SteelSeries Siberia v3 Gaming Headset Review

1. Introduction, Specifications, Pricing & Availability
2. A Closer Look & How They Feel
3. The Listening Experience
4. What's Hot, What's Not & Final Thoughts

TweakTown's Rating: 86%

The Bottom Line

SteelSeries has made one of the most beloved PC gaming headsets, and tuned it in the right places. The self-adjusting headband, for me at least, wasn't big enough, but the improvements across the board lift it up. The ear cushions are unbelievably comfortable, though.

Introduction, Specifications, Pricing & Availability

I only just recently took a look at the SteelSeries Elite Prism gaming headset, but at the same time the company sent me the revised Siberia v3 gaming headset, which I'm going to review today. I've been using the Siberia v3 for around two weeks now to give it a total thrashing when it comes to all things gaming and productivity.

SteelSeries recently updated their PC gaming headset lineup, with the impressive Elite Prism gaming headset, but one of the most beloved gaming headsets of all time has also been updated; the Siberia. We have the V3 headset here, with professional gamers, casual gamers and everyone in between using this headset, it has some big shoes to fill.

I had been using the Elite Prism right up until I put it back in its box to take out the Siberia v3, with the Elite Prism becoming one of my favorite gaming headsets of all time. I wanted to walk into the Siberia V3 with those expectations, so let's see how I go. First off, we'll check out the various specifications, pricing and availability of SteelSeries' Siberia v3.

Specifications

SteelSeries uses only quality components in their headsets, starting off with noise-reducing, memory foam ear cushions. On top of that, literally, we have a lightweight, self-adjusting headband which can be incredibly comfortable, but we'll have more on that soon.

The company has used a new flexible and durable reinforced design with the Siberia v3, provided a retractable and flexible crystal-clear microphone for those all-night, serious gaming sessions, and a microphone mute button to the side.

There's a universal 3.5mm jack that also comes with an adapter, so you can plug it into virtually anything. SteelSeries says that the Siberia v3 is compatible with your PC, PS4, Mac, iOS device and Android devices. This makes it quite a versatile headset, something that any gamer would love to own.

Pricing & Availability

SteelSeries has priced the Siberia v3 at under $100, which should have most gamers being able to afford them. Amazon has the black version of the Siberia v3, the one we have for testing, for $99.33, while the white version of the headset is $99.99. Both are available right now, at the time of writing at least, with 3-4 day turn around (even over Christmas).

The Box - Another Great Presentation by SteelSeries

Presentation is something that SteelSeries has done extremely well, so let's take a look at, around, and inside of the Siberia Siberia v3 box.

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The front of the box has a great high-res image of the Siberia v3, giving you a great look at that self-adjusting headband, a slight tease of that new and improved microphone, and more. We find out in the top right hand corner that this headset works with Windows, Mac, PlayStation 4, iOS and Android devices.

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On the back we receive some information on the various parts of the Siberia v3, including the noise-reducing, memory foam ear cushions, and more.

On the sides of the box, we have a look at the left and right sides of the Siberia v3. This is a really nice touch by SteelSeries, as most companies wouldn't concentrate so much on the sides of the box itself.

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Opening the box we find the Siberia v3 headset is snuggled in nice and tight, with a little package that includes a manual, and a nice SteelSeries sticker.

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A closer look at the inside of the box, with the headset still inside.

PRICING: You can find the SteelSeries Siberia v3 Gaming Headset-Black for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.

United States: The SteelSeries Siberia v3 Gaming Headset-Black retails for $99.33 at Amazon.

Canada: The SteelSeries Siberia v3 Gaming Headset-Black retails for CDN$115.99 at Amazon Canada.

A Closer Look & How They Feel

A Closer Look at the Siberia Siberia v3

SteelSeries did such a great job on the Elite Prism, with this job blending into their entire line of PC gaming headsets. The Siberia v3 is yet another great looking headset from the company, so let's dive right into taking a closer look at the Siberia v3 headset.

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As you can see, we have the black version of the SteelSeries Siberia v3. The self-adjusting headband can be seen doing its work at the top of the image, with the big comfortable earcups on full display. In the bottom right of the photo, you can see the microphone popping out just slightly.

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On the right hand side of the Siberia v3, we have another great shot of that self-adjusting headband, and the stylish design of the earcups from SteelSeries.

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The microphone in question, pulled out to its full extent.

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Another look at the microphone, pulled all of the way out.

Here we can see the microphone mute button on the side of the Siberia v3.

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The Siberia v3 has some impressive memory foam ear cushions, which are incredibly comfortable on your ears.

How They Feel

I used the Siberia v3 for a couple of weeks, wearing them every day when I sat at my desk writing news or articles, as well as copious amounts of gaming, of course. There were great things, but there was one big issue that I found too overwhelming to not write about; they felt uncomfortable (for me at least) after an hour or more of use.

The self-adjusting headband can move a fair bit, but for my head - which isn't that big - didn't gel well with the headset. I found I was getting a sore spot on the very top of my head, where the self-adjusting headband was receiving the most pull. This wasn't super painful, but it was annoying to feel, so after 1-2 hours of gaming, I had to readjust and spend some time with the Siberia v3 off my head.

For the time they didn't hurt, they were unbelievably comfortable. The memory foam ear cushions felt great, where they overlapped my ears and gave me a nice snug feel.

Pulling the microphone out and using it was great, as it is easy to do, as well as turning off the microphone if you need to make sure that no one is listening over TeamSpeak, or whatever communications application you might be using.

The Listening Experience

When it comes to 'The Listening Experience' of the SteelSeries Siberia v3, I have nothing but good news to report. Music sounded great, so when the right track is played, you can really feel that bass. I listen to mainly orchestral soundtracks when I'm working, with the Siberia v3 having some great highs, and even better lows.

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Listening to the wide variety of tracks from Hans Zimmer, in the form of the scores from Interstellar and Man of Steel were nothing short of great. For a pair of headphones that cost less than $100, they are surprisingly crisp, clear and powerful.

Gaming, oh the gaming. I played Battlefield 4, Watch Dogs and Team Fortress 2 with the SteelSeries Siberia v3, and I have nothing but good things to report.

When playing Battlefield 4, the bullets hitting the walls and rocks beside me felt crisp and real. The clarity of the headset is really prominent during first-person shooters. Team Fortress 2 gave me the same feel, so when my Pyro was blasting fire around me as the Medic to ensure that no Spies were trying to backstab me, it felt like I had a flamethrower in my office.

Watch Dogs has great surround audio, where I could hear specific beats coming from cars as I walked through traffic and across the street. The level of immersion definitely increases with the SteelSeries Siberia v3.

What's Hot, What's Not & Final Thoughts

For those who want to sum up the entire review in a few points, the What's Hot and What's Not part of my review will help you. Skip right to this bit if you want a quick read, or if you want to find out what I found to be the most notable parts of the Siberia v3, we're going to jump into that right now.

What's Hot

Quality Build: SteelSeries do not build cheap, nasty headsets, they only build quality, long-lasting products. The Siberia v3 is yet another member of this ever-growing family of quality PC gaming headsets.

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Great Sound: The sound quality from the Siberia v3 is nothing short of great, and considering its sub $100 price tag, this is a testament to SteelSeries wanting to provide gamers with a cheap alternative to the Elite Prism.

Under $100 Price Tag: For $99, you're getting a well-rounded headset, with a great out-of-the-box experience. Everything from the box itself, through to the Siberia v3 headset, everything is top notch quality from one of the best manufacturers of PC gaming headsets in the world.

Memory Foam Ear Cushions: I love you. That is all.

What's Not

Uncomfortable After Hours of Use: This is nearly a deal breaker for me, but in another way, it's not. Personally, it's my head - yours will be different. For me, I can't do 1-2 hours or more, which is a real shame. For people with smaller heads, they will be comfortable for those all-night gaming sessions.

Final Thoughts

SteelSeries has crafted one of the best sub $100 PC gaming headsets on the market with the Siberia v3. The company continues its tradition of making an excellent box and packaging, which provides a massively positive first impressions on the Siberia v3, which continues throughout the experience.

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The memory foam ear cushions are just so soft on your ears, while the extendable microphone can bend to your will. With an on/off button on the side, you'll never have people prying into your conversations if you don't want to, which is a nice touch.

The self-adjusting headband is great, and for those with smaller heads or less hair, it will feel great for massive gaming sessions. But it comes with a warning: please do try them on, and if you have lots of room to move with the self-adjusting headband, you should be good. But if it's tight, you might want to reconsider.

For those who try the Siberia v3 and it fits, you are not going to regret your purchase. This is one of the best PC gaming headsets on the market, and it completely dominates the sub $100 category right now.

PRICING: You can find the SteelSeries Siberia v3 Gaming Headset-Black for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.

United States: The SteelSeries Siberia v3 Gaming Headset-Black retails for $99.33 at Amazon.

Canada: The SteelSeries Siberia v3 Gaming Headset-Black retails for CDN$115.99 at Amazon Canada.