INTRODUCTION

   With just a few hours left before the calendar finally turns to 2014 and after having just got back from our very short vacations on the mountain none of us can really focus in testing computer hardware so we decided to do the next best thing which is to continue testing of gaming peripherals. Inside 2013 alone we had the chance to test several virtual Dolby surround sound gaming headsets, some were actually very good and some just good enough but at the end of the year i can't say that we tested one that we considered unique both in terms of features and performance. For the past decade or so SteelSeries has been behind some of the best gaming headsets to ever hit the market but none of them can compare with their latest achievement the Siberia Elite Virtual Dolby Surround Gaming Headset which we have here with us today.

   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!

   If you're not much into gaming peripherals and you happen to come across the Siberia Elite its somewhat strange design may not really surprise you but having tested every Siberia gaming headset ever manufactured by SteelSeries the Elite does seems quite unique to me. The basic design is of course taken from the rest of the Siberia line (the retractable microphone along with the suspension headband are perhaps the two main similarities) but there are some huge differences such as the very large foam cushions, dual control dials and colorshift illumination for the exterior of both earcups. Specs-wise the two drivers used (stereo) are 50mm in size and have a frequency response of 16Hz-28KHz with 32Ohm impedance and 113dB sensitivity while the uni-directional microphone features noise cancelling technology and has a frequency response of 75Hz-16KHz with impedance of 2.2k Ohm and -38dB sensitivity. SteelSeries claims that the drivers used in the Siberia Elite are the direct result of 10 years in the business of manufacturing premium headsets for gamers and although the specifications seem to support that we just have to see for ourselves.