Corsair HS80 RGB wireless evaluation: upper middle class

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Some trends have emerged in gaming technology, including The best gaming headset, In order to reduce the outdated appearance of the game, and instead adopt a more mature and practical design. Corsair’s latest headset HS80 RGB Wireless is obviously still suitable for PC gaming, thanks to some RGB lighting and some big speaker tanks. But this kind of lighting is minimal, and the design focuses more on solid construction quality rather than show off.
Inside, the technology is impressive. The 50mm neodymium driver emits a powerful sound and supports Dolby Atmos to listen to the sound of competitors from any direction. Although the microphone will not replace a standalone device, it is perfect for what you find on a headset.
There are still some doubts about this $150 wireless headset: there are not many ways to adjust the fit, and some people may find it a bit heavy.To best enable all its features, you need two software (unless you are using Game console 5, Also supported). But price performance, sound and quality make the HS80 a powerful mid-range choice.
Corsair HS80 RGB wireless specifications
Drive type | Custom 50mm neodymium |
impedance | 32 ohms at 2.5 KHz |
Frequency response | 20-40,000 Hz |
Microphone type | All-round, upturn |
Connection options | 2.4 GHz USB Type-A dongle or USB-A cable |
cable | USB Type-C to Type-A (charging and audio) |
weight | 0.8 lb/367 g |
light | 1x RGB area |
software | Corsair iCue, Dolby visit |
Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless design and comfort
Corsair HS80 will not give you any style points. I’m OK. They are closed, with two black cans attached to the black headband. You have watched this movie before. This is a classic. But this is nothing new. The whole thing is a mixture of plastic and machine aluminum, which feels good and strong.
Decorative elements are spare. The word “Corsair” appears on the top of the headband, and the word “HS80” is printed on the part of the headband that connects to the left earmuff, although the latter is so small that you might miss it. The only real feature is that the Corsair logo on each cup has RGB lighting, which you can customize in the iCue software of Corsair.
The HS80 frame has a suspension strap, which is indeed the only way to adjust the size. You just need to pull the cup out and let the strap fit your head. There is no groove to adjust the fit of the earmuffs. That’s it.
But to my surprise, the fit is very comfortable and my head is big! The HS80 weighs 0.8 pounds, which is a bit heavier, but I can stretch it to fit my dome. It squeezes my head a bit, but frankly. When I took off the headset, I noticed more and felt a slight relaxation on the sides of my head.For comparison, the same price HyperX Cloud II wireless Is 0.7 pounds, and Roccat Elo 7.1 AirIt has similar functions to HS80 and is also 0.8 lbs.
Anything you might want to control on the HS80 can be done with the left cup. The first is the microphone, which is permanently attached to the flip-up arm. When it is stored in an upright position, it is automatically muted and has a red light for good measurements. When it is down, you can bend it slightly to your mouth.
The left cup also has a power button and a volume wheel. If you use the HS80 in wired mode, or just charge it, there is a USB Type-C port on the bottom for connecting the included USB-C to USB-A cable. Note that HS80 can’t be connected by 3.5mm cable, it feels that the loss is not small. Although I mainly use the headset in wireless mode, I can never use it with a Nintendo Switch without USB-A or Bluetooth audio. I also need a docking station to use it with the HS80 supported MacBook Pro.
The earmuffs are made of memory foam, covered with fabric, and feel comfortable enough, but without the luxury of fake leather. However, fabrics generally have the advantage of keeping cooler than artificial leather. Although my ears do get hot during long gaming sessions, the headset stays as cool as other fabric-wrapped competitors.
Wireless experience
Corsair calls its wireless technology “Slipstream Wireless”. It uses a 2.4 GHz USB Type-A dongle to connect, just like Logitech and its Lightspeed products or Razer and its HyperSpeed ​​products. Similar to these alternatives, Corsair claims that Slipstream provides “ultra-fast, ultra-low latency” speeds. Slipstream also has a feature called “smart frequency shifting” that ensures that your signal is always on the best channel. The company promises a range of up to 60 feet.
Now, I’m going to test it out frankly here: I’m walking around in my apartment. This is a small apartment in New York City after the war. One of the rooms might be disconnected because something has been there on the wall since before I was born (especially, Wi-Fi in the bedroom tends to be poor ). I was able to walk around the entire apartment without falling completely; however, the connection in the bedroom became so bad that sound came in and out. In that case, it is practically unusable. Nevertheless, I have a connection wherever the desktop is visible (even in the bathroom).
I don’t necessarily have to be 60 feet in any particular direction, but I think if the layout is correct, you will be very close.
The USB dongle is almost 2 inches long. I put mine behind my gaming desktop, invisible and unforgettable. But if you have a gaming laptop or a docking station, then you will see it.
Corsair claims that the HS80 has a battery life of up to 20 hours; however, if you keep RGB on, this number will drop, especially at maximum brightness.
Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless audio performance
Corsair HS80 is very suitable for playing games, but it requires a lot of software to achieve. You need Corsair iCue, which is the standard configuration of Corsair peripherals, but you also need to install Dolby Access, which supports Dolby Atmos surround sound.
On my gaming PC, I mainly tested the Corsair HS80, while feeding me the latest Split gate addiction. With spatial audio, I can quickly determine where the threat is coming from (even if I don’t react fast enough to the portal placed above me, I will get there!).
Not every game can provide you with the tactical advantages of surround sound- Rocket League It’s mostly just the hum of the car engine, you really can’t hear the sound of the ball. The game does sound detailed on HS80, but honestly, the best part is the music in the game menu.
All things considered, the 50mm drive does a good job of music. I recommend opening Atmos, because without it, the music sounds too flat. Little Big Town’s “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” sounded in my ears with trumpets coming from both sides, just right bass, and clear vocals.
If you enable Atmos, you cannot use the equalizer in Corsair’s iCue software. Dolby Access has its own presets, including “detailed”, which emphasizes the sound more, but I find “balance” to be a good middle ground. You can disable spatial audio in iCue to get a finer custom equalizer, but I don’t think it’s worth it for most people. Sound leakage only occurs at maximum volume. If you are listening at a medium volume, this is exactly what I found I need, and you shouldn’t be too worried about disturbing people around you or others overhearing what you’re listening to. This is an area where artificial leather may be improved.
Microphone on Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless
Corsair refers to the microphone as “broadcast quality”, and my colleague suggested that my sound is much better than previous headphones and my usual earplugs. Someone told me that I sounded “like a radio host or something”, “gentle” and “warmer”. The colleague who was late for the meeting immediately asked me what to use to sound better. However, in the recordings I reviewed, I felt that I sounded a bit out of breath, although others did not report the problem, I think they are the people who really matter.
We encountered an audio problem on one machine.Although the HS80 RGB Wireless works well on my own desktop, MacBook and PS5, the MSI GE76 Raiders I tested it recently. Specifically, it will not play audio when iCue is installed. It worked when I deleted the software, but it eliminated the ability to control RGB and some other functions. It is not clear if this is caused by the headset or the laptop. Corsair said that the new version of iCue, available after the headset is released, should solve this problem. In addition, HS80 has a 2-year warranty.
Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless features and software
Of course, you can use the headphone controls of the HS80 to complete the basic operations. Through the left cup, you can control the volume and switch the equalizer.For the rest, you will need Corsair iCue, which has a separate Windows and Apple Version.
There is an equalizer in iCue, but if you use Dolby Access virtual surround sound, it will be disabled. But you may still want to use iCue for other functions, including controlling the RGB on the ear cups. Although I tend not to use it in an attempt to extend battery life, you can choose from pre-programmed “scene” or static colors to customize it to your liking (after turning on the rainbow scene, I have one day Deplete it). A mode will even move between green, yellow, and red, depending on your CPU temperature.
If you are in the Corsair ecosystem, you can use iCue to synchronize the lighting of the headset with other products of the company. Corsair iCue also lists data from sensors, including CPU load and component temperature. However, if you have a customized PC, your motherboard may have reported this in a separate application.
You can also use iCue to check battery life, but there is a light on the back of the left earmuff that will switch from green, yellow, and red when you run out of battery power.
PlayStation 5 support
HS80 is not limited to PC gamers. It also supports PlayStation 5. The setup here is simpler: plug the dongle into the USB port and turn on the headset. There is no software available, except that it is possible to enter the PS5 settings and change the default volume level.
Sony has some excellent audio technology of its own, called Tempest.I use headphones to fetch Spider-Man: Miles Morales After turning around, I heard people cheering for Spider-Man from different directions, as well as the sound of attacks coming from around me. This is not Spiderman induction, but it is very close!
Bottom line
Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless feels very suitable for gaming headsets. Of course, it’s not an all-aluminum audiophile headset, but it feels sturdy, supports PC gaming with Dolby Atmos, provides good sound, and is also suitable for PS5. It also has a powerful microphone, whether you are playing games, streaming media or making a video call, you can hear the sound clearly.
If you want to save some money, Logitech G733 Lightspeed Usually sold USD 129.99 And a little lighter. However, the microphone of the HS80 is better and feels better. I don’t think the $20 saved is worth it. If you are looking for similar technological advancements, Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE Can be used as 209.99 USD And has a better, less gameplay appearance, and uses technology similar to HS80.
HS80 belongs to the upper middle class of gaming headsets. It is priced for its advantageous features, but still has the appearance of more entry-level devices and some materials. It is very effective for the price, and those who have not dabbled in surround sound or wireless technology will definitely like this upgrade.
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