INTRODUCTION

   We are literally counting the hours before Diablo III the much anticipated (for almost 11 years) RPG game title by Blizzard gets officially released (some may have it already) and so since i am quite certain that most of you are looking forward to it this title should easily break sales records around the world just like StarCraft 2 did just over year ago (perhaps even more). So having already reviewed the very good Diablo III mouse by SteelSeries i thought it would be appropriate to also review their Diablo III headset just hours before the official launch of the game.

   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!

   Although the Diablo III headset is actually based on the Siberia V2 headset (why not use something that already feels and performs great?) SteelSeries has morphed several of its parts to make it more appealing for all the Diablo fans out there and i really have to admit that it worked like a charm since the end result is pretty much unlike any headset I’ve ever seen up until this day. Still that's not all SteelSeries changed and so compared to the Siberia V2 headset the Diablo III headset features higher Ohm impedance (40 compared to 32) headphones and a smart noise-cancelling uni-directional retractable microphone. There's no doubt in my mind that most people will rush to grab the Diablo III headset based on its amazing design and the Diablo III logo but that aside i am also curious to see (or listen) just how good the new features are.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

Just like with the Diablo III mouse the front of the box has as background image two demons fighting and on the foreground we see the Diablo III, Blizzard and SteelSeries logos and an large product image.

At the left side of the box we see an picture of the units left side.

The right side features a clear plastic opening from where you can see the exterior of the right headphone.

The logos of the 4 professional gaming teams that helped with the development of the Diablo III headset are present at the top of the box.

A specifications table along with the unit features listed and explained in 4 different languages are placed at the rear.

As usual the front opens up as a book to reveal one of the main Angel characters in the Diablo games, the two headphones of the headset and a few words about it in 4 languages.

The box contains the Diablo III headset, quick start guide, case sticker, piece of paper with the driver download link, product catalog, warranty information paper and a 2m USB extension cable.

THE DIABLO III HEADSET

Red and black has always been the best color combination for me (even my car has black/red leather interior) so the Diablo III headset felt right at home from the very beginning.

During testing i couldn't decide whether the exterior of both headphones looked to me more like a pair of gauntlets or the two sides of a helmet (bottom line they look great). LED lights are placed behind both the earcups and the number III carved on each side.

The retractable smart noise-cancelling uni-directional microphone is placed in the left earcup and as you can see it's quite flexible (much like the one of the Siberia V2 headsets).

The leatherette earcups are not only very comfortable but also large enough to surround almost every ear size available.

As you can see the Diablo III headset features the same suspension design as the Siberia V2 model allowing it to auto-adjust its length according to the person who wears it.

The headband may not be very thick but it's very soft and comfortable thanks to the suspension design.

Instead of the SteelSeries logo the top of the headband features the Diablo logo written with the classic medieval font.

Just like the Diablo 3 mouse the headset also features a nice red and black braided cable.

The in-line audio volume controller also features a convenient microphone mute button.

At the end of the cable we see the soundcard and the gold USB plug.

I was unable to capture the lighting effect in all its glory but even so it still looks great.

USING THE HEADSET

Prior to actually using the headset you should head onto the official SteelSeries support page and download both the driver package and the firmware update tool.

The firmware update tool is not only for the Diablo III headset but for many other devices from SteelSeries. The firmware updates takes but a few seconds to finish after which you need to unplug the headset and then plug it back into the USB port.

As you can see the control panel is also designed after Diablo and gives you the basic functionality you'd expect from a high quality stereo headset. So you can configure the audio levels through a 4way equalizer, adjust the illumination density and pulsation, create profiles and link them to specific games.

CONCLUSION

   Since the Diablo III headset is based on the Siberia V2 we are still talking about a stereo headset which can at best provide a gamer with virtual surround sound but that's not necessarily a bad thing since on one hand there aren't many games to really support surround sound headsets while on the other a game like Diablo III doesn't need that and we are talking about a special designed headset targeted towards fans of the entire Diablo trilogy. Personally after testing the headset for almost two weeks i enjoyed both the crisp and powerful sound coming from the 50mm drivers (although i would like a bit more bass) and the smart noise-cancelling uni-directional microphone which worked as advertised while communicating with other people in several of the games i play (and Skype). When it comes to design I really think that the Diablo III headset is pretty much the best looking headset I’ve ever seen with incredible detail and pretty good lighting effects, if you do like medieval games like Diablo (if you are into games like Crysis and Mass Effect this won't do).

   With a price tag set currently at around USD120 inside the USA and 100Euros inside the EU the Diablo III headset by SteelSeries is certainly not I’d call cheap but if we take into account the extra craftsmanship required to transform in such a way so every single Diablo fan out there can feel a bit closer to their favorite game and characters then it's not really expensive either. I mean just take a look at some other peripherals out there in the market which are also branded after games, feature just different color sets (perhaps also a game logo) and cost way more than the normal versions and you will understand just how much effort SteelSeries placed into the Diablo III headset. So if you are not after to get a real surround sound headset and you are a big fan of the Diablo games by Blizzard then the SteelSeries Diablo III headset should be on top of your to buy list and that's why it gets our Golden award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Design
- Powerful 50mm Drivers
- Good Highs/Lows
- Smart Noise-Canceling Uni-Directional Microphone
- Light Weight / Comfortable 

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- Stereo (Not Surround)