Corsair HS80 RGB Wi-fi Gaming Headset Overview – Spatial Audio FTW

Corsair is thought for making high-quality PC {hardware} and equipment. From their RAM, CPU coolers to their audio options, Corsair seemingly does all of it – and does all of it properly. Enter their newest of their award-winning HS line of headsets, the HS80 RGB Wi-fi headset. Does this headset do sufficient to assist it stand out from the pack?

Specs

• Audio Driver: Customized 50mm Neodymium
• Frequency: 2.4 GHz
• Wireles Vary: As much as 60ft
• Battery life: As much as 20 hours
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 40kHz
• Impedance: 32 Ohms @2.5kHz
• Sensitivity: 109 dB (± 3 dB) 
• Mic Sort: Omni-directional broadcast grade
• Mic Impedance: 2.2k Ohms
• Mic Frequency Response: 100Hz – 10kHz
• Mic Sensitivity: 40 dB (± 3 dB)
• Dimensions: 205mm(L) x 97mm(W) x 183mm(H)
• Weight: 367g
• Dolby Atmos Spatial Sound help
• RGB: Sure (customizable via iCue software program)
• Guarantee: 2 Years
• Value: $149.99 MSRP (through Corsair web site)

At first look, the HS80 seems smooth. I actually recognize the muted shade scheme, the gunmetal gray aluminum accents from the headscarf all the best way all the way down to the ear cups themselves make the headset evoke a contemporary aesthetic I recognize. Usually with my gaming {hardware} I would like the excessive, RGB design, however for headsets I would like one thing I wouldn’t be embarrassed carrying to the gymnasium if I might. The HS80 undoubtedly suits that invoice.

The construct high quality itself feels sturdy – there isn’t something giving me a budget, plasticy really feel of different gaming headsets on the market. I additionally take pleasure in the truth that there seemingly isn’t any shifting plastic components to regulate the headset, as an alternative it’s all dealt with by the bungee-esque headband that sits snugly on the prime of my head. Consequently, the headset suits completely completely on my ears, and the actual fact it feels so light-weight means I used to be in a position to put on it for hours throughout work and gaming periods with out experiencing any actual fatigue, in contrast to different headsets just like the LS40s by LucidSound and even one in all my favourite pairs of cans, the Victrix Professional AF.

The lighting on the headset, which is a part of the draw of a branded RGB headset, is definitely fairly muted. A single Corsair emblem on every ear cup is current, and the colour with which the brand illuminates is customizable via Corsair’s iCue software program. The ear cups themselves are comfy, being made with a material versus a leather-based or faux-leather materials. Whereas I personally choose the latter, I didn’t get the standard sweating or scratchiness from the fabric materials on the ear cups.

The HS80 is supplied with two 50mm neodymium drivers to drive the sound to your eardrums, and the 2 cans can pump out some nice high quality sound. As a wi-fi headset, naturally you’ll need to use the HS80 with out being tethered to your PC, however the sound high quality, which Corsair mentions of their advertising and marketing, is best when wired. It’s because via the USB connection, the headset is able to greater constancy 24-bit/96kHz sound output.

This isn’t to say that the sound when wi-fi is dangerous – removed from it. The lows of Mozart’s Requiem shine via, particularly throughout its Lacrimosa, and the whole lot felt completely balanced when listening to Miles Davis’ Sketches in Spain album. That is additionally helped because of native Dolby Atmos help on PC and Xbox, offering clear, crisp and transformative digital encompass sound in your headset.

The HS80 makes use of Corsair’s Slipstream know-how, leading to low-latency wi-fi velocity, although I used to be disenchanted with the vary of the headset itself. Corsair advertises as much as 60 ft of vary, however I’m undecided I walked greater than 20 ft away earlier than I began to get the sound reducing off and falling away altogether. Clearly elements like partitions and such play a task right here, however I’ve had different headsets with outrageously good vary, so I can not assist however really feel this was surprisingly too wanting a window earlier than the audio fell off.

Like all gaming headsets, the HS80 has a inbuilt microphone geared toward providing you with the power to obviously talk with teammates throughout a firefight, raid or your subsequent Zoom name for work. The microphone itself is marketed as “broadcast high quality” and it’s simply muted and unmuted by merely flipping the mic itself up or down on the headset. That is additionally indicated by an LED on the finish of the sunshine, so you may see at a look whether or not it’s lively or not.

The microphone itself is alright – it’s not going to rival the readability of a superb condenser USB mic, and for those who’ve acquired an XLR arrange you’re not going to be changing that with this, however so far as headset mics go it’s not that dangerous. Within the audio pattern beneath, my voice is kind of clear, and the mic itself doesn’t appear to peak anyplace, as an alternative it maintains a transparent, even sign all through. The lows do appear a bit of misplaced right here – you’re not going to emulate that “radio voice” many search for in a studio mic, however it undoubtedly is serviceable. There may be additionally a slight fuzz, however that’s because of the fan in my home behind me, although do observe that the microphone, because of its omni-directional array, might choose up noise round you versus a extra focused polar sample like a cardioid sample.

MMORPGcom · Corsair HS80 Wi-fi Headset Microphone Take a look at

Ultimate Ideas

The Corsair HS80 RGB Wi-fi Headset is a good addition to the Corsair roster of headsets. It’s construct high quality feels distinctive, and the light-weight development means I can put on this for lengthy periods with out the traditional fatigue that may include gaming headsets. It’s straightforward to regulate – merely plop it in your head and proceed on residing your life – which is a design function I would like each headset shifting ahead to undertake as properly.

Whereas it’s a disgrace to get one of the best audio high quality the headset can ship you’ll have to maintain the wi-fi headset wired, the audio high quality when utilizing the dongle isn’t essentially dangerous both. Removed from it. The Slipstream know-how powering the wi-fi sign additionally meant that each single motion in a recreation was heard because it occurred on display screen – there wasn’t an inkling of delay between the 2, one thing I’ve skilled with different wi-fi headsets.

The HS80 can be suitable with the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 out of the field, with Corsair stating that it’s additionally suitable with the latter’s Tempest 3D AudioTech for the very best high quality audio that console can present.

The place I really feel the HS80 excels, although, is its integration of Dolby Atmos spatial sound, offered you will have entry to the function in your PC or Xbox. If you happen to do, the remedy Dolby’s mixing will get from the 50mm drivers can open up facets of music and the soundscape of a recreation in a approach not skilled earlier than. Recreation like Madden 22 got here alive in my headset, the group noise feeling as if it totally enveloped me whereas I drove my workforce downfield. Video games like The Lord of the Rings On-line felt extra immersive as I traveled via Southern Gondor, the sounds and music popping in my headset that made the expertise really feel like new once more. Dolby Atmos provides a ton to every expertise, and for the HS80 to help it so properly out of the field is a vital function I’m undecided I can return from.

It has it’s faults – I would like leatherette earcups versus the fabric ones personally – or a minimum of give me the choice to swap them out at a later date. The microphone, whereas serviceable, by no means felt prefer it was positioned in one of the best spot it may very well be, though it’s considerably versatile and may bend inwards in the direction of my mouth. Additionally, for an RGB marketed headset, I’d have favored a bit extra RGB accents. The Corsair emblem itself is good, and the iCue software program has come an especially great distance since I first put in it to manage the LEDs on my RAM, I’d like to have seen a bit extra RGB on an RGB headset is all.

That being mentioned, a very powerful facet of a high quality headset is the standard of its sound. And the HS80 RGB Wi-fi headset doesn’t disappoint. Corsair can be pricing this the identical because the  firm’s HS75 XB Wi-fi Headset, sitting at $149.99. When you can undoubtedly get cheaper headsets that may present good high quality sound, on this worth bracket I really feel as if the associated fee is justified. In comparison with headsets just like the costlier Victrix Professional AF or the equally priced LucidSounds, the HS80, I really feel, blow each out of the water for its worth.

The HS80 is a good headset that undoubtedly suits the invoice for a high-quality, premium gaming headset with out fully breaking the financial institution. The out-of-the-box help for spatial audio applied sciences like  Dolby Atmos present a ton of worth, and whereas I want the vary was a bit extra constant, in addition to extra RGB accents on an RGB-marketed headset, however the operate of the HS80 doesn’t disappoint. The HS80 RGB Wi-fi headset is a good little piece of equipment, and undoubtedly needs to be one to take a look at for those who’re out there for a brand new set of cans.

Product mentioned on this review was offered by the producer for the aim of this review.