The makers of the professional gaming mousepad, the SteelPad, have created a set of headphones 'optimized' for your gaming experience.   With this statement, we expect that this 'optimized' gaming product can somehow give us the edge to do better when playing computer games; whether it be playing online, by yourself, or among other people in a local areanetwork.  With the abundant number of choices when it comes headphones, it is hard to choose which ones are best for the ultimate gaming experience.  As the consumer's budget increase, the features and quality of the headphones increase.  However, it is not rational to spend so much money on a pair of headphones.

Today I will review the Steelseries SteelSound 5h headset.  The price is around the average for a decent pair of headphones for games.  The USB version can be found online for $139.99; the analog version for $99.99.  Steelsound is not known by many people but as the name suggests, should provide a strong performance of audio quality.  The key point of this review is to find out if the product lives up to its name in terms of quality.

SteelSeries’ protects their products in fairly impressive packaging. This gives us an idea on how the company views their products.  A strong packaging gives us the impression that the protection of their product is of the utmost importance.  Upon removing the headphones from the box they were shipped in, the product was carefully positioned and displayed in a clear plastic box which displayed a few features and pictures of the SteelSound headphones.
 

When opening the box, the driver installation CD and quick installation guide were right behind the headphones.  It is of the utmost importance to install the drivers for the headset first because the drivers are what cause the headset to achieve its maximum capability of performance.  Without the drivers, the quality of the sound of the headset is not as great as it should be.  Driver installation for the Steelsound 5H was quite easy so that any novice computer user would be able to without any problems.
 

The SteelSeries SteelSound 5H headset is very comfortable. The ear cups are well cushioned, shaped and has an adjustable padded headband. This will allow a person to maintain a comfortable experience during long periods of time.  Comfort is one of the most important qualities for a gaming headset because it will allow the gamer to play continuously without anything disrupting their rhythm.

One of the most important features of a gaming headset is the requirement of a microphone.  The microphone allows quick communication with fellow comrades and team members.  One of the most notable features of this specific headphone is the microphone.  The designers incorporated a retractable microphone in the left ear piece.  The microphone is easily extracted by pulling it out to the desired length. It can be quickly retracted by pushing it back into the ear piece.  This feature allows the gamer to keep the microphone well out of the way when it isn’t needed or is in anyway bothering them.  The headset passed remarkably in terms of features and usability.

Now we need to test the quality of the headset.  The sound of the headset is always crisp and clear. I adjusted the volume during playback and the sound never wavered or cracked.  The 5H performed flawlessly during this test even though it was using a integrated volume control on a wire. Bass reproduction is clear and almost profound, but not in a deafening way. The gaming headset was flawless in terms of sound and is perfect for the ultimate gaming experience.  The crisp sound will provide a realistic feeling while playing games.

One of the features that most gamers use nowadays is the microphone.  The microphone allows for quick communication with teammates to enhances gameplay.  This is especially true in any game that requires team success. The sound quality of a microphone makes a huge difference in this experience because it allows everyone to understand the plan of the team in detail.  The SteelSound 5H microphone reproduced voice quality with a clarity no matter where in the adjustable range. It is important to note that any microphone will require some amount of adjustment to ensure quality sound reproduction especially when moving from computer to computer but the clearness in the microphone displayed the quality of how the headset was made.

The SteelSound 5H was impressive.  The Steelsound 5h blew my expectations in terms of quality and features.  The sound quality and usability of the SteelSound 5H may well be worth the price especially when compared to other headsets in this price range.  The sound is rich and clear and is sure to please all sorts of gamers.  The Steelsound 5h headset provides both the quality and effectiveness of a reasonable cost-effective price which is what gamers look for.  This is the ideal gaming headset for those who want quality and effectiveness for the ultimate gaming experience.
 

Review by: richard@digitalreviews.net