I still can’t believe that there was once a time when I didn’t have a headset in my house. I had built in computer speakers and a mic – what did I need a headset for? Of course, once you go headset, you never go back, and the difference between them can be incredible. This latest updated headset from SteelSeries promises it’s better than ever, and it just might be my new benchmark for headsets.
See me, feel me
Of course sound quality is a big deal, but just as important in a headset is the comfort factor. From the first time I put on the V3 Prism, I found it incredibly easy to wear, even for long periods of time. The big ear cups fit softly around my head, offering a snug degree of natural sound cancellation without gripping my head in a vice. The faux leather padding is soft and feels luxurious. I found that they fit right around my ears without making it feel like my cartilage was being crumpled into a cramped space. That said, be warned that long playing times may result in some hear or even sweating around the ears.
The suspension headband is remarkably comfortable. The design means that the small weight of the headset is evenly distributed across the head and doesn’t require any size adjustments to make it fit your unique skull. While the band itself isn’t padded, it’s soft enough with the weight distributed so evenly that I never felt like there was a sore spot on my head from wearing the headset for too long. Additionally, the suspension cords have been strengthened, so even if you pull on them on a regular basis, they seem much tougher. I pulled rather hard on them just to test and I couldn’t break them, so normal use shouldn’t lead to any suspension failures.
For those who like to fiddle with lights and make sure the headset offers the same shade illumination as the rest of their rig, the V3 Prism allows for the usual customisation options as other SteelSeries products – get that exact shade of red to make yourself look menacing without getting your skin to look creepy.
The V3 Prism can be plugged into your PS4 as well as as your PC. Unfortunately, this wasn’t thought through as well as I might have hoped; with a 1.5 meter (5 foot) USB cable, you need to sit absurdly close to your TV unless you have a USB extension cable. While this isn’t as much of a problem for PC users, I was unable to sit back and relax on my couch while using the headset without risking pulling the PS4 out of the TV cabinet with me.
Can you hear me
While the primary purpose of a headset is to hear well, I’d like to start with that secondary purpose that is also incredibly important – being heard. Not all microphones are created equal; you want something that picks up your voice when you’re directing the course of attack to your teammates, but doesn’t blast a ton of other noise into your comrades’ ears. The V3 Prism is perfect for this. First up, the microphone is retractable. This means that you can put it perfectly in place while in use and pack it away when you aren’t talking to anyone – a nice way to avoid distraction and also makes it look much snazzier. The unidirectional is excellent at picking up voices and I even managed to find a position where my breathing didn’t bother other people. When retracted, it still picks up sound pretty well, so be sure to toggle the mic switch if you’re actually just not wanting to be heard. That said, even when retracted, the mic didn’t pick up the sound coming through the ear cups, ensuring that my gameplay noises didn’t echo into other players’ ears. This is quite possibly the best mic I’ve experienced on a gaming headset.
As for the sound quality on the headset, it’s excellent for gaming. The stereo set up doesn’t offer perfect surround sound, but it certainly is good enough for following footsteps on the map or knowing from where the killer shots are being fired. The bass is not as tuned up as most players are used to, so if you’re expecting some rumbling bass during gameplay (or using the headset when listening to music or watching videos), it just doesn’t give quite as satisfying a depth of bass. That said, the middle sounds are excellently clear. Even at high volumes, I was impressed with the clarity of the headset, although it should be noted that it definitely performs best during gaming rather than consuming other media.
Specifications
Headphones
- Frequency Response: 10 – 28000 Hz
- Impedance: 35 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 80 dB
- SPL@1kHz, 1V rms: 102dB
- Cable Length: 1.5 m (5 ft.)
- Connection Type: USB
Microphone
- Frequency Response: 50 – 16000 Hz
- Pick Up Pattern: Unidirectional
- Sensitivity: -42 dB
Compatibility
- Windows and Mac OS
- PlayStation
Price
- Recommend Retail Price: R1 999
Last Updated: June 8, 2015
| SteelSeries Siberia V3 Prism | |
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An upgrade on the vastly popular V2, the V3 Prism is incredibly comfortable for hours of gaming. It's built as a gaming headset, so obviously that's what it works for best, but with it being so nice to wear, you might find yourself keeping it on all day regardless of your listening pleasures.
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HairyEwok
June 8, 2015 at 15:35
That price is a bit steep for stereo headphones. And as you also point out the short cabling could pose some problems. Perhaps these headphones were made in mind for the laptop users.
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:41
Dayum, dat price!
Lord Chaos
June 8, 2015 at 15:42
I know right? the Razer mouse I want is cheaper.
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:42
What are you looking at?
Lord Chaos
June 8, 2015 at 15:43
The 2014 Naga with 12 side buttons
Hammersteyn
June 8, 2015 at 15:47
Nice
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:49
For cabbaging?
Lord Chaos
June 8, 2015 at 15:51
Hells no. Just find it works awesome with D3 or Starcraft. Even in Fallout it makes everything easier.
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:56
Nice! Double NIIICE
Lord Chaos
June 8, 2015 at 15:58
Currently have the 6 side button one, and I’ve found numerous times in Fallout where I wanted more.
HairyEwok
June 8, 2015 at 16:03
Not just that….. Razer has surround headphones cheaper than that with sound cards on them. Check up the Megalodon. Super comfy headphones.
Lord Chaos
June 8, 2015 at 16:05
Takealot says no. They do have the Kraken which is impressive in itself.
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:42
That being said, would not mind one, looks flippen schweet
Hammersteyn
June 8, 2015 at 15:44
SteelSeries, bah! For 2K I’d expect it to be made from steel.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
June 8, 2015 at 15:45
Stainless steel and coated in Platinum….
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:49
Speaking of which…
http://businesstech.co.za/news/banking/89980/top-5-most-exclusive-credit-cards-in-the-world/
Lord Chaos
June 8, 2015 at 15:54
I… O_o
*Start’s search for sugar mommy.
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:55
You need a fleet of sugar folk for that kind of cash
Lord Chaos
June 8, 2015 at 15:56
*sugar.
You really are off today.
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:56
Already fixed ages ago, too slow old man
Lord Chaos
June 8, 2015 at 15:57
Say again:
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:59
Your screenshot means nothing. Saw the fault, fixed it before you called it, so bah to you
Hammersteyn
June 8, 2015 at 16:00
But it doesn’t count when I do the same 😛
*Remembers this
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 16:01
Not unless I catch you first!
Hammersteyn
June 8, 2015 at 16:03
*Makes note
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
June 8, 2015 at 15:55
You’ve rendered me speechless… a golden card, as in golden card, then there’s the palladium one… I’m truly amazed at what people will spend their money on now…Thank you, I will now cry in a corner and hope for a lottery ticket…
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:55
IKR? How cool is the palladium one?
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
June 8, 2015 at 15:56
Oh yeah, If I was a Billionaire, yes, definitely, though right now, I’m going to have to exchange that card for a lifetime supply of Pampers nappies….
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:57
Lifetime? You do know they eventually stop pooping themselves?
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
June 8, 2015 at 15:58
I know, but we have number two on the way and it feels pretty much like a lifetime… Though, I do love them to bits!
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:59
You love cleaning up poop? Agsies!
Lord Chaos
June 8, 2015 at 15:59
To bits…
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 16:01
Chunky!
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
June 8, 2015 at 16:44
That…. That came out wrong…the words, I mean…
Lord Chaos
June 8, 2015 at 15:55
You’d have to win every lottery on the planet.
Admiral Chief's Adventure
June 8, 2015 at 15:50
So 2k is not a steal then?
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
June 8, 2015 at 15:50
I constantly (every single time) over estimate the length of the cable on my headset. Ending in me screaming on the floor as my ears are torn off by my headset cable, for my in ears being too short… So I’ve made an informed decision, namely, never buy a headset with a cable shorter than 3 meters (that being said, I’m about two meters in length myself) otherwise, you will inflict pain on yourself… that or go wireless…. Though that price tag…
Ranting Raptor
June 8, 2015 at 16:45
[question] who the heck pays R2000 for headphones!?!?!?!?
Matthew Holliday
June 9, 2015 at 09:39
people who look at the R1300 versions and think it needs flashy lights.
the RAW Prisms only came with a flashy light version and i gotta say, waste of time.
anyone who’se considering these, should save themselves R700 and go for the regular versions.
Coughsie
June 9, 2015 at 07:03
I’m surprised this site hasn’t been blocked at our campus yet coz this is my techno and gaming porn site.
Matthew Holliday
June 9, 2015 at 09:36
scrap the Prism versions.
the regular versions come without flashy lights for R1300.
just replaced my razer elektras (they died =/) with a regular pair of the V3s.
inline mic and audio is a pain, using a splitter to plug into PC is just stupid, its a gaming headset, so why tailor it to MAC or mobile? if i use the splitter on my main PC, it makes a squeeky noise, but doesnt do this on my work pc.
No reviews EVER mention that.
and you know how much of a pain it is to get the correct adaptors over here?
luckilly the V3s provide you with a splitter, but if you want it to go to USB like many of the V2s did, you’ll be looking for a while, i had to get mine built by some audio company when i got my Razer elektras.
sounds solid, better than the Elektras, Krakens and regular RAW atleast.
straight out the box i struggled to get a seal on the earcups, was a little gap behind my ear that ruined sound quality, but now that ive worn them in, theyr all good.
most comfortable headset ive owned, no regrets.
my only reservation is that i tried a pair of the V2s this past weekend, you cant really tell the difference when you’re wearing them…