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SteelSeries, another division of Denmark's Soft Trading ApS, the computer gaming accessory specialists who make the great SteelPad mouse pads (their 4D mouse pad is my all-time favorite) and a variety of other gaming-oriented Computer accessories, have just released two new gaming headset/microphone combo products, the SteelSound 3H and SteelSound 4H, selling at lower price points than their top-of-the-line 5H gaming headsets.
The first headset from SteelSeries was released way back in 2005, a product created and optimized to enhance users' gaming experience.
Soft Trading says that every detail and aspect of the SteelSeries headsets has been designed and developed in cooperation and consultation with the world's top gamers, to support the sophisticated sound effects used in cutting-edge eSports games today - alerts, footsteps, gunfire and reloads, an incidental music. First-rate sound reproduction can help you improve your game performance by allowing you to rely on your hearing sense as well as visual and tactile stimuli.
The sound quality these headsets deliver really is impressive. The speaker specifications are different for the two products, however. The less expensive 3H model delivers a bassy, punchy, Phil Spector style "wall of sound" effect, although I found the high-end frequency reproduction a bit "muddy." If you like bass, however, these 'phones will blow you away. The 4H is less heavy on the bass and considerably clearer and more refined throughout the audio range, especially the higher registers, but its bass is less gutsy. Both sound good, but the 4H's audio performance is more to my taste.
Speaking as someone who doesn't really like wearing headsets, I can also affirm that both of these new SteelSound headsets are reasonably comfortable with well-designed ear padding, especially the relatively lightweight 3H.
The SteelSound 3H headset is SteelSound's entry-level professional gaming headset product, but it still offers impressive performance. I found the generously padded ear cushions comfortable to wear for extended periods, although they're smaller than the 4H's XL-sized ear cups.
The 3H unit is designed to be "foldable and collapsable," making it a more compact package for storage and transport, although it will still not fit in the side pockets of most computer bags.
Because of this feature, the 3H headset is somewhat less robust than its bigger 4H sibling, and on the test unit one of the articulated joints at the top of the headband failed the first time I used the headset. This joint consists of a small metal pin about the size and diameter off a sewing straight pin inserted through a molded plastic hinge. The problem I encountered could have been due to a defect in the plastic on this particular example, but upon close examination I think the hinge is just too lightly-constructed, and I would suggest gentle handling, not that I was being excessively rough. I was able to effect a makeshift repair replacing the bent hinge pin - what else? - a sewing straight pin. I would suggest that Soft Trading look at beefing up the robustness of this joint.
Aside from that criticism, the SteelSound 3H appears to be well constructed to a high standard of finish, and the connector cable which terminates in standard 3.5 millimeter mini-plug connectors for the mic and earphones is of a heavy enough gauge that it should prove strong and durable.
The SteelSound 4H headset is approximately one-third larger in ball than the 3H unit, and has XL-sized, comfortably-padded ear cups, although I had no complaint about the wearing comfort of smaller headset, which is also lighter, which contributes to its comfort profile. The ear cup padding on both units does a good job of muffling environmental sound levels, although if you have largish ears, the smaller ear cups on the 3H model may not fit to your head as closely as the larger 4H cups. I had no difficulty in that regard. Whatever, if you're playing a game and/or listening to music, the speakers are loud enough to drown out background noise anyway (caution is advised with any earphone product to avoid hearing damage).
The 4H does have a more substantial feel than the 3H model, and its headband is not hinged or or articulated, so naturally it is somewhat heavier to wear on your head - not really uncomfortable, but you do notice it more after an hour or so than you do with the 3H. The 3H is also easier to transport and store.
As noted above, I found the 4H's sound reproduction to be significantly higher fidelity than the 3H model's. The 4H speakers have a frequency response of 16-28000 Hz with 40 ohm impedance, while the bassier 3H phones' spec is 10-27000 Hz with 50 ohm impedance. If you are buying these phones with music listening a priority, (and they worked great with my iPod), the 4H offers distinctly superior sound quality. For gaming, the impressive bass grunt of the 3H speakers might be more appreciated. It really depends on your taste and how much you like bass.
Both headsets have retractable voice mics on infinitely adjustable flexible stalks in their left earcup, which can disappear almost out-of-sight when not in use.
The 3H features a 50 - 18.000 Hz pickup pattern, while the 4H has a 75 - 16.000 Hz pickup pattern uni-directional mic, making either an excellent choice for both games that support voice input and IP-telephony programs like Skype.
A rigorous test of mic performance is how well they do with dictation software, so I ran each of the SteelSound headset mics through iListen's "Set Up My Microphone" routine. I'm happy to report that iListen pronounced both the 3H and 4H mics "suitable for dictation" and the sound playback of the setup text in both cases was very clean.
I was not able to discern any difference in the respective performance of the two microphones - both are excellent - but the 4H includes a three-way inline microphone switch in the cable with low and high volume and off positions, which is convenient, and has a small clip to attach to your shirt if you wish.
On the downside, I thought the diameter of the cables used on the 4H headset is considerably lighter than I would prefer, and cause for some concern about how well they will hold up to wear and tear. The advantage is of course more flexibility and lower weight, but I think the 3H model's more hefty cable is better, especially for a gaming headset that is likely to be used, how shall we say? - exuberantly. The 4H headset also doesn’t connect the two 'phones with a wire running from one earphone to the other across the headband as with the 3H, but has wires to each earphone descending on either side of your head and joining at about chest level. I much prefer the 3H's less cumbersome single descending cable.
These SteelSound 3H and 4H gaming headsets are both really nice products, and as I said, the broken headband hinge on the three test 3H model may have been a defect unique to this particular unit. Both are modestly priced, especially when you consider that they include a first - rate microphone, and both (IMHO especially the 4H) can serve very satisfactorily for music-listening as well as gaming.
The SteelSound 3H sells for
EUR: 39.95 · US$49.95 · DKK:299.00 + shipping
The SteelSound 4H sells for
EUR: 49.95 · US$69.95 · DKK:399.00 + shipping
Personally, aside from my concern about the small gauge connector cables' durability, I think the higher-quality sound reproduction and generally more rugged construction of the 4H unit justifies its $20.00 cost premium, but if lighter weight and a small package to store and transport are priorities for you, or if you just like a lot of bass, the 3H model may fit your needs and tastes better for less money.
For more information, visit:
http://www.steelseries.com/
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Charles W. Moore
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