TECHNOLOGY
PHOTOS: STEVE SAYERS/THESECRETSTUDIO.NETOne of SteelSeries’
flagship audio products,
the Siberia 800 is one of
themostcomprehensive
and versatile headsets you
can buy. While they’re
marketed as a gaming-
focused package, these
cups have been designed
to extend their sumptuous
Dolby 7.1 surround sound
quality to everything from
PCs to consoles and
smartphones. With that
hefty price tag this is a big
investment for a headset,
but with myriad leads,
adaptors and connectors
supplied, you’re almost
spoiled for choice.
Withawireless
transmitterthatplugsinto
the mains, you get a handy
bit of software called
LiveMix that detects
incoming dialogue fromSteelSeries Siberia 800
£249.99
steelseries.comyour own mic and then
adjusts the sound mix to
ensure you don’t miss a
word in the sonic
maelstrom of a match or
firefight. Even if you’re not
agamer,thatDolby7.1
surround sound really
sings inside the Siberia
800, making everything
from soft ballads to
bombastic film scores a
pleasure to behold.
It’s also a supremely
comfortable headset to
wear, but it’s not without
its flaws. The batteries can
be fiddly to replace, as can
calibrating it to suit so
many different platforms.
For t he price, t he build
quality also doesn’t look or
feelquiteasluxuriousas it
should, but they still
sound like a dream.Much like many other
Sennheiser headsets, the
PC 373D might not be the
most aesthetically pleasing
setofcupsintheworld,
but what it lacks in eye
candy it more than makes
up for with ear candy. For
astart,there’sthetop-of-
the-line retractable
microphone, which offers
one of the clearest voice
channels we’ve ever heard
onagamingheadset.
These PC-only
headphones come with the
sturdy construction you’d
expect from German
manufacturer Sennheiser,
with that velvet finish on
the ear cushions adding a
real splash of luxury at
this price point. That
quality extends to the
audio experience as well,
with both highs and lows
Sennheiser PC 373D
£219.99
sennheiser.comfeeling powerful, punchy
and accurate when using it
for a wide variety of
purposes. There is,
however, a frustrating
rattle when you push the
bass up that can get a little
distracting if you’re into
your bass-y setups.
Being able to switch
between stereo and 7.1
surround sound is a real
boon though, and one that
comes courtesy of a special
dongle – simply hit a
single button and you’re
bathinginarich,360°
soundscape. Sprinkle in
USB connectivity and
bespoke software that
enables you to customise
your setup even further,
and you’re looking at a
seriouscontenderinthe
gaming audio arena.
+++++