In a way, it’s understandable why there are so many little tricks in the gaming space. At certain price points, you can expect a lot from your equipment. So you end up with brands doing very similar things, except their logo is on the side. I like the look, feel, and sound of the Corsair Virtuoso Max, but a lot of what it does needs to be measured against the competition, and that doesn’t give Corsair the best chance to come out on top at high prices. finish the audio battle.
The one place where the Virtuoso Max definitely shines is in the microphone. As a rule, best wireless gaming headsets doesn’t sound fantastic to your teammates, as they often prioritize fast, accurate audio and battery life over the microphone.
However, the Corsair microphone sounds clear and unwavering, rarely cutting out or stuttering. In my time with it, this mic has withstood the whispers that come from underfoot in PUBG and the inevitable scream that comes from one of my squad members pressing the wrong button and giving away our position.
Unfortunately, sidetone – the ability to hear yourself during a call – may not be indicative of how good this microphone sounds, since the software just isn’t very good. You have to practically scream to hear your own voice, which is not the case when playing online. This sounds like a technical glitch, but I can’t think of a better way to do this other than setting the sidetone sensitivity to the highest possible setting.
Specifications Corsair Virtuoso Max
Connection: 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth
Type: Closed back
Frequency response: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
Drivers: graphene 50 mm
Microphone: Removable, omnidirectional
Functions: Active Noise Cancellation, Spatial Audio, iCUE Compatible
Weight: 431 g
Battery life: Up to 60 hours (with RGB off)
Price: US$330 | £279
Connectivity options, although limited, are very well thought out. On the left earcup there is a power switch, which can be moved to the middle position for connecting to a 2.4 GHz receiver or to the extreme bottom for simultaneous connection to Bluetooth.
To adjust the volume, you can use the dial that occupies the entire cup: the left one initially changes the sound of the receiver, and the right one changes the Bluetooth volume.
Not only is it very intuitive to use, but it’s also great for a last-minute Duolingo lesson at 11:55 pm in the middle of a gaming session. While you can change which ear does what in Corsair iCUE, its own software, you can’t configure it to adjust the game-to-mic volume ratio, mic gain, or anything else you can control with those dials. This is a shame, as a little extra tweaking could have helped.
Corsair software is essentially required to fully utilize this kit. It controls basic EQ and lighting functions, and lets you set up your own Sound ID, which tests your ears for the best sound volume. I found that the EQ works best with a slight boost to both the lows and highs, leaving the mids more or less untouched.
Once you do this, the Corsair Virtuoso Max will sound great with a very neutral sound profile. However, the bass isn’t as strong as the other parts, and boosting it too much in the EQ settings sounds a little hollow. Instead of getting the punch of a heavy bottom end, it instead leans towards the feeling of that rumble, not sounding as clear as you’d like the bass to sound.
I’ve found that this more neutral sound profile works best in fast-paced single-player games, like Surprisingly Brilliant. Indiana Jones and the Big Circle thanks to a wide range of sounds. It’s a more immersive headset than a competing headset, meaning it won’t outperform a much cheaper headset when listening to the footsteps of foot soldiers (or, well, other people) indoors. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
But those diminishing returns are pretty much true for any headset costing around $150. However, the sound quality is certainly evident in games designed to engage you more than challenge you.
Not only will you notice the fairly high price tag of just over $300 for the microphone and audio, but also the build quality. This can set is very durable and when stretching it or moving the strap I never noticed a worrying amount of flex. The strap itself is a combination of plastic and aluminum and stretches easily. This headset can be thrown over the monitor or thrown on the sofa without any problems.
Unfortunately, this stiffness is definitely up for debate, and while it works quite well in gaming sessions for my (rather large) skull, it’s weighty and the cushioning on the earcups is very shallow.
This means that a light touch of the cushioning allows you to feel the firmness of the cup itself. The same applies to the strip at the top of the headset. If you’re more sensitive to the heaviness of the headset or the stiffness of its strap, it may cause you pain after a gaming session lasting more than an hour or two.
With over 60 hours of battery life with the RGB lights turned off, I only charged this headset when the idea occurred to me, and somehow I never had to drain its battery during traditional use. This RGB lighting is largely unnecessary but a nice addition to the headset, as it provides lighting on the sides of the earcups and a microphone to indicate whether the sound is muted. Considering my review set came in silver, these are pretty nice headphones too.
Buy if…
✅You need a great microphone: The Corsair Virtuoso Max’s microphone is clear, dynamic, and easy to use, perhaps the most obvious sign of this headset’s quality. It can be detached for times when you don’t need the microphone near your mouth.
✅ You want to connect to two devices at the same time: Not only can you connect these cans wirelessly via 2.4GHz and Bluetooth simultaneously, but the volume wheels on either side independently control both audio sources.
✅ Do you have other Corsair products: iCUE compatibility makes it a great choice if you have other Corsair devices and don’t want to download a little more software.
Don’t buy if…
❌ Are you sensitive to rigid design: While the Corsair Virtuoso Max did the job without any problems, the cushioning is quite short and harsh, both on the earcups and on the top of the headset.
❌ You want the best sound for your money: These headphones retail for the same price as the Audeze Maxwell and sound great, but for the same amount of money you can get even better sound.
Oddly enough, the included USB-C port only works for charging, meaning you won’t be able to use this wired headset even if you wanted to. It also doesn’t have an aux jack, which means you won’t be able to easily connect to your PlayStation or Xbox via controllers.
The PC version works on PlayStation, however, with a dongle attached, and there is a headset version designed specifically for Xbox, but multi-platform connectivity with the same headset is not possible.
When connected to a PC and phone, everything looks quite natural. You can switch between custom EQ modes by pressing and holding the customizable button on the right earbud, switching from standard hearing to active noise cancellation to Transparency mode, which is designed to let outside sounds through while you game.
Unfortunately, while the ANC mode naturally masks sounds around you, the Transparency mode isn’t as clear or consistent as we’d like. It’s not bad, but it’s not exactly great either.
The Corsair Virtuoso Max shows off its quality in sound design, microphone quality and durability, but that’s both a blessing and a curse as it’s quite rigid. It also has a high price to accompany it. Without doing anything major, but without being superior to its competitors, the Virtuoso Max is a set of cans that I rather like, but don’t enough sufficient in every area except perhaps microphone quality and Bluetooth connectivity.