Great cans for gaming, music and movies

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (LIN) - SteelSeries has sent me a pair of their gaming headphones in the past and I came away very impressed. When I originally reviewed the Siberia Neckband , I said they were loud, clear and comfortable, three things any good set of headphones are going to have. SteelSeries sent over a pair of their Siberia v2 headphones for me to try out, and I have to say the headphones are a nice improvement over the Neckband version. SteelSeries kept many of the cool features of the original Siberia headphones, while making subtle changes that make for a better listening experience.

In the FAQ for the Siberia v2, SteelSeries noted there were four main differences between the original unit and the new one. "(1)The latest audio technology, which provides the rich sound quality that you deserve. (2) A pull out microphone that keeps your most epic moments tangle free. (3) A relocated volume control to make it even easier to adjust your experience. (4) Closed earphones with comfortable leather earcups, which will allow you to game in peace." In the same FAQ, they detailed the sound enhancements, saying the v2's feature a pair of upgraded speakers. SteelSeries boosted the base and overall volume and improved the frequency response to "10-28,000Hz."

Some quick specifications for the Siberia v2 Headphones

• 50mm speakers
• Impedance: 32 Ohm
• Frequency: 10-28,000 Hz
• SPL@1kHz: 112dB
• Cable: 1m + 2m extension
• Jacks: 2* 3.5mm
• Retractable microphone: 50-16,000 Hz, unidirectional

One of the neatest aspects of the headset is a carryover from previous units, the retractable microphone. SteelSeries designed the Siberia v2 so that you can slide the microphone back inside the headphones, away from sight. When you're wanting to listen to music, maybe take out the iPod and still use your nice headphones, you can without having the embarrassment of a microphone awkwardly hanging out for everyone to see.

Another aspect I enjoyed was the cable extension. The base headset only has a 3-foot cable, which is great for plugging into a laptop, or using with a media player. The headset also comes with a handy 6-foot extension cable, which you can just leave plugged into the computer. Some people prefer the standard 3.5mm plugs, while others prefer their headset to have a USB plug. I'm really not partial one way or the other (In fact, the Siberia v2 actually offers USB version that I'll discuss in a moment). Most times, the only reason for having a USB plug is because there are sound drivers on the unit itself for emulating better audio, but if you have a decent enough sound card (and don't mind it playing in steroe) you can still have a great experience. That being said, the Siberia v2 without USB offers only a stereo experience. There is no 5.1 or 7.1 emulation. Still, I think they're a great value for a high quality headset.

I used the Siberia v2 headset primarily for gaming, but while at my desk, they were also used for music and movies. To give a passing grade to a set of headphones, you really have to enjoy having them on for a long period of time. There's a chance that you could wear them for hours if you're in a long gaming session, and you don't want to be constantly adjusting them to make sure they're comfortable on your ears. That being said, I found the headset to be extremely comfortable. SteelSeries uses a creative mechanism to institute a one-size-fits-all style. The headphones themselves are supported by a suspension system, but when you put them on there's a strap that automatically extends to fit your head. (For a size reference, I wear a size 8 baseball cap, and they fit comfortably over my ears without an issue.)

While gaming, I primarily stuck to Left 4 Dead 2 and Team Fortress 2, where positional audio can actually help you. I found the headphones did a good enough job alerting me to the presence of my enemies. Let's put it this way, I definitely wasn't firing in the wrong direction. In a high-paced action game, clarity is almost as important as having a perfect positional audio. As an example, zombies in Left 4 Dead 2 all have a unique sound to them. If you're charging through parked cars, running from hordes of zombies, you want to be able to hear the specific special infected zombie that's hiding around the corner. With the Siberia v2, the only excuse you have for not knowing which zombie is there, is having the headset around your neck. In Team Fortress 2, it's a little bit different, but the point is still the same. You want to know if someone is running up to you with a shotgun or a rocket launcher, or if a spy has decloaked with a "Dead Ringer" and is preparing to backstab you. The Siberia v2 headset always sounded clear when it was on my ears, and it was always loud.

If it's too loud, don't worry you don't need to access your in-game volume settings to turn it down. There's an in-line volume level with a mute switch for the microphone. Not every headset has a built-in volume control, but