For a wi-fi gaming headset, the Steelseries Siberia 800 certain does include lots of cables. Open up the field and also you’d be forgiven for pondering you’ve purchased the mistaken headphones, as there’s a complete different mini field crammed inside it with extra cables than you understand what to do with. This is generally as a result of, in contrast to lots of wi-fi headsets, the Siberia 800 makes use of a devoted transmitter field that may be related to quite a lot of completely different units as an alternative of a standard USB dongle. Don’t get me mistaken, it nonetheless looks like a slap within the face when the entire level of wi-fi headphones is to get rid of mentioned wires, however there’s methodology to this cable-hogging insanity.
You see, the Siberia 800 (and its nigh-on equivalent, Bluetooth-enabled sibling, the Siberia 840) has been designed to be used throughout as many platforms as potential, together with consoles, PC and cell, with the transmitter appearing as a form of AV receiver for all of your completely different audio sources. To be truthful, it’s good that Steelseries has been so accommodating right here, as there are many different headsets on the market that make you pay additional for extra cables.
Its bundled ‘chat’ cables for Xbox 360 and Xbox One might date it considerably, however there’s loads of extra fashionable fine details in right here, too, together with an optical S/PDIF cable to your TV and PC, an everyday three.5mm analogue cable for wired use, one other three.5mm analogue cable with a flat, proper angle jack that’s supposedly for cell units however is definitely no completely different to another three.5mm cable, and a mini-USB to common USB for PC and consoles.
You’ll additionally see Steelseries raving about the way it helps Dolby’s 7.1 encompass sound, both in Dolby Digital or Dolby Pro Logic IIx type through its optical and USB connections. But let’s face it, when any given pair of headphones solely comes with a most of two audio system, you’re not actually getting correct 7.1 encompass sound. It’s bodily unattainable. Instead, it’s all finished at a software program stage, the place your audio drivers do some little bit of jiggery-pokery and add additional digital audio channels to finest symbolize what it thinks 7.1 encompass sound ought to, properly, sound like. It doesn’t do a foul job, truly, no less than over USB, however don’t be fooled into pondering it’s going to utterly rework your listening expertise.
Admittedly, the pliability supplied by the transmitter field will possible be misplaced on most PC homeowners, as I’d guess a good variety of you don’t have your major gaming rigs arrange politely subsequent to your front room TV. As a consequence, chances are you’ll need to contemplate a barely much less convoluted headset in case you’re largely going to be utilizing this for PC gaming and nothing else. For all the trouble concerned in setting it up, nonetheless, the Siberia 800 definitely doesn’t disappoint in the case of general audio high quality.
Regardless of whether or not I used to be utilizing them wirelessly or tethered through its three.5mm analogue cable sans transmitter, the ensuing audio was clear, crisp and splendidly balanced. I definitely didn’t really feel like I used to be lacking out on its digital encompass sound when utilizing its wired connection, and the bass was stored in verify always. Whether it was listening to the light guitar strumming of Final Fantasy XV’s overworld them or listening to the huff and puff of Tacoma’s ever-present sanitation drone precisely whistle and wheeze spherical my head as I floated via the area station, the Siberia 800 delivered on all fronts no matter quantity stage, creating an immersive soundscape I’d fortunately hearken to for hours.
I say hours – I nonetheless needed to shuffle the memory-foam padded headband round each half hour or so, however on the entire they have been extra snug than different headphones I’ve used lately. That’s largely all the way down to the Siberia 800’s massive, round ear cups, which virtually melted away towards my face. These have additionally received reminiscence foam padding, however it’s the fake leather-based end that actually makes them really feel delicate towards your cheeks. Most of the time, I barely even registered they have been there.
Yep, the Siberia 800 comes with each cable to go in these ports.
The Siberia 800 is enticing sufficient to put on on the transfer, too, and its closed-back design means you possibly can fortunately put on them with out disturbing others. That mentioned, I used to be disillusioned to see quite a few scuff marks seem on its plastic body after only a ten-minute journey on the very prime of my backpack on the best way to the station sooner or later. The shiny ear cup covers additionally attracted no finish of fingerprints – which is a disgrace contemplating you’ll recurrently must take away them in an effort to substitute its rechargeable lithium battery. Thankfully, you shouldn’t have to do that too usually because the battery is rated for 20 hours use, however merely placing them on will nonetheless depart the odd imprint as you alter the match.
Still, any additional problem that comes with holding the Siberia 800 clear is much outweighed by its disappointing retractable microphone. This slots into the left ear cup, and will be roughly adjusted to your liking, however the high quality of any ensuing chat wasn’t nice, to say the least. It will nearly get the job finished when taking part in collectively together with your mates on-line, however utilizing it for calls was a little bit of a muffly mess. For my cash, the Sennheiser GSP 350 continues to be king within the headset microphone area, however then I discovered these weren’t almost pretty much as good by way of general audio high quality.
Other little extras you get with the Siberia 800 is a microphone mute button subsequent to the principle energy button, and an adjustable quantity ring on the highest of the correct ear cup. The latter doesn’t management your PC’s grasp quantity, however it’s nonetheless fairly useful to have for making these barely finer changes in-game when there are not any different quantity controls at hand. Annoyingly, the slider simply carries on turning no matter how a lot quantity’s truly out there, however no less than it makes a small beeping sound if you’ve hit max quantity.
Alternatively, you possibly can all the time forged your eye over to the transmitter’s good OLED show for a real-time gauge of the place your quantity ranges at the moment sit. The transmitter additionally exhibits your headphone’s present battery stage, and in case you pop the second bundled battery inside its little charging nook, you’ll see how a lot cost that one’s received, too – one other beneficiant addition that goes a protracted technique to justify its £210/$260 value.
As a lot as I just like the Siberia 800, although, I’d nonetheless count on a greater microphone at this type of value. Again, in case you’re not the kind of one that performs lots of on-line video games, then this received’t be a lot of an issue, as the standard of its general audio is excellent. As lengthy as you’re down with the additional problem of setting it up and including every particular person audio supply one after the other on the transmitter menu (sure, actually), then I say go for it. For these after a fantastic pair of headphones and a fantastic microphone, nonetheless, the Siberia 800 most likely isn’t the gaming headset for you.
