Review: SteelSeries 4H & 3H

We first mentioned the two new gaming headphones from SteelSeries about a month ago. They were kind enough to ship us two units for a review, and while the headphones are pricey, they certainly don’t disappoint. Rest of the review after the jump.
SteelSeries is a known maker of high-end gaming hardware, everything from keyboards and headset, to gaming oriented anti-virus and firewall software. The two new headsets are placed below the flagship product, the SteelSound 5H. Starting with the 4H, you notice is that the quality certainly meet the expectation for a pair of headphones in that price class. The headphones are quite light, and the two ear cups are independent and should fit any pair of ears. There is a retractable microphone that can be hidden away inside one of the ear cups if not in use.

However, all these things are details, what matters is the sound. I was generally impressed with the sound quality of the the 4H, it’s very distinctive and you can hear all the small details in games that usually feature great audio (like Battlefield 2). The bass wasn’t noticeably better than any other headphones in its class. So while the SteelSound 4H offers great audio, the price, a somewhat high $70, certainly woon’t appeal to many gamers.

The 3H headset is at the bottom of the SteelSound product line, and with a $50 price tag, it offers virtually the same sound as the 4H. It is smaller, more portable, but the smaller ear cups won’t isolate as much sound (depending on your preference). The headphones are foldable, making them ideal on the road (or at LAN events), and has the same retractable microphone as the 4H. SteelSeries claims the both headsets were developed in cooperation with pro gamers, and there’s little doubt to it; features like weight, comfort and the retractable mic are certainly things any gamer would appreciate.

I tried both headsets for hours while listening music and playing games, and I didn’t notice a huge difference. Where the 3H falls short (the smaller ear cups), it makes up in portability and price. So if price isn’t a factor, the 4H will certainly satisfy you, but for the more budget oriented gamer, I’d highly recommend the 3H headset.

Product pages:
SteelSeries SteelSound 4H
SteelSeries SteelSound 3H

More pics:

-Tobias Dahl