Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless review

The end product is a headset that inherits not only the positive qualities of the HS80 Wireless, such as its excellent microphone quality, but also some of its negative characteristics, most notably a peculiar method for adjusting the size of the suspension band, which makes it difficult to achieve a comfortable fit.

Corsair’s HS80 RGB USB takes the reliable construction and high audio quality of the company’s HS80 RGB Wireless headset, removes the wireless component, and reduces the list price by one-third.

Because it does not support wireless connections or analog inputs, it is not a good choice for PC players who also play their games on consoles or tablets. Aside from its oddities, the audio quality of this $100 headset is excellent, thanks to its 50mm neodymium drivers and built-in Dolby Surround, which does not require the purchase of an additional add-on at an additional expense.

Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless review: Design

The Corsair HS80 RGB USB is built like other Corsair headsets we’ve tested: it’s sturdy and well-made. The main parts are made of thick plastic and machined aluminum, and the square earcups make it look different from Corsair’s lower-end headsets, which have round earcups. Even though the name has “RGB” in it, there aren’t many gamer elements.

The only RGB parts are the Corsair logos on each earcup, which light up, and the red LED ring on the microphone, which lights up when the mic is muted. The single RGBs won’t make you the center of attention at the tournament, but you can use the iCUE software to set up effects that work with other Corsair devices. You can buy this headphone from its official website.

Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless review: Comfort

If the Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless was easy to put on, it wouldn’t matter so much that it looks weird. But Corsair has made headsets that are much more comfortable than this one in recent years. The uneven earcups didn’t fit well on my ears, but that wasn’t the only problem.

The main problem was that the HS80’s elastic headband, which is a great feature on headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X, doesn’t work well. An elastic headband should make it easy and comfortable to wear. No matter how we put the HS80 on my head, it felt too tight around my ears, especially when I wore glasses. Even though it wasn’t really painful.

Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless review: Connectivity

The Corsair HS80 are good for playing games wirelessly. They fit well because the ear cups are well-padded and the ski-band headband is adjustable. Their wireless USB dongle lets computer and PlayStation consoles connect wirelessly with pretty low lag. Even in places with some noise.

The boom mic does a great job of making your voice sound clear and full. It can’t be taken off, but flipping it up or down makes it easy to mute or unmute. They come with a warm sound profile, but you can change it with a graphic EQ and presets in the app if you want a different sound. The app also lets you change the side tone and mic volume.

Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless review: Audio performance

If you don’t already know, Dolby Atmos is a special audio format that lets sounds come from above the user instead of just around them, like traditional 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound setups can do. So, if you have a Dolby Atmos setup, you can hear sounds like planes flying over  you, which makes the experience more real.

It can help you figure out where sounds are coming from in games, which can give you an edge over other players. Dolby Atmos usually needs extra speakers above where you’re sitting. However, many setups (especially sound bars) now use upward-firing speakers that “bounce” sound off the ceiling.

This isn’t possible with a headset like the Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless, so the Dolby Atmos support is virtual. The drivers inside the headset simulate a spatial audio experience.

Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless review: Call performance

The Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless doesn’t have a lot of unusual features, but it does come with a software suite because it’s a USB headset from Corsair. The iCUE software is a bit complicated, but it lets you do a lot, like customize the HS80’s RGB earcup lighting, set equalization levels, and make profiles for games and apps.

There are actually quite a few equalization options, from making FPS games better to making video calls sound clearer, and they all work well. If you know a lot about sound, you can even set up your own EQ profiles.

Battery and charging

If you don’t mind not having 24bit/96kHz support, you get Dolby Atmos and the ability to go wireless with a 60ft range and a battery life of up to 20 hours. We’d choose that option if it were up to us. When you play Cyberpunk 2077 with Dolby Atmos turned on, sounds from all over the city make it feel much more alive.

We don’t always like how virtualized surround sound is implemented, but the Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless really impressed us. Through the iCUE software, you can adjust the equalizer to get the sound you like best. The Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless is a pricey headset, but the sound quality in games, movies, and music was great, and for many people, the price will be well worth it.

Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless review: Final words

The Corsair HS80 is a good headset, but it has a lot of strange problems that make it hard to use. It doesn’t last nearly long enough on a single charge, it’s too small, and it sounds awful right out of the box.

But if you play around with the HS80 and use Dolby Access, you can get a sound that is more than good enough. Also, the microphone is as good as I’ve heard on a headset in this price range, so the HS80 is a good choice if you want crystal clear voice chat.