Corsair HS80 Max review: A no-sweat premium gaming headset

Price When Reviewed

179.99

Best Prices Today: Corsair HS80 Max

Too typically I check premium headsets that, though they’ve stellar audio, are heavy and fatiguing, weighed down by an excessive amount of steel and stuffy leatherette material — supplies which have change into in a approach hallmarks of what constitutes a premium pair of cans. But the Corsair HS80 Max turns the tables on that in no small approach.

Indeed, this headset trades leatherette for a cool mesh material and an excessive amount of steel within the earcups for light-weight however sturdy plastic ones, each of which make it extremely comfy for lengthy gaming stints.

Yet whereas this headset dares to be totally different, it foregoes not one of the top-quality audio you’d anticipate from a premium gaming headset. At $179.99 it’s additionally cheaper than rivals just like the $249.99 Razer Barracuda Pro and $379.99 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. Read on to seek out out extra.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best wireless gaming headsets to study competing merchandise.

Corsair HS80 Max: Design and construct

Light and versatile, and with a primarily plastic design that weighs simply 12.4 ounces, I discovered I may put on the HS80 Max all day lengthy with none points. Comfort has been made an apparent precedence — the headset contains a floating headband with a masking that protects the highest of your head from the firmer headband above it.

The HS80 Max’s earcups are on the comfortable aspect, however they really feel good and ethereal. Their mesh masking saved my ears cool even throughout lengthy stints gaming. It additionally prevented me sweating, one thing for which I used to be very glad throughout a scorching spell within the climate.

Even whenever you’re not carrying them, these cans are remarkably comfortable. The cups can swivel 180 levels, which meant I may simply lay them flat on my neck. There’s little or no clamp stress to talk of, so there’s none of that wrestling I typically need to do to place my headsets on. One small nit-pick within the design is that the scarf isn’t vertically adjustable, which might be a problem for some customers.

Plastic isn’t at all times incredible in relation to headset sturdiness, however the HS80 Max is sort of strong. It held up effectively in my testing, seeming impervious to break throughout an unintentional fall off my desk onto a tiled ground. It additionally averted being scratched up by the keys in my backpack.

There is one design subject you’ll wish to be cautious of: The headset has cords that attain up via small triangular openings above the earcups and these are dangerously susceptible to unintentional snipping or breaking. Ideally, you’re going to wish to home this headset in a case.

From a mode perspective, the HS80 Max has a whole lot of swagger. I actually dig the uniquely formed cups that are “ear-shaped” slightly than spherical or oval. They deliver an originality to the look that doesn’t want a lot else to prop it up.

That stated, the outside of the earcups in my Steel Gray coloured set look good-looking too, the grey paint job contrasting properly with the black of the internal materials. The plastic has a stain end to it, so it seems to be altogether premium. The headset’s RGB lighting, nonetheless, looks like sort of an afterthought. It seems solely within the small Corsair sail logos on every cup.

Corsair HS80 Max: Connectivity and compatibility

I used my evaluation unit principally with my PC and Android cellphone, nevertheless it’ll work simply as effectively with a Mac, iPhone, PS5, PS4, or Nintendo Switch console.

The headset boasts each 2.4GHz wi-fi connectivity in addition to Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. While you might be linked to each without delay, they will’t be used concurrently; the headset routinely paused my in-game audio for incoming cellphone calls and returned once I hung up.

Of course, that meant enjoying my favourite tunes from my smartphone over just a few rounds of Overwatch 2 was off the desk — one thing I’d actually anticipate a premium headset that prices $179.99 to have the ability to do. Still, a Bluetooth button on the fitting earcup made it quite simple to modify between connectivity modes once I wanted to.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

The Bluetooth button additionally doubles as a media controller. Other controls are scarce — the remaining two have been a easy quantity wheel and energy button situated on the left-hand earcup.

Both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have nice vary: In Bluetooth Mode, I bought as much as 30 ft away earlier than the sign reduce out. But in Wi-Fi Mode you’ll be able to simply stroll as much as 50 ft away out of your system.

To be certain, not each headset provides you such a sign distance to take pleasure in, and I used to be fast to utilize that performance to wander round my work kitchen whereas maintaining the newest episode of PCWorld’s The Full Nerd podcast streaming from my laptop computer again at my desk.

The HS80 Max has a really respectable battery life too, however there’s a giant distinction in how lengthy you get in line with how you employ it. With RGB switched on, my headset lasted a full 18 hours. However, Corsair says it could actually final for so long as 130 hours with RGB switched off and in Bluetooth Mode.

Corsair HS80 Max: Gaming efficiency

Custom 50mm neodymium drivers within the HS80 Max’s earcups convert electrical indicators to sound, and judging by the crisp, clear audio they ship, they’re extraordinarily well-tuned for gaming. The audio high quality is considerably higher than what you get in some headsets, being a high-resolution sign of 24bit/96kHz.

The headset can comfortably hit very low bass notes and ear-splittingly excessive treble notes. The treble is delivered with the sort of pristine readability that basically exhibits up inferior headsets as sounding tinny by comparability. But the mid-tones are by far the place this headset actually shines — these tones sound impartial and heat, which is simply what you need for an immersive gaming expertise.

My playtesting primarily included rounds of Call of Duty Black Ops and CounterStrike 2. In COD: Black Ops the HS80 Max had me chomping on the bit to play after I heard its immersive rendition of the sport’s pre-game soundtrack; it dropped deep digital keyboard notes, and the full-bodied strings sounded emotive and uncooked.

The headset additionally shocked me by accentuating in-game sounds that I not often discover, just like the beeping of timed explosive costs. This introduced a brand new depth to my gameplay.

In CS:2, footfalls have been noticeably simple to listen to even at low volumes, which made it easy to trace each pleasant items and enemies close by. I used to be impressed by how the set dealt with explosions and gunfire too — it delivered these sounds with a smoothness that I may hearken to all day. Indeed, there was no jarring thuds or cracking noises that I’ve a low tolerance for.

For added immersion in CS:2 I used to be very glad for the headset’s Dolby Atmos assist. The HS80 Max comes with a free license for it on PC, which saves you the price of having to buy a license your self. I discovered the encompass sound considerably elevated my directional consciousness and introduced a satisfying cinematic high quality to video games.

The HS80 Max’s microphone is omnidirectional and has handy flip-to-mute performance. I hoped it will even be removable for bus journeys the place I like listening to podcasts and don’t actually wish to seem like I’m in full desktop gaming mode — nevertheless it’s undetachable.

Testing the microphone revealed it may reproduce my voice with satisfactory readability. The mic’s bendable increase finish additionally allowed me to maneuver it the place I may get the perfect illustration of my voice in chats.

Corsair HS80 Max: Software

The HS80 Max is used with Corsair’s iCUE software program app. Here you’ll be able to tweak EQ settings, personalize RGB lighting, and obtain firmware updates. iCUE additionally has a novel function referred to as Sonarworks SoundID, which lets you calibrate the headset with an audio preset that finest matches your listening preferences.

For this function to work, you’ll must first activate SoundID within the iCUE app after which bear a listening to check and full a survey that may ask in your suggestions on totally different listening situations. Once you might have your customized SoundID preset arrange, you’ll be able to then select to modify it on or off everytime you need.

In my view, SoundID works effectively to optimize the headset’s sound in a common sense, however it’s nonetheless fairly generic. So, in case you want very particular audio frequencies to be delivered to the fore, akin to to emphasise footfalls in FPS video games, you’re finest off tweaking your EQ settings manually. Still, I applaud Corsair for incorporating a function like this, which simply provides to the extent of personalization you might have at your fingertips.

Should you purchase the Corsair HS80 Max?

After spending 32 hours enjoying with the Corsair HS80 Max I’m left wishing it had solely two options — a removable mic and simultaneous wi-fi audio. Everything else it does beautifully — wonderful high-resolution audio, tons of consolation, and distinctive, engaging styling. At $179.99 it’s not low cost, however cheaper than some premium rivals, which makes it simpler to advocate as a fantastic selection for discerning players.