Steelseries SteelSound 5H v2

Product Survey: Headsets with microphones

SteelSeries has expanded its collection of audio products with this second version of the 5H, the 5HV2, a new update of the original 5H that suffered a wide range of criticism. Let's see if the improvements will bear fruit. Why are we asking this question? (I'll admit that it's pretty stupid) Because you can take it apart and put it back together again entirely: as well as the extension cable and the USB adaptor, the two headphones come of the central support. In fact, only two sections whose length you can adjust remain attached to the headphones. In theory it's a nice idea, especially given that the USB 3H is very compact when folded up. But instead we're left wondering why SteelSeries still insists on not supplying any kind of case with its headphones? It just leaves the door open to losing one of the components, on your way to and from a LAN party for instance. Another problem we found was how hard it was to yank the microphone out of its headphone. SteelSeries had the brilliant idea of fitting an automatic winding system that pulls it into the headphone, rather than a boom that can be moved, as is more usual.