Corsair HS80 RGB USB: Two-minute review
The Corsair HS80 RGB USB is an excellent headset for its price, featuring rich, balanced sound quality suitable for a variety of tasks, from gaming to online voice and video meetings or listening to relaxing music on YouTube.
This is thanks to 24-bit/96 kHz high-resolution audio support as well as 50mm neodymium audio drivers. For the uninitiated, that means this headset is designed to recreate the original sound source as closely as possible.
While the microphone is very simple and almost aggressively simple in design, it is omnidirectional, which allows for solid coverage, picking up your voice clearly and with very little feedback or digitization. This will be welcome news for gamers, office workers, students and more casual users.
Many similar headphones are often found lacking in the comfort department. However, not so with the Corsair HS80 RGB USB. This headset is extremely comfortable, thanks to its soft cushioning and sizable ear cutouts – something that makes this one of the best PC gaming headsets you can buy, even before you know about its other features. You won’t have to worry about whether the Corsair headset can help you through even the longest gaming sessions; you’ll almost forget it’s on.
There is a downside to the Corsair HS80 RGB USB, however. The microphone and cable cannot be disconnected; but this is a minor gripe in what is otherwise an excellent headset.
Corsair HS80 RGB USB: Pricing and Availability
- The price is a little salty
- Available in many regions
The Corsair HS80 RGB USB is available in many regions including the US, UK and Australia. It will cost $99.99 (£109.99, AU$159), which is a good deal when you consider the sound and build quality.
Pricing is competitive with rivals like the Razer Kraken V3 and the HyperX Cloud Alpha, both of which are priced at the same price as the HS80 RGB USB. There are cheaper Corsair gaming headsets available, such as the Corsair HS55 Stereo for $59 / £49 / AU$89. Meanwhile, the Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless costs up to 50% more than its wired equivalent, being sold for $149 / £139 / AU$219 MSRP.
Corsair HS80 RGB USB: Design
- resistant and comfortable
- not very attractive
The Corsair HS80 RGB USB is a no-frills headphone without any styling or visual style. There’s a dynamic RGB lighting feature, but it requires additional setup and it’s not the kind of feature you’ll see when using it.
What’s more, this is a very well-made accessory, so if minimalist design and RGB features are what you’re after, this headset will definitely provide you with what you need. Otherwise, comfort alone makes the HS80 RGB USB an exceptional gaming headset.
The headphones themselves are made of rigid, aluminum-reinforced plastic that won’t bend or break easily. Cushioning around the cups and inner headband is soft and almost cushioned. The indentations for the ears are also well crafted and fit most ear types with no problem.
Corsair HS80 RGB USB: Features
- The media control dial is super helpful
- not much else
Corsair HS55 Stereo Key Specifications
Drivers: 50mm neodymium
Depth and rate: 24 bit/96kHz
Microphone polar patterns: omnidirectional
Compatibility: computer
Weight: 371g
Cable length: 1.8 m
Color: carbon, white
Along with the microphone is a handy set of buttons located on the back of the left earcup. One is a dial that controls the volume of whatever media or application is currently using sound, and the other is a mute button to mute the microphone in real-time.
Such an inclusion seems insignificant, but it’s this attention to detail that makes the Corsair HS80 RGB USB such a solid product. If pushing a button on the back is a lot of work when you’re playing some of the best PC games, lifting the microphone arm can also mute the headset.
The HS80 RGB USB also comes with Corsair’s iCUE software, which is used to enable sidetone control as well as dynamic RGB lighting for the headset and any other compatible Corsair device.
Corsair HS80 RGB USB: Performance
- Incredible sound quality
- Works in a wide range of uses
The performance of the Corsair HS80 RGB USB is by far the best feature of this headset. Dolby Audio 7.1 surround sound, 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution audio support, and 50mm neodymium audio drivers combine to deliver incredible sound quality that few headphones can match.
Performance here is complete, with crystal-clear sound shining in a variety of settings, from gaming to movie streaming and work-related online meetings.
Surround sound support is great for gaming and movie streaming, and the mic input lets you be heard clearly no matter what app you’re using.
Should you buy a Corsair HS80 RGB USB?
Buy if…
Don’t buy if…
Also consider
| Value | Although expensive, it is competitively priced for its class. | 4/5 |
| Project | It may be quite simple, but it is outrageously comfortable. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Features | Virtualized surround sound is a fantastic feature, as are the built-in controls, but these are pretty standard at this price point. | 3.5 / 5 |
| acting | The audio quality of this headset is amazing, so your games and movies sound better than ever. | 4.5 / 5 |
