Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE Gaming Headset Review

TweakTown's Rating: 93%

The Bottom Line

The Virtuoso SE is the first headset from Corsair that I've been truly excited for and one you should definitely check out if you're in the market for multi-device compatibility.

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Coming off a quite successful run of headsets with the Void Pro Wireless and USB models and a more recent run with the HS35 and HS50, Corsair is looking to unify their lineup with an all-in-one solution that puts quality on a pedestal and looks to cement Corsair as a favorite for gaming audio moving forward.

The Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE or Virtuoso SE is the latest top tier audio solution from Corsair. Built from the ground up to be a multi-platform solution the Virtuoso SE includes Slipstream Wireless technology for PC and PS4 connectivity along with USB and 3.5mm connections wider compatibility. This new lineup of headsets offers increased build quality with hand-selected and matched drivers, aluminum frame materials and memory foam earpads.

Diving into the specifications; the 50mm drivers offer a 20-40KHz frequency response at 32ohms and sensitivity of 109dB, while the microphone is an omni-directional 9.5mm unit that has an impedance of 2K Ohms and frequency response of 100-10KHz. Battery life is rated at 20 hours for the SE with a 60ft Slipstream Wireless range.

Compatibility includes PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch along with Mobile Devices. MSRP of the Virtuoso SE comes in at $209.99 with a two-year warranty.

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Diving into packaging, the Virtuoso SE offers an image of the headset centered with brief compatibility listed at the top right.

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The back goes into more detail including iCUE compatibility, Slipstream Wireless and Discord certification.

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Included in the box we have the USB Wireless Dongle to the left followed by the 3.5mm cable, USB-C cable and 9.5mm microphone.

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The SE comes with a cloth bag for storing the headphones.

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Putting the headset up on the stand for images, you immediately can tell the quality of this headset. The aluminum frame is design extremely well and is very ridged leaving all the flex between the earcups. The SE offers this large 9.5mm microphone which should offer increased clarity.

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Each earcup does have RGB capabilities with the Corsair sails logo illuminated.

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On the right earcup, you will find the switch to go from wireless to USB along with the volume control.

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On the left earcup, we have the microphone input followed by 3.5mm and USB-C.

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The earcups use memory foam padding underneath a vegan pleather pad for comfort. I will say these are not as breathable as the HS35 cloth pads.

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For PC users, Corsair iCUE will allow you to customize the SE with profiles that include lighting and EQ. Once installed and detected, you will see your headset listed in your iCUE device list to the right. Clicking on the device will load a menu to the left.

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This menu includes lighting effects seen above with nearly any color imaginable.

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The SE also has five EQ presets along with the ability to create custom EQ settings.

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Last, we have the settings menu which offers status and voice prompts along with additional settings for allowing the headset to sleep and updating firmware.

I'm closing in on a month with the Virtuoso SE and I can certainly tell you these headsets are an entirely new world when compared to the Void or HS series. The quality has increased ten-fold with the new aluminum design and the added RGB while a fantastic touch for those that enjoy it, can be turned off for those that don't.

I myself don't like headsets that are extremely bass heavy like Beats or extremely bright like a HE400. Luckily for Corsair, in Pure Direct mode this headset is quite neutral and by default in 3.5mm mode this headset delivers a fantastic experience. That said, the added benefits of Slipstream Wireless and USB mode mean you get the full complement of DSP via iCUE.

Testing compatibility, I had no issues in either USB or Slipstream with my PC. Moving to mobile worked without issue as well. Where I did find a slight problem was Xbox One, allowing the headset audio to come through but without microphone functionality.

All this said, the Virtuoso SE is easily the best headset Corsair has ever made and while the price may be considered a premium, the multi-device functionality and ability to tune lighting and EQ to your hearts content really make pricing a non-issue.