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Cooler Master have done very well when it comes to releasing new products. Clearly, a lot of research goes before designing and building, a fact well advertised by the CM Storm Series line. To complete the trifecta consisting of hit gaming mice and mechanical keyboards, Cooler Master released their first headset called the Cooler Master Storm Sirus.
Sound and sound quality are largely in the realm of heavy subjectivity, so it can be difficult reviewing something based on preferences. When you throw in comfort and feel, those are just two extra variables that make it more challenging.
Even price. The usual argument between gamers is if a headset exceeds the $150 range, the better deal is to get quality headphones paired with a cheap $5 microphone. While it may seem like a pedantic alternative, there is a point to be made. Headsets, cheap or expensive, rarely ever come with outstanding microphones.
Manufacturers tend to prioritize sound quality (and rightly so); the ability to voice chat is an amazing immersive social connection, but you do not necessarily need a studio microphone to converse, especially when you also have text chat in games…which brings the entire argument back full-circle.
Why pay for a headset instead headphones when sound quality is the main feature? Aesthetics come to mind, as well as having everything attached to one piece. Exterior additions and different jacks for connecting are also two enticing features. Again, the argument comes back to preference.
In this case the CM Storm Sirus 5.1 headset will undoubtedly look to break this cycle. For $100 it comes jam packed with a ton of unique features and goodies – moreso than any headset we have seen to date. What matters most though is how it performs, and if it is worth paying for it, or going the alternative route.
PACKAGING
The CM Storm Sirus comes in the usual CM Storm packaging – red, black, and a see-through window. I love the detail and excellent meld of colours Cooler Master uses for their Storm line, giving the peripherals a menacing feel:
The sides and back contain features specifications, and contact information, outlining exactly what to expect from the Storm Sirus:
Opening it up we have the Storm Sirus 5.1 headset nicely wrapped around a solid plastic clamshell layer:
Thanks for the review!
It’s nice to know someone is not that skeptical about it’s microphone.
Though, I think there’s a typo in:
“100Hz-10Hz frequency response”
, it should be “-10KHz”
Thanks for the kind words and keen eye. The fix has been made 🙂
You’re right. The microphone is pretty darn good. No background noise or static, and a clear, crisp output. When you know historically not to expect studio-quality microphones on headsets, it allows for more objective thinking and hence less skepticism.
Thanks again!
Thanks for the kind words and keen eye. The fix has been made
You’re right. The microphone is pretty darn good. No background noise or static, and a clear, crisp output. When you know historically not to expect studio-quality microphones on headsets, it allows for more objective thinking and hence less skepticism.
Thanks again!
Cool, thanks for the fix!
I have used this headset for over a year. Previously owned Razer Tiamat 7.1, and a pair of Turtle Beaches these are without a doubt the best surround sound headset on the market. The directional audio is just amazing for a pair of headphones. It is honestly every bit as good as my Klipsh Quintet 5.1 true surround sound system. Only issue vs. a true surround sound system is some games will put directional audio all in one speaker. This isn’t a problem with a true surround sound system where the sound bounces around the room and you still pick it up with both ears, while still hearing the direction it came from. In a headset though when all the sound comes from the left and then you pan to the right and suddenly the sound is coming just from the right and can only be heard in one ear, it is a bit jarring and just doesn’t sound right. Fortunately this seems to be the exception rather than the rule and most games seem to use a more intelligent surround sound algorithm. Again this ins’t a fault of the headset just of headsets in general vs. true surround sound. Front and rear directional audio is superb. Sound quality is great and bass really knocks. Only other issue is that you may have some trouble if you like to listen at really high volumes. I have my equalizer set to +10 to make up for lack of volume and that works good for me. I tried pushing the equalizer all the way to +20, but this would occasional result in distortion. Just be sure to max out the windows volume, the individual driver volumes, and up the equalizer a little and then you should have plenty of volume range just adjusting with the puck on the fly.