Corsair’s Virtuoso lineup of gaming headsets has all the time put sound high quality first, and that’s by no means been extra true than with the Virtuoso Professional. Its newest symphonic headset options improved 50mm graphene drivers, enhanced consolation, and open-back ear cups for a spacious listening expertise that doesn’t depend on digital encompass sound. At $199, they’re costly for a wired headset, however chances are you’ll simply wish to use these as your on a regular basis headphones too.
Corsair Virtuoso Professional – Design and Options
The Corsair Virtuoso Professional makes an incredible first impression. The unboxing expertise is way nearer to a pleasant pair of audiophile headphones than a gaming headset. They arrive in a big, zipped carrying case with a protecting hardback shell. Inside, the headphones are held safely in a molded foam tray. Its cables tuck away in a mesh pocket on the highest half of the case, held closed with velcro. I used to be reminded of the Drop Pandaa $400 pair of planar magnetic headphones, however related instances are discovered all through the audiophile world: the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 ($660), the Focal Bathys ($699), the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano ($599). Every of those headphones is designed to be a every day companion, and that’s precisely the case with the Virtuoso Professional.
It blends type with operate however with a watch towards balancing sturdy construct high quality with a cushty gentle weight. Its open-back cups are intricately designed and look magnificent. Fairly than use easy mesh grilles, the backs have precision-cut aluminum faceplates, revealing the driving force inside. There are layers to its design, inviting you to peek backstage (grille) on the driver under. The darkish metallic bracing on the driving force strains up with a lighter outer ring on its face, drawing your eye to the metallic yokes, accented with gleaming silver bezels. Centered beneath the grille is a Corsair sails badge that you simply would possibly miss at first look.
Put one other method, it’s a uniquely stellar-looking headset that would simply move for a high-end pair of headphones. Should you don’t know what to search for, there actually isn’t any clue that it’s a gaming headset in any respect. Which is ideal, since you really could wish to take these on the go. Not solely does the worth make {that a} compelling choice, however they sound adequate that they might genuinely be an improve to your present pair of headphones or earbuds. Assuming you don’t thoughts the wire, after all.
A lot of the advance to its sound could be attributed to its brand-new driver system. The Virtuoso Professional makes use of 50mm drivers which can be 25% bigger than most of the finest gaming headsetstogether with the wonderful Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi. Bigger drivers are in a position to transfer extra air and usually enhance their response (on this case, 20Hz to 40kHz). However, like different areas in life, it’s not simply measurement, it’s how you utilize it.
Prior Virtuoso fashions additionally used 50mm drivers, however the Professional now makes use of graphene diaphragms. A speaker’s diaphragm is its cone, making up the floor between its giant outer ring and its core, vibrating to create sound. Graphene is light-weight but inflexible, permitting it to start out and cease on a dime for improved element and determination. These identical qualities enable it to increase additional into the bass and treble, offering extra element and texture to the listening expertise. In comparison with previous Virtuosos, it’s an instantly noticeable enchancment and makes the headset sound clearer than ever earlier than.
The opposite half of its sonic enhancements come from its open-back design and the spacious listening expertise it creates. Its wide-open grilles enable sound to flee out the again, which creates a way more spacious listening expertise. The soundstage is way wider and extra pure than most closed-back gaming headsets, together with in Corsair’s personal line-up. The draw back is that it additionally lets sound in, so it’s not isolating and everybody round you’ll know precisely what you’re listening to.
Within the mesh pocket on the highest of the case, you’ll discover three removable audio cables with a fourth obtainable as an non-obligatory buy from Corsair. For gaming and streaming, the mic cable provides a versatile unidirectional mic to the left earcup. Once you don’t want a mic, or have a separate one in your desk, there’s a normal 3.5mm cable. A splitter cable can be included if you wish to get away the microphone and headphone connections. For devoted listening setups, Corsair additionally sells a 4.4mm balanced cable to hook up with higher-end DACs and amps, however since these headphones don’t require a lot energy to drive, it’s not essential buy.
The headphones are well-built and exceptionally snug. The scarf, yokes, and grills – the entire frequent breakage factors – are strengthened with metallic. The earcups themselves are plastic, which helps hold it to a fairly light-weight 338 grams. The cushions and headband are tender and cloth-lined for breathability. The grip power is pretty sturdy however wasn’t uncomfortable and helped the scarf distribute its weight. I’ve brief hair and the highest of my head will get sore from headphones simply, however I used to be in a position to put on the Virtuoso Professional for upwards of 5 hours with none discomfort or soreness.
The scarf, cushions, and even the grilles are additionally user-replaceable. In the event that they ever put on out, presumably Corsair will promote replacements prefer it’s finished for previous fashions. If not, third-party shops like Depraved Cushions are more likely to fill the void if the headset is profitable.
Lastly, we’ve the microphone, which is unidirectional and noise canceling. After testing it extensively, I’m a bit combined on it. Whereas it sounds pretty good with solely a small quantity of compression, I discovered its degree to be too quiet when plugged immediately into my PC. Your teammates will be capable to hear you, however I needed to flip the microphone all the best way as much as obtain that degree, so there’s nearly no headroom in any respect to make changes.
Should you occur to have an Elgato Wave XLR or one other interface that gives extra energy to the microphone, this concern disappears fully. It additionally lets you reap the benefits of VST plug-ins like Nvidia Broadcast for enhanced background noise suppression. You too can enhance its achieve utilizing filters and plug-ins in OBS, however with no preamp, it will probably develop into a bit noisy and begin selecting up feels like your gaming keyboard.
All of that to say, the mic is okay however wants extra energy and relying on the way you obtain that, your mileage could fluctuate.
Corsair Virtuoso Professional – Efficiency
Much more than most different gaming headsets, the Virtuoso Professional lives and dies on its sound high quality. And my mates, it lives. The Virtuoso Professional is likely one of the finest sounding gaming headsets I’ve heard, rating proper up there with the Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fiwhich has its personal separate DAC, and the Audeze Penrosewith its giant planar magnetic drivers.
The brand new dynamic of carbonized drivers and open-back spaciousness lend the Virtuoso Professional a concurrently wealthy but ethereal listening expertise. The bass is full and huge with outlined, clear punchiness. Explosions have a poignancy and thump that’s impactful and immersive. Enjoying Battlefield 2042, the motion felt downright visceral. Pounding grenades and tank blasts begin and cease with impeccable velocity, revealing the cacophony of destruction, return fireplace, shouting, and frenzied footsteps. In a phrase, it’s outlined.
The Professional doesn’t get misplaced in its low-end, nevertheless. It’s really remarkably well-balanced, with barely ahead mids and glowing highs. Footsteps and comms all come by the mids. Even within the midst of utter chaos, I used to be nonetheless in a position to pick the sound and place of enemy footsteps. Should you’re chatting on Discord, you’ll be able to depend on these comms slicing by it doesn’t matter what’s taking place on display.
The open-back cups and spacious highs improve the soundstage and appear to stretch out the layers of what you’re listening to. I’ve been spending a number of time in Starfield and the strains of ship battles stand out most to me. Freed from the added noise of inside environments, I might actually admire how huge the listening expertise was. The delicate reverb of missiles and ballistics flying by house, how enemy comms appeared to return from a distance away, the best way the lonesome rush of my engines virtually appeared to wrap round me as I flew towards planets and thru asteroid fields – these are qualities that closed-back headsets depend on digital encompass sound for and typically bungle with over-done reverb. Right here, it’s all {hardware}, all-natural, and really effectively finished.
What’s particularly fascinating is the middle-ground Corsair has discovered between gaming and music. The music, Exhausted by Jonny Craig is an ideal instance of what this headset does effectively when used as regular headphones. The bass is highly effective however not overwhelming and is wealthy with texture, just like a subwoofer. On the identical time, the hi-hats reduce by, the synths ring out with glorious, huge positionality. The vocals come proper to the forefront, good for pop and hip-hop.
Should you’re a fan of rock or metallic, the Virtuoso Professional is ready to sustain with even the busiest of tracks. Dance Gavin Dance’s The Ghost of Billy Royalton highlighted their layering means. Even within the midst of pounding drums, screaming vocals, and frantic guitar riffs, each layer was completely audible. You possibly can hear precisely how your favourite tracks are composed, even with parts that normally mix collectively, like layered vocals.
Simply don’t use them with different folks round. These headphones sound finest after they’re loud, however even at 40%, they bleed sound so dangerous that any passerby will be capable to select the dialogue in your cutscene. Likewise, you’ll hear all the things round you with out the amount turned method up. It goes with the territory for open-back headphones however is certainly a limitation in case you’re not in a position to recreation in solitude.