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SteelSeries Steel Sound 3H Headset

Submitted by admin on Sat, 06/23/2007 - 12:18.

Headphones

Steel Sound 3H Headset

(4 star rating)

With a plethora of headsets currently available on the market - from the $5 plastic generic brand headphones at Wal-Mart, to the $1,000 ultra high-end Grado GS1000 headphones (yes, they really do cost $1,000 USD) - there is no shortage of available headset choices. Within the available choices of low-range priced headphones is a new offering from SteelSeries - the Steel Sound 3H ($49.95 retail price). The Steel Sound 3H Headset is designed specifically with LAN gamers in mind, as they can be easily folded and stored for transporting to a LAN event. However, just because they are on the lower end of the price range doesn't mean they provide low-end performance. As we take a close look at the Steel Sound 3H Headset, you'll understand why they are anything but low-end.

Look and Feel

While the 3H's share the same 40mm Sundancer drivers for sound reproduction as another version of the Steel Sound lineup - the 4Hs - their design is not nearly so closely related. The 3H is built with a foldable, easily transportable design that is targeted toward buyers who are on the move. The 3H also uses a soft, pliable plastic on the headband material instead of the more cushiony felt cloth used on more expensive models. At this price point, the 3H is designed to offer high-quality sound at an affordable price.

The 3H is an closed-air design that limits the amount of sound that escapes the headphones as well as the amount of sound entering from the outside listening environment. They are lightweight and are designed to be used for extending gaming or listening sessions. To achieve their lightweight design, the 3H's use an imitation leather material for the ear cups. The ear cups are what I would consider "mid-sized" since they are not big enough to circle fully around your ears. Instead, they rest on the ears and form a tight seal to help block out external noise.

The 3H includes a retractable, uni-directional microphone that can be extended out of the left ear cup, and then retracted all the way back inside the ear cup when not in use. This is a nice touch, and very handy, because it keeps the microphone completely out of your way when you do not need it.

Overall, the 3H has more of a utilitarian feel to it. It does not have the same high-class touches of other high-priced models, but in no way does it feel cheap. It simply goes about its job of producing high-quality sound with less flashiness than its siblings, the 4H and the 5Hv2.

Features and Specifications

Headphones