Corsair Virtuoso Max Review – The Best Wireless Gaming Headset Around Yet

Unboxing the Corsair Virtuoso Max

Kicking off our Corsair Virtuoso Max review with the unboxing, the packaging is your standard Corsair affair complete with its signature black and yellow colorway as it’s packed with a lot of details around it while the cover itself has an illustration and name of the headset itself. Size-wise is about standard for gaming headset, which is surprising given all the things you get inside, in which we found:

• Documentations
• Detachable omnidirectional mic
• USB-A to USB-C cable (braided)
• USB dongle (2.4GHz)
• Protective carrying case
• The Corsair Virtuoso Max wireless headset itself

Specifications

Drivers	50mm Graphene drivers
Frequency Response	20Hz – 40kHz
Impedance	32Ω
Sensitivity	-38 decibels adjusted
T.H.D.	< 2%
Headphone Type	Over-the-Ear Round-shaped cushions
Connectivity	1 x USB-C port Bluetooth 2.4GHz (dongle)
Wireless Range	1524cm
Audio Formats	Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio Sonarworks SoundID
RGB	Yes, 3-zone RGB (Corsair iCUE)
Microphone	Yes Omni-directional Detachable NVIDIA Broadcast mic enhancement
Noise-cancelling	Yes, ANC Transparency Mode
Material	Aluminum chassis Cloth ear pads with memory Foam
Battery	1500mAh Up to 60 hours Supports fast charging
Compatibility	PC, Mac, PS5, Xbox Series X, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Dimensions	200.4 x 101.3 x 183.6 mm 430g

Mic Test

Wireless headsets tend to suffer from quality, especially when you compare it to its wired counterparts. In the case of the Corsair Virtuoso Max, I’m genuinely surprised by how good the microphone actually sounds. This isn’t just a matter of it being great for online calls as it’s perfectly fine for you to use it for voice work if you’re a content creator, especially livestreamers.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as nuanced as a standalone condenser or dynamic microphone but for a hassle-free microphone that doesn’t require any sort of specialized equipment or dedicated stand, this is pretty darn good. I’m sure with a bit of tuning, you can get it sound on par with standalone microphones too. Do keep in mind sound quality will take a hit if you sounds in the background, like music playing through speakers for example, as it tries to cancel out the noise.

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The Good

There are a number of good reasons to consider the Corsair Virtuoso Max. For starters, it has one of the most premium builds on a gaming headset around. It uses an aluminum frame for improved weight distribution and to reduce creaking, memory foam cloth ear pads as well as headband for comfort and breathability, and the detachable microphone uses a carbon fiber-style fabric while the stalk itself uses a woven material. It looks as good as it is durable.

To further emphasize on its good looks, the Corsair Virtuoso Max has RGB lighting for added flair. It’s not a simple single zone either as it has 3 RGB zones so you can get some pretty cool effects going while you’re wearing them. My experience with RGB-capable headsets is that the lighting itself makes the headset warmer while wearing it but in this case, I’m surprise that temperature felt the same either way.

Portability is pretty decent with this headset as well as it is capable of tilting and swiveling, allowing it to lay flat as it rests on your shoulders or on the table (which also gives you a better, more comfortable position to listen while wearing it). The only thing missing would be foldability but that might come at the cost of its durability, and Corsair has made it easy to bring it out with you since they included a hardshell carrying case inside the box for it. Since the microphone is detachable, it is possible to bring it out with you like any other wireless headphone, and the lack of heavy gamer aesthetic wouldn’t make it look out of place.

One of the more interesting features is the hybrid connectivity as it can connect to devices wirelessly via 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, both of which can work simultaneously. Not only does this widen its compatibility, it makes the headset very convenient to use as you can have it connected to a gaming console or PC via the 2.4GHz dongle, and your smartphone via Bluetooth so you can freely enjoy your games and not miss any notifications or conveniently hop into a call when it happens.

The Corsair Virtuoso Max offers exceptional audio quality thanks to its 50mm graphene drivers, resulting in a rich and dynamic sound perfect for music and games. Initially, the highs might sound unpleasant but with a bit of tuning via the iCUE software, the difference can be like night an day. You definitely need to tweak the audio for a more accurate, immersive audio experience, especially in shooters where you really need to be aware of your surroundings. It also has support for Dolby Atmos if you prefer a surround sound experience.

Driving home the sound quality aspect, the Corsair Virtuoso Max is capable Active Noise Canceling (ANC), and it works really well for silencing low-frequency sounds like fan noise. In case someone might be talking within your vicinity, there’s also Transparency Mode to help you hear your surroundings without taking the headset off. Both features can be toggled through a customizable button, making it easy to switch between modes on the fly.

While the iCUE software is optional, it feels necessary to get the best out of the headset. The software itself is pretty user-friendly, and there’s a boatload of customization options for you to tinker with, from the equalizers to RGB lighting and even custom button functions. Most importantly, you should make use of SoundID rather than the EQ presets as it gives you a tailored sound profile for a more enjoyable experience overall. It’s worth noting that the iCUE software is available on both Windows and Mac.

Lastly, the Corsair Virtuoso Max has a stellar battery life. Corsair rated it at about 60 hours per full charge and from my own experience of using it everyday, I find myself only charging it once a week at most, even with RGB enabled. I would use it from anywhere between 8 to 12 hours per day over 2.4GHz wireless, in case you were wondering. I wouldn’t be surprised if it lasted even longer on Bluetooth alone as that connection typically uses less power.

The Bad

Of course, it has its share of drawbacks. For starters, while the headset is generally on the more comfortable side in terms of feel and temperature, the headband itself could use some improvements. I feel like the headband cushion should be softer and maybe a little thicker as I can feel the frame sitting stiffly on the top of my head. While I myself can use this for long hours, I do find myself having to occasionally move the headband around to alleviate some pressure off my head, and I suspect it to be worse for people with large heads.

While the iCUE software brings a lot to the table, the lack of it results in a somewhat subpar listening experience. On any gaming console, you’re definitely not getting the most out of it but at least with smartphones, you’d still be able to optimize it using equalizers, either via 3rd party apps or the ones preloaded with the OS.

Lastly, and this shouldn’t be a surprise given what you’re getting, is that the Corsair Virtuoso Max is on the pricier side. It’s retailing for USD $329.99, roughly translating to RM1,464. While you do get a lot for the money and it’s well worth every cent, it’s not a price tag that can be easily swallowed by the masses.

Corsair Virtuoso Max Verdict

The Corsair Virtuoso Max is arguably the best wireless gaming headset around thus far given its design, versatility, sound quality, and microphone. While I understand that it would be hard for them to lower the price without affecting much on quality, I do hope that its successor will have at least a bit more emphasis on comfort, especially for the headband.

At the end of our Corsair Virtuoso Max review, I award this wireless gaming headset with our coveted Gold Pokdeward.

Big thanks to Corsair for sending us this headset for the purpose of this review.