Prior to E3, well-known PC accessories manufacturer Steelseries announced its new H-series line of headsets for gamers, which includes three tiers: the 9H, 5Hv3, and 3Hv2. Lucikly, we got the chance to have a look at these cool new headsets at E3 last week.
The 5Hv3 and 3Hv2 will look familiar to some of you as they are revamped versions of their predecessors; for example, the 5Hv3 updates its retractable mic, now sports a braided nylon cable which includes a new interchangeable adapter system and new soundproof ear cups.
The new 9H headset was developed as a tournament grade headset with features like its extra-padded, double enclosed ear cups, an extra large retractable mic and includes an additional adapter that gives you the option to virtually simulate Dolby surround audio. So why are we interested in these headsets? They actually all come with adapters for PC, Mac and mobile, and using the mobile adapter allows you to use the built in mic. So these headsets are quite versatile for the gamer and mobile user and they are available at very competitive prices: the 3Hv2 comes in at $40, the 5Hv3 for $80, and the 9H tops the range at $160.
Another Steelseries product that we’ve been interested to take a look at is the Steelseries Free. Built as a multi-platform Bluetooth gaming controller, the Free is usable with PC, Mac, and mobile. Measuring just 108mm wide, with its tiny footprint and a rechargable lithium-ion battery, the Steelseries Free makes it perfect choice for gaming on the go .
We were lucky enough to speak to Steelseries who was kind enough to give us a run down on all the new H-series headsets as well as a demo of the Steelseries Free controller:
You may have heard our impressions during the interview clip, but we were very impressed with all the products we looked at today. Although we didn’t get the chance to test the audio quality of the H-series headsets, they were incredibly comfortable, particularly the 9H; I think I likened it to wearing pillows, which I think would make long gaming sessions with a headset much more viable. Whether you think the prices are worth it, all the H-series headsets appear to be built to last, even for the most angry of gamers.
I personally was quite taken with the Steelseries Free, whose diminutive size actually fit in my giant hands quite comfortably. It really is built for travel, and as you can hook it up to PC, Mac and mobile alike, it’s a very good option for gamers on the move; the only sticking point is the price, which at $80 can be seen as either too expensive, or purchasing a premium gaming accessory.
The future looks bright for these new Steelseries accessories. Are there any Steelseries fans around? Let us know in the comments what experiences you’ve had with Steelseries products before.
The Steelseries 5Hv3 and 3Hv2 are due out sometime in summer, and the 9H will be coming out in Fall. The Steelseries Free is available for purchase now.
Website: Steelseries
