Reviewed by: Jason Hambly
Date: January 1, 2007
Manufacturer: Steel Series
Model: SteelSound 3H
Supplied by: Steel Series
Category: Mainstream
Price: $49.95
Grammatical and Spelling Editor: Jon Aubrey
There was little surprise when Steel Series announced that they would
release less expensive versions of their popular SteelSound 5H gaming
headset. Two additional versions were released; a middle version
reviewed right here by Paul a few weeks ago called the SteelSound 4H and the mainstream
version that we are looking at today named the SteelSound 3H. Hopefully the 3H
won?t let us down after being impressed with both previous models.
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Package/Specs:
The SteelSound 3H came in a stiff bubble package sealed with a cardboard backing. There was no getting into this package without ripping the cardboard apart or cutting the stiff plastic. It was all set to hang on a peg rack in your local computer store. The headset was held in place in the package with twist ties and should have no problems arriving to your door safely and in one piece. The back of the package lists the specs and some of the features of the headset in several languages.
Headphones
Frequency response – 10 – 27.000 Hz
Impedance – 50 Ohm
SPL@ 1kHz, 1 Vrms – 102 dB
Cable length – 2 meters (6.5 feet)
Connectors – 3.5 mm
Microphone
Frequency response – 50 – 18.000 Hz
Pick up pattern – Non-directional
Sensitivity – -40dB
Impedance ? 2.2k Ohm
Package/Specs: 4.5/5
{mospagebreak title=Features/Construction}
Features/Construction:
- Foldable/collapsible lightweight gaming headset
- Retractable non-directional microphone system
- Comfortable to use, easy to transport
- Developed in cooperation with professional gamers
- Strong bass for optimal in-game sound projection
- 40mm SteelSound SunDancer(LCP) Units
The SteelSound 3H was very well constructed using the same plastic material as their other headsets. The plastic used feels strong and secure yet allows the headset to remain light weight. The ear cushions were soft and felt comfortable, however they did rest on the ears rather than around like the 4H and 5H models. The retractable microphone was shorter then the microphone used on the 5H model and only came out to the side of your mouth rather then in front of it. The microphone worked very well and picked up our voice very clearly when speaking. The headband on the 3H was very comfortable and simple; it has just a soft band across the top of your head rather than a thick padded band. That allows it to fold nicely to be stored in a bag or where ever you wish to keep it. The foldable hinges felt secure and didn?t seem like they were going to break apart after being used for a while. You should have no problems tossing them in your laptop bag and not needing to worry about them breaking apart. There is no volume control on the wire for the headset so you will need to control the volume on the computer or sound card. Without a volume controller there is also no mute button or anyway to deactivate the microphone when you don’t want to use it. The cord is just a plain rubber coated cord rather than the nylon mesh that was used to cover the cord on the SteelSound 5Hv2 model.
Features/Construction: 4.25/5
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Performance:
To test out the audio through this headset I ran them through a few different tests to see how they compared to the SteelSound 5Hv2.
iPod/PC Audio
When connected to my iPod the sound out of the 3H was great and very loud. Not having the volume controller in the wire I believe removed the volume limit that I noticed with the 5Hv2. All sounds high and low came through clearly and the bass was subtle but not adequate. Results were the same when connected to the PC.
DVD Audio
Watching a DVD and listening to it through this headset was great for those late night flicks when you don?t want to wake the family. However without 5.1 support, sound was dropped to stereo. This I didn?t really find lowered my enjoyment when watching the film and I won?t hold it against them.
Skype
Talking to friends on Skype is a great way to keep in touch with others around the world. However that is not very enjoyable when you cannot make out what the other person is saying because of a cheap microphone being used on the other end. These may not help you hear the person at the other end if they have a cheapo mic but they will have no problems hearing you. The mic picked up voices very clearly and the person on the other end mentioned it sounded clearer then their telephone.
Gaming
Once again, gaming is where Steel Series has excelled, the SteelSound 3H was crystal clear and had very nice positional audio cues when playing FPS games like Counter-Strike Source. Foot steps and gun shots where noticeable even at a distance and gave you a pretty good idea where they were coming from. The mic also worked well in game and was just as clear as it was when using Skype.
Performance: 4.25/5
{mospagebreak title=Price/Warranty/Conclusion}
Price/Warranty:
The SteelSound 3H is available directly from Steel Series for $49.95 US plus shipping.. That is half the price of their SteelSound 5H v2 with a lot of the same features. This would be a great less expensive alternative for those not willing to part with $100.
Steel Series offers a 2 year warranty on the SteelSound 3H
Price:4.75/5
Conclusion:
After wearing and listening to the SteelSound 3H for a few weeks I can easily recommend it to anyone looking for a great headset. It lacks some of the features and a little bit of the comfort that the 5Hv2 offers but at half the price it is very worth while. A volume control would be nice so that you can mute the mic or volume but it is not a major issue. The ear cups are comfortable even though they sit on your ears rather than around. The fact that they fold up nice and compact is great and will allow you to toss them safely into a bag to bring them along to your next LAN party. So if anyone is looking for a great mainstream headset priced competitively then go and grab the 3H and hear the foot steps yourself next time instead of getting fragged.
Pros:
- Great sound
- Light weight
- Foldable
- Retractable microphone
Cons:
- No in-line volume controller
Package/Specs: 4.5/5
Features/Construction: 4.25/5
Performance: 4.25/5
Price: 4.75/5
Overall: 17.75/20
The Steel Series SteelSound 3H receives our Best on the Planet Award.
Acknowledgements:
We would like to thank Jacob Christiansen at Steel Series for providing the SteelSound 3H for this review.