Assembly, drivers

The 5H are a solid set of headphones that can even be disassembled. The first piece of cord, about 4 feet long, is firmly attached, but the extension and USB soundcard are both easily removed. More importantly, the headphones themselves break apart into three separate pieces – each ear and the top. This makes packing them away for a move or LAN party safer, since they won’t be subject to pressure to bend if something heavy is placed on them. The cables themselves are thick and sturdy, and the multiple places where they can disconnect (USB to PC, extension cables to USB, main cables to extension) mean that it us unlikely that tugging on them will sever the cables or damage them as much as they might be if they were solid.

All in all, the quality of construction is very high. Again, we can’t speak for the actual value of internal components used, since the sound quality is not particularly high, but as a matter of toughness the Steel Sound 5H headphones are by far the most robust to have come under attack from my feet, pedals, and careless throwing around.

Comfort is impressive for a headset, though again only typical of other items in this price range. The ear muffs are well-padded as is the top bar, and prolonged usage gives no discomfort. The manual volume adjustment knob is easy to reach and is firm enough that it doesn’t adjust from merely casual brushing. Considering the rather wide size of my head, I’m impressed overall by the comfort, though the vertical extension on the ears is somewhat limited and may – I stress may - pose a problem for people with longer/taller heads.

The drivers that come with the Steel Sound 5H USB regular the USB sound card and offer a few mixer and effect features that in essence act like an equalizer. This isn’t a feature I’ve found any use for in the months I’ve owned the headset, though I did try to fiddle with higher-frequency sounds to see if I can shed some of the distortion and static. Turning the amplification down to 0 decibels above normal may have helped, but again, in comparison with my old Sennheisers, there’s little doubt that the 5H isn’t in the same league. I stress though, that this is in comparison with my Sennheisers. When tested next to a regular headset, the 5H tends to deliver a better signal, especially on the lower end of the frequency scale.

Whether or not this is worth ~$150 though, is much more difficult to tell. Personally I will be satisfied if the headset lasts 12 to 18 months without needing replacing, which will make it worth the money. The improved sound quality over cheap headsets is a bonus but it’s not as if I listen to CDs using the 5H anyway. The most significant audio quality advantage is the microphone, which makes communication clearer and involves less deliberate enunciation and permits me to use a lower tone of voice than I would with a set of Plantronics.

Personally, I’d put the Steel Sound 5H USB in the same category as a GeForce 7950 GX2. It’s a luxury that is better than its direct competition, but not necessarily being the best value. If you want excellent headphones for music purposes, the 5H doesn’t fit that category. If you play online games only occasionally with a headset, you’ll be served with a cheaper alternative. Only if you want good sound from your games and the convenience of a headset, especially a durable one, does the 5H become justified in price. That’s a very narrow segment of the market, though probably it fits the profile here, considering the hardcore audience we have here at FiringSquad.