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The audio quality of the Corsair HS80 Max gaming headset is not what puts it at the top of its class; rather, it is the extensive feature set. Simply in terms of the quality of the music it produces, while it is capable, it is not necessarily the most appealing option available in its price range. That in no way negates the fact that it has a nice-sounding submission. And of course, the comfort and battery life are both extremely good as well. It outlasts many of the best wireless gaming headsets with its RGB illumination still turned on, which is a pretty impressive feat.
The features, however, are what really make this product stand out from the competition: there is a button that can be customized for on-the-fly control, a graphic equalizer that packs a fair amount of punch, and a method by which a completely personalized sound profile can be generated. There are a few features that are missing, the most notable of which is multi-point connectivity; nonetheless.
The comprehensive nature of its feature set, which includes almost everything except the kitchen sink, is more than enough to recommend it. And if it were to be ranked among the finest gaming headsets that are now on the market, it would most likely be due to the fact that it comes with those additional features.
Corsair HS80 Max Wireless Specifications
The Corsair HS80 Max Wireless is a great pair of wireless headphones with great sound quality, a comfortable shape, and a long battery life. But they are expensive and don’t do anything to block out noise.
| Feature | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 8.07 x 3.82 x 7.2 inches | |
| Driver diameter | 50mm | |
| Compatibility | PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Mobile | |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | |
| Wireless range | Up to 60 feet | |
| Battery life | 65 hours (wireless) | |
| Features | Low-latency 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, Dolby Atmos, Sonarworks SoundID | |
| Weight | 358 grams | |
| Check Price |
Corsair HS80 Max Wireless: Design and Build
The Corsair HS80 Max Wireless headset works with PC, Mac, PS5, and PS4 over a 2.4GHz wireless link using the included USB adapter. It can also be paired with Nintendo Switch and standard mobile devices over Bluetooth. The 2.4GHz link sounds great and stays clear up to 50 feet away, so you can walk from one room to another without losing sound. It also allows studio-quality 24bit/96kHz sound over the 2.4GHz wireless connection, which is twice as good as most gaming headsets and something that the HS80 RGB Wireless headset could only do in the wired mode.
It also works with Dolby Atmos on PC and comes with the PS5’s Tempest 3D Audio standard. But while it can link wirelessly and via Bluetooth, only one of those connections can be used at a time. So, you can’t listen to music or a podcast on your phone while still hearing the game sound from your PS5. Even though dual-stream audio is not yet the norm for all game headsets, I thought it would be in the HS80 Max Wireless since it is a high-end headset.
The HS80 Max Wireless headset’s battery life has been improved in a big way, which might be its best new feature. If you use the 2.4GHz wifi mode, you can expect the battery to last about 65 hours, or about 24 hours if you use the small RGB lights on the outside of each earcup. But if you use Bluetooth, you can listen for up to 130 hours total.
Corsair HS80 Max Wireless: Comfort
The HS80 headphones from Corsair are very easy to wear. Even though they squeeze harder than the Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT, the pressure is spread out in a way that doesn’t make the ears feel tight or painful. The ski-band shape makes them lighter and easier to wear, which makes them more comfortable overall. But it’s important to note that some users may prefer the Corsair HS70 Wireless, which has a padded headband and is a more traditional choice for a game headset.
One interesting change is that the padding on the ear cups is made of fabric instead of fake leather, which can be good for people who like to be able to breathe. Overall, the Corsair HS80 headphones are good for long game sessions because their well-thought-out design and comfortable construction make it less likely that your ears will get tired or sore.
Audio and Microphone
Listening to songs like Rush’s “YYZ,” Wolf Alice’s “Smile,” and Marillion’s “Living With the Big Lie” showed that they have a strong low end, but there’s a lot of information to be found here, which makes the sound quite immersive. This great extension also helped when testing FPS games to see if they could make CS:GO more immersive by making every gunshot and close explosion feel powerful.
There was also a good backdrop, but there were no spatial effects. The drums in James Taylor’s “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” felt wide enough, and the mid-range was clear. However, the bongos in “September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire felt a little squished, but that might be normal for a closed-back headset. When you use the HS80 Max Wireless with a PC, you can use Dolby Atmos for spatial audio, which makes the experience even more immersive. If you have a PS5, the HS80 Max Wireless works with Sony’s Tempest 3D Audio to give you the same immersive experience in your favorite games.
The omni-directional boom mic gives clear, full sound, but the volume is a little low by default. When you’re inside iCUE, it’s easy to turn up, so you can talk clearly with your friends and teammates on any platform. The HS80 Max Wireless worked very well in my tests over Discord. This microphone can also be turned off by flipping it up, so it’s easy to do when you don’t want to be heard by other people.
Corsair HS80 Max Wireless: Software
You will have the ability to tweak some of the settings within the iCUE software, as is the case with the majority of the PC peripherals and accessories manufactured by Corsair. Although it is not as extensive as other of its RGB-heavy PC parts, you will still be able to customize certain aspects of the headset, such as the EQ presets, enable the Nvidia Broadcast feature for the microphone, update the device’s software, and alter the RGB lighting on the outside of the earcups, among other things.
In addition to that, the HS80 Max Wireless headset is compatible with SoundID, which is a specialized method of dealing with sound that is designed to provide you with a personalized listening experience. When I looked at the Corsair HS65 Wireless headphone, I wasn’t too satisfied with the features that it had to offer, and regrettably, not much has changed since then.
Playback and Recording Quality
The sound quality is significantly improved thanks to the addition of the Corsair HS80 Max. The company uses 50 mm neodymium drivers that cover a frequency range from 20 Hz all the way up to 20,000 Hz. These drivers were built specifically for the company. Good news up to this point. In wireless mode, you can now obtain a resolution of 24 bits at 96 kHz, which is a change from previous iterations of this technology.
This was the best that the HS80 could get at 24 bits and 48 kHz. Additionally, the user is given the ability to use the Sonarworks SoundID sound test in order to customize the audio to their own unique hearing. However, even when left in its default configuration, the headset produces a sound that is pleasing to the ear and has a spatial, detailed sound image that is free from significant deficiencies in the low-frequency, high-frequency, or mid-range frequency ranges.
When playing games, streaming music, or just listening to music in general, the sound quality is enjoyable. Voices and midrange sounds are faithfully represented, explosions have sufficient strength and complexity without being overly loud, and highs, which are particularly crucial in first-person shooters, are also accurately rendered.
Corsair HS80 Max Wireless: Performance
You can change some of the settings in its iCUE software, just like you can with most of Corsair’s PC devices and accessories. Even though it doesn’t have as many RGB features as some of its PC parts, you can still change things like the EQ settings, turn on the Nvidia Broadcast feature for the microphone, update the device firmware, change the RGB lighting on the outside of the earcups, and more.
The HS80 Max Wireless headset also works with SoundID, which is a way to customize music and give you a more personal listening experience. When I looked at the Corsair HS65 Wireless headset, I wasn’t very pleased with what it had to offer. Unfortunately, not much has changed.Before you can use SoundID, you’ll have to take a short hearing test that measures how sensitive your left and right ears are to sound.
After that, you’ll choose a generic music track that loops forever from a few different styles that suits your taste. You’ll then be shown a few clips that slightly change the sound, and you’ll have to choose which one sounds better. When you’re done with this part, you’ll have a custom EQ setting that you can turn on or off whenever you want.
Corsair HS80 Max Wireless: Battery Life
When compared to the HS80, the Max’s battery life is significantly superior. In this particular regard, it is quite a little better. If the RGB lights are switched off and the updated model is used in wireless mode, it is now possible for it to run for an incredible 65 hours rather than just 20. Even up to one hundred thirty hours of use is feasible with Bluetooth.
When using RGB lighting, on the other hand, the runtime is drastically reduced and is only 24 hours at most. The program is configured to exit automatically if it detects that it is not being utilized. This means that the HS80 Max will switch off by itself after 10 minutes, although this feature can be disabled if you so desire.
Final Words
The sound quality of the Corsair HS80 Max Wireless headset is great for gaming, music, movies, and more on a number of platforms. It has a floating headband and earcups that let air in. This makes it a very comfy headset that you can wear for hours. But the best thing about the HS80 Max by far is how long its battery lasts.
If you use the 2.4GHz wireless connection for games, you’ll only get 65 hours of battery life. If you use Bluetooth, however, you’ll get 130 hours of listening time. Even though it doesn’t have as many features as some other high-end game headphones, it still has a lot of what most people want in a headset.
Corsair HS80 Max Wireless review: The good and The bad
Although it does not have a particularly large width, the Corsair HS80 Max provides a reasonable amount of room and ensures accurate positioning of sound components.
The Good
- Plenty of features
- Comfortable fit
The Bad
- A little too much low-mids