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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a collapsible, wired over-ear headphone with a bass-forward closed-back design and a lifetime warranty, choose Koss 183773; if you need a full-size gaming headset with a retractable boom microphone, 50mm drivers and a lightweight suspension headband built for long sessions, choose SteelSeries Siberia v2.
• Koss 183773 biggest strength: bass-enhanced closed-back sound with 1.4mm Mylar dynamic elements, anisotropic ferrite magnets that stay loud on low-voltage portable players, and earcups that rotate and fold into a compact protective package.
• Koss 183773 biggest trade-off: no microphone at all, and it's a music-first design rather than a communication tool — plus its 100-ohm impedance and 101 dB sensitivity suit portable gear but tell you nothing about gaming voice chat.
• SteelSeries Siberia v2 biggest strength: a retractable, unidirectional gooseneck mic in the left earcup, 50mm drivers tuned for in-game audio, and a lightweight suspension headband with memory-foam padding.
• SteelSeries Siberia v2 biggest trade-off: it's a bulkier, less packable headset (1.5 lb) with no fold-flat collapsing mechanism, and it ships with a 1-year manufacturer warranty rather than a lifetime one.
• Who each pick is for: Koss 183773 for music listeners, DJs and commuters who want sealed, bass-heavy sound they can stuff in a bag; SteelSeries Siberia v2 for gamers who need a mic and all-day comfort.
The Koss 183773 (UR29) is a full-size, over-ear, closed-back wired headphone with a very specific personality. Its dynamic elements are built from 1.4mm Mylar, which Koss says improves rigidity and cuts mechanical distortion, giving a stated frequency range of 18 Hz to 20 kHz. Bass is the headline here — the closed leatherette earcushions seal around the ears, which both strengthens low-end response and keeps sound from leaking out. That last part matters more than people expect. If you share a room, a dorm, or a quiet office, a sealed headphone means your music stays yours.
Who should buy it: listeners who want a bass-forward, sealed, wired over-ear they can fold up and carry, DJs and casual users who want an on-cord volume wheel, and anyone who values the lifetime warranty Koss lists for this model. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a microphone for chat or streaming — there isn't one — and anyone who wants a headset tuned specifically for positional game audio. The included media is a user manual, and it's a single-item box.
SteelSeries Siberia v2: Who It's For
The SteelSeries Siberia v2 is a gaming headset first and a headphone second. It's over-ear, closed, wired, and built around the Siberia suspension headband — a lightweight, self-adjusting band with memory-foam padding that SteelSeries designed for long play sessions. Instead of a rigid slider, the suspension system spreads weight across the top of your head. That's the feature people notice on hour three, not hour one.
The audio side runs on 50mm dynamic drivers with a stated 20 Hz to 28,000 Hz range. SteelSeries says the acoustic environment was tuned for accurate reproduction of in-game cues — footsteps, alerts, gunshots — which is a different target than music reproduction. The earcups use passive noise-reducing foam, so outside distraction gets muffled without active electronics. For voice, there's a unidirectional microphone on a gooseneck boom that retracts into the left earcup when you don't need it. In-line controls on the cord handle volume and the mic, which is genuinely useful when you can't reach system settings mid-match. The package also lists a 2m extension cable and a USB soundcard among its buying options.
Who should buy it: gamers who talk while they play, streamers or students who want one headset for voice and audio, and anyone who prioritizes a light, suspended fit over a tight clamping seal. Who should skip it: travelers who need something that folds flat, and buyers who want a headphone-only design — you're paying in weight and bulk for a mic boom you may never pull out. It carries a 1-year manufacturer warranty and lists FCC, CE, RoHS and WEEE certifications.
• Best for voice chat and multiplayer → SteelSeries Siberia v2. The retractable unidirectional mic and in-line mic/volume controls are the deciding features.
• Best for bass-forward music listening → Koss 183773. Closed leatherette cushions plus a bass-enhanced tuning and 18 Hz low-end extension.
• Best for portability and packing → Koss 183773. Rotating, folding earcups collapse into a protective package; the Siberia v2 does not fold.
• Best for long-session comfort → SteelSeries Siberia v2. The lightweight suspension headband with memory-foam padding is purpose-built for extended wear.
• Best for low-voltage portable players → Koss 183773. Anisotropic ferrite magnets, 100-ohm impedance and 101 dB sensitivity are aimed at getting loud from small devices.
• Best for positional game audio → SteelSeries Siberia v2. 50mm drivers tuned specifically for in-game sound cues.
• Best for warranty coverage → Koss 183773. Lifetime warranty versus the Siberia v2's 1-year manufacturer warranty.
• Best for sound isolation and no leakage → Koss 183773. Sealed closed cushions block outside noise and keep audio in.
In my opinion, the Koss 183773 is the better buy for most people reading this, because it does the core job of a full-size over-ear headphone — sealed, bass-heavy, portable, wired sound — with a lifetime warranty and a fold-flat design that actually travels. I'd pick the SteelSeries Siberia v2 only if voice communication is non-negotiable: the retractable mic, 50mm game-tuned drivers and suspension comfort make it the right tool for that job. Buy for your primary use, not for the spec sheet. If music and portability lead your day, go Koss. If you're on comms every night, go Siberia v2.
FAQ
how should over ear headphones fit
how long do over ear headphones last
Lifespan depends on build and care, not a fixed number. Here the warranty is the clearest signal: Koss lists a lifetime warranty for the 183773, while SteelSeries lists a 1-year manufacturer warranty for the Siberia v2. Foldable earcups like the Koss's also help by protecting the cups in transit.
are over ear headphones worth it
For most listeners, yes — full-size over-ear designs fit around the ear for better comfort and, when closed-backed, stronger bass and less leakage. The Koss 183773 seals sound in and out; the Siberia v2 adds passive noise-reducing foam plus a mic and in-line controls for gaming.
are over ear headphones waterproof
Neither of these is described as waterproof in the available specs. The Koss 183773 uses closed leatherette earpads and copper enclosure material, and the Siberia v2 uses passive noise-reducing foam — treat both as dry-use headphones and keep them away from water.
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