INTRODUCTION

   From basic, advanced and audiophile grade stereo models up to virtual and real 5.1/7.1 surround models the market has an abundance of headsets designed to cover the needs of every consumer out there. However strangely enough although there's a massive number of wired headsets available from a huge list of companies i can't really say the same about wireless models and with just a couple of exceptions the very few available ones currently are far from what a gamer would ever like to have on his desk. SteelSeries has been in the design and manufacture of gaming headsets for over a decade now and although they are well aware of what gamers are after in terms of audio clarity, positioning audio, build quality and design they never did believe in wireless connectivity, until now that is. Today we have their flagship headset model which just might be their best headset to date the H Wireless Gaming Headset.

   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!

   As clearly stated by the name the H Wireless is part of the H family of gaming headsets by SteelSeries so you shouldn't be surprised when you see several aesthetical similarities with the 9H model. However similarities between these two models extend to the interior as well and so once again we see that SteelSeries has chosen to use two 40mm stereo neodymium drivers featuring a frequency response of 20Hz-20KHz (they fall a bit short to the 20Hz-28KHz of the 9H) and 7.1 Dolby Pro Logic IIX/Dolby Digital virtual surround sound. The H Wireless also features a unidirectional retractable microphone with a frequency response of 100Hz-10KHz (also seems to fall a bit short to the 50Hz-16KHz of the one used in the 9H). What sets the H Wireless apart from the rest of the H line of gaming headsets however is obviously its wireless feature which thanks to the unique bundled transmitter can extend up to a full 12 meters and for up to 20 hours with each of the two bundled Lithium-Ion rechargeable 1000mAh batteries (this has always been a problem with most wireless headsets so it's nice to see that SteelSeries took an entirely different path). So on paper although not perfect the new H Wireless seems to be quite unique and it's once again up to us to see if that's the case.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

A large product picture along with the Dolby and SteelSeries logos are placed at the front of the rather large box in which the device gets shipped.

On both sides we see pictures of the earcups showcasing the volume control knob and the replaceable batteries feature.

Along with the bundle contents at the rear we also see four pictures used to showcase the features of the unit.

The specifications sheet is placed at the bottom of the box.

Inside the box we see that both the headset and the transmitter are placed inside a thick piece of plastic while the rest of the bundle is placed beneath in a small cardboard box.

SteelSeries offers one of the richest bundles we've ever seen with a headset so aside the H Wireless Gaming Headset you will also receive the transmitter, 2 Lithium-Ion rechargeable batteries (one is already installed in the headset), optical cable, 3.5" cable for mobile devices, 3.5" analog connector, XBOX chat cable, USB to micro-USB cable, USB to DC power cable, power adapter with 4 tips (EU/UK/USA), user's manual and a SteelSeries case sticker.

THE H WIRELESS HEADSET

Much like the 9H Gaming Headset the H Wireless features a sleek design made of both matte and glossy black plastic with orange inner accents. With the battery installed the headset weighs a total of 322g which is actually just slightly more than the wired 9H.

To offer everyone a better understanding regarding the size of the H Wireless we placed it right next to the Jabra REVO Wireless (one of the smallest Wireless headsets in the market).

SteelSeries has placed their logo right over the earcups and their name on the exterior of both earcups.

The exterior of the left earcup can be removed clockwise to reveal the battery compartment.

Both Lithium-Ion Rechargeable batteries are 1000mAh in capacity but what's interesting and perhaps worth looking into is that you can easily find the same type in stores with much higher capacities.

The retractable uni-directional microphone is placed at the lower front end of the left earcup.

It's not really the first time we've seen that type of microphone used by SteelSeries so we knew how flexible it can be.

A 3.5" plug which you can use to share whatever it is you're listening with another headset and the XBOX port is placed at the base of the right earcup right next to the power button which doubles as the microphone mute button.

At the top of the earcup we see the clickable volume control knob from where you can also control the transmitter.

The earpads are quite large and feature memory foam beneath the leather coating.

You can remove the earpads very easily if you need to replace them (Winning Is Everything sounds good to me).

Left and Right markings are placed on the interior right above the earpads (i would like them to be larger but that's not really important).

You can extend the headband up to 38mm on both sides (76mm total) via a total of 12 increments (not visible ones).

The headpad is also made by memory foam covered by leather and is actually very comfortable (more than the 9H which is surprising since the H Wireless is heavier).

As expected the earcups can rotate up to 90 degrees making it extremely easy to store.

The SteelSeries logo is placed on the exterior of the headband.

THE H WIRELESS TRANSMITTER

The H Wireless Transmitter is basically a small black box (110x118x35mm) made of glossy black plastic.

SteelSeries has placed their logo ontop of the transmitter.

The front knob can be used both to control the volume and to navigate through the various OLED screens (it's also clickable) while the small round button next to it is the back/previous screen button.

On the right side of the transmitter we see a small opening which is obviously used to charge the two battery packs.

You can connect the H Wireless with pretty much every audio device through the various connectors at the rear of the transmitter. So here we see the analog audio in/out ports, DC power port, micro-USB port and the optical audio in/out.

A very large piece of anti-glide rubber is placed at the bottom of the transmitter to ensure that it stays where you place it.

Every single plug is gold plated and although at the end this may not offer much in terms of audio clarity still it's good to see that you get the best possible quality for your money.

USING THE H WIRELESS

The OLED screen is not just for show so the very first time you turn the transmitter on it will guide you through all the necessary steps to attach your devices onto it.

Although at first the OLED screen may look as a marketing gimmick it's far from that since it allows the user to adjust many things including the ChatMix and LiveMix features, choose the right EQ profile out of the 6 available ones or create your own, enable/disable Dolby, adjust the brightness of the OLED screen, choose which screens to include when controlling the transmitter from the headset, put the transmitter on standby, reset all options to the factory defaults and check the system information screen.

CONCLUSION

   There are certain restrictions manufacturers need to take into consideration when designing a wireless headset the most important of which are its weight and battery life. The weight issue automatically means that you just can't use the largest possible drivers and the 40mm ones used with the H Wireless Gaming Headset simply can't provide rich and deep bass levels like for example 50mm ones. Luckily the H Wireless overcomes that small drawback by offering clear and crisp mids/highs especially when the EQ feature is used properly while the 7.1 virtual surround audio is also surprisingly good although you shouldn't expect it to work flawlessly with everything you throw at it (Dolby compatible games and movies however work very well with it). About the second restriction well not much to say here other than that SteelSeries resolved that by using two 1000mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable batteries each of which gave us roughly 18 hours of playback at maximum volume. You can also find larger capacity battery packs like the ones bundled with the H Wireless if 1000mAh feels small but i don't really know if they will be compatible with the device (don't see why not however). The innovative transmitter may not feel important to some people but in the end it's what gives life to the H Wireless thanks to its multiple inputs/outputs, the available EQ modes and the great looking OLED screen so it was a very pleasant surprise for us. As for wireless range well we did manage to use the H Wireless from a distance of 10 meters with 2 concrete walls in between so we can't complain about that.

   Excellent build and audio quality paired with stylish design and innovation is not something that we could expect to come cheap and so just like the leading wireless gaming headsets in the market the price of the H Wireless Gaming Headset by SteelSeries is currently set quite high and more specifically at USD299.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and 249.90Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de). Of course for people who care not about wireless freedom the 9H is almost just as good and the best part is that it costs roughly 40% less. However if you do want wireless freedom and you can afford the H Wireless then it's currently the jack of all trades beneath the USD300 price mark and that's why it gets our Platinum Award.

PROS

- Excellent Build Quality
- Audio Quality (Very Good Mids/Highs)
- 7.1 Virtual Dolby Surround
- Comfortable
- Noise-Cancelling Uni-Directional Retractable Microphone
- Extra 3.5mm Output
- OLED Transmitter
- Available Connectors
- 12m Wireless Range
- Up To 20 Hours Battery Life
- 2 Lithium-Ion rechargeable batteries included

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- Bass Levels