Pros
Comfortable match
Engine 3 software program assist is helpful
Decent audio for a gaming headset
Cons
Not an enormous improve on final 12 months’s mannequin
Microphone may be echoey
Have to take away batteries to cost
Key Specifications
Review Price: £260.00
Compatible with PC, Xbox One and PS4
20-hour quoted battery life
40mm Neodymium drivers
20-20,000KHz frequency response
100dB max quantity
What is the SteelSeries Siberia 840?
The Siberia 840 succeeds the stellar Siberia 800 – previously often known as the H Wireless – as SteelSeries’ top-end wi-fi headset. Like many who have come earlier than it, the 840 guarantees to supply players devoted headphone customary audio alongside lag-free voice chat.
In basic it delivers glorious sound high quality that simply matches, if not beats, competing gaming headsets such because the Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 9. This, plus top-notch audio customisation choices make the Siberia 840 the most effective headsets on the market for severe players.
However, with pricing beginning at a hefty £260, the Siberia 840 is a severe funding. As a outcome, there are a lot better-value headsets round for individuals who are much less involved about audio customisation, such because the Tritton Katana HD.Related: Best Gaming Headsets
SteelSeries Siberia 840 – Design and Setup
At first look the 840 appears like a barely tweaked model of the Siberia 800, which is each a blessing and a curse.
The fake leather-based, reminiscence foam earbuds are moderately snug, and the truth that the microphone may be slotted again contained in the headphones is a helpful contact. I’m additionally blissful to see that SteelSeries hasn’t opted for any over-the-top colors or added any LED lights to the 840. Some is perhaps followers of overdone “l33t” gaming headset designs, however I choose a extra understated look.
The setup course of is as simple as it’s on the 800. Simply connect the transmitter to the console or PC utilizing a USB 3.0 port and join it to the mains. PCs additionally require you to attach the transmitter to your rig utilizing a regular analogue enter, whereas consoles join utilizing an optical cable.
Unlike many transmitters, the 840’s comes with an OLED display screen. This could sound like a minor addition, nevertheless it makes it fast and straightforward to regulate the 840’s quantity and navigate its settings, utilizing the transmitter or the headset controls, with out having to exit video games and purposes.Related: Best Gaming Mice
I’m much less enamoured with the swappable battery system, nevertheless. Like the 800, the 840 doesn’t cost through micro-USB; as a substitute it’s important to cost the headphones’ detachable battery utilizing a customized dock within the transmitter station.
The headset comes with two batteries, so you may all the time have one charging whereas the opposite is within the headset – however in my view, it’s nonetheless a little bit of a faff. Too many occasions I’d overlook the headset was low on battery and find yourself having to awkwardly race to swap out the batteries mid deathmatch, which is fairly annoying.
SteelSeries Siberia 840 – Sound Quality and Mic
Specs-wise, the 840 appears similar to the Siberia 800. It has the identical 40mm neodymium drivers, 20-20,000KHz frequency response and 100dB max quantity. The solely notable adjustments are the addition of SteelSeries Engine 3 software program and Bluetooth assist.
In apply this implies sound high quality on the 840 is on a par with most £200 and above gaming headsets, however nonetheless firmly behind devoted wi-fi headphones, such because the Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2s or Bose QuietComfort 35s.
Out of the field, audio is greater than adequate for gaming. Playing a number of rounds of a shooter, the headphones take care of the high-end moderately properly. Gunfire sounded “attacking” and suitably sharp, and explosions had been properly meaty.
While the connected mic isn’t the most effective I’ve examined, it’s adequate for voice chat. After tweaking the quantity settings to my liking, chat and in-game audio by no means merged into one and I used to be all the time in a position to maintain a dialog whereas nonetheless listening to results and the soundtrack.
However, from time to time it will decide up background noise, making my voice sound echoey to these on the opposite finish of the road.
Related: Best Gaming Keyboards
The promised digital 7.1 encompass sound isn’t the worst I’ve examined, and is greater than adequate for atmospheric genres akin to survival horror. However, like all digital setups, it fails to ship an genuine multi-channel expertise.
I did get a way of route from in-game results, nevertheless it undoubtedly wasn’t a 360-sound stage, particularly when the noise was speculated to be coming from behind me. Being truthful to SteelSeries, nevertheless, this is a matter I expertise on all digital encompass setups I take a look at.
The similarities to the 800 could make you query why you need to shell out an additional £30 for the 840, however I discovered the addition of Engine 3 is SteelSeries’ desktop software program and Bluetooth assist significantly helpful.
At a fundamental stage, Engine 3 presents extra granular management over the 840s audio settings and can be utilized to create recreation and genre-specific audio profiles.
However, for severe SteelSeries followers who use the corporate’s keyboards and mice, Engine 3 has some fairly cool performance.
The software program helps you to create and sync settings throughout SteelSeries {hardware}. This means you may create a number of audio profiles inside video games that routinely launch if you carry out sure actions. In survival horror video games, for instance, I set the headset to activate a customized profile that targeted on the high-end after I hid, so I may higher hear out for monsters’ footsteps.
The Bluetooth connectivity helps you to pair the headset along with your cellphone to take VoIP calls and take heed to music. The VoIP performance is helpful and, whereas I wouldn’t advocate audiophiles or any severe music fan use the 840s as their main headphones, it was helpful to have the ability to pair them to my pill when watching motion pictures.
Related: Best PC video games
Should I purchase the SteelSeries Siberia 840?
The SteelSeries Siberia 840 is a good headset that may meet even essentially the most hardcore of players’ wants. It presents strong audio high quality, a snug match and comes with a wealth of customisation choices.
However, with pricing beginning at £260 it’s very costly, and out of doors of the addition of Bluetooth and Engine 3 assist the 840 is all however similar to the older Siberia 800. Gamers who don’t need to tinker with their headset’s audio settings would do properly to avoid wasting the £30 and purchase the 800 as a substitute.
In addition, for even reasonably extra informal players there’s wealth of cheaper headsets out there that may meet their wants, such because the Tritton Katana HD.
Verdict
Expensive, however typically price it.