SteelSeries Siberia 800 Wireless Gaming Headset

Pros: Versatile -- compatible with PC, MAC, Xbox one, PlayStation 4 and smartphones. They sound really, really good Transmitter allows for equalization. There are some presets and allows for user to define their own Dolby Headphone (digital signal processing technology to create the sensation of multiple loudspeakers) Dolby Digital (every DVD worldwide and all HD broadcasts in the United States use Dolby Digital) Dolby Pro Logic IIx (expands stereo or 5.1-channel audio to 6.1- or 7.1-channel sound) Comfortable - for a one size fits all headphone, it works for me Friendly, Prompt, Clear and Concise E-mail Support Required cables included, individually wrapped and labeled, Six, Optical, USB, Power, Analog, Mobile, Chat Three options for PC input/output. 2 x 3.5mm(.125") jack (in and out), 2 x optical (in and out), 1 x USB (in OR out). Effective Range: 30 ft but didn't make that distance at my place in any direction. Range is much closer to 15 ft. for me. Battery charger is in the transmitter. Extra, easy snap on, plugs which allow it to be used around the globe.

Cons: Documentation...There is NONE beyond the meager pamphlet included, I realize manuals have gone they way of the Dodo. They have been replaced by contextual help but since there is NO software, even that is not possible. Some sound cards will notify the user when an input is connected/disconnected I think Steelseries should consider something along that line at a minimum and proceed from there. The 800's FAQ page (still termed H Series) has information explaining the advantages and limitations of the various inputs and some illustrations directing use of the receiver. Helpful but inadequate. The Battery Compartment: Bad design. The cover comes off rather easily when it ultimately releases, learning the procedure was not. My father once told me: "Don't force it". The illustration indicates which direction the piece needs to be turned. It does not need a lot of pressure. Sounds easy? It was not. The earpiece is shiny, slippery and fingerprint loving plastic that is near impossible to grip. It's obvious a downward pressure is needed. I have had it on and off three times. Each time it was a fiddle affair. Putting the earpiece back on was easier. Inside there are indicators used to line up the groove system that holds the piece on. The earpiece should have a matte finish and a grippable indent. I ameliorated the problem by wearing latex gloves. Nitrile gloves were also effective. The cover also comes off the right side revealing a mini-USB port for FW update. European customers...Watch OUT! If your batteries fail or reach end of life you will have to send the entire headset to get replacements. Shipping regulations prevent anyone from shipping Li-Ion batteries in the mail unless they are packaged with a device already. Not Steelseries fault but still... OLED display is difficult to see beyond 3 feet in normal light. Odd volume gain Outside world leaks in ! Steelseries could do a better job at isolation No Steelseries supported forums. The website community link takes the user to a page where Steelseries product owner can join "Team SteelSeries" and you can look at a bunch of pictures of nerds acting goofy in branded T-Shirts. Don't forget to click LOAD MORE if you feel the need to look at more nerd pictures. The SteelSeries logo looks like Target's

Overall Review: The Siberia 800's are the most full featured and best sounding set of headphones I have owned and I have owned the MTX StreetAudio iX1 and the SteelSeries Siberia v2 among many others. I tested the Siberia 800's using PC via USB and optical connections. The signal sources I used included: Games (Doom, GTA5 and Far Cry 3), Music (MP3's, FLAC, DVD's and CD's) and Movies (Blu-Ray and DVD's). I tested the 800's using optical with my TV's and DTV HR44-200 Genie as output and listened to broadcast TV (movies,voice and music), Blu-Ray and DVD's. The very first thing I think most headphone users do is turn them up which is what I did. I was disappointed in the volume level. At low volume, say halfway or less, the sound is quite quiet. When cranking them from half to full things improve but I was still disappointed though only initially. Many people mistake loud and bass for good. What I appreciate now...is when the signal source calls for loud or bass does the speaker provide it? The Siberia 800's do provide loud and bass just fine when the source calls for it. That's a mark of quality. The optical input on the 800 wireless transmitter box provides the best sound quality as well as Dolby Digital surround sound. You should use the optical connection for all consoles and computers that have an optical audio output. As good as the 800's are for gaming I found my favorite signal source to be television. Using optical output from my DTV HR44-200 Genie, Toshiba 24L4200U and Toshiba 37HL67S I found listening pleasurable for voice, there was no lag and the sound did a great job putting me in the scene. Surfing through DTV's Sonic music channels is an excellent way to determine how well the 800's reproduce music. First a word on MP3's. There are a bazillion BAD sounding MP3's out there. Their low quality usually can't be determined without critical listening. I have digitized my entire 400+ LP collection and for the way I usually listen to music these days they are fine but through the 800's I can easily tell they are no sonic marvels and not a good way to determine the 800's musicality which is why I chose Sonic. I listen to white boy blues (Peter Green), New Age, some light classical, occaasionally 50 and 60's rock and standards from the likes of Bing Crosby. The 800's are wonderful with a quality signal source and provide plenty of volume. If the music asks for bass the 800's deliver. If you want to bleed your ears with AC/DC or Megadeath...well, I can't help you. I tested the 800's with what I feel is as good a movie source for headphone evaluation that exists. At the end of "Bridge on the River Kwai" there are jungle sounds, flowing water, voice and of course the train and it's subsequent explosion(s). In a word...Marvelous! If you, your father or father-in-law have to turn the television volume up too high for others comfort.....get the 800's. Everyone will love you Listener Fatigue: Many years ago I saw a cartoon. A guy in a lab coat had on headphones and his ears were being sucked into the ear pieces, his tongue was hanging and his eyes bulged. A scientist behind him calls out. "Burns, Geiger...I think we're getting some data on listener fatigue". My head is ~15in over the top from ear to ear and ~22in circumference. My ear measures 1 3/4 by 2 1/2 in. They fit comfortably inside the 800's 2 in. round ear hole I never wear headphones for more then an hour at a time. I never felt like I had to rip the 800's off and escape cause my head was being squeezed to death. In other words I found them a great fit and very comfortable. If I was to listen with any headphone for several hours at excessive volume I would have fatigue/comfort complaints. The microphone: I do no online gaming so there is no need for me to talk with my chums while doing battle. I did though record my voice as I sang along with Dee Clark. I sound fine he sounds better. In conclusion: If you need wireless, are well heeled and want exquisite sound put these on your list. Recommended. Thanks to Newegg and Steelseries for the assignment

Pros: To begin with the pros, the packaging on this headset was above average and it was a delight to unbox. Instructions are easy to understand and setup on the headset and the receiver was also a breeze. I had everything hooked up and was able to get sound out of em within 10-15 minutes. The material that goes around your ears are comfortable and have had no issues with wearing these for a few hours. Sound is punchy and everything from mid to highs are well balanced. Nothing sounds mushy or off. Sure they aren't the greatest but I have used far worse wireless headsets. Battery life on these far surpassed my expectations and on top of that you get TWO, yes TWO batteries NOT ONE! This was well though out by Steel Series. Instead of waiting for the battery to recharge and be able to use the headset again, all you need to do is swap out the batteries and you're good to go again. I love it when more than one battery is included with any electronic item that uses a battery. That means less money spent afterwards for more batteries. I'm not a big fan of virtual surround sound but this headset does offer it and from my personal testing the results are fair. Nothing beats a true 7.1 surround sound and headsets in my opinion will never achieve that. Over all the headset far exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a -$300 wireless gaming headset.

Cons: Only a few issues I ran into. First was that I was getting some delay with audio. Whatever I was watching was ahead of the audio. The problem soon went away and has never returned. Maybe some sort of interference? I did drop connecting a few times but again have not had any issues what so ever afterwards.

Overall Review: Other than the somewhat steep price tag, the headset is definitely worth the money. It has dropped since the last time I saw it and at the price it is currently at it's even a better buy now. Overall I am quite happy with it, the sound, the quality and overall construction of the headset. Seems like I will be using this for as long as it lives!

Pros: The SteelSeries Siberia 800 wireless gaming headset is a top of the line headset. It offers great sound and versatility. To start off with, the gaming headset provides a clear and crisp sound thanks to its Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound which will absorb the gamer in the game he or she is playing. The headsets microphone makes a Skype call sound like a Landline call, voice recording is crystal clear,and when playing online with friends , they can actually understand you!. Versatility and compatibility ultimate comfort is why you would choose SteelSeries Siberia 800 headset. It's compatible with a variety of system such as PC, Mac , Xbox one , PS4 and Ps3 just to name a few. To top it off , the battery life in this headset is the best I've seen in any headset I've owned. Each battery gives 8-10 hours of battery life. The docking station that hooks up to the wall or computer will change the second battery. So, If you every run out of battery you can then replace it so you won't miss a second in action. Finally the headset is very comfortable thanks to its padding around the ears.

Cons: I've had a hit or miss experience with the 2nd battery ,charging sometimes and sometimes not .SteelSeries support offered to just send another battery out. But, really,why ,as the batteries are so long lasting only one battery makes me happy!

Overall Review: All in all,SteelSeries Siberia 800 Wireless Gaming Headset I highly recommended to purchase. And i can not think of another feature that i might want , miss or need. Even with the 2nd battery charging sometimes and sometime not. These headphones are a gamers dream. I can game all night long in High def surround sound and not disturb anyone!

Pros: The headset is fairly comfortable (see cons), and provides plenty of cushioning to ensure long multi-hour sessions are headache free. The sound quality is as should be expected. Dolby 7.1 surround sound delivers clean audio wirelessly at advertised ranges. During days of testing, I had no problems or any distortion while using the headset wirelessly. As for the microphone, I was told by numerous people that the microphone was clear and free of any background noise. Battery life is also as advertised, and should get you through a typical days usage. If you forget to charge the headset one night, the product allows you to swap the batteries out to minimize downtime. Even better, SteelSeries has already included a 2nd battery in the box! To my knowledge, this is the first wireless headset to do this! Others make you buy the 2nd battery separately. Included in the box are a number of cables that'll allow the headset to be used in numerous situations. PC Gaming? Check. Xbox One? Check. Phone or tablet? Check. TV/Stereo? Check. For those who like to travel, SteelSeries has even included AC Adapters for nearly every region on this planet. The transmitter serves a double purpose, allowing users to change a handful of settings, including EQ's to a certain extent (see cons).

Cons: The faux leather makes the headset rather hot. While the headset isn't fully adjustable to fit people's heads that aren't "average". With all of the cables and accessories this headset includes, you would think there'd be a carrying bag. There isn't. This seems to be a rather simple and cheap problem that could've been avoided. Many of the accessories will be lost, especially during travel. There are no drivers included for this product in the box, or online. Additionally, the SteelSeries engine doesn't support this product. If you don't like being forced to change limited settings from the transmitter, you're out of luck. There is NO control panel for this "premium" headset. I struggled between rating this 3/5 or 4/5. However, with the missing features, and choice of build materials, the price tag is rather high. If the price was lower and more competitive, or didn't have as many cons. It would've easily achieved a 4/5 if not 5/5 rating.

Overall Review: If one can overlook the cons, this headset is a decent product and should be considered among others in its market segment especially if found on sale. If SteelSeries releases an update to this product, they'd only need to include proper software support, and a nice carrying bag for all of its accessories to have a near perfect product!

Pros: • Super comfortable to wear thanks to the plush padding in the headband and ear cups. Also, reasonably light weight, which means I don’t get fatigued wearing them. • Superb sound quality over digital inputs (optical and USB). 40mm drivers provide excellent frequency range with no distortion. Dolby 7.1 sounds fantastic for applications that support it. Otherwise, the Dolby stereo output sounds great too. • Good wireless range with zero lag. SteelSeries claims 40 linear feet, but I can stream music to the headset while mowing my front lawn 50-60 feet away. • Includes a slew of cables; USB, optical, 3.5mm, 2.5mm, and A/C power (including A/C adapters for every country thinkable). A free optional Xbox One adapter is also available from SteelSeries. However, on a PC you can be up and running with a single 5V-1A USB cable for audio and power, which makes travelling with this unit a breeze (currently writing this review from my beachfront hotel room balcony). • Super sexy minimalist design. These don’t look like some juvenile delinquent headphones; there are no flashing lights, aggressive designs, skulls and/or guns. If that is your style, look at the Siberia 650 or 350 series. The Siberia 800 looks professional and respectable. • The discreet volume wheel on the right ear cup doubles as a clickable menu button and scroll wheel. The push/hold power button doubles as a mic mute button. • On the bottom of the right ear cup is a 3.5mm output jack for sharing audio to a friend, and 2.5mm input jack for allowing them chat ability. This is perfect for gamers that want to share the experience with a friend who can now bring their own analog headset and tether to yours. • The Chat-Mix function is awesome. Never again do I have to tab-out of a game to adjust the volume between my friends and my game. The preconfigured EQs are handy too and easily accessible from the menu knob or volume wheel. I can even create profiles customized to my various games and applications. Profile names can contain up to 11 alpha-numeric characters. • Includes two 3.7V 1000mah Li-Ion batteries, so one is always charged and ready to go. Inserting and removing the spare battery into the transmitter battery port is a one-finger operation. Getting the battery into the headset, though, is a little more difficult.

Cons: • Downside to the plush padding and faux leather ear cups is that the headset insulates body heat, making them hot to wear for extended periods of time. • Very little passive noise cancelling. I can hold a conversation across a room while wearing the headset. • Difficult to adjust the headband while on your head. No markings to help relocate your optimal position, so fine tuning is essentially trial and error. Luckily, the thick padding provides forgiveness for skipping a notch or two on the headband. • High gloss plastic on the transmitter and ear cups is a fingerprint magnet. The glossy plastic also makes it difficult to remove the battery cover on the left ear cup, which requires you to rotate it to remove. Also, the transmitter is a dust magnet that I can’t seem to keep clean, as if it were statically charged at all times. • No SteelSeries Windows drivers were published at the time of this review. A generic Microsoft audio driver will be installed when you connect the transmitter via USB. Also, the Siberia 800 is not compatible with SteelSeries Engine software. • No carry case or bag included, which is definitely handy if you’re on the go. • Lastly, this headset is on the upper end of the price bracket. Personally, I would have a hard time shelling out $300 for this much plastic.

Overall Review: Overall, the Siberia 800 is a fantastic headset. It makes my Siberia V2 seem like child’s play. However, I think a $200-250 price range is more realistic as it sits now. But, throw in a high quality padded carry bag, SteelSeries branded Velcro cable wraps, and a 6-month subscription to Twitch and you’ve got yourself a solid $300 product. Thank you to SteelSeries and Newegg.com for the review sample. If you found my review helpful in your product search, please click Yes below. Thanks!

Pros: If your gonna spend the money on a wireless headset this is it. Sleek and comfortable. Comes with 2 batteries for long gaming sessions or long movies. Not that you'd need the extra battery because these have some great battery life. The sound quality is bar non the best I've heard out of some wireless headphones. Settings are limited but what more do you need. Comes with all the wires and adapters you need to hook up to whatever your using.

Cons: Price is a bit steep, but worth it. Needs like an equalizer to fine tune the sound that you want or even a basic mixer setting.

Pros: The sound from these are awesome. The mute button is flawless. The Mic works clearly and has not had any issues The portability is very nice and convenient. The battery life is as advertised, and it is great having the second battery that you can charge while using the other. The volume works great, they feel good when on your head. The noise cancelling works really well. All the cables and adapters that came with this work great, and it gives you the ability to connect many types of devices. Overall these are absolutely a great buy and for me worth the money.

Cons: The directions were not real clear on hooking some of it up with the various devices but it was pretty easy to figure out.

Pros: This wireless headset is very comfortable with sufficient padding using memory foam. The lateral pressure is a little high to keep a tight seal around your ears, but I can wear it all day and not get a headache from it. The build quality feels much higher than usual for these headsets, and there is no occurrence of plastic squeaking generally found in a few other headsets. The base station handles all the wiring and serves as a configuration manager and a battery charger. Equalizer with ability to store custom EQ profiles. I also cannot perceive any delayed audio due to latency; it appears to keep its promise providing really low latency. Awesome! This headset comes with two batteries; one is already plugged into the headset while the other is neatly stored in the packaging. A slight twist on the left ear steelseries cap reveals the battery that is easy enough to remove. No software is needed to have this headset working. Just plug it in and it will work right away. There are convenient beep tones for powering the headset on/off as well as indication for the microphone mute toggle. When muted, the mic is also lit red to help as a visual aid.

Cons: The instruction booklet is a little lacking with only wiring diagrams (although the headset is pretty intuitive), and the box is misleading; this headset does not actually work with SteelSeries Engine 3 at this time (not that it needs it). All configuration is done either using the headset control scroll-wheel (scroll to select, click to confirm) or the base station. These are not big enough concerns for me to warrant a loss of an egg.

Overall Review: Due to having a base station, it's not very portable if you plan on transporting it to other locations. However, it is very well-suited for wireless use otherwise; the range is excellent and it supports a multitude of devices at the same time. Although there is no carrying case, the headset is a little bulky. The box it comes with is pretty conveniently packed so I would recommend just keeping it around if you plan to take the headset to other places. The headset does include a wall wart power adapter that has interchangeable plugs to make it work in any region. I would definitely recommend this headset when looking for one that is wireless.