Corsair gaming headset guide

Corsair makes a lot of gaming-related hardware, and that includes gaming headsets. The company offers three main headset product lines, and while on paper they can seem pretty similar, they have a pretty wide price range. Let’s get into what really sets these apart.

Editor’s note: This post was updated on February 1, 2023 to include a table of contents menu and formatting changes.

Things to consider when looking for a Corsair headset

With any gaming headset purchase there are a few things you should think about before buying something. Pretty much every Corsair headset is just a plug-and-play affair, but there are a lot of them, so homing in on the right one for you takes some doing. Let’s start with the basics: price, platform, and genre.

What’s your budget?

The first consideration should be the easiest one to make. How much money are you willing to spend on a gaming headset? Most Corsair headsets—generally most gaming headsets—don’t exactly cross into hi-fi audio territory, and Bluetooth is something of a rarity. That means you’ll be buying something just for use with a computer or console. However, it’s not like you’re going to spend the same amount of money as, say, a Sony WH-1000XM4—you can find a decent gaming headset for less than $50, including from Corsair. Of course, you can also spend a couple hundred dollars if you want.

What platform do you prefer?

Next, it’s important to think about the platforms you want to play on. If you’re a diehard console gamer, a headset that offers a bunch features through Corsair’s iCue desktop app may not appeal much to you. There may not be console versions of features like virtual surround sound with these headsets, but at least  you don’t have to spend the extra money for it. Hardware compatibility is also important to note, as the Xbox One still doesn’t support USB- based audio connections, and the Nintendo Switch only supports it when docked.

Lastly, think about the kinds of games you like to play. Are you fighting game or Fortnite fanatic? Some games benefit from things like surround sound, and some don’t even really need a microphone. If you hate multiplayer games or you already have a microphone and just need a pair of headphones, picking something with a detachable microphone might be important. Few people play just one kind of video game, but if you know you hate shooters, 7.1 virtual surround sound might not be a priority for you.

What you should know about Corsair iCue

Regardless of how much you want to spend on a headset, all of the PC-oriented headsets (at least the ones that use USB) connect to Corsair iCue. This app serves as a hub for pretty much everything Corsair makes— from mice, keyboards, and headsets, to internal components like RAM—and offers options for hardware optimization, color coordination with your various LED-riddled devices, and expanded audio features. Whether you spend $80 or triple that, if your new Corsair gaming headset supports virtual surround sound or spatial audio, you need iCue to turn it on.

Like most gaming hub apps, iCue is just okay. It works well enough, but it’s not terribly well organized, and adding more and more Corsair devices to the mix will likely exacerbate that. Much like other branded options, like Razer Synapse and HyperX Ngenuity, we’d recommend installing the app if you have to, and otherwise ignoring it.

The Corsair Void headsets offer a wide set of features for a low price

When we reviewed the Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless, the top of the line model in the Void line, we were impressed with how it managed to cram in all the features you could want in a gaming headset for $89 at Amazon. Its audio output is just okay, but it offers decent battery life and a very accurate microphone.

However, this headset sports a mostly metal build that’s very comfortable. Its low-tension band feels a little on the loose side, but that means gamers with glasses might find it more comfortable than the other options in this article. That’s also true for the cheaper headsets in the Void line.

Corsair sells three Void headsets, and they’re generally very similar products. The Void RGB Elite Wireless is the most expensive, and offers the most features, but the cheaper options don’t exactly skimp out. The Void Elite Surround is a USB wired gaming headset, that offers almost all the same features are its wireless counterpart, just skipping the colored LED lights. The even cheaper Void Elite Stereo is actually the same headset as the Void Elite Surround—it just forgoes the detachable USB adapter that lets the headset use more features. We found the Void RGB Elite Wireless, which shares most of its hardware with the other two, sounds reasonably accurate for a gaming headset, but it’s starting to feel a little dated.

Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless

The Corsair HS line is the biggest aimed at the most people

If any Corsair gaming headset line could be considered the “main” line, it’s the Corsair HS series. These gaming headsets run from under $40 USD to around $130 USD and cover just about every gaming use case out there. Unlike the Void line, HS headsets all sport detachable 3.5mm microphones, and many rely on a 3.5mm audio connection, which means they work just about everywhere and can double as regular headphones if you need.

However, despite their more restrained aesthetic, headsets like the Corsair HS60 have a lot of the same features as the Void line. The ones that use USB support EQ and surround sound options through iCue, and the wired ones all use the same USB adapter as the Void Elite Surround Sound. However, the HS line also has some more unique offerings, too.

The Corsair HS35 stereo gaming headset hits a lower price than anything else the company offers, with a lightweight all plastic build, and a bunch of different color options. The Corsair HS60 Haptic is a wired gaming headset that brings haptic rumble into the headset to accentuate bass, kind of like the Razer Nari Ultimate. In our review we found it amusing for listening to genres of music like citypop and vaporwave, but rather inconsistent while gaming. You can get it for $70 at Amazon.

When we reviewed the Corsair HS60 Pro Surround, we found the headset was easy use and sounded pretty accurate. Its isolation is on par with most gaming headsets, and it has a rather average microphone. Most HS headsets sport the same or very similar hardware, so don’t expect anything too different, unless it’s marketed as such. It’ll run you $62.59 at Walmart.

Corsair HS60 Pro Surround mic sample:

The Corsair HS70 is the line’s first wireless offering. On top of the iCue-based features it offers in common with its many counterparts, Corsair claims it can last up to 16 hours of playback on a single charge—that’s hardly the most impressive number to hit, but not necessarily bad. There’s also an HS75, which is tailored to Xbox platforms and uses the Xbox Wireless connection standard and costs $118 at Amazon.

Finally, the Corsair HS80 brings a new look and a very comfortable fit. This is a wireless gaming headset with a suspension frame, minimal RGB LED lighting, and the full feature set of an iCUE-compatible device. In our review, we found it a little less than stellar on console, but the PC performance is great, and the headset’s microphone has the same hardware as the one in the Corsair Virtuoso—perfect for all day Zoom calls. This one’s a little pricier than other HS headsets, running for $149.99 at Corsair.

The Corsair Virtuoso line is aimed at the gamer with cash to burn

The newest line of Corsair headsets is also the company’s most expensive one by far. The Corsair Virtuoso line consists of two wireless gaming headsets, the Virtuoso RGB Wireless and Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE. These headsets are meant to do everything the other Corsair headsets can, but better. They both sport improved battery live, durable primarily metal builds, and more sophisticated microphones than either the Void or HS headsets.

The Virtuoso and Virtuoso SE can connect wirelessly using a 2.4 GHz USB RF transmitter, or detachable USB and 3.5mm cords, and they charge using USB-C. They sport more restrained LED lighting options, detachable miniUSB microphones, 7.1 surround sound through iCue. Basically, they’re the next generation of Corsair gaming headsets, and they’re priced like it too.

The Corsair Virtuoso starts at $179.99 USD, basically $50 USD more than the next most expensive Corsair headset. The Virtuoso SE runs for $254 at Amazon, and brings a more sensitive mic than its cheaper counterpart, as well as machined aluminum headphone plates. In our review, we found the Virtuoso SE sounds great and feels great, with very accurate microphone and audio output and some of the best isolation you’ll find in a gaming headset. Given that all the hardware other than the microphone is the same between both models, we’d expect a similar experience from the regular Virtuoso too.

Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE microphone sample:

Corsair has also released the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT, which is pretty much the same gaming headset as the SE model, only now it has Bluetooth. It costs $219 at Amazon, which is a bit of a steep markup for just one added feature, but it supports aptX HD, so it will definitely sound good over Bluetooth, on Android at least.

Are Corsair headsets better than other brands?

Not really. Corsair has put out some great gaming headsets, some average gaming headsets, and some not so great gaming headsets—same as every other brand. If you’re a PC gamer, buying a Corsair headset might make sense if you’ve already got a bunch of other Corsair gear all hooked into iCue. Otherwise if nothing suits your fancy, there’s nothing wrong with finding a gaming headset from a different brand that fits your needs and aesthetic sensibilities better.

Which Corsair headset should you buy?

As with any company’s audio products, which one you should buy comes depends more on what you need than what it can do. There’s a lot of shared territory in the Corsair line of gaming headsets. If you’re just looking for a wired gaming headset that offers surround sound on PC, you have a lot of options that seem to do the same thing.

Basically, Corsair Void headsets are decent options for gamers with glasses, but they’re a little on the old side, and even the top-of-the-line model doesn’t offer terribly accurate audio. Corsair HS headsets afford more basic options, for when you want something cheap and functional–which one you should get depends on whether you’re looking for a specific feature or platform. The Corsair Virtuoso headsets are for the gamers who want it all, and don’t mind paying for it. They’re the best Corsair headsets, but not everyone wants to spend over $200 on a gaming peripheral.

We’ll keep this article update as new Corsair products come out, so check back if something new ever pops up and you’re not sure how it stacks up.