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Staying comfortable is arguably one of the biggest challenges during long gaming sessions. Maintaining good posture is just step one; there's also avoiding cramped hands from gripping the mouse, dealing with eye strain from staring at the monitor, and coping with the inevitable headache from an uncomfortable headset.
There's a fair amount of headset options out there, and plenty will claim to be the most suited for gamers, both in terms of comfort and general performance. However, a new contender for that title is Corsair's Virtuoso Pro, a wired gaming headset that marries craftsmanship in its build and next-level quality in its sound. Game ZXC put the Virtuoso Pro to the test for PC, console, and mobile gaming, as well as general every day and office use.
Corsair Virtuoso Pro Gaming Headset
The Virtuoso Pro Gaming Headset is Corsair's first venture into open-backed gaming headsets. This wired option features a detachable microphone, powerful 50mm graphene drivers, and an aluminum structure for solid, yet, comfortable, long-lasting wear.
- Microphone
- Detachable, omni-directional
- Compatibility
- PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, mobile
- What's Included
- Headset, microphone, 3.5 mm cable, warranty card
- Brand
- Corsair
- Surround Sound
- No
- Noise Cancellation
- No
- Weight
- 338 grams
- Battery Life
- N/A (Wired)
- Frequency Response
- 20Hz
- Ear Cushions
- Soft cloth
- Charge type
- N/A
- Charge Time
- N/A
- Mic Frequency Response
- 100Hz to 10kHz
- Spatial Audio
- No
- Driver
- 50mm graphene
- Aluminum, open-back design looks incredible
- Dynamic range of audio strengths works well for all types of media consumption
- Excellent mic performance for streaming and video voiceover
- No spatial, surround sound audio or noise cancellation
- Ear cuff shape may not suit some players
- No in-line or on-headset controls
What's In The Package?
- Corsair Virtuoso Pro
- Warranty card
- Y-split 3.5mm cable without mic
- Y-split 3.5mm cable with mic
- Y-split cable with separate audio and mic input for PC use
- Foam mic windscreen
- Headset carrying case
First impressions and design
The Corsair Virtuoso Pro immediately invokes a high-end, luxe feel and visual appeal with its sleek aluminum casing. The open-backed earpieces are, of course, the most significant eye-catchers of the headset, especially considering that the Virtuoso Pros are Corsair's first foray into an open-backed headset design. Some gamers may be disappointed to know that, with the Pros, Corsair departs from the padded-throughout headband style featured in older Virtuoso models, such as the RGB Wireless, and opts instead for cushioning that only covers the crown of the head. And while on the topic of the RGB Wireless, the Pro also opts out of any sort of accentual lighting, with the open-backed earpieces instead. It didn't take long to notice that there were no controls on the headset itself, or on any of the accompanying cables.
Where other headsets in this price point, gaming-tailored or otherwise, come with flimsy storage sleeves or no case of any sort, the padded zip-up Corsair Virtuoso Pro carrying case is an understated testament to the headset's quality.
Comfort and Wear
The Corsair Virtuoso Pro gaming headset is astoundingly comfortable. It was worn daily, for two to six hours at a time, during this review's testing, for a variety of uses including gaming, video meetings, phone calls, and general media consumption. With thick and plush soft cloth cushions, the earpieces don't bring any discomfort even after a couple of hours of use. Generally speaking, the Pros should suit most gamers regardless of head size or ear shape; however, the Virtuoso Pro ear cushions are round, which may not be a preferred for some over the more oblong, oval-shaped headset options, depending on ear size and shape.
The initial concern with the headband padding not covering the headset's entire arch proved to be unproblematic in terms of comfort, but for the tester's long hair, the hinged junction between the headband and earpieces quickly proved to be a pinch, tangle, and pulling hazard, more so than any other headset used by the tester. However, outside of this, the Virtuoso Pro certainly delivers on a luxuriously comfortable wear for long periods of time.
Sound Performance
The piéce de résistance of the Virtuoso Pros, competitors within this price range will struggle to rival this headset's sound quality. It may lack the spatial audio capabilities that truly elevate a headset to new levels, but the Pro does so well with imaging that most casual listeners will still enjoy a robust sense of presence in all of their gaming and media consumption. Music was still vibrant and detailed at high volumes, while the noises of gaming and movies, such as voices and footsteps, were uncompromisingly rich.
Of course, with the open-backed design, Corsair's newest headset doesn't perfectly seal all that sound in for a perfect goosebump-raising experience. The imaging was impressive, but the Virtuoso Pros excel more in creating a spacious soundstage for a more airy audio. This isn't the headset for gamers that prioritize noise cancellation either, since the open backs allow in a fair amount of ambient noise. This headset probably isn't a dedicated audiophile's prized possession, since midtones are a bit washed out and the basses were nothing more than pretty good, but the Virtuoso Pro's dynamic range of strengths, thanks to those 50mm graphene drivers, make it a sound choose for gamers that like to switch on a Netflix episode or Spotify playlist between matches.
The Microphone
The Virtuoso Pro's omnidirectional microphone is technically detachable, but to put it on and take it off the headset is not a quick process. The mic doesn't simply affix to the headset's cable; instead, the wires must be switched out entirely. Without the windscreen, the tester's voice came through sharp and clear; adding the windscreen softened the mic output without distorting the conversation. Despite being omnidirectional, the mic performs exceptionally well in mitigating background noises, including outside conversations and keyboard clacks.
Sound Focused, Light On Features
All in all, Corsair runs a close race against competing headset brands. The Virtuoso Pro shines in sound performance, but some players may understandably balk at the price tag when compared to the Virtuoso Pro's relatively short list of features. Even when comparing open-backed headsets, there are more affordable options. Had there been at least some in-line volume controls on the wires, this headset's case in the bells and whistles department would be much easier to make... especially when there's no way to quickly mute and un-mute the mic on a headset reportedly optimized for streamers. Spatial audio is also not entirely unreasonable to expect on a $200 headset; Corsair's own HS80 RGB Wireless headset, which costs roughly $50 less than the Virtuoso Pro, offers spatial sound by way of Dolby Atmos.
The primary objective of the Virtuoso Pro, it seems, is to knock the listener's socks off with those 50mm graphene drivers. And throughout the course of this testing, the headset really did accomplish that. But, when considering the facts that most players put the aggregate gaming headset experience over sheer audio performance and will not stack the Pros up against a different headset for real-time testing, Corsair's newest headset may struggle to stand out from competitors, especially for players on a budget, if a long list of added features is a priority. For only around $50 more, other headsets like the Pro X 2 Lightspeed from Logitech G offer equalizer customization via peripheral software, wireless and wired capabilities, and surround sound. However, for gaming sound performance and a sturdy metal build where competitors choose plastic, the Virtuoso Pro can't and won't be missed.
Similar Products
Need | Alternatives To The Virtuoso Pro | Link to Amazon Page |
Open-backed gaming headset | PHILIPS Fidelio X2HR | |
Wired headset | Razer BlackShark V2 | |
Headset with spatial audio | Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless |
FAQ
Q: What is the point of an open-backed gaming headset?
Open headsets allow in more ambient noise than closed-back headsets, while also allowing some audio to leak out. This is said to create a create more spacious, natural-sounding soundstages while keeping players aware of their ambient surroundings.
Q: Are wired gaming headsets worth buying?
Wired headsets are generally considered preferred for serious gaming since the chances of latency issues are far lower. However, with modern BlueTooth and proprietary wireless connection technology becoming increasingly competitive against wired performance, the best type of headset to buy boils down to the needs and budget of the player.