The Corsair HS65 Wireless excels in some aspects, while falling short on others that I truly wish it did. Simply said, the sound quality falls short of that of its wired version. But, you also get a 10-band EQ to correct its coloured sound quality, a remarkably deep soundstage, and long-range connectivity. Also, it’s not bad for the price.
A One-Minute Review of the ORSAIR HS65 Wireless
I think I was the only person who was more enthusiastic about the Corsair HS65 Wireless. The Corsair HS65 has always been a favorite of mine, but I’ve always wanted it in wireless form, thus this new gaming headset release fulfills that need for me.
Does this wireless gaming headset measure up to the original, or not? That isn’t exactly the case, as I discovered after comparing the two. This wireless model’s bass end is overbearing and its high end is duller, in contrast to the wired version’s better balanced sound, which is one of the many things I enjoy about it.
Aside from the apparent reason that one is wired and may therefore be better fitted to offer higher-quality music, why is there such a notable difference in sound quality? I can truly only guess at this stage.
The Corsair HS65 Wireless is a really strong gaming headset in its own right, especially due to its immersive soundstage and the 10-band EQ on iCue, and is worth taking a look at, even though its audio quality isn’t as good or as balanced. Notwithstanding the wireless tax, too.
Design and Features
Up to and including the flip-to-mute microphone, the Corsair HS65 Wireless has carried over the original’s design and construction. I will not go into detail about that, despite the fact that I am delighted Corsair chose that aesthetic. You won’t need me to tell you about the brand’s new look if you already know about it. If not, know that it has a solid but not quite premium build and a cozy, attractive, modern, yet yet gaming-forward design.
The buttons are what are unusual in this case. The HS65 Wireless features a mic mute button, a Bluetooth button, and a power button, but the cable version simply has a volume wheel. That is above the volume control wheel, which also functions as an EQ button. Also, these controls are simple to operate.
The weight is yet another modification. In addition to being lighter than the other wireless gaming headphones I’ve recently tested, the HS65 Wireless is also lighter than the wired version. I probably won’t use it as a set of headphones with my mobile devices because the boom mic isn’t genuinely detachable. Yet, because it is portable, you may use it with your laptop to watch movies, listen to music, or participate in video chats with coworkers.
The iCue software from Corsair, which gives consumers a lot of flexibility and control, is supported. In essence, the software lets you adjust the sound, switch on surround sound, configure Corsair’s SoundID, and choose from five sound presets. The 10-band EQ is the most helpful feature, and even if it isn’t parametric, it is still rather potent. In fact, it is so potent that it will really help you correct the bothersome audio flaws of the headset, which I’ll discuss under performance.
I typically test gaming headsets with the least amount of EQ or processing possible, but I did attempt Corsair’s SoundID feature, which enables iCue to assist you in customizing your headset’s sound profile depending on your audio preferences. Although it’s not a brand-new feature and one I’ve already tested, the HS65 Wireless’ flagship feature prompted me to give it another shot.
However, I did not enjoy the sound profile that the software “custom-made” for me after asking me to complete a series of sound tests, as I had previously found with it. Not that you ought to give it a go yourself. The feature itself, in my opinion, is effective and gave me a very distinctive EQ. Simply said, I didn’t enjoy the sound since it was so imbalanced; personally, I prefer music that is more in balance.
Performance and Software
When I first put the HS65 Wireless on, my initial reaction was “oh no.” Every other frequency band was drowned out and muffled in the 50mm drivers’ massive slab of bass. The shouts of the vocalists and instruments were muffled as they became lost in the flubbery jumble of it all, as if the bass had been turned up to its loudest setting.
Fortunately, if you use the headset primarily with a Computer, not all is lost. There are several equalizer presets available in the Corsair iCUE companion software, including Pure Direct (Flat), Cinema Theater, FPS Competition, Clear Talk, and Bass Boost. The settings are plain explanatory, however Movie Theater was the only one that worked well for all applications. Most crucially, it reduces the overpowering bass while providing the mids and high range frequencies a much-needed boost. It’s quite a night and day contrast from the Pure Direct profile.
The sound profile of the HS65 Wireless is particularly enjoyable when the Cinema Theater profile is activated. While the mid-range has adequate space to breathe and expand out, the highs have a distinct spark that gives instruments and sound effects an energetic power. Even though there is a lot of bass to deal with, it is still present and still very well-controlled, if not slightly untamed.
