SteelSeries Siberia Elite Prism Headset Review!

 Purchase Link: http://bit.ly/cceliteprism

The SteeSeries Siberia Elite Pros, features superior sound, incredible comfort and high-end features that make it the ultimate choice in gaming headsets. SteelSeries took everything that was loved about the original, award-winning Siberia Elite and made it even better. Significant upgrades, both inside and out, make the Elite Prism everything you could ask for in a deluxe, competition-grade headset. 

Design:

Packaged in a much more deluxe box to its V3 smaller sibling the Siberia Elite Prism is all-round headset packed into a comically large design. There’s no shortage of praise for the build quality of the Elite Prism (as we’ve now come to expect as a standard feature from SteelSeries headsets).

Be aware, wearing this headset will make people look at you and giggle. The oversized yet extremely comfortable cups do add a bit of humour to the design and does look slightly distracting on ones head. If you wear these on public transport be careful not to smack another commuter across the face with the ever so large cups. The size of the Elite Prism is a bit larger than the V3 so larger heads should be ok with the sizing but it could have used a little bit extra just to make it sit just a tad bit better on your head.

 

The LED lighting effects can be controlled via the SteelSeries Engine 3 to go between numerous options, including ones that were left out of the Siberia V3 for some reason including Breathing & Volume Triggered. The software itself has a very clean interface and easy to navigate with simple and quick EQ controls and mic settings with added Dolby Headphone option.

Performance:

This is where the Siberia Elite Prism takes charge after the Siberia V3. The sound quality is much more balanced and offers great response over all frequencies but it does require a firmware update (sound was pretty awful before the firmware update) which was done all through the SteelSeries Engine 3, which leads me to add the SteelSeries Engine has got to be one of the best software packaged I’ve come across for products like these. Gaming products tend to have very flamboyant and excessively designed interfaces that just plain don’t work or is a nightmare to work in, the SteelSeries Engine however is extremely clean interface, simple to use and it just plain works as it shows. Kudos for SteelSeries on that one, it’s definitely something to consider when purchasing a USB-enabled headset (settings won’t take effect under 3.5mm connection).

 

Music, movies and games were all a pleasure to listen and with multiple plug options and adapters it is usable on platforms like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and PS4. Bass on the Elite Prism is much more defined and cleaner than its V3 counterpart but lacks solid ear rumbling lows which for most should be still comfortable to listen on (EQ is there for that reason).

Running the headset off both the USB adapter on a PC and the 3,5mm off a FiiO X3 Player the headset performed pretty evenly and is a pretty ideal daily headset to use if you have the space to carry and pack it. It’s not foldable and does not come with a pouch or bag so you will need to consider storage before hauling it around places.

Conclusion:

For slightly less you get the Siberia V3 which drops on audio quality, the Siberia Elite Prism however is where the price difference kicks in and you get yourself a precisely crafted gaming headset. One thing I would say to SteelSeries is, drop the Dolby. It doesn’t really add anything necessary and the quality stereo setup of the headset is finely tuned enough to not need it. It is a precisely engineered piece of gear that is super comfortable and has the juice to make it a worthy investment choice.

SteelSeries Siberia V3 Prism Headset Review

Purchase Link:  http://bit.ly/ccv3prism

The SteeSeries Siberia V3 Prism features a newly-refined design that is both flexible and durable while still offering the legendary comfort of the Siberia series. The iconic Siberia suspension headband returns offering enduring, lightweight comfort for hours of gaming. Powerful, next-gen SteelSeries speaker drivers deliver rich, detailed sound for enhanced gameplay. Noise reducing memory foam ear cushions aid in isolating the natural sounds and powerful bass while keeping out outside noise. A retractable, flexible crystal-clear microphone can be muted with the flip of a switch behind the ear cup. A PC adapter and a universal 3.5mm plug means Siberia v3 plays nice on nearly all gaming systems and devices.

Design:

Super lightweight and a very high chance of good comfort, Unfortunately the 2^nd part of that statement is left a bit short from me due to the fact the headband isn’t long enough for it to sit comfortable on my head. Around the office was a similar issue with the Siberia V3 more suited for younger gamers (or people with smaller heads than us here in the office). The cups themselves are very comfortable and will not distract you for lengthy listening periods. The build quality and overall design of the Siberia V3 is unchanged since its first iteration and continues to be top in its class.

The LED lighting effects can be controlled via the SteelSeries Engine 3 to go between a constant colour to an interchanging glow which cycles through different colours. The software itself has a very clean interface and easy to navigate with simple and quick EQ controls and mic settings.

Performance:

This is where the Siberia V3 is a bit of a letdown. The headphone lacks quality and clean lows and generally sounds a bit muddy listening to music and movies. It does a good job with games with the lack of a clean crisp sound often helping in the player getting a bit more immersed in the game. Compared to similar headphones around the $165 mark the Siberia V3 does fall short in performance at times. The lack of 3.5mm adapter also means you won’t be using these in your portable devices anytime soon. The microphone is good and should be a pretty sweet tool for gamers across multiple platforms (currently supports Windows, Mac and PS4)

 

Conclusion:

If you’re after a decent sounding headphone with 2^nd to none comfort then the Siberia V3 is the one to consider. Although it does leave a desire for slightly more bass and overall cleaner sound if you want something strictly for gaming and need it to be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible then the V3 is where you should be putting your money.

Gigabyte, Razer & Steelseries Gaming Mouse Reviews

Gaming Gear!

Hope you guys like your gaming gear because today I have more reviews dedicated to some funky gaming gear from the biggest brands like Gigabyte, SteelSeries & Razer.

First up though, it’s the Gigabyte M8600
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/m8600-gigabyte-m8600-p-55349.html?sort=2a

Let’s take a quick look over its main features,

Interface: USB
Tracking system: Twin-eye Laser
Resolution: 100 ~ 6500dpi ( Hardware: up to 5600dpi)
Onboard memory: 32KB
Maximum acceleration: 50g
Maximum speed: 150 inches/ second
Cable Length: 1.8m nylon braided / Gold-plated USB connector to mini USB
Dimension: (L)134.3*(W)72.7*(H)42.7 mm
Weight: 148g with battery; 110g without battery
Accessory: Charging dock, Li-ion battery*2, USB to mini USB cable*2, Driver CD, Quick guide, Spare feet pad 

The mouse looks like something ET bought down with him on an un-Hollywoodized visit. It’s got sharp corners with lines cutting into parts, different materials on different sections and a DPI control panel that looks like a launch pad for a space ship (explains the ET thing). Basically, it looks funky.

The packaging it comes in is no less fancy. If the mouse is something ET bought down, the packaging would be the ship. It comes in unconventional cylinder tubing that breaks off into 2 parts. The mouse itself sits on the top section in a cheaply made plastic mould (the ships seating). The bottom section contains all the accessories which come in one tight zip up bag which contain 2 USB Cables, a docking station and a backup rechargeable Li-ion battery. Very appealing set of accessories.

The mouse itself is quite large and people who like to grip their mouse may find it uncomfortable as the middle is quite sharp and sticks up. Claw users like me will find it very comfortable to use. The rear end of the unit has the battery pack which is replaceable, with a simple click on the bottom, the battery just pops out. Gigabyte has rated the battery to last up to 50 hours of use before a charge is needed, with which the 2^nd battery pack, makes for 100 hours of gaming. Enough for any hardcore dedicated gamer. The spare battery back can be placed into the docking station to recharge. The station is also a cradle and charging mount for the mouse itself. However when you place the mouse onto the cradle, it does feel quite wobbly and doesn’t sit in entirely snug. The cradle must be connected to your PC via one of the supplied cables. Another extra feature is the ability to plug the USB cable straight into the front of the mouse as well. It locks in for secure wired usability. All the buttons are programmable to suite your needs as well.

Using the mouse was interesting, at times the cursor would just start moving by itself without me having to move the mouse, which is a bit annoying and disappointing. The side of the mouse where extra buttons are have a plastic lining to it, which feels ridiculously cheap. While gaming, I just could not get used to this mouse, there’s just something about it that makes it not up there with other mice which are cheaper than the M8600.

Overall, I think Gigabyte put a lot of effort into the fancy packaging, filling it with accessories and features but lost focus when it came to how the mouse actually worked and felt. I want to love this mouse, but for the time being I can only like it.

Next up I have the SteelSeries Sensei Pro Grade Laser Mouse
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/62150mssensei-steelseries-sensei-p-53951.html?sort=2a

Let me just start off by saying, it looks like one of those old-school ball mouses except this has shiny top with lights and screens over it and it feels 1000 times better. It’s as simple as a gaming mouse can be but with the Engine software (which you need to download separately) it lets you tweak and personalise the mouse till your heart’s content. The rear end of the mouse has an illuminated Steel Series logo which can be customized within the Engine software. The scroll wheel is also illuminated and can be changed. In front of the scroll wheel we have a simple button which allows you to change DPI settings on the fly. On the underneath of the unit, there is a small LCD screen (yes, it has a LCD screen under it) which can be customized to display what you like. The top shell part of the mouse does leave smudge marks and it looks like the perfect material that welcomes scratches. It’s so shiny and has blurry reflections all over, scratching this would be inevitable. It’s also not so friendly with sweaty palms.

The mouse has two buttons on each side and has a symmetrical design which is useful for our left handed friends out there. People who like to grip their mouse I think will find this unit welcoming, it is nicely and evenly shaped and rounded which allows your palm to comfortably sit over it.

Using it felt quite nice, I got used to it very quickly and movements became very natural. The two buttons on the right hand side of the unit did bother me though. I kept accidently clicking on the buttons because it is perfectly positioned where my ring finger rests. I guess that’s one of the downsides when you have a mouse that is symmetrical and is accustomed to both handed users. Gaming was very comfortable and easy to use. The programmable buttons made it easy to shorten a lot of keystrokes.

Overall, though it’s a solid performing mouse, there are a few design flaws which can be blamed on the mid 1990’s design of the unit but I think many users will be happy with it.

Last up we have the Razer Abyssus – Mirror Edition
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/rz01-00360500-r3m1-razer-abyssus-mirror-edtion-p-46523.html?sort=2a

For $53, you don’t get much of a mouse to be honest. When Razer labelled it with ‘Back to the Basics’, they really weren’t kidding. 2 buttons and a scroll wheel, that’s all you get. Unpacking it was quite ordinary and is as simple as plugging it in and you got yourself a Razer mouse. The rear end of the mouse has an illuminated Razer logo in blue…. Not sure why they didn’t make it green considering their logo is branded as green. On the bottom of the unit you’ll find two switches, one for polling rate switch from 125Hz to 1000Hz (quite a big jump there) and one for DPI with options 450, 1800 and 3500. The mouse is suitable for those who like to claw their mouse and is perfectly suited for left handed users as there are no extra features to the unit.

The scroll wheel is quite heavy to use and isn’t as smooth as what I would like it to be. Gaming however was quite comfortable and fun to use with. Was very responsive and all of the 3 buttons seem to have worked very well. My palm sits nicely on the unit and sweaty palms don’t seem to be an issue as the glossy shell just deflects it all.

Overall though, for the price tag the mouse doesn’t offer enough features or functionality. It looks and feels good but lacks in performance and though it did well with gaming, I can’t picture somebody using a mouse solely for gaming.

sahin.s@centrecom.com.au