The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless Gaming Headphones which we will address it as Virtuoso Wireless from here onwards is Corsair’s latest wireless gaming headset. While the Corsair VOID and VOID Pro focus more on the wireless 7.1 surround sound experience, the Virtuoso stand as the company’s top of the line wireless headphone that aims to provide the best build and sound quality.

Corsair has two variants for the Virtuoso headphone line up. The Virtuoso Wireless we received from Corsair is the standard variant which has a couple of differences from the Virtuoso SE in terms of the build material as well as the microphone. Apart from that, the next obvious difference is, of course, the price – standard at RM799 while SE at RM899.

What Comes in the Box

  • Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless
  • Removable microphone
  • USB receiver
  • 3.5mm AUX cable
  • USB-A to USB-C cable

Build Quality

Out of the box, I am very impressed with the build quality of the Virtuoso Wireless. Even though this is not the SE version which is clad with full metal constructions, nonetheless, thanks to the solid construction of the headband and earcup holder, it makes the headphone feels way premium than any other headphones we had previously tested. That for sure comes with a downside – which is a much heavier headphone.

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless 07

The back of the ear cups has a glossy plastic and I’m not a big fan of this fingerprint magnet finish, then again, it doesn’t really matter unless I have OCD against that. The logo has RGB illumination and can be configured within the Corsair iCUE software which we will be covering at the later part of this review.

Even with all those solid parts, the headphone is still very flexible and I like how the ear cups have a 180-degrees of rotation which allows a wider range of movements and wearing comfort.

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless 06

One thing I don’t really like is the short earcup extension range. My head is not that big and I still have to extend the headband to position 9 out of 10. It simply means that some people might find this headphone a little too small to their preference.

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless 11

The controls are located at the right earcup. There’s a toggle switch to change between USB/Wired mode or Wireless mode. The volume scroll wheel has an exceptional feel to it and even though it is not stepped, however, every small movement will translate to 2% of volume change in Windows.

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless 12

All the physical connectivities are located at the left earcup. The Virtuoso Wireless can be charged through the USB-C port. The very same port is also used as a Digital Audio connection if you connect it to your PC’s USB port. Apart from the USB Digital Audio, the Virtuoso Wireless, too, can support analogue audio through the 3.5mm audio jack. Do keep in mind that the microphone does not work through the analogue jack.

The removable microphone is interestingly connected to the headphone through a mini-USB connector and is has its own dedicated mic mute button. Does it mean there is a dedicated DAC built right into the microphone itself? We don’t know for now as we’re lacking the adapter to test if we could use the microphone by itself.

Comfort

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless 13

Speaking of wearing comfort, I have to point out the obvious, it is not 100% comfortable because of its heavy built. The earcup cushion is indeed very soft and feels great when you first wear it. That is not the case after wearing it for more than 30 minutes. First of all, the clamping force is slightly too strong for my taste and it is likely caused by the rather short overhead band. Then things got a bit worst with the PU leather on the cushion which traps heat and causes sweating. Is this the worst headphone I’ve ever worn? Of course not, I just felt frustrated that some of those downsides are actually caused by the use of these so-called “premium” material.

Sound Quality

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless 10

We have tested the audio in 3 different modes – Wireless Mode, USB Mode and Auxiliary Mode. Before we step deeper into the sound quality test. First of all, how we perceive sound is a very personal and subjective matter. Hence, take my statement as a grain of salt.

My colleague was expecting audio delays when gaming with the Virtuoso Wireless, to our surprise, they couldn’t tell it apart from wired mode which further solidifies the stance of having both convenience and usability is indeed possible. Sound quality is obviously lower than the USB mode in order to keep the latency low, that doesn’t really affect our gameplay by all means. Game sound details are prominent and Discord voice chat is working remarkably well. If you’re looking to step up the sound quality, connect the headphones directly to the USB port will allow the built-in DAC to take control of the audio conversion. The sound is richer and has more dynamic range via USB. Personally I’d stick with the Wireless mode for convenience.

As for the 3.5mm auxiliary connectivity, well, you can use it in case you have a high-end DAC which you want to fully enjoy the best sound quality. Then again, when you’re connecting via the 3.5mm port, the headphones microphone will not work. Basically you’re just using the headphone for listening purposes.

By all means, the Virtuoso Wireless is made in the first place for the convenience of having no cables dangling around while you game. It serves this purpose exceptionally well and you don’t expect it to perform as great as any other audiophile-grade monitoring headphones. They exist for different purposes.

Microphone Quality

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless 16

Throughout the MCO period, I have been using the Virtuoso Wireless for all my online meetings. Some of my friends thought I was using my condenser microphone. Again, don’t take this as my word because it is how others perceive sound over the Internet. The point is, if you’re using it for online conversations, this is an excellent microphone.

Do keep in mind that it is best to not position the mic to be too close to your face since it will also pick up your breathing and “pop” sound. It could have been better if Corsair included any sort of foam ball for the mic head.

Corsair iCUE Software

The Corsair iCUE software is the comprehensive companion software for the Virtuoso RGB Wireless. You can configure different profiles that are linked with various different software or games. Each of the profile allows you to save individual equalizer settings or lighting modes. Personally, I think the Corsair iCUE software is pretty intuitive to use and full of customisation. My only complaint would be the battery level indicator is not so useful as it only shows high, mid or low battery instead of the percentage. Well, at least there’s voice notification telling you the battery is low.

Final Words

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless 02

At the official retail price of RM799, that’s a steep price to pay for a pair of gaming headphones. For me, I’m willing to pay just to get rid of the hassle of dealing with all the cable mess on my gaming system. On that side note, it also supports Sony PlayStation 4 which means the convenience of using wireless controller + wireless headset. The build quality is exquisite and I somehow wished they could’ve gone for some lighter material for more flexibility and comfort.

The sound quality is decent for co-op gameplay and the microphone has exceptional quality for its size. Many of the reviewers have stated that the standard variant of the Virtuoso Wireless is a better buy even though the SE sports a bigger and supposedly better microphone. I guess someone in the R&D department messed up. All in all, if you’re looking for an easy to use and feature-packed wireless gaming headphone, the Virtuoso Wireless may be expensive at first, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy using the headset more after getting rid of the cables.

Pros:

  • Excellent build quality
  • Convenience plug and play wireless (supports PC & PS4)
  • Good sound quality
  • Good microphone quality
  • Decent battery life (~15 hours), USB Type-C charging
  • RGB? I can’t even see it, though, good for streamers I guess?

Cons:

  • Wear comfort could have been better with more comfortable materials
  • Expensive

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