SteelSeries Siberia V3 Prism Review

The SteelSeries Siberia has proven to be one of the most popular PC headsets of all time. Not only in its original form but in various different editions from those which are branded to match games, or those created for eSports purposes… even charity models. Today we review the follow up to that product in our SteelSeries Siberia V3 Prism Review.

SteelSeries Siberia V3 Prism Review – Packaging and Bundle

 
The new Siberia headset arrives in some familiar looking SteelSeries packaging. There is a nice clear image of the product on the front, along with some key feature info (such as PlayStation support). On the other sides we get more detailed information on the headset and then inside a basic bundle of quick start guide and case stickers. We also note that SteelSeries still have not resolved a packaging issue. In the past we have commented on the headsets being dusty/covered in particles. Thats still happening here. Some manufacturers cover areas of their headsets in plastic to keep them pristine for arrival, maybe SteelSeries should do the same… yes it’s a minor issue.

SteelSeries Siberia V3 Prism Review – The Headset

The Siberia V2 Prism is shown above and is the middle model in SteelSeries new range. An Elite sits above, featuring additional support for other devices, virtual 7.1 audio etc and a version with 3.5mm connectors sits below. The Prism uses a matt black plastic for the main construction and adds some style through a couple of gloss areas. The key feature of the Siberia range is that suspension design for the headband area which features a padded, leatherette headband. This area stretches to fit the users head with no need to manually set the length like other headsets.

On the outside of the ear cups we find a perforated section (despite these being closed back) and this is to allows LED illumination to shine through, more on that shortly. The inside of the cups have branded fabric and are surrounded by leatherette with foam padding. Inside we have 50mm drivers and our frequency response is 20-20000Hz with impedance of 35Ohm and sensitivity of 80dB.

One of the features we very much liked about previous SteelSeries headsets is the inclusion of a mic (uni-directional, 50-16000Hz and -38dB) which can be extended out of the left cup, or pushed in when not in use. It makes an appearance here with the added change that the mic mute button has moved to the ear cup. There is no in-line control pod on the V3 and no volume control. We must use Windows master volume, or our app volume. Finally the cable used by SteelSeries is a chunky, rubber covered and 1.5m in length.

SteelSeries Siberia V3 Prism Review – Software

SteelSeries provide SteelSeries Engine as a control panel for use on the Siberia V3 (and other products) and our first screen allows us to choose which SteelSeries peripheral to configure from those attached. Interestingly we currently also get a pop-up informing us that they are launching cloud based settings storage which brings the app in line with competitor offerings. There is also another generic panel, Library, which allows us to configure per application profiles for our devices. The latest SteelSeries Engine can be downloaded from here.

Moving in to the main control panel for the Siberia V3 Prism we find a nice simple layout. A button on the left allows us to manage configurations but the main settings are on the right. First up is the equaliser which includes profiles for various scenarios. Then we have the mic volume and beneath it software enhancements which SteelSeries intend to enhance the quality of our vocal. Our final setting is for the LEDs with SteelSeries offering a wide range of colours mixed with effects.

SteelSeries Siberia V3 Prism Review – User Experience and Conclusion

As we noted earlier in the review, the Siberia V3 Prism is a follow up to some of the most popular headsets ever released, so without doubt it has a lot to live up to. Having said that though, the V2 wasn’t perfect. So there is potential for improvement and immediately when we unbox the item it is clear that there have been a few improvements, for example the headband is less fluffy and easier to keep clean while being more durable. The cable too is improved, thicker, though takes a couple of days to straighten out after unboxing.The headset also seems to keep more noise in than the V2 in our opinion and the matt design will appeal to some compared to the glossy look of the V2.

There is one significant issue though, the lack of volume control. At first we found that odd but moved on from it and used the headset for a period of time. Having done that we can say without doubt that this was a huge design mis-step by SteelSeries. Having discussed the omission with numerous other gamers (and PC users) over the last few days it would seem that they agree. Having an in-line or on-ear volume control is a critical aspect for PC users. Especially gamers who require quick access to controls while absorbed in a critical level or battle. SteelSeries also run the risk of alienating consumers too, because the Elite version of the headset does feature a volume control… and that could be read as SteelSeries saying that we should have to pay for this very basic functionality. Especially gauling as the Elite is 199euros, 60 euros more than the 139euro Prism. Let us be clear. For standard entertainment use, headsets do not require a volume control. It is a bonus feature, a nice to have. For a gaming headset, or multi-purpose headset it is a basic function that should be included.

Moving back to the positives, SteelSeries Engine continues to evolve and is a nice, simple and intuitive piece of software. We also like how well the Siberia V3 renders voice, whether that be in-game, streaming video or voice chat. Sadly for other audio uses the V3 is a step back from the V2. It has a reduced frequency response range and appears to lack the range of volume too. These combine to produce a lower quality audio experience in movies music and gaming. One which lacks the punch and lively sound of the V2. We can think of a bunch of gaming headsets, cheaper headsets at that, which we have reviewed recently that offer a better all round audio experience, something which is hugely disappointing given the opportunity SteelSeries had to build on a solid platform.

This disappointment continues on to the mic which is overall decent, but the audio enhancements offer mixed results. Is the volume when enhanced louder? Yes. Is it clearer? Marginally… but so too is the background noise that the limited noise cancellation fails to deal with.

Summary: It is more expensive than the V2 but doesn’t manage to offer an improved audio experience. Add to that the reduced basic functionality (lack of volume control) and even that the cable is longer (in total) on the V2 and we have a V3 headset which disappoints. Ending on a positive though, voices are nice and clear on this headset and it is super comfortable. Quite simply, if you like the design of the Siberia range, give some serious consideration to the various V2 models which are still available.