Professionals
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Loud and balanced audio
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Lengthy runtime
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A number of connections
The Corsair HS80 Max Wi-fi pumps out highly effective audio that’s largely a pleasure to the ears, however any headset you will get for $180 should hit that mark. Sadly, all the included extras, like Dolby Atmos help, don’t essentially propel it ahead. It’s a high quality headset, if a bit uncomfortable for the long-term, however you’ll be able to actually get higher for the cash.
Sturdy sound isn’t fairly sufficient to avoid wasting the Corsair HS80 Max Wi-fi from all of the issues weighing it down.
Concerning the Corsair HS80 Max Wi-fi
Listed here are the specs of the headset we examined:
- Value: $180
- Type: Over-ear, closed-back
- Colours: Metal Grey, White
- Drivers: Customized 50mm neodymium drivers
- Wi-fi connections: 2.4Ghz Slipstream Wi-fi through USB-A (included dongle), Bluetooth 5.2
- Battery life: 65 hours (RGB off), 24 hours (RGB on), 130 hours (Bluetooth, RGB off)
- Gadget compatibility: PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
- Microphone: Flip-to-mute, omnidirectional
- Digital encompass sound: Dolby Atmos (through Corsair iCue on PC), Tempest 3D (PS5)
- Weight: 354g
The Corsair HS80 Max Wi-fi is the top-line mannequin within the HS80 household. There may be an HS80 RGB Wi-fi headset that eschews the Bluetooth connectivity and lowers the battery life for $150. There may be additionally a wired HS80 headset for $100 (although it often goes on sale).
What we like
Deep, full sound that rips
![Close-up shot of one of the earpieces of the headphone.](https://reviewed-com-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/s--SUC6hD16--/b_white,c_limit,cs_srgb,f_auto,fl_progressive.strip_profile,g_center,q_auto,w_792/https://reviewed-production.s3.amazonaws.com/attachment/5fd2362442f44a58/corsairhs80_whatwelike.jpg)
Credit score:
Reviewed / Mark Knapp
The ear cups do not provide a lot in the best way of sound isolation, however the headphones can put out loads of noise.
Bass is on the forefront for the Corsair HS80 Max. From the thumping bass of Of Montreal’s “I Really feel Ya Strutter” to the booming explosions of an enemy car in Battlefield 2042 succumbing to that final hit from a missile, these cans can roar. When an enemy assault chopper hounded me in a single match, the fixed barrage of missiles and the swooping of it overhead have been as dramatic as may be.
Better of all, that hefty bass doesn’t come at the price of respectable mids and treble.
Once I say these headphones growth, I imply it. They’ll get obscenely loud. So loud that I not often flip the amount up previous 20%. If you happen to like listening to music as bumping as doable, this headset can do it, however you’ll wish to take care you don’t hurt your listening to.
Loads of methods to customise sound
![A screenshot of the iCue app with the sound being customized.](https://reviewed-com-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/s--RV8VBQ-j--/b_white,c_limit,cs_srgb,f_auto,fl_progressive.strip_profile,g_center,q_auto,w_792/https://reviewed-production.s3.amazonaws.com/attachment/f862a2517f8a43c4/corsairhs80_customize.jpg)
Credit score:
Reviewed / Mark Knapp
The iCue app works nice as a private sound mixer for the headphones.
Whereas the audio from the HS80 Max Wi-fi is sweet out of the field, there are loads of instruments to tailor it to your liking. Corsair’s iCue app might not be my favourite, nevertheless it features a 10-band equalizer so you’ll be able to tune within the sound you need or select from a handful of presets. If you happen to don’t wish to use these EQ settings, it additionally affords SoundID, which might stroll you thru a listening to check after which assist you choose a sound profile that you simply like most. These settings can be found on each PC and Mac variations of iCue.
To prime it off, the headset features a linked Dolby Atmos license. This allows you to faucet into the virtualized encompass characteristic utilizing the Dolby Entry app for Home windows. From there, you’ll be able to additional customise your audio with varied EQ presets of its personal, or the choice to create yet one more 10-band EQ profile for your self. Sadly, it’s not a one-click setup (extra on that later).
Respectable battery life
The Corsair HS80 Max Wi-fi advertises a 24-hour battery life, and I’ve hammered these cans with loads of use over a few weeks and solely charged them as soon as. That runtime holds up, and is the lower-end runtime you’ll get with RGB lighting enabled. It’s just a bit glowing Corsair emblem on the earcups that’s not a lot to get enthusiastic about, and nothing you’ll be able to truly see whereas carrying them.
Turning the RGB lighting off can bump the runtime as much as 65 hours. Now we’re speaking concerning the large leagues for wi-fi headset battery life. Over Bluetooth, Corsair claims the HS80 Max Wi-fi can run for 130 hours. When you’ll be greatest off utilizing the USB wi-fi transmitter for low-latency, high-bandwidth audio whereas gaming, the choice to change to Bluetooth whenever you wish to save battery is a pleasant additional and offers extra flexibility for the gadgets you’ll be able to hook up with.
What we don’t like
Consolation isn’t all that nice
![A picture of the writer's face wearing the Corsair HS80.](https://reviewed-com-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/s--6gmPzHkN--/b_white,c_limit,cs_srgb,f_auto,fl_progressive.strip_profile,g_center,q_auto,w_792/https://reviewed-production.s3.amazonaws.com/attachment/2057e6acc7824ddc/corssairhs80_discomfort.jpg)
Credit score:
Reviewed / Mark Knapp
Regardless of the sturdy headband, our reviewer nonetheless felt the burden after lengthy gaming classes.
The material end of the ear cushions on the Corsair HS80 Max Wi-fi doesn’t win it any factors. For one, they don’t provide loads of noise isolation. This can be a frequent draw back to cloth ear cushions versus leather-based or leatherette, which might seal out extra sound.
Sitting in a restaurant with music enjoying overhead, I needed to flip the Corsair headset as much as an nearly painful degree to drown it out. Even then a lot of the bass handed by way of the headset to throw off the rhythm of what I used to be listening to.
It might be one factor if the noise leak got here with an enchancment to consolation or breathability just like the cushions on most SteelSeries headsets do. However the cloth end of the ear cushions is a bit hotter, making it uncomfortable for lengthy gaming classes. The weave of the fabric additionally has proven a knack for grabbing onto my facial hair. It received’t be an issue for everybody, nevertheless it’ll be an issue for lots.
Then there’s the burden. At 354 grams, it’s 10% heavier than the monstrously massive Sony Inzone H9. It’s not as cumbersome, nevertheless it’s nonetheless loads of weight to have in your head for hours at a time. The HS80 Max Wi-fi has a agency clamping pressure, however even with its suspension band, I nonetheless get a scorching spot of discomfort on the crown of my head after a bit over an hour of wear and tear.
Establishing Dolby Atmos is a ache
I’m capable of get a fairly good sense of my environment with these headphones on, however that’s not a very distinctive characteristic for an honest set of cans. That spatial consciousness applies whether or not I’ve gone by way of all of the hoops to allow Dolby Atmos, which requires an additional app past iCue, or not.
Enabling Dolby Atmos for content material that doesn’t help it has little clear profit, and may truly detract from it. When Dolby Atmos is utilized, it remixes the audio (whether or not it’s meant to or not), typically reducing components of the combination that stand out louder in regular stereo. If you happen to like listening to folks discuss, it not less than has a knack for protecting voices loud and middle.
I performed hours of Battlefield 2042 with the characteristic enabled and caught various enemies sneaking up on my flank, however I had simply as simple a time selecting them out with Dolby Atmos disabled. The characteristic additionally solely works on PC, which is a limitation for a headset made to help so many various gadgets.
In the end, this isn’t a significant difficulty. It’s higher to have Dolby Atmos as an possibility than not. However the Dolby Atmos license is undoubtedly factored into the value of this headset, and it doesn’t provide quite a bit.
Headsets this versatile shouldn’t talk with beeps
I attempted connecting the Corsair HS80 Max to my PS5 sooner or later whereas testing, and I couldn’t get the connection to take. I figured possibly it was a problem with the console. The following day, the headset wouldn’t join with my PC. The dongle flashed pink and the headset mic was flashing blue and pink. Studying the directions, I understood the flashing dongle to imply the headset and dongle weren’t connecting. Switching to Bluetooth didn’t get the headset to point out up for my PC, both. At the very least that’s what I assumed, as a result of the devoted Bluetooth button is in some way not truly answerable for switching modes.
I used to be ready to dig into iCue and re-pair the dongle and headset over again. Because it turned out, the headset was in Bluetooth mode the entire time.
The Corsair HS80 Max simply beeps a number of occasions, which wasn’t sufficient for me to know the headset was merely not in RF Wi-fi mode the entire time I struggled to get it linked.
The mic typically misbehaves
![Close-up shot of the headset's microphone.](https://reviewed-com-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/s--dUZwtzi---/b_white,c_limit,cs_srgb,f_auto,fl_progressive.strip_profile,g_center,q_auto,w_792/https://reviewed-production.s3.amazonaws.com/attachment/8212bf3ff3b942ef/corsairhs80_mic.jpg)
Credit score:
Reviewed / Mark Knapp
The mic high quality is nothing particular, and it typically fails to mute when flipped up.
This can be small potatoes, however I’ve observed the microphone on the headset often kicks in even when it’s flipped as much as mute—not on a regular basis, however just about day by day.
It doesn’t seem to really document and ship audio to the connected pc, however side-tone immediately comes on and sends delicate white noise into the cans even whereas the pink mute indicator gentle is lit. This could not solely not occur, nevertheless it shouldn’t be capable of occur for a {hardware} cutoff.
High that off with middling, compressed audio high quality from the mic, and the truth that it’s flip-to-mute and never a retractable or removable mic for whenever you’re out and about, and also you’ve bought the recipe for a reasonably disappointing mic.
Must you purchase the Corsair HS80 Max Wi-fi?
No, they’re only a arduous promote
The Corsair HS80 Max Wi-fi might be worthwhile for a choose few. If you happen to don’t thoughts the burden, discover it on sale, and know for a truth you need that Dolby Atmos license ($15 by itself), then it’d make sense. However except these stars align, there are higher choices on the listing of greatest gaming headsets that make extra sense.
You will get loads good audio from SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova 7 whereas additionally having fun with a extra comfy headset, prolonged battery life, and related wi-fi connectivity.
If you happen to don’t want Bluetooth connectivity, you will get a snug wi-fi headset from HyperX for $170 with additional lengthy battery life. The brand new HyperX Cloud III Wi-fi boasts a runtime over 100 hours, and the sooner HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi went for 300 hours. Each headsets are cheaper than Corsair’s as nicely, so you’ll be able to snag that Dolby Atmos license with the cash you save in the event you actually need it.
![Product image of Corsair HS80](https://reviewed-com-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/s--3vapwhab--/b_auto,c_lpad,cs_srgb,f_auto,fl_progressive.strip_profile,g_center,h_220,q_auto,w_220/https://reviewed-production.s3.amazonaws.com/attachment/95ec67d0aeb74863/7133QT9op2L._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
Corsair HS80
Customizable sound with a long-lasting battery, this headset brings some personalization and loud noise to the desk.
Purchase at Amazon
Meet the tester
![Mark Knapp](https://reviewed-com-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/s--gRS3cNl_--/b_white,c_fit,cs_srgb,f_auto,fl_progressive.strip_profile,g_center,h_160,q_auto,w_160/https://reviewed-production.s3.amazonaws.com/1651103952007/03T0ERe0H0b2lXCdMgwOb1D.fit_lim.size_200x200.v1632343805.png)
Mark Knapp
Contributor
Mark Knapp has lined tech for a lot of the previous decade, protecting readers on top of things on the most recent developments and going hands-on with every little thing from telephones and computer systems to e-bikes and drones to separate the advertising from the fact. Catch him on Twitter at @Techn0Mark or on Reviewed, IGN, TechRadar, T3, PCMag, and Enterprise Insider.
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