Corsair is no stranger to the headphone game, but the release of the Virtuoso Pro Wired Open Back Gaming/Streaming Headset targets a very specific sector of the market: gamers looking for full, uncompromising audio clarity. As many gamers and streamers look toward the world of pro audio to fill this need – and the choices are plentiful — the Virtuoso Pro Wired Headset serves as Corsair’s introductory course into studio quality sound.
So, we put it through its paces and it’s time to share with you whether Corsair’s latest headset can compete in its intended field or if the Virtuoso Pro is but one talent among a sea of stars. Class is in session; let’s begin.
Specifications
- MSRP: $199.99 USD (Corsair)
- Audio Driver: Custom 50mm Graphene driver
- Impedance: 32 Ohms @ 1kHz
- Max SPL: 117 +/-3dB
- Microphone Type: Uni-directional
- Mic Impedance: 2.2k Ohms
- Mic Frequency Response: 100 Hz - 10kHz
- Connection Type: 3.5mm
- Included Accessories: 3.5mm to dual 3.5mm cable, 3.5mm cable to dual 3.5mm cable with mic, Y-adapter, travel case
- Weight: 338g
- Warranty: 2 years
- Color Options: Black and White
Getting to Know the Virtuoso Pro
Corsair did not waste any time putting the “pro” in Virtuoso Pro. As we unboxed it, we were met with a rather sturdy feeling soft shell case, complete with Corsair branding and a seamless zipper. Inside the case, we found the stunning Virtuoso Pro headset, hugged tightly by internal molding and accompanied by a mesh pouch for all of its accompanying cabling.
When it comes to cabling, Corsair did some really smart things here; this may not be unique but it does show some forethought for the end user. The Virtuoso Pro comes with two sets of cables – one with a uni-directional boom microphone arm built in and one without. This is great for users that have another mic solution on their desktop, but also want the option of a headset mic for travel without having to flick it out of the way when they’re not using it!
These cables feel premium with their soft, woven coverings and flexibility. Each cable also has a rubber cable tie with them, so managing the cables for travel is super simple. There is a Y-Adapter cable included for users who need to split the mic line out to another input.
The headset itself has a light, but premium feel to it. It uses a mixture of plastics and aluminum for the frame. In other words, the Virtuoso Pro is incredibly light, but it doesn’t feel cheaply made. The main points of articulation and the speaker tags are made out of aluminum which is great news as these are the parts that could be potential failure points in the future. The speaker tags are easy to remove and user replaceable, as are the headband cushions and ear pads.
Since we’re talking about the headband and ear pads, these things are incredibly comfortable! Both are cloth covered and padded with memory foam and provide a cool as well as breathable wearing experience. Anecdotally, I spent a work day wearing the Virtuoso Pros and there were a few moments where I forgot I had them on – they were that comfortable!
The Science and the Sound
Comfort and design are one thing, but how does the Corsair Virtuoso Pro sound? Let me tell you a bit about how they do what they do before sharing my experience with them.
The first thing we need to talk about are the 50mm graphene drivers at the heart of the Virtuoso Pro. This design choice has two main components that we need to break down: the size and materials.
Because of their size, 50mm speakers tend to have a broader bass response than, say, a 40mm driver. This is why you will often see in concert settings bass cabinets with 15- or 18-inch speakers versus the 12-inch speakers of guitar cabinets. The trade-off, typically, is that mid- and high frequencies are diminished in favor of the low end and larger drivers also tend to require more power, too.
And that is where the graphene comes in. This atom-thin material replaces paper or aluminum cones typically found in traditional drivers to fulfill the same function: create sound. Now, because graphene is lightweight and an efficient conductor, what you end up with is a driver that requires less power and can be less prone to distortion.
When you combine the driver size and materials with the second choice that Corsair made with the Virtuoso Pro Headset, an open back design, what you end up with is a spacious soundscape with clarity across frequencies. The trade off of an open back system like this is that your listening experience isn’t exactly a private one and definitely not noise canceling. This isn’t a problem, per se, but it is something to be mindful of.
Testing Time: Virtuoso Versus Us!
I ran the Corsair Virtuoso Pro through an audio tough test. This punishing gauntlet of samples includes gaming experiences to test high, mid, and low end responses in a variety of environments which included dialogue-rich, ambient, and action-heavy experiences. Alongside the gaming tests, we have a selection of music that includes everything from symphonic scores, technical rock, funk, and EDM (both bass heavy and ambient) as well as the spoken word.
While gaming, we explored the cosmos in Starfield, combating space pirates and engaging in lengthy dialogue segments with Bethesda’s sweeping soundtrack underscoring it all. Overall, the experience felt cinematic and immersive, but there were a few times where environment dialogue felt a bit quieter than I would have liked. However, this could have been an issue outside of the Virtuoso Pro’s control.
Keeping things in the realm of space combat, the gunplay of Destiny 2, which is incredibly satisfying in its own right, was made that much better by the responsiveness of the Virtuoso Pro. The hammering thuds of hand cannons and electrical crackles of pulsing Arc energy made my experience as a Guardian all the more satisfying.
Crossing over with the musical test, the soundtrack to Sea of Stars has been a familiar sound in this house since the indie RPG released, so I went back to listen to some of the iconic scores from the game as well as some masterfully executed covers. While these tracks were already fresh in my mind from playing the game, the listening experience was full and articulate… and it made me want to go back to replay it again!
And, really, that is the best way that I could describe the overall listening experience when it came to music as well. Most of the tracks we listened to had a spacious feel to them with clarity of definition to hear each instrument distinctively.
Now, I said “most” because there was one track in our typical testing arsenal that accentuates deficiencies in the low- and low mid frequency ranges. With soaring guitars, heavy drums, and driving bass lines running together, the Virtuoso Pro’s 50mm drivers performed admirably, but the frequencies of the kick drum and bass guitar ran a bit too closely together for my liking. However, we did not have that problem in other tracks.
Finally, we need to talk about the microphone quality. As a unidirectional mic, it does a decent job of blocking out environmental sounds while picking up the voice of the speaker. I did find it to be a fair bit lacking for my vocal range, especially in the lower end. I also found it to be a little bit noisy if you aren’t careful with input sensitivity, so I clicked it down by 5 dB and it sounded alright. While I don’t think I would choose to use it as a streaming mic, it would certainly get the job done for Discord far better than a laptop mic ever would.
One important thing to note is that the Virtuoso Pro is compatible with the Elgato Wave XLR. This gives you the ability to access the Nvidia Broadcast VST plug-in and provides you with excellent noise suppression. You can also access other VST plug-ins, providing you with a suite of vocal FX to really customize the sound to a professional degree.
But, don’t take my word for it, have a listen to this sample:
Final Thoughts
I have to confess: I was enamored by the Virtuoso Pro right out of the box. The design struck me immediately as familiar with its touches of white, gray, and silver. I had to stop for a moment to figure out where such a visceral reaction came from and then it hit me: it reminded me of reviewing the iCUE 4000X PC case. Both were beautifully crafted and carried that attention to excellence throughout the product – a trait we have grown to love about Corsair products.
With that aside, my experience with Corsair’s Virtuoso Pro Wired Gaming and Streaming Headset was, overall, a positive one with a few minor considerations.
The build quality of the Virtuoso Pro was good and the extra touches with the case and cabling were very nice - especially for the price. I did wish that the balanced 4.4mm (which Corsair sells) was included, but I understand that is not a need for everyone – especially if they’re pairing it with something like the Elgato WaveXLR.
The soundscape it delivered was great for a pair of gaming headphones, enhancing each listening and gaming experience as I used them. However, after spending some time with the Virtuoso Pro Headset, I was left wondering about something rather important.
If I were shopping for a pair of headphones in the $200 range and my intention was to get a set of headphones that would deliver high quality sound, would this be my first choice? Looking at the landscape, the Virtuoso Pro is positioned alongside offerings from pro audio giants like Sennheiser, beyerdynamic, and Audio-Technica. As I considered this question, here is where I arrived:
Corsair has bridged a crucial gap with the Virtuoso Pro Open Back Wired Headset. The soundscape it offers may not be as broad as some of its competitors, but it is built for comfort and long gaming sessions and is quite good for not relying on virtual surround sound. The comfort consideration is key. After all, if it sounds good and has a pedigree, but you can’t stand wearing it over an extended period of time, its overall value in function is kind of lost.
At the end of the day, things like sound and comfort are rather subjective things. As a glasses-wearing, walking furnace with a need for audio articulation, the Virtuoso Pro checked most of the boxes for me. While I tend to prefer a little more clarity in the lower end, my gaming experiences were enhanced by Corsair’s latest offering in the audio space.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
