Final Verdict

As time has passed and the 5H demonstrated their continued ruggedness and quality, my positive impressions of them have grown. The addition of a nylon cord to help prevent the kind of cuts that needed electrical tape bandaging of my original headset only makes things better. I’m not gentle with my peripherals and in the 5 months since the first review, I’d normally have gone through two headsets or two pairs of cables for my Sennheisers. Considering that I’d already had the 5H for 6 months at the time of the first article, this is an impressive feat.

The price is still the most significant barrier and there is little doubt that this product appeals mainly to those who spend a great deal of time playing multiplayer games. The excellent microphone (for a headset), the good sound, and the undeniable durability make the SteelSound 5H V2 without a doubt the most attractive option on the market for a hardcore gamer. Fittingly enough, on FiringSquad, this is our target audience. Music afficionados should look elsewhere.

For a more in-depth review of the nearly identical original 5H with USB sound card, click here. Please keep in mind the changes to the V2 and the extra time the first headset lasted (indeed, it would still be in use right now if the V2 hadn’t appeared).