Corsair took advantage of the year 2023 to release a brand new premium headset, the HS80 Max Wireless, a higher range of its standard HS80. A classic version which already offered good performance and fit perfectly into the average of its range. With the HS80 MAX, Corsair hopes to go even further in comfort and performance by offering a quality headset. Successful bet ?
THE HS80 MAX Wireless from Corsair seeks to take its place alongside the tenors of the genre. A premium hearing experience with an introductory price of around €190. It’s an amount, but we are within the norm given the target market. Especially since the headset has it all and can boast excellent value for money. After several weeks of in-game and daily testing, it’s time for the verdict.
A headset that aims for the premium experience
The HS80 MAX is available in several colors, black or white. This is the clearest version that we have had the opportunity to test. A refined and homogeneous helmet, which opts for white plastic of very good quality, even to the touch, and light gray interior elements. No trim on the headband, the location of the head can be modulated thanks to a fabric tab reinforced with velcro tips which will attach to the inside of the headband. The result is simple and qualitative. The skull is ultimately never in contact with the headband itself, and the HS80 MAX remains perfectly in place even if you decide to move (bend over for example). The icing on the cake is that the strap can be changed in the event of a problem.
Comfortable, beautiful, pleasant and ergonomic
Overall, the design of the helmet is simple and robust. The headband is reinforced and particularly thick, easily adapting to both large and small heads. The headphones are massive (although average) and surround the ears perfectly thanks to their 50x40mm slots curved to fit their shape. Again, it’s all a question of robustness. The joint between the headband and the earphone support is made of metal. The headphones can rotate on two axes. A pivot allows them to be completely turned over, while we can also manage the inclination on the ears by a few additional degrees. The only downside in my eyes is the small cable that slips between the headband and the headphones. Very thin and poorly protected, an accident can happen so quickly… Well, you would still have to want it to damage it and without that, the headset would not have this mobility in terms of the headphones. Despite its robustness and the presence of metal elements, the headset is rather light with just over 350 grams on the scale.
Casually, we forget it quite quickly, especially since the texture of the headphones is very pleasant. Corsair has opted for very soft fabric here which will coat our ears: it’s comfortable and it insulates quite well, even if we’re not completely cut off from outside sounds. The ergonomics are also excellent. The different controls placed on the back of the two earcups stand out well, are large and textured. As a result, we find them in no time. On the left, we have the power button and the sound strip. The USB-C port is located just below to avoid twisting the cable when charging. Finally, on the right, we find the Bluetooth button all by itself like a big one.
The HS80 Max Wireless has it covered
The HS80 MAX is not only robust and comfortable, it is also particularly efficient. With 50mm neodymium drivers, the headset aims to deliver an excellent sound experience. Note also that in addition to a frequency range between 20 Hz and 40 kHz, the HS80 relies on an audio resolution of up to 24 bits/96 kHz.
By default, the headset offers excellent sound reproduction, but the profile is clearly designed for gaming and big shows above all. It’s warm and the bass is quite powerful, but it lacks a bit of finesse. There’s no need to make a big deal out of it, though, since a little tweaking of the equalizer on PC will be enough to correct the situation. In any case, for video games, the headset fully fulfills its role, whether you are a fan of FPS, or simply to enjoy the OST of your favorite games as it should be. The audio range of course allows you to benefit from excellent quality for listening to music or watching films, although the most picky will certainly adjust their preferences in the software suite. Note also that the headset is eligible for Dolby Atmos, a technology allowing you to enjoy impressive 3D sound. And it hits the mark, it’s extremely well rendered and terribly immersive.
iCue software in support
As usual with Corsair, everything happens via iCue, the in-house software that is as accessible as it is efficient. Once the headset is recognized by the software, you will have access to a battery of settings. A homemade equalizer to create profiles or switch to already existing profiles. Nvidia and SoundID also offer their own method of improving incoming and outgoing sound. You are spoiled for choice, quite clearly.
The HS80 is a versatile bonus
The HS80 is also an all-terrain headset since you can use it on PC, PS4, PS5 or even mobile, natively. It allows 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity via a supplied USB dongle or via Bluetooth. Regardless of the mode chosen, pairing is immediate and effortless. However, it is worth noting that there is no wired solution. No 3.5 mm jack port for example, and the supplied USB-C cable only allows you to recharge the battery. However, rest assured, there is absolutely no latency to report, the quality is impeccable.
The icing on the cake is that the HS80 Max Wireless benefits from a remarkable autonomy of 24 hours (in 2.4 GHz with RGB) to more than 100 hours (in Bluetooth without RGB). It will all depend on your use. To avoid getting too wet, Corsair establishes an average of around 60. And we can confirm it. In daily use, with and without RGB, the battery has already lasted almost 61 hours before alerting me to recharge it. This is very appreciable, especially since the charging is super fast. An excellent point.