Corsair Virtuoso Wireless

You can’t improve a Corsair keyboard. Corsair mice are regularly at the top of our lists. But the company’s gambling headsets have always been a bit more difficult to measure; they’re generally pretty good, but never the absolute tip of the iceberg. That’s certainly the case with the Corsair’s Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE, which offers a comfortable fit, perfect wireless connectivity, and excellent sound – on specific frequencies.

The Virtuoso RGB works well on both PS4 and PC, and you can also connect it to an Xbox One or Nintendo Switch with a 3.5mm audio jack. But it doesn’t work with a docked Switch or mobile phones without a headphone jack. And even if it does, the audio is a little too brilliant to deliver excellent performance for anything other than video games. The Virtuoso RGB SE is more right than wrong. You can wear it for hours, most games sound rich, and the microphone is one of the better ones I’ve tested recently.

But $210 is a much to ask for a good gaming headset so that you can check out our article on The Best gaming headsets for budget alternatives. The Virtuoso RGB SE is one of the most comfortable headsets I have tested lately. The padded headband and soft notches make it easy to find a good fit and even keep it on both sides. And then there are the large ear cups, which muffle my ears without ever pushing them too hard or making them sweat. I’ve worn the headset for hours while gaming, watching movies and talking to friends online, and never had to take it off until it was time to charge.

I did test the headset with Xbox One and a handheld switch to see how well it worked with the 3.5mm cord. Both systems worked fine, although the sound quality was comparable to a piece of reasonably good music or a gaming headset. I paid much more attention to the wireless performance with the PC and PS4, where I played titles like the BioShock Collection, Assassin’s Creed Origins, Age of Mythology: Extended Edition, and Final Fantasy XIV.

9Expert Score

Our Verdict

Apart from a few minor problems, this is one of the strongest and most attractive wireless headset packages that will arrive in a while.

PROS

• Grown-up looks
• Powerful hi-res audio
• Immaculate presentation
• Great battery life

CONS

• Wireless range depends on the environment
• Headband digs in a bit over time
• Slightly heavy reverb