Headset.
Sound Quality: The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is very impressive right across the board. They are far superior to the ASUS ROG Vulcans but fall short of the sound quality and range of the V-MODA Crossfade M100 headphones. It might be important to note that the Crossfade M100’s are an exceptional set of headphones and also cost $100 more. The sound quality and range was very noticeable when switching between the USB Soundcard V2 and the Realtek on-board sound of my motherboard. The USB sound card offers acceptable performance but I found the on-board Realtek solution much more impressive in terms of volume and depth and full range response. The sound remained very clean throughout, with only very minor distortion experienced during low frequency testing.
Frequency response and Dynamic Range: Looking at the specifications you will see that the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset have a frequency response of 16Hz ~ 28kHz. While this is not the most overwhelming specification for an expensive headset it is above average. The dual neodymium magnet 50mm speaker drivers reproduce sound very well with plenty of volume range and impressive bass response.
Bass at frequencies below 20Hz, as with frequencies above 16kHz are generally not audible to the average human ear. The Siberia Elite Gaming Headset performed well in the low frequency sound tests, with response noticeable slightly distorted at the 10Hz starting point and cleaned up somewhere between the 30Hz~40Hz tone and upwards. The low frequency tests produce a tinnitus inducing low pressure pulse wave – Don’t do this test too loud or for too long as you will cause damage to your hearing.
The high frequency tests were met by a roadblock between 15kHz and 16kHz, somewhat short of the specifications. There is more than one limiting factor that can account for the high frequency upper limit, such as; 1) Upper hearing limit of test subject (Human factor). 2) Sound card is prone to aliasing (Reproduction factor) or 3) Frequency response of headphones may not be correct (Specifications factor). In general the upper human hearing limit is somewhere between 15~20kHz which tends to deteriorate with age. Even so, sounds at these frequencies are so piercing that you wouldn’t want prolonged exposure anyway.
Binaural Testing: Binaural testing shows the headphone’s ability to recreate the exact position of sound. To test this, a recording of sound is taken with a microphone inside your ear, where the sound actually reaches you. Playing this back through good headphones, which rest very closely to the area where the sound was recorded, should make it sound extremely realistic. This test doesn’t work with regular speakers because of their positioning relative to your ears. Suffice to say, the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset performed flawlessly during the binaural testing.
Extended Playback and Comfort: The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset weighs slightly more than the ASUS ROG Vulcan headset (400g vs 325g) which is not surprising considering the metal construction. The Clamping force is moderate to strong but is less noticeable over time. The ear pads and headband are very soft and comfortable. There is no Active Noise Cancellation with the Siberia Elite Gaming Headset but once the speakers start pumping they do a fair job of blocking out most exterior sound just as they are. There is very little sound leakage from the ear cups even when up close and at full volume so you won’t need to worry about disturbing others. This all adds up to a comfortable and pleasurable listening experience, but it would be better with slightly less clamping force.
Overall impressions: I have been very impressed by the performance of the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset. They bring great depth and life to music, movies and of course games across a range of devices. The sound quality out of the box was impressive but for a more immersive experience you will want to tweak and create some custom EQ’s that suit your preferences. I was left wanting more from the included USB sound card which means I will just have to do without the novelty of the LED illuminations.
The Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is SteelSeries’ most expensive headset available at the moment, and are in the price range of competitors’ wireless and surround sound headsets. For $199.99 (Amazon | Newegg), you would be right to expect high quality sound and construction, and you will not be disappointed with the Siberia Elite Gaming Headset.
The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset works great right of the box and didn’t require much tweaking to get a great experience across a range of devices. The supplied USB sound card was not as good as my on-board sound in terms of volume and depth but was acceptable all the same. Should you choose to not use the USB sound card you will not get the novelty LED effects on the ear cups or the microphone.
The performance of the Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is well above average and will not disappoint. Frequency response is advertised at 16Hz~28kHz.. To my ears the frequency response comes in somewhere around 30Hz~16KHz, the upper limit may just be my ears but I’m confident the lower limit is fairly accurate. I found that the supplied USB sound card didn’t perform as well as I had expected and that the Siberia Elite Gaming Headset performed much better through my Realtek on-board sound.
As far as appearances go, the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is just a bit too big for my liking. At a LAN event you won’t look out of place, but you certainly wouldn’t see me wearing these walking down the street or on the bus – they are freakishly huge. Of course that is just my own personal opinion, your mileage will vary and that is just the way it is when it comes to aesthetics. You are free to make up your own opinion. They look great but could do with just a little shrinkage.
The Steel Series Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is extremely well constructed and uses fine quality materials too. I really can’t find any flaws and don’t have any complaints about the build quality of the headset, but I felt that the USB sound card was a lower build quality. The ear pads and headband made for a pleasant and comfortable experience even though the clamping force was a little on the strong side. The faux leather material around the ear pads will ensure that you don’t get too hot during extended periods of use.
Most of the functionality of the Siberia Elite Gaming Headset is only available if you connect it through the USB sound card. Dolby headphone technologies, 10-band EQ and advanced microphone controls, LED illumination and controls are all lost if you use the headset without the USB sound card. On the other hand; the retractable microphone, suspension headband and ear cup rotary controls are all great innovations that make the Siberia Elite a great headset and the cable attachments allow for use on a wide range of devices right out of the box.
The SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset (model# 51151) will set you back $199.99 (Amazon). This is a high price to pay for a headset but I think the Siberia Elite might just be worth the asking price. At this price range you will be looking at top PC brands and wireless/surround headsets. I would suggest using it with a dedicated sound card or if you are confident in your on-board sound then use it like that, as the USB sound card is a little underwhelming.
+ Works great straight out of the box
+ Excellent build quality
+ Impressive sound quality
+ Suspension headband for perfect fit
+ Very comfortable ear pads and headband
+ Retractable microphone
+ Rotary controls for volume control and microphone mute
+ LED illumination on ear cups and microphone
+ Low sound leakage
+ Cable attachments for a wide range of devices
– USB sound card could be better
– Functionality lost when not connected via USB
– Expensive enthusiast product
– No noise cancellation
– Large size even for a gaming headset
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Performance: 8.75
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Appearance: 8.00
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Construction: 9.50
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Functionality: 9.00
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Value: 8.00
Recommended: Benchmark Reviews Seal of Approval.
COMMENT QUESTION: Where do you draw the line between quality and price with audio products?
