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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 full size over ear headset built for long gaming sessions with a boom mic you can hide away, choose SteelSeries Siberia v2; if you need a full-size 88-key beginner piano that happens to bundle a pair of over ear headphones in the box, choose Alesis Recital Play.
That's the whole call in one line. These two products share almost nothing except the words "over ear" and "full size," and that's exactly why shoppers land on the same search and get confused. One is a wired gaming headset from the Siberia line. The other is a portable digital piano kit with a headphone thrown in so you can practice without waking the house. Let me break down what the spec sheets actually tell you, because the differences matter more than the overlap.
• SteelSeries Siberia v2 — biggest strength: 50mm dynamic drivers, a retractable unidirectional boom mic, and the lightweight suspension headband the Siberia line is known for, so it's built to sit on your head for hours without much pressure.
• SteelSeries Siberia v2 — biggest trade-off: it's a wired, closed-back gaming headset with passive sound isolation, not an audiophile or studio tool, and it wants a cord and a USB soundcard rather than a battery.
• Alesis Recital Play — biggest strength: 88 full-size touch-sensitive keys, 480 sounds, 160 rhythms, 140 demo songs, and USB-MIDI into a Mac or PC with Skoove and Melodics lessons included.
• Alesis Recital Play — biggest trade-off: it's a corded-electric instrument first, and the included over ear headphones are a practice accessory with a 9 ft cable — not the star of the package, and the piano isn't something you wear.
• Who each pick is for: SteelSeries Siberia v2 for a PC gamer who wants comfortable full size over ear audio plus a mic. Alesis Recital Play for a beginner pianist who wants a full-size keyboard and a way to practice quietly.
The Siberia v2 is a closed ear, over-ear headset with 50mm dynamic drivers covering a 20 Hz to 28,000 Hz range. That's a wide frequency spread on paper, and SteelSeries says the acoustic environment was tuned specifically for in-game cues like footsteps, alerts and gunshots. So the pitch isn't "reference-grade music listening" — it's "you hear the stuff that matters in a match." The earcups use passive noise-reducing foam, which helps push down outside chatter without active noise cancellation.
The part I'd actually buy it for is the fit. The suspension headband is the signature Siberia design: a light frame that cradles your head with memory-foam padding instead of clamping down on it. If you've ever yanked a headset off after two hours because the top of your skull ached, that's the problem this design is aimed at. Add the retractable unidirectional mic on its gooseneck — you can position it or tuck it back into the left earcup when you're not talking — plus an inline volume control on the cord, and you've got a clean, no-fuss setup for voice chat and game audio.
Buy it if you're a PC player who wants one wired headset for both game sound and party chat, values comfort over clamping force, and likes the idea of a mic that disappears when it's not needed. Skip it if you need wireless freedom, active noise cancellation, or a headset for serious music production — the Siberia v2 is a gaming tool with sound isolation, not a studio monitor, and it's wired-only with a 2m extension cable and USB soundcard in the box.
The Recital Play is a different animal entirely: a compact 88-key digital piano aimed at beginners. The keys are full-size, touch-sensitive and piano-style, which is the whole point — you build finger strength and dexterity on something that feels like a real acoustic keybed rather than a toy. Around that keybed, Alesis packed a serious sound library: 480 realistic sounds, adjustable reverb, one-touch song mode with 160 rhythms, and 140 built-in demo songs. That's a lot of room to explore before you ever buy a lesson book.
The teaching features are where it gets interesting for a household with a student in it. Split mode lets a teacher and student play the same keyboard side by side. Lesson and Record modes let you capture performances. There's a built-in metronome and a transpose feature for when a piece sits in an awkward key. And because it connects over USB-MIDI, you can plug it into a Mac or PC and run the included Skoove and Melodics lessons, or most other recording and educational piano software.
Then there's the bundled headphone. This is where the "full size over ear" angle shows up: the included pair uses a 180-degree rotatable frame, stainless steel telescopic arms with a scale, leather cushioning and a flexible headband for a snug fit over long listening sessions. It's corded with a 9 ft cable and plugs into the piano's 3.5mm jack. Honest read: it's a practice headphone, not a flagship. Its job is to let you hammer away at 88 keys without broadcasting every wrong note to the whole house.
Buy it if you or your kid are starting piano, you want full-size touch-sensitive keys under a budget-conscious roof, and you want silent practice plus app-based lessons out of the same purchase. Skip it if you're a gigging player who needs weighted hammer-action keys and stage-ready outputs — the Recital Play is corded electric, built for a desk or stand at home, and the headphone is a bonus rather than the reason to buy.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for learning an instrument → Alesis Recital Play. 88 full-size touch-sensitive keys, lesson and split modes, metronome, 140 demo songs to learn from.
• Best for long-session comfort → SteelSeries Siberia v2. The lightweight suspension headband with memory-foam padding is designed to stay comfortable for hours.
• Best for quiet practice at home → Alesis Recital Play. Built-in speakers for when you want volume, and a 3.5mm jack plus bundled over ear headphones for when you don't.
• Best for software and recording → Alesis Recital Play. USB-MIDI into Mac or Windows, with Skoove and Melodics lessons included.
• Best for blocking out a noisy room → SteelSeries Siberia v2. Closed earcups with passive noise-reducing foam, though it's isolation, not active cancellation.
• Best for a single-purpose wired setup → SteelSeries Siberia v2. No battery, no pairing, just a 2m extension cable and a USB soundcard.
• Best for a gift that grows with a beginner → Alesis Recital Play. The sound library, rhythms and lesson modes give a new player a long runway.
If I had to pick one for myself, it would be the SteelSeries Siberia v2 — but only because my use case is wearing a headset for hours while gaming and talking, and the suspension fit plus the retractable mic are exactly what that job needs. In my opinion, the Siberia v2 is the better buy for anyone whose priority is a full size over ear headset they'll actually forget they're wearing.
That said, I'd hand the Alesis Recital Play to a beginner pianist without hesitation. If your goal is learning 88 keys and practicing quietly, the headphone is a nice extra, not the point. Match the product to the job and you can't really go wrong here — they just don't do the same job. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one fits you, since both sit in very different budget tiers.
how should over ear headphones fit
Over ear means the earcups surround your ears rather than pressing on them, which is the case for both the Siberia v2 and the bundled Alesis headphones. Fit should feel snug but not clamping — the Siberia v2's suspension headband and the Alesis headphone's flexible band with telescopic arms both exist to spread pressure and hold position over long sessions.
how long do over ear headphones last
That depends on materials and care, and neither spec sheet quotes a lifespan. What the sheets do tell you: the Siberia v2 comes with a 1 year manufacturer warranty and uses memory-foam padding in a suspension frame, while the Alesis headphone uses leather cushioning and stainless steel telescopic arms. Treat the cable and pads well and either can serve you a long time.
are over ear headphones worth it
For all-day wear, in my opinion yes — over ear designs distribute pressure around the ear instead of on it, which is why both products here use full-size cups. The Siberia v2 pairs that with passive noise isolation for gaming focus; the Alesis headphone pairs it with a 180-degree rotatable frame for comfortable practice. Worth it if you wear them for hours at a stretch.
are over ear headphones waterproof
Nothing in either data sheet lists a water-resistance rating, so treat both as not waterproof. Passive noise-reducing foam and leather cushioning are there for comfort and isolation, not for sweat or rain. Keep them dry and away from spills.
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