The time has come to revisit the SteelSeries v2 Headset, this time with the Counter Strike Global Offensive edition of the model. While not massively different from the Diablo 3 version we reviewed a while back, there were still a few major differences that made this worth revisiting.

The most major difference from my original review of the Diablo 3 Siberia v2 to the CS:GO version has to be the connectivity. Instead of the USB connection, the CS:GO version of the headset utilizes the audio-in and mic-in plugs that almost every PC utilizes. Does this take away from the headset at all? I personally think so, while the official word on the subject is no. That isn’t to say the audio quality is horrible or even bad, it’s more of the issue that I couldn’t seem to find that perfect setting. It could be that since the analog headphones do not support that SteelSeries engine, I just couldn’t replicate the quality I had from the USB version. A huge plus to the headset has that the 3.5mm audio jacks had a lengthy extension cable that allowed the headset to be used on other devices and computers. Most of the time I didn’t use the extension and used my laptop, it worked perfectly.

Since the headset has no USB connectivity, it does lack the literal flash that the USB Siberia models feature. Even though the headset does lack the lights and visual bells and whistles that some models have, it still features the legendary Siberia v2 design that we have already fallen in love with. Oddly, the Siberia v2 headset must have been the initial piece developed in the series (mouse review coming soon™) as it doesn’t feature the same winter camo design that both the mouse and mousepad use. Instead, the headset uses the traditional olive camo design, which doesn’t mesh all that great with the rest of the set, yet still looks great on it’s own… if camo is your type of thing. The branding for Counter Strike Global Offensive is quite apparent and done classy, I really liked the CS:GO logos in the earphones themselves, they look great.

Since the headset uses the 3.5mm jacks, I was also able to use it for a myriad of other items as well. I tried the headset on the Vita, 3DS, my phone, my son’s leap pad and my tablet PC as well. Each different item didn’t have any issue with quality and the in-line controls still worked as well. While I know that most of these are not the intended function of this headset, it’s still great to know that there are many other uses the headset can be applied to.

When it comes down to it, this is a headset that CS:GO fans will likely want to have if they are looking to rep their game. They are cheaper than the USB version of the headset and some of the analog style features more than make up for the fine tuning. The headset still sounds great and is absolutely worth the $99.99 that it costs to get your hands on them.

We give the SteelSeries Siberia v2 CS:GO Headset a 4/5

This headset was provided to us for review purposes by SteelSeries