INTRODUCTION

   It's not every day for us to be on the receiving end of 3 brand new game titles and 3 brand new movies in Blu-ray format and so because that's exactly what happened roughly a week ago we decided to make proper use of those new "resources" to help test several gaming and audio peripherals we received recently. Now as most of you know (gamers should anyways) the Siberia V2 stereo gaming headset by SteelSeries was initially unveiled almost 4 years ago but thanks to various design and software/firmware upgrades introduced with later models (for example the Frost Blue one) this line is still around and has actually managed to remain very popular amongst casual and hardcore gamers alike. Well it seems that SteelSeries is really not ready to let go of the successful Siberia V2 line just yet and what better way to do that than to introduce a brand new model featuring a LED color never used before called Heat Orange?

   From day one, SteelSeries has been focused on making professional gaming gear that provide meaningful benefits to gamers of all skill-level, with the most demanding being those gamers whose lively hood depends on the performance of our products. We believe, as most gamers do, in winning, not trying! What originally began as a small two-person operation in Copenhagen back in 2001 has become a global leader in professional gaming products. SteelSeries recognized the need for superior, high-quality professional gaming gear that would give players a competitive edge. Fast-forward to today, and we've come a long way since our first glass mousepad. We have global offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, providing an integrated portfolio of products designed specifically for gaming. Fueling our growth is you, the gamer!

   Unlike the original Siberia V2 that was introduced in two different flavors (one with a 3.5mm jack and one with an USB soundcard) the only Siberia V2 Heat Orange version currently features an integrated USB soundcard something which will certainly disappoint some potential buyers but will probably be quite convenient for others. Another difference with the original is that this time over SteelSeries has equipped the outside of the earcups with 16 super bright orange LEDs featuring 6 different illumination modes (similar to what SteelSeries did with the award winning Frost Blue version not long ago). However the rest of the headset pretty much remains the same so once again we see the same high accuracy 50mm drivers featuring a frequency response of 18-28000Hz with 40 Ohm impedance, the same noise-cancelling uni-directional retractable microphone and of course the same lightweight/flexible design that gamers enjoy so much. That being said i don't expect the new Siberia V2 Heat Orange to outperform the Frost Blue version for example (i do expect some software updates regarding the USB soundcard but nothing noticeable) but it's been a while since we used a Siberia V2 headset so let's take things from the start.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

SteelSeries hasn't changed their headset package for a while now (no need to really) so once again at the front we see a large product image along with the company logo and the connectivity type.

A side picture of the Siberia V2 Heat Orange is present on both sides right above a smaller one showcasing the retractable uni-directional microphone.

The specifications table is present at the rear of the box right above the units features printed in 4 languages.

Once again the front opens up to reveal a large picture of the left earcup (showcasing the new Heat Orange LEDs) and the entire headset through a clear plastic window.

Typically the bundle includes pretty much the basics such as an USB expansion cable, SteelSeries case badge, quick start guide, paper pointing out to the official downloads section (so you can download the Engine software) and a warranty paper.

THE SIBERIA V2 HEAT ORANGE

When i first looked at the very first Siberia released over 5 years ago i didn't think it would last long due to the very thin design but it didn't take long for me to realize that SteelSeries had created one of the strongest and most flexible headsets in the market something that hasn't changed one bit.

Some of you may wonder as to what i mean when i say that the Siberia V2 is extremely strong and flexible so the above picture should help explain.

The exterior of both earcups has the usual grill underneath which SteelSeries has placed the 16 orange LEDs. Again the rear of the earcups is open so that air can get in and reduce the heat on your ears.

Left and Right markings are placed on both sides right above the SteelSeries logo.

Leaving out the fact that the glossy black is a dust magnet the uni-directional retractable microphone is once again placed on the lower front section of the left earcup.

Just like with the previous Siberia V2 models the microphone is extremely flexible.

Underneath the large leather earpads SteelSeries has placed noise reducing foam to keep ambient noise out while the 50mm drivers are placed beneath the orange cloth cover at the center.

The headband as always is not very thick but because of the weight and design of the Siberia V2 it doesn't have to be.

Adjusting the size of the headset has always been one of the strong points of the Siberia V2 line since with the help of these two metal wires found on both ends of the headband you just need to wear it and let them do the rest.

Once again on the other side of the headband we see the SteelSeries logo.

The Siberia V2 Heat Orange headset features an in-line volume controller that allows you to mute the microphone and adjust the volume levels.

Placing a USB soundcard at the end of the headset means that you need a computer to use it with and that's a slight drawback for the Siberia V2 Heat Orange edition.

USING THE SIBERIA V2 HEAT ORANGE

As we speak the Siberia V2 Heat Orange edition is not in the SteelSeries official download page but since it uses the same Engine software as the Frost Blue edition you can download that instead.

The moment you plug the headset into the USB port all 16 orange LEDs will light up and i have to say they look great (especially in pitch black).

The SteelSeries Engine allows the end user to adjust the audio EQ (equalizer), set both the illumination intensity and mode for the 16 orange LEDs and also to create different profiles which can activate when specific executables/games are launched.

CONCLUSION

   As mentioned in the beginning we didn't expect the Siberia V2 Heat Orange to perform better than the Siberia V2 Frost Blue which we did review a while ago but we did use it with the 3 latest games we received (Saints Row IV, The Bureau X-Com Declassified and Splinter Cell Blacklist) and the 3 new Blu-ray titles that arrived the same day (Iron Man 3, Now You See Me and Star Trek Into Darkness). So much like the previous Siberia V2 headsets the Heat Orange is very durable, lightweight and comfortable so you can wear it for long periods of time. However the large earpads are not only comfortable but they also block out quite a bit of noise which is always a plus. The same doesn't really apply the other way around mainly due to the large opening at the rear but unless you are using it at high volume levels next to someone sleeping that shouldn't be an issue. Thanks to the massive 50mm drivers and their wide frequency response the sound is very clear and accurate with very good mids/highs and plenty of bass but at the end of the day i just have to admit that the USB soundcard used is simply not as good as a high end model from either Creative Labs or ASUS. Still having used the original Siberia V2 with several high-end sound cards the differences are not really easy to spot. The uni-directional retractable microphone works good enough and although we've come across better ones this is the only one that actually hides inside the earcup something which can't be matched by all of the removable ones out there so we can cut it some slack in terms of audio quality for the other end. If i could give one features to the Siberia V2 Heat Orange that would be the ability to change the color of the LEDs but since SteelSeries seems to be in my head their upcoming Siberia Elite model does exactly that so it won't be long until we see what such a feature can add to a headset.

   Since the Siberia V2 Heat Orange was literally just launched by SteelSeries it's not widely available yet so we can't really give you a price tag at one of the leading retailers around. However currently you can get it directly from SteelSeries for a price tag of USD119.99 inside the USA and 119.99Euros inside the EU (their currency converter is not the best we know). Now i must admit that for such a price tag you can add a few bucks more and get yourself a real 5.1 surround sound headset but leaving out the fact that there aren't that many games out there that really support 5.1 surround sound (especially with headsets) in the end a headset is not just about positioning audio but also comfort, durability, looks and audio quality and these are the areas where the Siberia V2 Heat Orange excels at and that's why it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Design (16 Bright Orange LEDs)
- Audio Clarity
- Good Bass
- Extremely Comfortable
- Retractable Active Noise-Cancelling Uni-Directional Microphone
- Mute Button/Volume In-Line Controller
- USB Soundcard
- 3m Cable

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- Can Only Be Used With Personal Computers
- Current Availability