James GordanCorsair is one of the largest companies in the PC components and peripherals market and offers impressive solutions in the areas of chassis, storage and power supply. Gaming helmets are another Corsair product line, but they are only successful on a shoelace budget. Today we’re looking at one of the brand’s latest high-end peripherals, the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE gaming headset.
This helmet is undoubtedly top of the range, with one of the best production quality we have seen in a gaming helmet. In addition, the Virtuoso Corsair offers a certain versatility which makes it quite expensive.
Let’s take a good look.
Technical data
Let’s take a look at the technical specifications of the visually attractive Virtuoso Corsairs.
In the box we see:
- Corsair Virtuoso SE RGB Wireless Gaming Headset
- Wireless USB transmitter
- USB charging cable, 1.8 m
- 3.5 mm stereo cable, 1.5 m (3.5 mm, 1.5 m)
- Storage bag
- Warranty
Setting
The first thing to notice is that the sound quality outside the box is slightly above average. Light leveling adjustments were clearly needed for music and games, and that’s what the software was all about.
Once the USB stick or USB-C cable is connected, the device automatically configures itself, so just download the software. Corsair’s iCUE software is very reliable and has always been easy to use compared to its various competitors. The sound configuration is limited, but it made a big difference to me.
The headset works wirelessly with Corsair’s Slipstream technology, which we’ll talk about later. To use the cable, simply plug the headset into the USB port and connect it to start listening. Finally, the headset also has a 3.5 mm audio cable port so you can connect it to your phone, PS4, Nintendo Switch or Xbox One.
Version
The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE is one of the most aesthetic gaming headsets on the market. They distinguish themselves by their high production quality and intelligent design. The non-SE version of these slightly cheaper headphones comes with shiny black earphones, which I personally am not a fan of, but the brushed aluminium that covers these headphones is a feast for the eyes.
I’ve always been a fan of Corsair’s HS series of game helmets because I’ve always found them to be good value for money. This more sensitive gaming headset is an expensive initiative, but it’s a step in the right direction because many consider it to be one of the best wireless gaming headsets currently available.
Quality of construction
The first thing you notice when opening the door is the quality of the construction, the freshness of the heavy aluminium finish is pleasant to the hand, as is the soft upholstery. Brushed aluminium makes it not only luxurious but also durable, with many curves in the headband. Apart from the flexibility, there is no bouncing in the earphones or the frame, which makes them very durable.
Not only the helmet is of excellent quality, but also all other small parts! The design extends to the different ports and the microphone, making it a very aesthetic unit. The microphone has more weight, which I’m used to, but again, it seems built to last, and the brushed aluminum is a great touch.
The position of the microphone can easily be adjusted as the smooth rubber material covering the cable bends in any direction.
When it comes to building quality, Corsair has done well and put the fear of God into brands like Sennheiser.
Comfort
In general, Corsair Virtuos are a comfortable pair of helmets, but this is the only area where the helmet makes some compromises. I really loved this gaming headset, so it was a bit frustrating to devalue it in an area that you think is suitable for this price level.
First of all, the fit was really good, and the clamp pressure was perfect for my head while playing in my normal position. Unfortunately they get a little loose when they move or bend and I have the feeling that they want to slide off my head.
The ear cushions are perfectly round, so if you have large ears, they may not fit well on the plush cushion. The memory foam filling was boring and clearly missed the mark compared to the extremely comfortable Sennheiser GSP 370. The headband offered some comfort and support, but became irritating and uncomfortable with prolonged use. Unfortunately, my ears are in contact with the inside of the driver, and you notice the scraped material used there compared to the fake leather on the hulls themselves.
Although their weight was similar to that of the SAP 670 (371 grams), they were certainly less visible on the head, which could result in a ridiculously high clamping force with the Sennheiser pair.
As I said, they fit my head perfectly and they are also very well adjustable to fit many different head shapes and sizes. The headband has ten adjustment levels that can be detected by touch and are marked on both sides with ruler-like inserts.
The headband is connected to a pair of sturdy hinges that allow the helmet to rotate 180 degrees. This feature is ideal for those who use them on their daily commute as you can wear the Virtuos around your neck without feeling suffocated. In addition, it is always useful to be able to stack these apartments when you travel with them in your bag. Finally, the earphones are slightly angled, further improving the fit and allowing you to adapt to the shape of your head, whether it’s square or oval.
In general they are fine, and the comfort varies from person to person, but I can’t help wondering why they didn’t go for a lighter, more breathable headband like we’ve seen with the Sennheiser GSP.
Power
The sound quality wasn’t particularly impressive, but thanks to the EQ adjustment I had a very pleasant playing and music experience.
The difference with SAP 370 lies in the details and clarity, but that too was quite small. It is impressive to see that the Virtuosi’s bass was much better than that of the Senguizers.
They are very close to the Sennheiser SAP 370 and that’s why I compared the Virtuoso Corsair with them. While audiophiles and gamers using headphones with stand-alone microphones probably won’t go back to such a pair, they offer something new for the wireless market: reliability!
Show
When it comes to audio impressions of the gaming headsets, it is one of the best in this price range. As said, some adjustments to the EQ were necessary to bring them up to a good level, but when they were made, they were excellent in every way.
The Corsair Virtuosos have a warm sound profile and are among the best bass we’ve seen in gaming headphones. This exuberant couple is also very satisfying in the middle area, with excellent fidelity in the trebles that can handle the raw, penetrating sounds of the music well. The great feature of the sound is the high resolution they have. The Virtuos have a frequency response of 20Hz-40kHz, which is double the typical gaming headphones thanks to the 50mm neodymium drivers.
Tight plastic earphones with foam padding offer some passive insulation, but that’s not really enough to immerse you completely in the world. It is best to keep them at home, where there is little and no noise.
Of course, this gaming headset is best suited for both wired and wireless games. This pair has been tested in several FPS games, including Bullet Tastic Squad. In CS:GO, where position brands are important, they have done more than enough. The virtual surround sound wasn’t as accurate as the Sennheiser GSP series headphones, but to say that it enhanced my gameplay would be accurate.
The Squad, which is a compelling FPS pleasure, showed what this low-end pair of Corsair’s has to offer. The deep bass rhythm of the air mortar fire or the long-range antitank fire was great, with deep bass beats that made you feel like you were part of the action.
One thing to note about the sound performance is the obvious increase when you connect it. That’s right, the wired mode improved the sound, with a 24 bit/96 kHz sound. When I plugged in the USB-C cable, there was a slight adhesion that came from rubbing the braided cable against my clothing. Because the C-type connector is angled so that the 3.5 mm plug points downwards, you have picked up that unfortunate sound in your headphones.
The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE gaming headset may not have Bluetooth technology. However, they can be used on different platforms and even work with USB-C ports, although Corsair has not included the included ports.
The best thing about these specific wireless headphones is the delay. During my prolonged use, there were no audible interruptions or delays, which is very rare for wireless gaming headsets. The 7.1 virtual surround sound of these games has really improved the sound of my FPS games, with very accurate audio prompts that allow me to easily locate other players.
Microphone
The omnidirectional microphone that accompanies the Corsair Virtuosi is one of the best I have ever used in a gaming helmet. The microphone has a frequency range from 100 Hz to 10 kHz and is completely detachable. This very rugged and versatile microphone may not meet the demands of broadcast quality, but it is certainly one of the closest to that designation. The dynamic range of this microphone provides clear vocals and a clear ring that indicates whether or not it is cut off in the peripheral field of view.
The microphone is connected to the main headset via micro-USB and has a convenient mute button on the base station. When you put on the headset for the first time and press the button, you will be greeted by a female voice. This speech message is aging quite quickly, and I have noticed that it has escaped into the discord that has always bothered others. Fortunately, Corsair offers the option of turning off the voice prompt, so that only the backlight indicates the current status of the microphone.
A small criticism of the microphone is that the cheapest model gives better results, but is hardly noticeable.
Characteristics
Since Virtuos are on the high-end gaming headset market, they naturally come with some very useful features. Let’s take a good look at what this wireless pair has to offer.
Communication
These are some of the best wireless gaming headsets I have personally used, and this is largely due to the impressive Slipstream technology in the USB dongle. They use an ultra-fast wireless connection that, like the other wireless models I’ve tried, doesn’t fail. Virtuos have a range of up to 60 feet, which is more than enough, and they use Intelligent Frequency Shifting (IFS) to ensure that you always get the strongest connection.
This pair has a 1.5m 3.5mm audio jack that can be used with your console or mobile devices. Unfortunately, you will not be able to enjoy the software and 7.1 surround sound if you do not use the unit with a PC. As mentioned before, Virtuosos allows you to switch to wired mode by connecting the supplied 1.8 meter USB-C cable. In wired mode, you get high-fidelity sound in 24-bit/96 kHz.
This pair offers up to 20 hours of use at full load, which has worked well in the tests so far. To charge the headset, simply connect the USB-C cable, which not only allows fast charging, but also continuous use.
RGB Illumination
Each nozzle is equipped with this perforation as RGB illumination. The auricles are the only place in the helmet where we see the company’s brand, which is a big advantage. It’s true that CORSAIR isn’t coated everywhere, which makes it a pretty elegant duo for more than just a game.
RGB lighting can be controlled with iCUE software and we see lighting effects similar to those of the whole range of devices. The RGB lighting is a bit of a gimmick, but the LED ring of the microphone is a great touch, too bad you can’t adjust it either.
Our opinion
The Corsair Virtuoso SE wireless gaming headset offers a lot for its price. Although the comfort was not particularly exceptional, this pair fitted me almost perfectly on my head. If you want to use these headphones for extended game sessions, they can get bored, but this of course varies from user to user. The microphone is one of the best you can find in a headset in this price range, and the sound is excellent, with very nice low frequencies.
The design of these headsets is excellent, and the lossless sound, RGB lighting, high-quality materials and many connectivity options make them one of the best wireless gaming headsets available. If range and comfort are top priorities, I would consider the Sennheiser GSP 370, but for a feature-rich wireless gaming headset, the Corsair Virtuoso is a solid option.
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Simon Leonard