Corsair is a well-known brand best known for keyboards, but they’ve produced some nice mice and headphones as well. We’ve previously looked at the Sabre Pro and the K100 Air Wireless.
In this review, we’re changing gears and looking at the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT is a high-fidelity wireless headset whose quality is immediately apparent. A pair of high-density 50 mm neodymium speaker drivers offer an impressive frequency range of 20 Hz to 40 kHz. On PC, the headphones can get full immersion with Dolby Atmos. Its Dual Wireless function allows multi-channel input and output via SLIPSTREAM and Bluetooth simultaneously. The detachable mic is a 9.5 mm omni-directional broadcast-quality microphone.
At A Glance
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT
Used by 4 players ()-
kennyS
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BiBooAF
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KingGeorge
The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT headset is a top-quality addition to any gaming setup. It boasts excellent sound quality, one of the best headset mics out there, and incredibly robust and comfortable construction.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Great mic
- Good build quality
Cons
- Battery life is on the shorter side
- Price is high
- Headband has a tendency to slip
Specs
| Type | Closed-Back |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wireless |
| Noise Cancelling | No |
| Microphone | Detachable |
| Weight | 382g |
First Impressions
Right out of the box, this is a premium product. It has some heft to it. Even the plastic bits are solid and inspire confidence. The Virtuoso is built to impress, but in a more understated way than many other gaming headsets.
It shows up lying flat, which shows off both its generously padded headband and large earcups. Nothing initially hints at gaudy RGB lighting or a hardcore gamer aesthetic. In short, it’s a good-looking piece of hardware that works in a game, on a live stream, or in a Zoom call with the office.
Packaging
- Headset
- Detachable mic
- SLIPSTREAM wireless USB transmitter
- USB-C charging cable
- Storage pouch
- 3.5 mm audio cable with inline controller
- Quick Start Guide + Warranty Guide
Build and Comfort
The headband and ear cups are well-padded and comfortable. The ear cups are even made of memory foam. The headset rests a little heavy on the head, so I could see how someone gaming on an ultrawide screen may get a bit of a workout in the neck and shoulders, but for me, it’s a reassuring solidity. I wear it easily for hours while gaming, working at the computer, and back to gaming again.
The only strike against the comfort of this Corsair Virtuoso is that the padding of the headband is coated with faux leather that’s a bit slippery. So sudden head movements, especially forward or back, will cause the headset to rotate forward or back. This headset isn’t alone in this problem, but it’s something I’ve noticed if I’m moving around while wearing it. A regular gaming session isn’t likely to be affected, however, unless you’re really getting your shoulders into it.
Sound and Mic
Overall, the sound quality of this Corsair Virtuoso is excellent. The range possible of the 50 mm neodymium speakers is impressive: 20 Hz to 40 kHz. The bass is deep without making your head vibrate, and the
The sound is rich and the spatial audio is excellent regardless of the connection type. As you might expect, however, there is some slight difference in how it sounds based on how you connect.
A wired connection offers the best possible sound quality via a 3.5 mm analog cable. Serving up uncompressed sound, you’re still getting the best of the best with the cable, which also includes an inline controller with standard volume control and an easy switch to mute the mic at the source. Given I don’t move around much, this is my preferred connection type.
The built-in Bluetooth is a stand-out feature of this headset. The sound quality is still great (and was only noticeably compressed when switching directly between wireless and cable). Spatial audio still works great and it’s still super clear.
Supported devices like PC and Playstation 4 or 5 can also use SLIPSTREAM wireless to connect via a USB wireless transmitter. This lives between Bluetooth and analog in terms of quality and is a super convenient way to connect your headset wirelessly.
There is even a dual-channel wireless option that allows the Virtuoso RGB XT to connect to your game via SLIPSTREAM wireless while simultaneously listening to music or making a call via Bluetooth.
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT Mic Quality
The mic quality for this headset is superb, which again is why it’s taken over from other headsets and wireless ear pods as my everyday communication hardware. As a 9.5 mm omni-directional mic, it’s plugged as “broadcast quality.” Though it will probably never beat a stand-alone mic for podcasting, it’s more than enough to make your livestream pop or jump on a team chat.
Like many modern headsets, the microphone is detachable. However, instead of a typical analog microphone jack, the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT’s mic connects with a mini USB connection. While this would improve sound quality, it also allows the mic to have a digital switch for muting the mic in wireless mode and adds a bit of RGB flair to the mic itself.
In short, the mic sounds great and looks amazing.
Features and Ease of Use
As a solid piece of hardware, this gaming headset has enough space for all the essential features you’d expect in any quality sound system. Its buttons and switches are varied enough to be useful at a touch, but not excessive. Advanced spatial audio can help you immerse yourself in your game or get a drop on opponents. And good battery life means you’ll have power for your whole gaming session.
Headset switches and buttons
There are a surprising number of buttons and switches on this headset, but equally surprising is how easy they are to use. There are switches to toggle the wireless mode on and off (on the right ear cup) and a switch that mutes the mic (on the inline controller on the 3.5 mm cable).
The headset also contains 2 volume controls on the headset itself – one for wired and one for wireless – and a third on the cable’s inline controller. While this may seem excessive, it works surprisingly well with each being distinct from one another.
Spatial audio
The spatial audio is excellent in all its settings, which makes the Virtuoso RGB XT a great headset for competitive games where you can hear your opponents’ locations. It’s not so advanced that it reacts to the tilt of your head as you might expect from an immersive VR experience, but it is pretty accurate a long as your eyeline is parallel to the floor.
And if using the SLIPSTREAM wireless connection on your PC, you can also take advantage of the Dolby Atmos software to get the most accurate possible immersive experience.
Charging and power
The charging port is a USB-C connection, which also allows the charging port to also act as a wired connection with a device while charging.
A charge will last for up to 15 hours, which isn’t great compared to competing wireless headsets, but it’s longer than a typical gaming session. Given its charging cable is approaching a universal connection, it’s never hard to top up the battery.
RGB
And while not a make-or-break feature, the RGB accents of these Corsair headphones are very well done. The earcups feature the Corsair logo lit up, and the microphone also has a thin ring of RBG lighting made possible by the mini USB connection. There’s an element of cool without going overboard.
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT Review – Conclusion
The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT headset is a top-quality addition to any gaming setup. It boasts excellent sound quality, one of the best headset mics out there, and incredibly robust and comfortable construction.
It has become my everyday headset for its quality and its elegant profile. Unlike many other gaming headsets, it looks good in either a live stream of a favorite game or a business call.
A couple of quirks to consider are the tendency of the headband to slip if you move your head around a lot, a shorter battery life than other similar headsets, and a higher price point. I feel that the strengths of Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT overcome these, but only if some luxury headphones are in the budget. If not, then the Logitech G Pro X is a great option, or you could follow the esports pro with the HyperX Cloud II.
This product was received for free from the manufacturer and given to our reviewer to test and review. Brands and manufacturers have no editorial control over our reviews. For more information, check out our review FAQ.
