How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a true full-size, closed-back gaming headset that seals you into the game and lets you hear every footstep, choose SteelSeries Siberia v2; if you need an open-ear-cup chat headset that keeps one ear free to hear your TV or living-room audio, choose Turtle Beach Recon Chat. They're both wired over-ear designs, but they solve two very different problems — immersive solo audio versus lightweight voice chat.
• SteelSeries Siberia v2 — biggest strength: full-size closed ear cups with 50mm drivers, a suspension headband, and a retractable unidirectional mic. This is a headset built for long, immersive sessions.
• SteelSeries Siberia v2 — biggest trade-off: it's the heavier, bulkier, more "dedicated setup" option (about 1.5 lb), it's wired, and its closed design isolates you from the room around you.
• Turtle Beach Recon Chat — biggest strength: a genuinely lightweight open-ear-cup design (about 4.16 oz) with a glasses-friendly cushion channel and a reversible ear cup you can wear on either side.
• Turtle Beach Recon Chat — biggest trade-off: the open ear cup intentionally lets outside game audio in, and its single 40mm speaker only covers chat — it's not a stereo immersion headset.
• Who each is for: pick the Siberia v2 if you play alone and want full-size, isolating stereo sound; pick the Recon Chat if you play on a couch or TV setup and mainly need clear chat without shutting out the room.
The Siberia v2 is the full-size option in the truest sense. Its ear cups are closed and over-ear, which means they sit around your ears and use passive noise-reducing foam to push down the outside world. Paired with 50mm dynamic drivers covering 20 Hz to 28,000 Hz, that's a wide range aimed squarely at hearing the details that matter in games — footsteps, alerts, gunshots — rather than just "some sound."
The comfort story here is the suspension headband. Instead of a rigid band pressing down, the Siberia design uses a lightweight self-adjusting suspension system with memory-foam padding, so the weight distributes across your head rather than clamping your ears. For someone who plays for hours at a time, that's the whole point: keep the gameplay heavy, not the gear. The retractable, unidirectional mic on a gooseneck boom is a nice touch too — position it where your voice picks up best, then tuck it back into the left ear cup when you're not on comms. Volume lives on an in-line control on the cord, so you're not digging through system menus mid-match.
Who should buy it? If you game mostly solo or in a quiet room, want real stereo immersion, and value a comfortable fit for marathon sessions, this is the one. Who should skip it? If you play on a couch with the TV speakers doing the work and you only need to talk to friends, the closed, isolating, heavier design is more headset than you need — and it'll block the room audio you actually want to hear.
The Recon Chat takes the opposite approach, and it's a deliberate one. This is a single-ear, open-ear-cup chat headset. The "open" cup is the feature, not a flaw: it lets game audio from your TV or home theater reach both ears while chat audio from other players comes through the headset's 40mm speaker. If your setup is a console hooked to a TV and you're sitting back on the couch, that's exactly the right tool.
Two details stand out for comfort. First, it's light — around 4.16 ounces — so it barely registers on your head. Second, the SpecsFit glasses-avoidance zone carves a channel in the ear cushion so the headset doesn't press your glasses arms into the side of your head. If you wear glasses and most headsets give you a headache after an hour, that channel is a real, concrete design answer to a real problem. The ear cup is also reversible, so you can wear it on your right or left ear, whichever feels natural.
Connectivity is broad: a 3.5mm jack covers PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices with a 3.5mm connection. In-line controls put mic mute and chat volume right on the cable. The high-sensitivity, adjustable mic is tuned to pick up your voice clearly.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for immersive stereo audio → SteelSeries Siberia v2. 50mm drivers, closed cups, 20 Hz–28,000 Hz range.
• Best for hearing your TV while you chat → Turtle Beach Recon Chat. The open ear cup lets room audio through on purpose.
• Best for long-session comfort → SteelSeries Siberia v2. Suspension headband with memory-foam padding spreads the weight.
• Best for glasses wearers → Turtle Beach Recon Chat. The SpecsFit channel relieves pressure on your glasses.
• Best for lightweight wear → Turtle Beach Recon Chat. Roughly 4.16 oz versus about 1.5 lb.
• Best for mic flexibility → SteelSeries Siberia v2. Retractable unidirectional boom you can position or hide away.
• Best for multi-device plug-and-play → Turtle Beach Recon Chat. 3.5mm across PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC, and mobile.
• Best for a dedicated desk setup → SteelSeries Siberia v2. Wired, in-line volume, built for one focused station.
In my opinion, the SteelSeries Siberia v2 is the better buy for most people who specifically want a full-size over-ear headset. It gives you closed, isolating stereo sound from 50mm drivers, a suspension headband made for long sessions, and a retractable mic you can actually position. The Recon Chat is the smarter pick only if your situation is the couch-and-TV one — open cup, glasses-friendly, feather-light chat. Decide which of those two you are, and the choice makes itself.
how should over ear headphones fit
A full-size over-ear headset should sit around your ears, not press on them, with the band distributing weight across the top of your head. The Siberia v2's suspension headband with memory-foam padding is designed for exactly that. The Recon Chat, by contrast, uses a single reversible ear cup you place on whichever ear feels comfortable.
how long do over ear headphones last
That depends on build and care, but both headsets here carry a one-year warranty — SteelSeries lists a 1-year manufacturer warranty, Turtle Beach a 1-year limited warranty. In practice, the cable and ear cushions are usually the first things to wear, so treat the cord and pads well. Neither spec sheet promises a lifespan beyond that warranty term.
are over ear headphones worth it
For gaming, yes — if you want immersive stereo and isolation. The Siberia v2's closed cups and 50mm drivers are built to reproduce in-game audio accurately. If you only need chat and want to keep hearing your TV, a lighter open-ear-cup design like the Recon Chat is the more sensible spend.
are over ear headphones waterproof
Neither headset lists any water resistance in its specs, so treat both as not waterproof. Keep them away from spills and don't wear them in the rain. If you need moisture protection, neither of these is the right choice.
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