Description
The SteelSeries Siberia v2 in the Frost Blue finish is a full size wired gaming headset with an integrated USB sound card, 50 mm drivers and a microphone that retracts into the left earcup when not in use. It is an old design, first listed in October 2017 and derived from an earlier Siberia model, and it remains on sale rather than discontinued.
Buyers comparing wired gaming headsets should look at the MSI DS502, which also uses a USB connection, or the Sony INZONE H3 for an analog alternative. Wireless options include the Razer Barracuda X.
Published Audio Specifications
This listing is unusual in this catalog because it publishes a full technical specification, buried at the end of a long description. Those figures are worth pulling out.
The headphones are rated at a frequency response of 18 Hz to 28,000 Hz, an impedance of 40 ohms, and a sound pressure level of 112 dB measured at 1 kHz with 1 volt RMS. Cable length is 6.5 feet and the interface is USB. The microphone is rated at 50 Hz to 16,000 Hz with a uni directional pickup pattern, a sensitivity of minus 38 dB, and active noise reduction of up to 20 dB.
Those are real specifications rather than marketing adjectives, and they allow genuine comparison. The 18 Hz to 28 kHz range extends beyond human hearing at both ends, which is common on driver specifications and says more about the driver’s capability than about audible performance. 40 ohms is a moderate impedance, easily driven by the built in sound card. The 20 dB microphone noise reduction figure is the most useful number of the set, because most headsets publish no figure at all.
The USB Sound Card And Software
A built in USB sound card means the digital to analog conversion and amplification happen in the headset rather than in the computer, which bypasses whatever audio hardware the machine has. On older or noisier motherboards that is an audible improvement, and it also makes performance consistent across different machines.
SteelSeries Engine software provides customizable equalizer settings and, according to the listing, upgradable firmware for future audio and illumination settings. That firmware promise dates from the product’s original release and should not be read as an expectation of ongoing updates today. Compatibility is listed as PC and Mac.
The trade off is the same as with any USB headset. It connects only to devices with a USB port and appropriate driver support, which rules out most consoles, phones and anything expecting an analog plug.
Design, Microphone And Lighting
The frame uses an over the head suspension design, where a floating band adjusts to the head automatically rather than through fixed detents. That approach spreads weight and adapts to different head sizes without manual sizing, and it is the reason Siberia headsets developed a reputation for comfort. The earcups are closed type with sound dampening foam covered in grey leather, providing passive noise reduction. Listed weight is 1.54 pounds, which is heavy by current standards.
The retractable microphone is the most distinctive feature. It pulls out from the left earcup when needed and slides back in when not, so the headset can be worn outside a gaming context without a boom arm sticking out. It is uni directional and applies active noise reduction to the outgoing signal.
The Frost Blue illumination uses 16 LEDs around each earcup with six modes: on, off, fast and slow pulsation, low and high intensity, and a sound activated mode that reacts to audio. All of it is configured through SteelSeries Engine, and the lighting can be turned off entirely.
Highlights
- 50 mm drivers rated 18 Hz to 28,000 Hz at 40 ohms and 112 dB SPL.
- Built in USB sound card with equalizer control through SteelSeries Engine.
- Retractable uni directional microphone with up to 20 dB active noise reduction.
- Closed earcups with sound dampening foam and leather covering.
- Over the head suspension band that self adjusts to head size.
- 16 LEDs per earcup with six illumination modes.
- Inline volume control on a 6.5 foot cable.
- PC and Mac compatible.
Things To Consider
The customer feedback is the weakest part of the picture: 3.7 stars across 796 ratings. That is a large enough sample to be meaningful and a below average score. The Best Sellers Rank is also very low, above 170,000 in Video Games, which suggests this product sells slowly now. Buyers should read the negative reviews specifically.
The listing data contradicts itself. The Headphones Jack field reads 3.5 mm Jack while the technical specification in the description clearly states the interface is USB. The Frequency Range field reads 2.8 times 10 to the fourth to 2.8 times 10 to the fourth Hz, which is a single value written twice in scientific notation and is meaningless. Audio Driver Size reads 5E+1 Millimeters, which is 50 rendered in scientific notation. Frequency Response reads 28000 Hz as a single figure. The UPC field contains more than thirty separate barcode numbers, which indicates several product listings have been merged into one record, and that is a reason to confirm exactly which variant a seller will ship.
The product description also carries marketplace furniture, with repeated View larger captions and a marketplace heading embedded in the text, and it uses dated marketing language that would not be written today. None of that affects the hardware.
The practical limitations are age and weight. This is a design from an earlier era of gaming headsets, at 1.54 pounds it is heavier than most current models, and USB only connection limits it to computers. Readers can compare newer options in the headsets category or office models in the computer headsets category.
Who It Suits
The Siberia v2 suits a PC or Mac gamer who wants a headset with published specifications rather than adjectives, values a retractable microphone that disappears when not needed, and prefers a suspension headband. The built in sound card is genuinely useful on a machine with poor onboard audio.
It is the wrong headset for console players, for anyone who needs an analog connection, for buyers sensitive to weight, and for anyone who weights customer ratings heavily, since 3.7 stars across nearly 800 ratings is a signal that deserves investigation before purchase.
