It’s hard not to get excited when a well-known company like Corsair gives you the opportunity to review its new headset. On the other hand, it’s equally difficult for me not be ready to turn any set of headphones inside-out. Over the years, I’ve invested thousands in audio devices throughout every aspect my life because I used to be deaf. Armed with a double dose of reasons to be excited yet skeptical, this is what I discovered throughout the past two weeks with the Corsair HS70 Wireless Gaming Headset.
SPECIFICATIONS
MSRP: $99.99
Headphones
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance: 32 Ohms @ 1 kHz
- Sensitivity: 111 dB (± 3 dB)
- Drivers: 50mm
Microphone
- Type: Unidirectional noise cancelling
- Impedance: 2.0k Ohms
- Frequency Response: 100Hz – 10kHz
- Sensitivity: -40 dB (± 3 dB)
Wireless
- Frequency: 2.4Ghz
- Wireless Range: Up to 40 feet
- Battery Life: Up to 16 hours
- Dimensions: 155mm x 100mm x 205mm / 6.1” x 3.94” x 8.07”
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DESIGN AND DELIVERY
Straight away, the signature yellow box sets the mood, and I was excited to see the headphones for themselves. They are much simpler than many gaming headphones, not only with the traditional oval style but also minimalist black and white aesthetic, taking me back to the 80s, which is great. I especially love the cross stitching on the headband giving an extra stylish appeal.
Priced at $99.99 I was prepared for the HS70 headset to be mainly lightweight plastic like many other headphones in this price range but surprisingly they are not. You will find plastic in places like the back of the ear cups but it feels high quality lending weight to the premium solid, feel these headphones have.
This is where it gets interesting for me. The ear cups are over-ears, which I prefer in headphones, but on my big head, I found the noise-isolating leatherette cups fit more snug than many other headphones I’ve worn. I have scar tissue that is still sensitive to the touch from when I received ear drum transplants, which made them more uncomfortable than you would probably find them. It is also a shame that I’m unable to remove the ear cushions as I have no qualm investing in a more comfortable fabric. Again, you may not have this issue and our editor, Chris, enjoys them so your experience may be different.
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The HS70’s controls and connections are on the left ear cup which may take a little getting used to using while you are wearing them. You have a scroll wheel that controls its volume independent from your system giving you more control over your levels and saving you from needing pull up a menu on your console or Alt+Tab. Below the volume wheel you have a button to turn the microphone on and off. There is also a helpful LED next to the USB charge port that lets you know when your battery is low. It took me longer than I like to admit to find the jack for the removable microphone arm since it’s covered in a small piece of plastic to keep dust out (but that I’ll surely lose). With a firm press into place, I appreciated it stayed in position. There’s also a power button on the opposite earcup.
When it comes to long gaming sessions, I prefer wireless headphones but not all of them continue to work while charging. The HS70’s plug straight into your PC and can still be used so you are not held up in anyway should your battery need a charge. The 2.4Ghz wireless connection uses a USB dongle and has a range of up to 40 feet. I’m able to move between the kitchen, then the lounge where my consoles reside at ease, highlighting why wireless headphones are superior for gaming in my opinion.
Unfortunately, there is no Bluetooth capability and without an auxiliary wired connection you cannot connect them to a smartphone making them purely for gaming.
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CORSAIR SOFTWARE
Something extra cool about Corsair is the iCUE (Corsair Utility Engine) software. iCUE allows you to customize all Corsair peripherals in a single suite. The HS70’s options include monitoring your remaining battery power, selecting EQ profiles from five presets or creating and saving your own, and adjusting mic volume and sidetone (zero latency mic monitoring in your ear) This is also where you turn on 7.1 surround.
THE SOUND OF HS70
I play a vast variety of games while watching Twitch streams, so it is very rare I am listening to one thing at a time. For this review I assigned Trove Bomber Royale and Defiance 2050 as my test games that I would play in isolation as both require you look and listen for your own survivability.
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Trove is a game that is obnoxiously loud and bright (in a fun way), but with the HS70’s I was blown away with how good the game sounded. I didn’t have to mute volumes for the first time in years! This comes down to the HS70’s precision-tuned 50mm audio drivers making the sound quality exceptionally clear and rich with bass that adds rumble for all those explosions - but not in a way that it drowns out cues you need to listen for while you play.
I used the default EQ setting with virtual 7.1 surround on. It felt like I was in a movie theatre which is just incredible to experience in games! The soundstage is wide and jumps accurately from left to right in stereo. 7.1 surround emulation gives you a more dynamic representation of your surroundings which makes for a more realistic experience and immersion. I’m used to tweaking headphones to get to the sound I like, but I got to enjoy that right away which is just mind blowing. I’m excited to jump into a lot of games I have muted to see if I can finally enjoy them!
FINAL THOUGHTS Corsair is turning out to be one of the most sought-after brands by gamers around the world. I’m a fan, but even I had doubts that they could impress me with a headphone for less than one hundred dollars. I stand corrected.
Although medically I cannot wear these headphones for long stints that does not take away from the fact that, for everyone else, these headphones are phenomenal for this price range. I wish that I could use them with my smartphone but would highly recommend them to anyone who is seeking a great wireless headset purely for gaming.
Pros
- Great sound for affordable price
- User friendly software
- Unisex design that's classically trendy
- Durable and made with high quality materials
- Wireless with solid range
- Seamless recharging
Cons
- Cannot remove/change ear cushions
- Software not available for console
- Micro USB to 3.5mm cable would be extra convenient
CORSAIR HS70 GIVEAWAY
Would you like a chance to win a set of these headphones for yourself? Enter for your chance to win, courtesy of Corsair. This contest is limited to the United States only. Please be sure to provide your correct contact and shipping details with your entry to ensure we can reach you after you’ve won. Good luck!
ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!
The product discussed in this review was provided by the manufacturer for the purposes of review.
