Introduction
SteelSeries is a well-known brand when it comes to professional gaming. Their lineup of high-end gaming peripherals constitute of Keyboards, Mice, Mouse Pads, Headphones, and even glasses. Today we’re looking at a gaming headset that is unfortunately the least of concern for gamers. People buy rigs and mice overlooking keyboards, mouse pads, and sound. Having a good headset while in an intense situation might become the reason for you coming on top. The 7H is what we are playing with today and this is going to be an interesting read.
Specifications
Headphones
Frequency response: 18 to 28 Hz
Impedance: 32 Ohm
SPL@ 1kHz, 1 Vrms- 112 dB
Cable length: 1 + 2 = 3 m (9,8 ft.)
Jacks: 3.5 mm
Microphone
Frequency response: 50 to 16 Hz
Pick up pattern: Uni-directional
Sensitivity: -38 dB
Features
Crystal clear high, low and mid-tones
Interchangeable ear-cushions
Pull-out microphone
50 mm driver units provide rich reproduction of all acoustic details
Dismantles into 4 separate pieces
Improved passive noise reduction
Packaging and Design
The 7h from SteelSeries is securely packed in orange, gray and white livery with black base, and some features in four languages on front with a plastic window showing glimpse of the product.
At the back of the box there are detailed specifications mentioned in several languages and also with the package contents which we will take a look at
Excluding the headset itself there is detachable cord, 2m extension cord and pair of ear-cushions. The documents includes SteelSeries catalog, SteelSeries signature sticker, pictured guide for the removal of ear- cushions and a warning note stating the repercussions of loud and extensive usage.
Now we will take a closer look at 7h.
The 7H comes in matte-black with very aggressive look while maintaining elegance and is a lot less likely to pick up marks and scratches. The body is sturdy made and has a very smooth feel to it, the metal trim around the ear cups and on the ends of the band really brings uniqueness to it, ear cups are labeled clearly with R, L for individual ears they also rotatable at 45º.
Pre mounted ear-cushions is made out of leather covered foam which is extremely soft because its designed to have superior noise-isolating and spacing for the ears are oval shaped rather than circular this ensures a comfortable fit for extensive usage. The other one is covered with fiber which can be used during LAN parties as it lacks isolating thus allowing you to communicate between your team members
The left ear-cup has a cavity for retractable microphone it can be held into shape to your liking… a must have when you are gaming.
SteelSeries logo is engraved across its Headband that is shiny in appearance and feel. And under it is a thick strip of leather covered foam which adds support and comfort
7h is designed so it can be dismantled into 4 parts which is a very slick feature incorporated in it which is useful in its safe transport
The detachable cord that 7h uses is braided for better durability and has mini-USB to plug into the left sided earphone, half-way along the cable there is a small control which is used for volume control and to mute the microphone by sliding down the large button the other end of cord has two standard 3.5mm gold-plated connectors a 2m long extension cord is also provided which is quite useful if your CPU is far way.
Performance
The 7h provide substantial comfort while being stylish and lightweight. The microphone preformed remarkably well as its noise cancellation is outstanding. Though, it’s primarily a gaming grade product, we will check its performance in music and movie as well.
Gaming
Call of Duty Series
We tested tremendously popular titles with 7H Call of Duty 4, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty Black Ops and I must say all three preformed about the same, the footsteps were crystal clear, you could even hear the footsteps of crouched enemies nearby and background noises were prominent which contributed in locating enemy positions.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
As being a fast FPS game it’s vital that you know about what’s happening around for this 7h correctly identifying gun fire, explosions, footsteps and vehicle noise feel very atmospheric and did a cracking job at pinpointing sound from other players.
As 7H high, low and mid tones are conspicuous. Picking out each individual sound can sometimes be a difficult task with other solutions but I found the 7H to be a worthy contender. On the audio side of things in-game the 7H is a superb audio solution.
Music and Movies
The music and movie experience is superb if the audio is of good quality. A low grade music/movie will remain garbage regardless of your sound setup. The bass is not that deep but it is very good for games if not for late-night movie sessions. The clarity is excellent and overall, it’s a winner.
Conclusion
SteelSeries always deliver their product based on functionality and quality. 7h is no exception to this. Its performance is outstanding in gaming. The atmospheric, rich, and definite sound quality is truly remarkable. On the outside, the look and feel is very elegant. A very professional headset.
Pros
Great craftsmanship
Good quality material
Very Comfortable fit
Interchangeable ear-cushions
Retractable microphone
Breaks into parts good thing when you are traveling
Cons
Volume could be louder
Bass could be deeper
