Corsair HS55 Surround Headset Wired Handheld Gaming Carbon

The Corsair 7.1 Surround capability included with this HS55 headset really makes a massive difference. When playing War Thunder you actually hear the planes flying overhead and the tanks along side of you at the same time. Sounds no longer are just left and right, they are much more dimensional. It adds a whole new level of realism when gaming. I only have two negatives about these headphones. The first is that the microphone sits on a fairly long arm that is bendable. To mute the microphone you push the mic arm up which is very convenient. The downside is when I bend the arm to give me the best voice quality it hits my glasses or my head when I try to push it up to mute it. So I have to rebend the mic arm if I use the mute feature every time. The second issue is ... MoreThe Corsair 7.1 Surround capability included with this HS55 headset really makes a massive difference. When playing War Thunder you actually hear the planes flying overhead and the tanks along side of you at the same time. Sounds no longer are just left and right, they are much more dimensional. It adds a whole new level of realism when gaming. I only have two negatives about these headphones. The first is that the microphone sits on a fairly long arm that is bendable. To mute the microphone you push the mic arm up which is very convenient. The downside is when I bend the arm to give me the best voice quality it hits my glasses or my head when I try to push it up to mute it. So I have to rebend the mic arm if I use the mute feature every time. The second issue is one that I expected which is because the ear cups are full wrap they can get warm over time. After about two hours I have to take them off to cool down my ears. Overall the sound quality of 7.1 surround makes these a game changer for anyone who games.Performance: I got this primarily for gaming at night but I found myself using them even during the day due to the 7.1 sound enhancements while gaming. To get the 7.1 sound you need to use the USB attachment included with the headset. The downside is that this has to connect directly to the computer, you can’t plug the headset into your game controller’s 3.5mm jack and get the 7.1 sound quality. I compared the stereo effects using the standard 3.5mm jack in my computer to using the usb and 7.1 audio. I was really surprised by how much the sound improved due to the directional separation of the sounds. Instead of just hearing a boom in my right ear I now heard a boom to the front right. Basically it made the sound directional which made the overall game much more realistic. While playing Forza Horizon I could actually hear the rain on the roof and windshield in front and above while hearing the water sounds on the tires back and below. In FPS games this really does help because you aren’t just reacting to sounds left or right. The sound placement isn’t perfect every time but its much better than playing in stereo. The headset has a volume control on the left ear cup and the microphone arm works as mute switch in the up position. The overall audio quality is quite good and the equalizer lets you customize it to your taste. Note that I use Corsair’s iCue with my PC so setting up the headphones in iCue was simple for me. In iCue you can install Nvidia’s Broadcast which cuts down on the ambient room noises. Using this feature I found that the voice volume is slightly lower than normal so you have to boost it in the app. Also in iCue you can also choose from 5 preset Equalizer settings or create a custom one to match your gaming requirements.Fit: These headphones have very large foam ear cups that allow your ear to sit inside the cups. The leatherette covering on the ear cup is soft so it conforms to your skin and the foam on the top support is thick enough to keep you from feeling the plastic band. Overall I like the fit but because the ear cups are closed they do get a tad warm with long gaming sessions. The pull down microphone is moldable to better align with your mouth. I had to move mine fairly close to get the quality and volume level needed. The downside with this is that when I would push the microphone up to mute it I would end up hitting my glasses or head due to the curvature of the arm. The headphones come with a 6’ cord so you can sit some distance from the computer.

This headset is a mixed bag.On the one hand, audio reproduction is decent without necessarily being stellar. Bass, in particular, is not really pronounced. Midrange and treble come through pretty well, but bass reproduction is pretty weak.On the other, you'll be shocked by how good the microphone is. I didn't simply test this during gaming sessions; I used this headset for voice recording and was amazed how it outclassed headsets that cost more than twice as much. Audio quality on the microphone is simply fantastic. My voice comes through clear and crisp, with no ambient noise pickup or clipping. This is all the more impressive since the microphone keeps the mic at some distance from you, and has a somewhat limited range of motion from its mount in the left ... MoreThis headset is a mixed bag.On the one hand, audio reproduction is decent without necessarily being stellar. Bass, in particular, is not really pronounced. Midrange and treble come through pretty well, but bass reproduction is pretty weak.On the other, you'll be shocked by how good the microphone is. I didn't simply test this during gaming sessions; I used this headset for voice recording and was amazed how it outclassed headsets that cost more than twice as much. Audio quality on the microphone is simply fantastic. My voice comes through clear and crisp, with no ambient noise pickup or clipping. This is all the more impressive since the microphone keeps the mic at some distance from you, and has a somewhat limited range of motion from its mount in the left earphone.Construction is great with this headset as well. The cups are not uncomfortable and the padding enables you to wear them for extended sessions without fatigue or discomfort. Because I'm an old man, I actually prefer the rotary volume wheel in the left earphone; I think you can get both more granular control over volume and more tactile response from volume wheels then you can with switches, and the volume control is in an easily accessible place. A mute button would have come in handy, but since this headset isn't geared towards teleconferencing I guess that omission was to be expected.One cautionary note to people interested in picking this up - connection is only possible via 1/4 inch audio plug. This headset doesn't connect via USB and contains no USB adapter in the box. There is a stereo 1/4 inch adapter included, but check your equipment to make sure you have an easily acceptable 1/4 inch jack before buying.All in all, this is great, cost-effective option for gamers and general users with a fantastic microphone. The only drawback is the weak bass reproduction.

The Corsair HS55 Surround headset is a huge bargain for a PC gaming headset. You don't get a lot of fluff at this price, but Corsair has made sure you get everything you need to get a quality audio accessory. The HS55 at its core is a stereo headset with a USB dongle which unlocks Dolby 7.1 sound processing via the Corsair iCue software. For devices like the Nintendo Switch you can plug the headset straight into the headphone out and get great stereo sound.The good: The surround experience is excellent and the overall sound quality of the Corsair HS55 is far and away the best I've heard anywhere close to this price. There's plenty of bass but not so much that things seem unbalanced, and the midrange and highs sound great, as well. Too many headsets at low prices ... MoreThe Corsair HS55 Surround headset is a huge bargain for a PC gaming headset. You don't get a lot of fluff at this price, but Corsair has made sure you get everything you need to get a quality audio accessory. The HS55 at its core is a stereo headset with a USB dongle which unlocks Dolby 7.1 sound processing via the Corsair iCue software. For devices like the Nintendo Switch you can plug the headset straight into the headphone out and get great stereo sound.The good: The surround experience is excellent and the overall sound quality of the Corsair HS55 is far and away the best I've heard anywhere close to this price. There's plenty of bass but not so much that things seem unbalanced, and the midrange and highs sound great, as well. Too many headsets at low prices just focus on overly boomy bass, to the point their inexpensive plastic designs can't handle the rumble and end up adding reverb and rattle to the sound. Not the case with the HS55.The mic got great reviews from my coworkers when I used it for meetings in the last few days, as well. Comfort is very good with soft cushions that don't put a ton of pressure on my glasses, as well as a padded headband with the same soft foam.The bad: Not much to complain about, but the biggest complaint I have is the relatively short cable. It's about 2 meters and I wish it was at least a half meter longer. Another complaint that doesn't affect me as I already have a Corsair keyboard, but having to download iCue just to control the surround and EQ settings is a pretty hefty software package to download if you have a smaller SSD and slow internet. So that's something to keep in mind if you want to use the surround dongle.Definitely a two thumbs up product for me. If you want a big step up in sound quality from competitors at low prices, I can't imagine going wrong with the HS55.