How Corsair's Virtuoso gaming headsets deliver incredible sound and impeccable clarity

Delivering impeccable audio quality, the new Corsair Virtuoso SE and Virtuoso gaming headsets are a must-hear for gamers

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE Gaming Headset
(Image credit: Corsair)

T3 knows a thing or two about brilliant gaming headsets. That's because we spend each and every week of the year reviewing and rating gaming headphones in our best gaming headset guide. From premium wireless gaming headsets, to stunning surround sound gaming headsets, and onto specialist PC gaming headsets, we've gone ears-on with the finest audiophile gaming cans on the market.

Which is why we are perfectly placed to explain just why the brand new Virtuoso range of gaming headsets from Corsair are so special. The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE and Virtuoso RGB Wireless are not just great gaming headsets, but in many aspects technical leaders in the field, delivering a gaming experience that few, if any, can match today.

Where these cans win, though, is in the detail, and that is where we hope this explainer can make the difference. Before we dig into the detail, though, we think it is worth checking out the official Virtuoso RGB Wireless & Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE  launch video, as it provides a great introduction to their key hardware and abilities.

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless High-Fidelity Gaming  Headset

Corsair Virtuoso gaming headset

The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless comes in Carbon as well as this stunning White colourway. Well lush.

(Image credit: Corsair)

Right off the bat, we have to say as aesthetes when it comes round to technology, the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless gaming headset looks phenomenal. It is quite easily the best looking gaming headset we've seen all year and, thanks to a luxe machined aluminium construction, premium memory foam earpads, lightweight pillow-soft headband and beautifully clean lines, it feels phenomenal, too.

For years T3 has been complaining about gaming headsets that look and feel like cheap toys for children. Well, here the Virtuoso RGB Wireless completely bucks that trend with a gorgeous piece of kit that is designed for mature enthusiasts — gamers who are passionate like we are about gaming and quality audio and demand a product that matches their needs.

Corsair Virtuoso gaming headset

Premium, memory foam earpads and a lightweight headband truly deliver all-day wearing comfort.

(Image credit: Corsair)

Comfort, though, is just the start of the Virtuoso RGB Wireless' quality. Audio reproduction comes courtesy of a pair of custom built 50mm high-density neodymium speaker drivers capable of a frequency response of 20Hz to 40,000Hz (double that of many rival headsets!) and a sensitivity of 109 dB (± 3 dB). And, trust us when we say this, that leads to incredibly fine, accurate and balanced audio across the range. This headset is definitely no toy.

That audio delivery is highly versatile, too. Completely wireless functionality is delivered via the headset's integration of Slipstream Corsair Wireless Technology, which offers ultra-low latency audio up to an astonishing 60ft, while the headset can also deliver high-fidelity, Hi-Res 24bit/96KHz audio via USB. You can even plug the Virtuoso RGB Wireless in via a super versatile 3.5mm jack. While this headset excels in a PC gaming setup, it is just as at home with a console or mobile device.

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless gaming headset

The Virtuoso RGB Wireless' 4mm omni-directional mic is fully detachable.

(Image credit: Corsair)

Indeed, that versatility is something that is even carried through into the Virtuoso RGB Wireless' lighting and comfort. Lush memory foam earpads sit incredibly lightly on the head (as too does the headband), while the headset's ear cup surrounds can be lit up in any way the user desires with dynamic RGB lighting. If we're being honest, we think the Virtuoso RGB Wireless looks jaw-dropping without any lighting, but rest assured that functionality is there to an impressive degree if desired.

The Virtuoso RGB Wireless is available in Carbon and While colourways, with our standout favourite being white here at T3. There is, though, one more model in the Virtuoso RGB range of wireless gaming headsets, the Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE High-Fidelity Gaming Headset.

Corsair Virtuoso SE Gaming Headset

With a matched pair of 50mm neodymium speaker drivers, the audio reproduction on the Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE is impeccable.

(Image credit: Corsair)

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE High-Fidelity Gaming Headset

As with the Virtuoso RGB Wireless, the Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE proves its quality, first and foremost, in terms of audio reproduction. The headset, which is the top-of-the-range model, comes with a matched pair of precisely tuned 50mm neodymium speaker drivers, which deliver crisp, rich sound across bass, mid-range and treble, and this partnered with 7.1 surround sound leads to incredible levels of in-game immersion.

Being able to hear every last cry in a busy marketplace in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, or footsteps approaching from down the stairs to your upper-left in Hitman 2, and the metallic rutting of blades clashing in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice with such clarity and positional accuracy is often breathtaking.

And, as audiophiles, that fact that this impeccable audio can then be further tweaked  through the Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE's Corsair iCue software suite, with pre-tuned audio profiles, equalizer settings, RGB lighting synchronization and more on tap and fully customisable is, literally, epic music to our ears.

On the Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE you also get Micro Perforation Lighting, which is a neat system that allows dynamic RGB  lighting to be triggered directly on the headset's aluminium ear cup plates.

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE Gaming Headset

A long-lasting 20-hour battery life and premium memory foam earpads mean elongated gaming sessions can be undertaken in comfort wearing the Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE.

(Image credit: Corsair)

The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE also operate Corsair's hyper-fast and long-reaching Slipstream Corsair Wireless Technology, which means that these cans far outperform many competitors when it comes round to stability of connection.

An exceptional 60ft range means that you never have to worry about a signal drop, while Slipstream's ability to deliver ultra-low latency audio means that audio lag is well and truly a thing of the past. You hear what is happening now, not what happened a second ago, which can make all the difference in a competitive multiplayer environment.

And speaking of hearing, the SE is a master when it comes round to being heard, too, stepping up the quality mic on the Virtuoso RGB Wireless to an even higher level. Its 9.5mm, broadcast-grade, omni-directional, high-bandwidth detachable microphone not only delivers excellent low-end response but truly exceptional dynamic range and vocal clarity. From group chat, to issuing team orders, this is among the absolute finest mics going on a gaming headset today.

The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE comes in a hyper-premium Gunmetal finish, which complements its top-tier fit and finish perfectly.

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE Gaming Headset

Build quality on the Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE is top-rate, with lightweight machined aluminium used throughout. The Gunmetal finish is luxe.

(Image credit: Corsair)

And that's really just it. The reason why T3 rates these headsets so highly. There truly isn't an area where the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE or Virtuoso RGB Wireless feel lacking. They're even perfectly priced in our eyes, ringing in for much less than some competitor offerings.

We thoroughly recommend checking both sets out as we're pretty sure one or the other will be perfect for your gaming needs, no matter if you game on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch or via mobile or tablet. Their wireless performance is fantastic and USB wired and 3.5mm wired connectivity delivers phenomenal compatibility, too.

More information about the Virtuoso RGB Wireless and Virtuoso SE RGB Wireless gaming headsets can be found on Corsair's official website.

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