It’s pretty clear from the get-go that the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE is a considerably more expensive product than most gaming headsets. A lot of the best gaming headsets on the market are very affordable, but many of them are still built from cheap plastic and feel a little rickety. The ear pads are made of thick, soft memory foam wrapped in leatherette—they’re very comfortable, and establishing a decent seal is easy, though heat buildup is definitely an issue.
However, all that milled aluminum and plush cushioning can’t mask the fact that the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE is still a gaming headset; all the typical trappings are still here.
A great big boom mic stretches out from the left earcup, and the Corsair logo on each side is filled with colored (and customizable) LED lights. Many headsets fall into the trap of having a bunch of dials and buttons that look and feel basically the same, but the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE doesn’t have that problem.
This means the mic, and its button, is actually capable of more complex things when paired with Corsair’s iCue companion app. You achieve even better results if you listen at a lower volume than that, though keeping the LED lights on will affect things too (you can shut them off in iCue).
I played through a large portion of Persona 5 Royal on PlayStation 4, and ably balanced the game’s funky heist-themed soundtrack, dozens of hours of voice-over work, and rather eclectic variety of sound effects.
As I mentioned above, the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE brings support for 7.1 virtual surround sound using its iCue app. In Pac-Man by the Gorillaz and ScHoolboy Q, the drum and distorted bass track that drive the song really come through clearly. However, the various high-pitched whirring sounds that build out the background of the song, as well as the more ethereal echoed string parts, are a little less prominent.
Many gaming headsets seriously boost bass output in the name of great immersion, and explosions that make your brain vibrate. All things considered, the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE offers some of the best isolation you will find in a gaming headset.
There’s nothing approaching active noise cancelling here, but the thick leatherette earpads really do a great job blocking out midrange and treble frequencies. Corsair claims on the back of the box that the Virtuoso Wireless SE sports a “broadcast quality” microphone. On top of that, it doesn’t suffer from the volume (or rather, power) issues that most gaming headset microphones struggle with. For gamers who want to save some cash, the standard Corsair Virtuoso Wireless RGB headset is available for $179—around $30 cheaper than the SE variant. Both headsets sport the same 50mm drivers, 7.1 surround sound, wired and wireless connectivity options, and RGB-illuminated ear cups. The only real difference between the two headsets is the fact that the SE version comes with an aluminum construction, with micro-perforations on the sides for the RGB lighting.
Whether it’s worth saving the $70-$100 if you don’t particularly need wireless audio or customizable lights or a microphone that’s quite as accurate depends largely on why you’re looking for a gaming headset in the first place.
Corsair Void PRO RGB Wireless Review
Update 11/09/2019: We previously had ‘Channel Mixing’ set to N/A instead of No, which was making the score of the Void RGB higher than what it was supposed to be. The dial is especially responsive and easy-to-use, but the placement of the power and microphone buttons takes a bit more time to get used to.
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT review: “Perhaps the best Corsair has ever produced”
A wildly expensive but incredibly high quality gaming headset that knocks it out of the park in looks, sound, and connectivity. The original Virtuoso SE was a wired headset, but the XT adds Bluetooth support as well as Corsair’s new ‘Slipstream’ 2.4GHz wireless, which uses a USB-C dongle. The earcups are slightly more padded than the SE and the leatherette is very soft to the touch, which is lovely, but the material isn’t especially breathable, so be wary of using this headset for long stretches on hot days. The physical controls on the right earcup feel fantastic, from the firm click of the Bluetooth buttons to the tactile resistance on the volume roller.
A simple ring of light on the end of the microphone and two softly glowing logos on the earcups makes for a refined appearance, befitting the headset’s double billing as a product for both gamers and audiophiles who might usually err towards the best headphones. With versatility as a key feature of the Virtuoso XT, we tested the headset in a variety of situations, using all of the available connection options. AptX HD audio means that playback is essentially lossless, making the Virtuoso XT a great choice for listening to music too. TV and movie audio is also excellent, allowing you to pick up on every single bit of weird sound mixing in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet (seriously, why is it so bad?!)
Put simply, this is the complete package: Dolby surround sound, a great mic, four different connection types, and absolutely stellar audio quality.
Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE review
It’s pretty clear from the get-go that the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE is a considerably more expensive product than most gaming headsets. A lot of the best gaming headsets on the market are very affordable, but many of them are still built from cheap plastic and feel a little rickety. The ear pads are made of thick, soft memory foam wrapped in leatherette—they’re very comfortable, and establishing a decent seal is easy, though heat buildup is definitely an issue. However, all that milled aluminum and plush cushioning can’t mask the fact that the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE is still a gaming headset; all the typical trappings are still here.
A great big boom mic stretches out from the left earcup, and the Corsair logo on each side is filled with colored (and customizable) LED lights. Many headsets fall into the trap of having a bunch of dials and buttons that look and feel basically the same, but the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE doesn’t have that problem.
This means the mic, and its button, is actually capable of more complex things when paired with Corsair’s iCue companion app. You achieve even better results if you listen at a lower volume than that, though keeping the LED lights on will affect things too (you can shut them off in iCue). I played through a large portion of Persona 5 Royal on PlayStation 4, and ably balanced the game’s funky heist-themed soundtrack, dozens of hours of voice-over work, and rather eclectic variety of sound effects.
As I mentioned above, the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE brings support for 7.1 virtual surround sound using its iCue app. In Pac-Man by the Gorillaz and ScHoolboy Q, the drum and distorted bass track that drive the song really come through clearly. However, the various high-pitched whirring sounds that build out the background of the song, as well as the more ethereal echoed string parts, are a little less prominent.
Many gaming headsets seriously boost bass output in the name of great immersion, and explosions that make your brain vibrate. All things considered, the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE offers some of the best isolation you will find in a gaming headset. There’s nothing approaching active noise cancelling here, but the thick leatherette earpads really do a great job blocking out midrange and treble frequencies. Corsair claims on the back of the box that the Virtuoso Wireless SE sports a “broadcast quality” microphone.
On top of that, it doesn’t suffer from the volume (or rather, power) issues that most gaming headset microphones struggle with. For gamers who want to save some cash, the standard Corsair Virtuoso Wireless RGB headset is available for $179—around $30 cheaper than the SE variant.
Both headsets sport the same 50mm drivers, 7.1 surround sound, wired and wireless connectivity options, and RGB-illuminated ear cups. The only real difference between the two headsets is the fact that the SE version comes with an aluminum construction, with micro-perforations on the sides for the RGB lighting.
Whether it’s worth saving the $70-$100 if you don’t particularly need wireless audio or customizable lights or a microphone that’s quite as accurate depends largely on why you’re looking for a gaming headset in the first place.
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE Review
They have low latency, which shouldn’t be noticeable, and offer a decent range, which should have no problem reaching your couch or chair.
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT Review: Expensive Excellence
Corsair’s Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT headset is extremely comfortable, versatile, and it delivers great sound. Corsair’s Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT headset is extremely comfortable, versatile, and it delivers great sound. Corsair’s updated Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT is clearly angling for a spot on our Best Gaming Headsets list out of the gate. Corsair has updated the design with the XT model to improve comfort, lessening the clamping force on your head and adding more padding to the headband.
That means you can hear your PC or Mac audio while also getting notifications or listening to music on your phone or other Bluetooth device. Driver Type 50mm Neodymium Impedance 32 Ohms Frequency Response 20,000 – 40,000 Hz Microphone Type Omnidirectional Connectivity Options 3.5mm, USB Type-A cable, USB Type-A dongle, Bluetooth Cables Braided 3.5mm, braided USB-C Weight 0.8 pounds (382g) Lighting 1x RGB zone Software Corsair iCue Extra Cloth carrying case
From the moment I first slipped the headset on until I put it down at the end of the day, the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT was comfortable. The Virtuoso XT was so comfortable on my head that I went days convinced that Corsair’s headset was lighter than the Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed .
And while that increases long-term comfort, it also makes for a headset that slips and slides a bit as I move on and off my treadmill desk to shift between taking photos, writing and editing.
In terms of industrial design and manufacturing, the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT is effectively the same as the previous SE model. Behind the mode switch sits a nicely notched main volume wheel for use with a PC/the included 2.4 GHz Corsair Slipstream wireless USB Type-A dongle. Once I realized the wheel at the back was there to adjust PC audio and the buttons on the bottom were for controlling sound/tracks on my phone, my fingers and brain quickly got used to the layout, and it felt surprisingly intuitive.
The only thing I don’t really like here is the fact that the headset has two gaping USB ports, which would make me a bit afraid to take the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT on long walks for fear of liquids or dust getting in them. But given that Corsair makes zero claims in the headset’s materials or specs list about water or dust resistance, you’ll probably want to mostly stick to using these cans indoors. As with the previous version of the headset, which our reviewer really liked, Corsair says the XT model has paired 50mm neodymium drivers and a wide 20 Hz-40kHz frequency range. The harsh mids had vanished, and the low-end on tracks like “Body Aktiv” from Noise Unit’s upcoming Deviator felt punchy, without being overpowering.
While you’re there, you can also change the subtle RGB lighting in the center of the earcups (or turn it off by selecting black), as well as fix one of the other minor issues I had with the headset out of the box. The light is a handy and in many cases unobtrusive reminder of your mic status, but I found it constantly distracting when in video calls to see a glowing ring in front of my face. Overall, once I installed iCue and was able to adjust the audio settings, sound quality was very good on the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT, whether I was running and gunning in Doom Eternal or working while listening to the latest Portion Control EP . Switching from Pure Direct preset to FPS competition while playing Doom Eternal and Borderlands 3, things like the wails of Zombies or the wingbeats of Varkids were a bit more forward in the mix.
Even in games, I’d prefer to hear the audio as the sound designer and director intended, rather than try to tweak things to give myself some kind of nebulous advantage.
That doesn’t happen with Corsair’s solution; I can hear both audio streams at the same time and even adjust the levels between the two to prioritize a call or music over notifications, etc. And if audio range was particularly important to me, I could connect via Bluetooth and move around my entire apartment (small as it is) and not have the sound cut out at all with Corsair’s headset.
Customer Reviews: CORSAIR VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless Stereo Gaming Headset White CA-9011186-NA
I was a little surprised considering my experience with gaming headsets, they tend to err on the side of being overly bass heavy. The foam conforms nicely to your head, ears, and face but it took me a full 10 minutes or so before they really settled.
You can customize your EQ to remedy that, more on that later, or crank the volume, but the Virtuoso simply doesn’t thump the way I’d expect a gaming headset in this price range. Connections – The virtuoso charges via usb type-C (included in the box) which is a huge win for me. The mic plugs in via keyed usb port on the left ear cup which also houses the charging/pc connect cable. the iCUE software is pretty easy to use but, full disclosure, it’s been on my system for years as I use other corsair products.
You can customize lighting effects, your EQ settings and a bunch of other stuff. If you’re charging your headphones and using them at the same time, or you just want that higher quality audio, this is a major annoyance.
The cable juts out of the left earcup at an awkward angle that pushes it directly into my shoulder. There are a lot of cool little features buried in the software so definitely spend your time getting acquainted with it. The bass is noticeably weaker over wireless, but unless you’re diehard basshead I wouldn’t let that stop you from buying one of the best headsets on the market.
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless gaming headset review – stunning build, quality sound
Until the Corsair Virtuoso wireless gaming headset the company was better known in audio circles as the brand behind a bunch of affordable, but surprisingly capable headphones. Though if that sounds a little like damning with faint praise you might be right… Corsair has worked hard to ensure there is a higher level of audio quality to the drivers of the Virtuoso RGB Wireless than in its previous cans, but it hasn’t gone quite far enough for most PC gamers with audiophilic tendencies. That’s twice the range of standard gaming headsets which chase some 20Hz to 20,000Hz ideal, but while that does mean there’s a huge amount of depth and detail to the high-end tones, the same just doesn’t ring true for the low-end. You can tweak the EQ yourself via the iCUE app, which also allows you to colour the titular RGB LEDs on the ear cups, but while there is a Bass Boost profile that just beefs up the low-end, it does so without improving clarity. In the end it just leaves the Corsair Virtuoso sounding a little lacking, but purely only in comparison to a pair of generally more expensive wireless gaming headsets. If you were to just listen to it in isolation, you would enjoy the clarity with which you can pick out speech, the whistle of bullets flying past your ears, the screams of “Medic!” from the dying on Wake Island in BF5.
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE Review
The Virtuoso RGB SE works well on both PC and PS4, and you can indeed connect it to an Xbox One or handheld Switch with a 3.5-mm audio jack. The headset also has plush foam ear cups; a detachable, flexible mic and a rather fancy-looking cloth carrying case, which snaps shut like a handbag. Bear in mind that there’s also a $180 version of this headset simply called the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless, which has plastic ear cups and a less fancy mic. On the other hand, the device doesn’t shut itself off completely if you forget to do so, so you could come back to your gaming setup after a good night’s sleep and find your headset just about dead.
I wore the headset for hours while gaming, watching movies and talking to friends online, and never had to take them off until it was time to recharge. On a PC, you can even tweak the sound profile and mic performance with the Corsair Utility Engine (iCUE) software. I paid much closer attention to the wireless performance with the PC and PS4, where I played titles like the BioShock Collection, Assassin’s Creed Origins, Age of Mythology: Extended Edition and Final Fantasy XIV. The first thing I noticed about the Virtuoso RGB SE is that it highlights treble and vocals to an extent that most other gaming headsets don’t. That by itself isn’t a problem, but the focus on vocals can give voices a brassy, forward quality that sounds a little like they’re coming through an AM radio.
Because you can toggle between stereo and surround sound in the iCUE software, I imagine it would work well for hardcore competitive players, too. The Virtuoso RGB Wireless runs on the iCUE software, which gives users a fair number of customization options. With this program, you can toggle between stereo and surround sound, toy around with mic levels and, most importantly, tweak equalization options.
I spent more than three hours talking with a Dungeons & Dragons group on Discord, and other players spontaneously commented how much better I sounded than usual. Corsair claims that the battery can last up to 20 hours on a single charge, which is true — provided you remember to turn it off between sessions. I listened to tracks from Flogging Molly, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Rolling Stones and G.F. Handel, and in every case, the bass came in far too quiet, and the vocals nearly overwhelmed everything but the lead instruments.
I wish it worked with docked Switches; I wish the soundscape weren’t so lackluster for music; I wish the equalization options were a little more robust.
Corsair Virtuoso review: a headset with sophisticated audio and the looks to match
It’s a striking compromise between weight and build quality that toes the line between solid feel and comfort perfectly while maintaining a gorgeous aesthetic that doesn’t scream ‘teenager’. RGB is rarely subtle, but Corsair has harnessed the cool power of the alluring LEDs and let them loose in small logos on the side of each cup. If you are looking to use the Virtuoso’s as a primary set, opening Corsair’s own software (on PC only) to tinker with EQ and presets offers expanded features designed to turn the headset into a more holistic experience.
Creating custom profiles with EQ adjustments suited to music, TV, and specific game genres feels simple and offers a range of tweaks to enhance your audio no matter how you use your cans. Once you’ve marveled at the external sophistication, you’ll find the same level of performance running throughout the audio quality and detail of the Virtuoso headset. With a full soundscape pumping through each can and excellent clarity keeping every shot, footstep, and reload right at the forefront of your listening experience, shooters and adventure titles perform exceedingly well on PC.
Sitting down to a Blair Witch session felt like a nightmare come true, with every creak of the forest perfectly pinpointed and swarming spatial audio maintaining fantastic clarity and direction. Such surround sound doesn’t lose its precision in the face of a fuller soundscape either, with tests in Wolfenstein: The New Colossus and Borderlands 3 offering the immediate location of each enemy shot and every secluded footstep with fantastic dynamism despite a plethora of background noise to contend with.
While fine for general audio, a larger shot sometimes lost some of its booming force and some of the grittier tracks lacked the oomph of a more bass-heavy set. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, the gaming headset world does seem to be blighted by swathes of bass crackling cans, but it does seem like more attention has been paid to the treble tones here.
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE Gaming Headset Review
At that price, it we’d expect it to be an all-around great set of cans, something you could wear all day long for music before switching roles for gaming in the evening. Corsair has built these headphones around its new, proprietary 2.4GHz “Slipstream” tech, which uses intelligent frequency shifting to keep the signal strong regardless of ambient RF activity at a range of up to 60 feet. That reaches much further into the high end than the typical gaming headsets, which often emphasize bass response to the exclusion of all else. A gorgeous ring around the mic glows red or green, making it easy to tell in your peripheral vision if you’re live or muted — another nice detail.
It’s not super bright, and the logo takes up a relatively small portion of the earcup; it’s tasteful, fitting in with the overall adult aesthetic of the headphones. You can also connect these headphones to an Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or mobile phone with the included five feet of braided 3.5 mm audio cable. If you’re spending more than two bills for headphones, odds are good that you’re going to use them for more than just gaming—they’ll probably stay on your head for many hours a day, for music, movies, or just to chat. To assess these cans, I played a handful of games, including Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus on the PC and God of War on the PS4, along with music and some Netflix.
Background music and ambient sounds were lush and full bodied, with articulate highs and a solid low end.
Munitions exploded with authority, conveying a solid boom without being harsh or “boomy,” a common affliction among many gaming headphones. I found the positioning of directional audio, like gunfire, footsteps, and explosions to be precise, allowing me to get a sense of where enemies were even before I could see them. In fact, I’d say that Corsair found a way to coax deeper bass out of these headphones, while still rendering midtones and the high end with great clarity.
If you want the same audio quality in a slightly more expensive package, the non-SE model version of the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless rings up for $179–though this lower end model lacks the metal trim, RGB lighting, and a slightly worse microphone.
Be First to Comment