The Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless is considered one of our favourite gaming headsets at Digital Trends. But it’s costly — little question about that.
Fortunately, Corsair has introduced a trio of recent wired gaming headsets: The HS65 Surround, HS55 Stereo, and HS80 RGB USB. Each sells for underneath $100 and gives lots of the options and design cues that made us love the HS80 RGB Wireless.
The three headsets are differentiated by worth, sure, but additionally options akin to encompass sound help, excessive constancy audio, microphone optimization, or RGB designs. I attempted all three headsets and got here away pondering that almost all avid gamers are prone to discover one among the many three that fits their wants.
Specs
HS65 Surround
HS55 Stereo
HS80 RGB USB
Dimensions
186mm(L) x 78mm(W) x 196mm(H)
184mm(L) x 87mm(W) x 193mm(H)
205mm(L) x 97mm(W) x 183mm(H)
Weight
282g
273g
373g
Audio Driver
Custom 50mm Neodymium
Custom 50mm Neodymium
Custom 50mm Neodymium
Frequency Response
20Hz – 20kHz
20Hz – 20kHz
20Hz – 40kHz
Impedance
32 Ohms @ 1kHz
32 Ohms @ 1kHz
32 Ohms @ 1kHz
Sensitivity
114dB (± 3dB)
114dB (± 3dB)
116dB (± 3dB)
Mic Type
Omni-directional
Omni-directional
Omni-directional broadcast-grade
Mic Impedance
2.2K Ohms
2.2K Ohms
2.2K Ohms
Mic Frequency Response
100Hz – 10kHz
100Hz – 10kHz
100Hz – 10kHz
Mic Sensitivity
-41dB (± 2dB)
-41dB (± 2dB)
-40dB (± 3dB)
Audio
Dolby Audio 7.1 encompass
Stereo
Dolby Audio 7.1 encompass
Warranty
2 years
2 years
2 years
Price, availability
$80
$60
$100
Design
The new Corsair headsets all have distinctive designs for his or her worth factors. They are all corded headsets and made primarily of plastic, however they’re all sturdy sufficient to really feel like they are going to final a very long time. Coupled with two-year warranties, Corsair additionally places some components and dealing with help behind the merchandise.
Corsair seems to be taking cues from its prior fashions, together with the HS50 and HS60. Those fashions had been critiqued for his or her easy-to-lose components, akin to their removable microphones, however the brand new headsets all have built-in mics, which may solely be folded up.
As might be anticipated with gaming most headsets, be ready for software program setup. Some of the fashions include dongles to make sure their spotlight options work. A singular side is the usage of USB-A ports and adapters, particularly at a time when USB-C connectors have been related to high-quality sound.
At 282 grams, the headset has a little bit of heft to it.
The HS65 Surround mannequin is available in a white, gray, and silver coloration possibility. The silver accents shimmer within the gentle to present a higher-end look, however you possibly can nonetheless inform the headset is extra midrange. This isn’t precisely an issue — as stated, the design isn’t in any respect flimsy.
The head cushion and earcups are fabricated from a leather-type materials and the innermost cups are coated in a material. The outermost cups characteristic the Corsair sail emblem embedded in a grate for a design contact that’s totally different from the opposite fashions.
At 282 grams, or 0.62 kilos, I discovered the headset had a little bit of heft to it, although it was extra tight than heavy. Adjusting the band did assist a bit, however I total marvel how comfy this headset is likely to be for these with bigger heads.
I did discover some scuffs on the matte white components fairly early on, so that’s one thing to remember. If you’re somebody who likes to maintain their peripherals clear, maintain some wipes useful.
The HS65 Surround encompasses a quantity toggle on its left cup and its Dolby 7.1 Surround sound USB adapter aids the headset in maximizing audio for PC gaming. Installing Corsair’s accompanying software program unlocks different options, akin to SoundID audio customization. Without the dongle, the headset helps a 3.5mm audio jack.
The HS55 Stereo mannequin has the simplest design of the three. The all-black matte body with a black fake leather-based head cushion and ear cups, and glossy black emblem accents on the outermost cups give the headset an attraction.
The headset is designed to be light-weight at simply 273 grams. Its main port is a 3.5mm audio jack, nevertheless it additionally features a Y-cable adapter with a microphone and audio ports for PC enter. The HS55 Stereo doesn’t require any extra software program help.
The HS80 RGB USB is probably the most premium of the fashions with an RGB emblem to focus on its design. The headset is available in an all-black, matte texture, with an attention-grabbing adjustable velcro internal headband and a fake leather-based cushion. They’re barely difficult to detach and modify compared with a extra commonplace methodology of adjustment.
I’d think about there’s some ergonomic goal to this design, as, at 373 grams in weight, the headset doesn’t really feel practically as heavy because it appears. It additionally contains plush earcups in a deeper black than the remainder of the headset. Its port choice is strictly USB-A, with no extra adapters accessible.
Features
Each of the totally different headsets contains some totally different software program options. In specific, the SoundID characteristic is highlighted on the HS65 Surround mannequin, and the RGB lighting results on the HS80 RGB USB mannequin.
The HS65 Surround SoundID is basically an audio check that enables customers to create their superb sound expertise, utilizing totally different audio types as a base tune. I saved this in thoughts, particularly when listening to the music.
I selected Electronics Beats 1 and Cymatics as my base observe amongst totally different checks. You’ll must determine any adjustments within the audio till the check is full. You can retake the check at any time to reset your audio preferences for SoundID. You also can flip the characteristic off totally to take pleasure in commonplace stereo or encompass sound audio.
The HS80 RGB USB RGB lighting results settings are additionally accessible to customise the Corsair emblem on the headset. There are plenty of preset choices, together with watercolor spectrum, coloration pulse, coloration shift, and rainbow, and a lighting hyperlink part with extra elaborate and editable designs akin to coloration wave, rain, rainbow wave, and spiral rainbow. There can also be a customized part the place you possibly can create your personal designs.
Both fashions additionally help audio equalizer settings along with microphone quantity and sidetone settings.
Sound high quality
All of the headsets have complimentary audio that almost all will discover pleasing. The HS65 Surround, although, positively stood out when it comes to high quality. The Dolby 7.1 encompass sound USB adapter actually makes a distinction in practically all states of use.
I didn’t get too deep right into a session of Destiny 2, however working the courtyard actually took benefit of the encompass sound capacity, choosing up varied voice and step particulars from throughout my character. There was a noticeable distinction within the stereo audio once I plugged within the 3.5mm audio jack. While among the element might be recaptured by mentioning the amount, it’s not fairly the identical.
With the HS65 Surround, I most popular the audio expertise with SoundID off.
Next, I performed music to check the SoundID characteristic, utilizing the music Believer by Imagine Dragons as my observe for all the headset fashions. However, for the HS65 Surround, I discovered that I most popular the audio with SoundID off. I loved each states, however I favored the encompass sound, which total sounds richer and fuller.
As talked about beforehand I repeated the check a number of occasions, and with totally different base tracks. However, SoundID seems to be a person orchestrated equalizer. Notably, the preset equalizer can’t operate whereas SoundID is enabled.
The HS55 Stereo has nice audio as the choice with no bells and whistles. I discovered myself adjusting the amount for a greater expertise. Similar to the HS65 Surround with out its adapter, voices and footsteps in gameplay sounded ever so barely additional away, however I used to be nonetheless in a position to catch particulars.
With the music, the heaviness that may be current when listening to encompass sound was stripped away, however the high quality was nonetheless current. I did must tweak the amount on the headset and pc to get it proper.
The HS80 RGB USB audio can also be fairly good. I discovered I may settle at decrease volumes than the opposite two headsets when listening to the music. The built-in encompass sound on this headset is a bit muffled in comparison with the connected encompass sound on the HS65 Surround, however I nonetheless discovered myself having fun with the audio expertise whereas exploring a brand new sport or watching a film. Details had been pronounced and straightforward to decipher.
I discovered that with the software program put in the headset takes over the first quantity of the pc. I used to be ready to make use of the amount rocker and see a dial seem on the display, displaying what I used to be listening to and the amount stage.
Price and availability
The HS65 Surround will promote for $80, the HS55 Stereo for $60, and the HS80 RGB USB for $100. The headsets are presently accessible at Corsair.com, Amazon, and Newegg in restricted portions.
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