Test and Review: SteelSeries Siberia P800 Wireless Gaming Headset. Test & Review: SteelSeries Siberia P800 Wireless Gaming Headset Design & Workmanship

SteelSeries Siberia 800 Headset Review | Functionality and management

The headset is designed for wireless use, and this is not uncommon. However, SteelSeries engineers also installed a multi-channel transmitter in it, which, like a Wi-Fi adapter, is able to select the best available frequency and even automatically switch to it when necessary. Unfortunately, we were unable to determine how effective this solution is in delivering the advertised minimum latency. But we can argue that the Siberia 800's connection quality was above average in a large laboratory environment with many devices operating in the same frequency range.

Volume control is carried out using the jog wheel. Apart from the mute button and the power button, there are no other controls on the headset body.

It is powered by rechargeable lithium ion batteries and comes with two 1000mAh batteries. Assuming that in practice a charge of about 800 mAh will be available, we will get enough power for 6-10 hours of continuous operation, depending on the volume level and the frequency of use of the controls. To charge the batteries, they must be installed in the side compartment of the base station.

SteelSeries is being overly shy about calling the outer black box a mere transmitter. Among other things, it features a large, high-contrast OLED display that looks great even in dim light. Learning to use the menu is easy. A single hardware knob makes navigation especially easy: you turn the knob to select the desired item, and press to confirm. This is enough to access any settings, and there are many of them here.

As for different sources, several connectors are required to connect them. On the rear panel there are two 3.5mm connectors: line-in and microphone-out. In addition, you have an optical digital input and output, through which the headset can either connect to a digital source, or pass it through itself and send it to a separate speaker system.

It is very convenient that the cups can be rotated 90 degrees vertically, which allows the headset about 7 cm in height to take up less space during transportation.

Also equipped with Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound system, but we prefer not to use it.

It takes less than 70 minutes to fully charge the batteries. Most likely, most owners will leave a spare battery inside the base station, which not only stops charging after reaching maximum capacity, but also keeps it charged. When the headset starts to beep, indicating a low battery, you just need to swap the batteries.

SteelSeries Siberia 800 Headset Review | Microphone

To use the microphone, it must be pulled out of the cup, and when not needed, it can be removed back. When you press the mute button on the microphone, a small red LED flashes. We are very pleased that there is no other warning light on the Siberia 800.

The low cut at 100 Hz works as expected, and the high cut at 10,000 Hz seems reasonable too. However, these specs on the SteelSeries website are not very accurate. We measured the effective frequency range from 125 to about 8000 Hz, which is still quite enough for a gaming headset microphone. Even the lowest male voices are transmitted well, and sibilants never go beyond 7 kHz.

SteelSeries Siberia 800 Headset Review | Measurements and sound quality

You can read about the headset testing methodology in the article How We Test Gaming Headsets (eng.) ... Details of the measurement procedure can be found on page 6.

For our tests, we use the most neutral settings possible, avoiding any processing like surround that interferes with sound reproduction. Testing is performed with a pure stereo signal and measurements are performed with a mono signal (pink noise). On the graph of the headset, where there is a slight emphasis on bass, there are no sharp fluctuations and other unpleasant surprises. The only noticeable feature is the increase in level at around 90 Hz by about 8 dB above the normalized value at 1 kHz. Fortunately, all other values \u200b\u200bremain within +/- 3 dB tolerances.

Raising the level of low frequencies, especially in the upper part of the low frequency range, does not make much sense: all the impacts and explosions that accompany combat scenes occur at much lower frequencies. And that's definitely enough for drum lovers to enjoy the presence of a powerful bass drum. In general, this is the only part of the range that can be called hypertrophied. Everything else looks much better, and even the parameters of the deepest bass are quite adequate.

Temporary peaks are handled quite well by the small 40mm drivers.

Everything is good in the midrange. Because the lower midrange is slightly emphasized, many instruments and voices sound fuller than usual. You may like it or you may hate it. In our opinion, the sound image is too massive, although the acoustic resolution is quite good. The sound is not overly analytical, but rather detailed.

Our measurements showed a stable frequency response from the upper mids to the lows of the treble, resulting in a solid soundstage. This is important for spatial recognition of sound sources in games. The timbre of instruments, voices and ambient sounds also remains generally neutral.

A small peak at 6 kHz and above will accentuate hissing sounds and make some small instruments more audible. The sound seems cold, but without metallic overtones. It is definitely more suited for playing than listening to a symphony orchestra.

So what do we have in general? Sure, you can find decent hi-fi headphones with a good amplifier for the price, but in this case you will be cabled and left without a microphone. A wired headset that sounds like a Siberia 800 and is of the same workmanship will cost you about $ 100.

So the only thing that justifies the $ 150 premium "markup" is the base station and wireless. We have to admit it is acceptable, especially since the initial price of $ 300 on the SteelSeries website itself has dropped to $ 240.

SteelSeries Siberia 800 Headset Review | conclusions

With a price of about $ 250 in online stores, of course, it cannot be called the best offer. But the price is well worth it if you want to spend a significant amount on a wireless solution with features not found in mainstream models.

The sound of the Siberia 800 is a bit overloaded with bass, but otherwise it is designed for comfortable listening. The stability of the characteristics is quite good for a wireless device, and the battery lasts long enough. When the battery is discharged, you can replace it with the backup one supplied.

A base station with a transmitter, different sound settings and many ports is definitely the reason for the high cost. At the same time, this telephone amplifier takes center stage in the whole package. It's eye-catching, functional, Dolby certified and easy to operate.

And finally, the headset itself, with its high build quality and sensitive microphone, is far from the usual in terms of price, functionality and connectivity. Those with large heads will have minor problems as the pressure on the ears becomes uncomfortable. But you will either like the Siberia 800 or you will be looking for something lighter. Everyone else will be able to sit back on the couch and enjoy music without wired restrictions (of course, if this amount is not a problem).

ADVANTAGES:

• High quality workmanship
• Excellent wireless connection thanks to multi-channel communication
• Large range of functions and settings
• Excellent sound and microphone quality

LIMITATIONS:

• The materials selected are a bit disappointing for this price
• Somewhat heavy

Greetings to all participants and visitors of the Expert Club! Today I will tell you about another headset from the company SteelSeries. Siberia 800 - not the newest, but still one of the top solutions from SteelSeries, allowing the user to get rid of one of the main problems - the attachment to the place with wires. This model is a slightly modified version of the headset H Wirelesswhich has received many positive reviews from users. What makes the H Wireless / Siberia 800 unique? What are its features, pros and cons? I will try to answer these questions in my article.

Specifications

Headset:
~ Speakers: neodymium, 40 mm;
~ Speaker frequency range: 20-20000 Hz;
~ Weight: 318g (including battery);
~ Microphone frequency range: 100-10000 Hz;
~ Microphone type: unidirectional;
~ Microphone sensitivity: -44 dB;
~ Microphone impedance: 2.2 kOhm;

Transmitter:
~ Operating range: up to 12 meters in line of sight;
~ Transmission delay:< 16 мс;
~ Ports: analog input and output, mini-USB, optical input, optical output, power supply;

Battery:
~ Battery type: lithium-ion, 1000 mAh;
~ Battery life: up to 20 hours.

Packaging and equipment

SteelSeries Siberia 800 is delivered in a cardboard box, the exterior design of which is designed in black and orange corporate style. On the box you can find a brief description of the product and its capabilities. The headset and transmitter inside the box are tightly fixed with a plastic insert.

Package includes: Siberia 800 headset, transmitter, 2 batteries for the headset, optical audio cable, analog audio cable, XBOX 360 chat cable, PS / XBOX One chat cable, power supply + adapters for different types of electrical networks + cable power supply, USB cable, cable for connecting mobile devices and branded stickers.

Appearance and features

Outwardly, the headset remained the same as the previous model - H Wireless, no significant differences could be found. In appearance, it is quite massive, but the visual volumes did not influence the weight, which is good news. Like the H Wireless, the Siberia 800 is a universal headset that can be connected not only to a PC, but also to game consoles of different generations.

The design of the microphone foot allows it to be almost completely hidden inside the cup, leaving only the receiver itself outside. The flexible leg allows the user to set the most convenient position for him. It should be noted that the leg does not change its position without user intervention, which is found in some headsets with a similar microphone leg.

The microphone has a small LED indicator that glows red to inform the user that the microphone is muted.

The round glossy plastic panels on the outside of the left and right cups are removable. Behind the left is the battery installation location.

Behind the right micro-USB connector used to update the device's firmware.

Also on the body of the right cup there is a volume control made in the form of a ring with notches, and in the lower part of it there is a headset / microphone mute button with white LED backlight and Chat and Share connectors covered with a cap. The first of them is designed to connect the headset with the XBOX 360 / PS4 gamepad with a chat cable, the second is for connecting more headphones to the headset, which will allow you to output sound to 2 devices at once.

The manufacturer's logo is placed on the headband body. The headband is made of four materials - matte rough plastic, rubberized material, imitation leather and Memory Foam material. The first two materials were used to create the frame, the last two were used to make the lower part of the headband in contact with the user's head. There are 5 soft pads of different sizes in contact with the head, this reduces pressure on the user's head and makes the headset more comfortable.

Of course, the length of the headband is also adjustable, allowing you to increase the overall length by about 7 cm. The length is adjustable by 12 tactile cutoffs on each side; unfortunately, there are no alphanumeric symbols, which is extremely inconvenient if there are several users.

The cups can change position along two axes - horizontal and vertical, which allows them to carry out the most tight hold, taking into account the peculiarities of the structure of the user's head. On the vertical axis, the stroke is ~ 25-30 °, along the horizontal the bowl can be turned 90 ° relative to the initial position to one side and ~ 10 ° to the other. The ear cushions, like the inner part of the headband, are made of leatherette with Memory Foam filling. The inner diameter is ~ 5.5 cm, the outer diameter is ~ 9 cm, and the depth is about 2 cm.

In short, everything is made of good materials, efficiently and accurately.

Now about the transmitter. The transmitter is made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with rounded corners. Dimensions are ~ 10.5 x 11 x 3.5 cm. The side edges of the device are made of soiled glossy plastic. There is a small OLED display in front, to the right of it there is a volume control, which also helps in navigating through menu items and performs the action of a confirmation button, and a small cancel / back button.

The transmitter also acts as a charger for complete batteries. They are installed in the compartment located on the right side of the device.

All inputs / outputs are located at the back.

Most of the base of the transmitter is rubberized, making it stable on any surface.

The display is bright and informative enough. On it you will find information about the type of connection, the current sound volume level, the charge of the battery installed in the headset, and the battery installed for charging. When Dolby 7.1 is activated, the corresponding indicator appears on the screen.

The photo below will show the settings available for changing. In the menu, you can work with the current profile / change the settings of other profiles, activate and configure the ChatMix and LiveMix modes, adjust the equalizer to your liking, switch the sound mode from 2.0 to Dolby 7.1, adjust the display brightness, turn off the sound when working with the menu, perform connect the headset to the transmitter, do a full reset and see the firmware version of the device.

Testing, impressions of use

Testing was carried out when the transmitter was connected to a PC with a complete USB cable.

In terms of a gaming headset, the SteelSeries Siberia 800, in fact, is what it is, very good. There is a slight shift towards low frequencies, which makes shots and explosions more informative and three-dimensional. Changing the mode or manually adjusting the equalizer allows you to customize the sound in more detail to your liking. Activating the 7.1 mode, in my opinion, is mandatory when watching movies or for games such as The Witcher 3, where an abundance of detailed ambient sounds allows you to plunge into what is happening with your head. The sound positioning in space is excellent, which is an essential advantage in FPS games. The volume margin is small, so, for example, in order to completely isolate from the surrounding sounds and immerse yourself in a game / movie, you have to set an almost maximum volume level (2-3 divisions to the maximum). When listening to music, the Siberia 800 does not perform well everywhere: as is the case with most gaming headsets, it copes well with modern youth trends, but rather mediocre in the case of classical compositions.

The microphone works well, but it still has a drawback, given the cost of the headset - it alters the user's voice painfully much, giving it a metallic note, which is usually characteristic of more budget headset models, but not a premium headset.

Autonomous work from 1 battery is ~ 9-10 hours. But there are 2 batteries in the kit and this allows you to use the headset without any interruptions - as soon as one battery is dead, put the second one, sending the discharged one for charging. Replacement with proper skill takes no more than 5 seconds. A fully discharged battery takes about 2 hours to charge.

The ergonomics of the Siberia 800 are all right, 2-3 hours of continuous use can be easily transferred. But sometimes you still have to take them off to ventilate your ears, as the ear pads are non-breathing and fit snugly to the head.

The operating range of the headset in line of sight from the transmitter was ~ 10-11 meters; sound interruptions are observed at a greater distance from the transmitter. In real life, this allows you to move within 2 small adjacent rooms without removing the headset from your head.

A few words about additional features of ChatMix and LiveMix. The first will help the user to adjust the sound balance of game sounds and voice chat by shifting the curve to one side, and thereby achieve the optimal result. LiveMix, on the other hand, will automatically muffle game sounds, if one of the interlocutors says something in the voice chat, this will allow the player not to miss important data transmitted by teammates in the heat of battle, where it is often difficult to hear anything behind the abundance of surrounding game sounds - or.

Conclusion

The SteelSeries Siberia 800 is a well-thought-out gaming headset that boasts good sound quality, a good package, high-quality assembly, quite good ergonomics and a pretty design. Also to this you need to add a long battery life and the presence of an additional replaceable battery. Only the microphone cannot please, from which you expect a little more, an abundance of glossy plastic and, of course, a price tag of ~ 23,500 rubles in the DNS of Kazan. I already know what many will say - "for such a price you can buy such and such, and it will sound much better, and even more for ice cream." I partly agree with this opinion, but this headset is bought by those who have enough good sound (and not super-detailed sound), comfort without wires and versatility are important, do not forget that the headset works great not only with a PC, but also with all modern game consoles, which not every wireless headset can provide.

Pros:
~ Long battery life, the presence of a second battery;
~ Nice appearance;
~ High-quality assembly;
~ Rich equipment;
~ Working range up to 10 meters;
~ Sounds good;
~ Informative display on the transmitter;
~ ChatMix, LiveMix;
~ Sound mode 7.1;
~ Versatility, works not only with PCs, but also with modern game consoles);
~ Ergonomics.

Minuses:
~ Price;
~ Abundance of glossy elements;
~ Modification of voice by microphone.

Much attention is paid to the sound in modern games, orchestras and famous composers are invited, every note is verified, the stars of show business give voices to the heroes. The sounds of shots, explosions and the roar of the engine of military equipment are recorded in real scenes. Working on the sound component sometimes requires no less effort than the graphic component. To fully enjoy this atmosphere, you need good speakers or headphones. And today, the focus is on the flagship wireless headset SteelSeries Siberia 800. This is a continuation of development SteelSeries H Wireless (review) and we are pleased to present the first detailed review of this headset.

Its sales have already started in Russia, below is free information on available offers based on the Yandex.Market service.

SteelSeries Siberia 800 review

Equipment

SteelSeries Siberia 800 comes in a weighty package in the form of a case. The headphones are fixed on a rigid support inside. Detailed description and specifications are provided.

The number of components is amazing. Here everything is thought out to the smallest detail in terms of connection. Various types of cables, including even an optical one, a power supply, an external sound card, a pair of batteries, instructions and a warranty card. All components are carefully distributed in separate bags with stickers describing the contents.

Appearance

The SteelSeries Siberia 800 stands apart from the 2016 models we reviewed earlier in terms of design. The first thing that catches your eye is that the classic version is used instead of the wire structure of the headband.

Taking into account the game orientation, it looks strict, there are no pretentious elements and bright colors.

The construction is based on plastic. Main area with matte finish and rubber inserts. But there was a place for gloss on the side parts of the cups, these areas are very easily soiled. The only good news is that these inserts are removable, and if the user shares our indignation, he can cover them with a film with the desired texture and original pattern.

Despite the plastic and the absence of metal, the overall rigidity is very high. You don't have to worry about the reliability of the design.

The padded headband and ear cushions are covered in leather with a neat stitching along the edges. A material with shape memory is hidden inside.

The steelSeries Siberia 800's headband guides are also made of plastic, they have cut-offs on the outer surface to fix the selected position. The adjustment range allows you to choose the optimal position for your anatomical features of the head.

It is possible to rotate the cups by 90 degrees, the tilt angle also changes.

A paired audio jack is hidden from the bottom end of the cups (one of them is needed to connect a second headset). There is also a button for turning on the headphones and controlling the microphone with a white backlight.

The microphone is retractable, the entire leg is hidden inside the cup. On the outside there is a ring with LED illumination, useful for controlling the operation of the microphone.

The ear cushions of the SteelSeries Siberia 800 are massive, they completely cover the ears, providing a high level of sound insulation. They are removed, can be serviced or replaced in the future.

The outer sides of the cups, as mentioned above, are a lid. Under one of them is a removable battery, under the other is a mini USB connector for charging without using a docking station.

Control block

An important part of the SteelSeries Siberia 800 is an external sound card that controls the operation of the headset. In this model, it is universal, it will work with consoles, set-top boxes, players and PCs. On the reverse side, various connectors are displayed for receiving a sound signal.

Operation requires the use of at least two connectors. One of them is needed to supply power to the control unit, the second from the sound source. Dolby technology varies depending on the connector: optically multi-channel Dolby Digital, USB - Dolby Pro Logic IIx.

On the front side of the block there is a volume control, it is also needed to navigate the menu, next to it is a return button.

There is also a monochrome display. It is used to navigate through the menu items, and the battery charge level is also displayed here.

On the side there is a storage compartment for an additional battery with a charging function.

The controls are intuitive. It's easy to figure it out without studying the instructions.

Testing

The SteelSeries Siberia 800 sounds great. Even the smallest details that were not available with inexpensive headsets can be heard. Dolby technology expands the soundstage, delivering surround sound with positioning the sound source in the game. Explosions of grenades, the sound of a combat vehicle engine, and shots from a large-caliber gun sound especially gorgeous in these headphones. You can fully feel the idea of \u200b\u200bthe developers.

Such high sound quality also imposes its own requirements on the quality of the content.

Licensed films, music in high bitrate, all this is shown to the owner of this headset. With musical compositions, there is an expected feature, which is the emphasis on low frequencies. Instrumental recordings sound a little muted, but individual instruments are legible. Plus, there is always the ability to change the sound using presets and an equalizer.

The quality of the microphone is flawless, the noise reduction system does its job perfectly. It was tested in detail during the stream broadcast.

The battery lasts for 18-20 hours of battery life. The result is excellent. The ease of replacing the battery in the future will be useful. The distance between the docking station and the headphones is about 12 meters. The connection is stable.

Results for SteelSeries Siberia 800

The SteelSeries Siberia 800 is clearly not an ordinary headset. One of the best flagship wireless headsets. The pluses include: extended configuration, external sound card, ergonomics, high-quality assembly, strict design, versatility of connection (except for wireless communication with a smartphone), the presence of a spare battery and the possibility of charging without connecting a wire to the headphones, surround sound, autonomy, balanced sound. I didn't like the gloss on the cups and dock. Cost remains an open question, not everyone is ready to buy a headset for the price of a good video card or game console.

Never before has a gaming headset been released so in time - just for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. And here is Hideo Kodima's game, you ask? And despite the fact that the Japanese game designer is so painstakingly approaching the scoring of his creations that he even invites famous composers, musicians and sound engineers to work together. Let's see what the new creation of SteelSeries is capable of.

Contents of delivery

The contents of the box are amazing, judge for yourself: the headset itself, 2 batteries, a power adapter, an external sound card / transmitter and a bunch of cables, including a digital optical one. Not without SteelSeries branded stickers.

Appearance

The Siberia P800 is different from the latest SteelSeries models, but that doesn't make it look any worse. If all generations of genuine Siberia were very similar, then here you can feel the flight of the designers' imagination.

The construction is based on matte plastic; there was no room for metal even in the arc.

The gloss reflects only on the central inserts of the bowls, which are removable. The inner part of the headband contains soft inserts under the leather, ear cushions are made of exactly the same material, but also beautifully stitched with orange thread.

The reset is not bad, but the creak still appears with a slight squeeze of the headset in the hands. There is a red indicator on the microphone, and a white indicator on the power button.

Ergonomics

Putting the headset on my head for the first time, it seemed that she was sitting very tight and the pressure would not let her play for a long time. But the fears were in vain - despite the high downforce, the ears do not hurt and the head does not get tired. The ear pads have a large diameter and completely cover the ears, it is really comfortable to play.

The bowls swivel more than 90 degrees, which adds to the convenience of use. I was pleased with the ergonomic arrangement of the volume control roller, power button, retractable microphone and cable connectors.

The ear pads can be easily removed, which in the future will allow you to easily change them to new ones. Lids on the cups, under which the battery and the mini USB port, can be easily removed.

Sound card, functionality

One of the main elements of the SteelSeries Siberia P800 is the external adapter / sound card.

The headset was originally designed for the Sony PlayStation 4, but we did not have the opportunity to test it together with the set-top box. But the device is universal and can be connected to any source via mini Jack 3.5 mm (input and output for chat), digital optical interface (input and output) or USB.

On the front side there is a monochrome display, a volume control / setting switch and a “back” button. In the settings, you can change the sources, there is a simple equalizer, Dolby mode, special Chatmix and Livemix modes, which allow you to adjust the volume of the players' conversations in the chat and the game itself.

The volume can be changed both on the card and on the headset. There is a slot for charging the battery directly in the transmitter.

The headset itself has a mini Jack 3.5 mm jack for connecting additional headphones, so the sound goes to two pairs at once. There is also a 2.5 mm micro Jack - it is for connecting to a PS4 controller and subsequent chatting.

There is a lack of a button to enable / disable Dolby mode on the headset itself, because when watching a movie or playing games on the couch, you don't always want to get up and go to the transmitter and switch modes. And the most interesting thing is that when connected via an optical cable, the Dolby Digital multichannel audio system works, and Dolby Pro Logic IIx via USB.

Sound

So, right off the bat - the Siberia P800 has shown itself to be a good gaming solution. Afghanistan in Metal Gear Solid V came to life, every detail became audible, be it the rustle of leaves or the sound of sand. Thanks to the stealth orientation of the above game, the whole atmosphere and mood of any moment is felt.

With the thunder and the seizure of the Dolby bases, you really feel that it is clear from where 10 patrolmen are running at you, and where the grenade will explode now. When connected to the ASUS O! Play media player using a digital optical cable, the sound was also impressive, but to get the full taste of the sound, it is worth watching the movies in the original. Basically, even licensed dubbing distorts all the details from which the entire multi-channel panorama is built.

Soundproofing is not perfect and almost everything is heard from the outside, just like your shots and explosions are heard to others. For music, SteelSeries P800 is not an ideal solution, due to the bias towards effects and a bit dull sound, but when you adjust the equalizer or set the Music mode, things get better. But for listening to music, a wired HyperX Cloud headset is still better suited. And if you have already begun to compare, then it would be appropriate to compare the new product from SteelSeries with - it does not have a virtual multichannel sound, but a full-fledged one with 10 speakers, they cope better with music and the wow effect is more pronounced. But the headset from ASUS is wired, which puts the models in different echelons. Of the wireless, only Logitech G930 is remembered, but this is already an outdated model and it makes no sense to compare them with the P800.

The microphone recording quality is quite good, even in noisy environments.

Autonomy, range

The manufacturer did the right thing by putting two batteries in the kit at once, and also quite powerful for a headset - each with a capacity of 1000 mAh, which is enough for 20 hours of continuous operation.

When the first one sits down, it is inserted into the transmitter for charging, and a spare goes to the headset.

The range is marked at 12 meters, in real conditions it is somewhere, it all depends on the place.

Eventually

The cost of the headset in the US is $ 300. The price is not small, especially considering that for $ 400 you can buy a Sony PS4, for which the SteelSeries Siberia P800 is primarily intended. But despite the price, this is a good wireless gaming headset, with an effective sound that will perfectly unleash the potential of modern blockbusters. I also liked the ergonomics, equipment and versatility.

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