Corsair Virtuoso Pro Headset Review: Budget High-end Classic

Corsair's latest HiFi cans are perfect for gamers and streamers alike

Updated: Sep 20, 2023 12:05 pm

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Corsair Virtuoso Pro Headset Review: Budget High-end Classic

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Table of Contents

4.5/5

Corsair Virtuoso Pro Comfort

Corsair Virtuoso Pro

4.5/5

Editor’s Rating

Corsair’s latest open-back gaming headset, the Virtuoso Pro, provides an excellent option for gamers and streamers alike. We’ve had a good two weeks of hands on time to test it out and have got plenty of great things to say about it. From the experience of listening to our favorite tunes, to jumping into competitive games and hearing your opponent’s every move, it didn’t let us down.

Whether for media or gaming it’s a pretty epic piece of hardware. For the streamers out there, the analog connectivity options make it a solid choice, especially when paired up with a standalone DAC or amp. Allowing you to monitor your stream as you game, and still pay attention to your surroundings. There’s plenty more to talk about here, on why this might be the perfect pick for our next best gaming headset list. So if you’re looking for a deep dive on the Virtuoso Pro, here we go.

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Pros

Clear and crisp sound quality
Lightweight and comfortable for all-day use
Easy connectivity perfect for gaming and/or streaming
Solid aluminum build and high-quality cables
Great mic – sounds natural & mic boom is super flexible

Cons

Wired only
No volume controls on headset
Secure clamping force may be slightly too strong for some

Audio Driver	50mm Graphene Dynamic
Frequency Response	20 Hz – 40 kHz
Impedance	32 Ohms
Sensitivity	117 dB (+/- 3dB)
Mic Type	Uni-directional
Dimensions	225 x 195 x 48mm
Weight	338g
Warranty	2 Years

Straight out of the box, you’re greeted with a well-presented product, neatly packed up in its carrying case ready to test out, as you’d probably expect from a brand like Corsair. The plug-and-play design of the Virtuoso Pro means you can opt for either a microphone attachment (which sounds great by the way, even compared to some of the greatest standalone gaming mics) or just the headphones on their own. This is great if you prefer a desk/arm mic. Plenty of careful thought has been put towards streamers (if you’re streaming on Discord or hanging out with chat on Twitch), and this is a good example of that. It uses analog 3.5mm output and includes a Y-splitter to cater for any setup, and we even tested it with the Elgato Wave XLR DAC as well for good measure.

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New Headset From @corsair Virtuoso Pro🎧 #gamingheadset #headset #corsairheadset #virtuosopro #corsairvirtuoso #pcgaming #pcgamingsetup
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Design & features

The design of Corsair’s Virtuoso Pro isn’t anything too outlandish, it’s certainly very similar to the original Corsair Virtuoso SE which we reviewed, albeit with that open-back design, though removable speaker tags add a layer of potential customization for the eager 3D printers out there. We tested the black colorway, and it looks clean and sleek; an equally-stylish white option is available too. What really impresses is the build quality, with an aluminum-reinforced frame it feels solid, dependable.

The headband adjustments securely click into place, taking just a little bit of force to actually adjust to your preference. The open-back design gives us a peek into the inner-workings, which is pretty neat – again with a solid metal casing for that premium feel. We tried out both the headphones alone with a DAC for music and switched to using the mic with included Y-splitter while gaming with friends. The boom positioning is freely adjustable, and the mic quality is great, sounding clear and natural. If you’re looking to really get the most out of the Virtuoso Pro, picking up a solid DAC will improve sound quality leaps and bounds compared to stock audio solutions.

What really impresses is the build quality, with an aluminum-reinforced frame, it feels solid, dependable.

As there is plenty of emphasis for streaming, the Corsair Virtuoso Pro works well with Elgato Wave Link and NVIDIA RTX Broadcast Engine to allow for fine-tuned settings. The open-back design allows for a wide sound stage which sounds far more natural. Keep in mind that this kind of design means not as much outside noise is blocked out, though this is ideal for an indoor setting where you also want to monitor your own voice; even more pros for streamers and creators.

Virtuoso Pro Price

Now it’s time to talk price. It’s certainly not within the region of under $100 here, as Corsair reveals the price for the Virtuoso Pro will be $199.99 at launch, just sliding in under the $200 mark. Over in the UK it’s priced at £169.99, so you can expect to pay a cent or two as it enters the market. As for other parts of the world? Well you’re talking $269.99 Canadian, €200 Euros, and $239 AUD as well.

It looks to be webstore exclusive for the time-being, but will likely land with third party retailers relatively soon.

It is pushing up into studio-headphone quality prices, though we think Corsair has priced it fairly overall considering the competition out there. The quality you get from the Virtuoso Pro is great for broadcasting, and it’s a flexible pick for gamers that have the cash for a high-end option. If you’re after something a bit more budget oriented, we’ve got a list of the best $100 headsets right here.

Audio Performance

As you’d expect, the open-back design is much more sound-accurate. Acoustics are a little different to your average closed-back gaming headset which can sound somewhat bassier. For music, the Corsair Virtuoso Pro was a treat – we gave it a good run through some lossless music and were not disappointed, picking up on previously-unnoticed details. We routed it through a Wave XLR too for the best experience and the volume dial came in handy as the headset itself unfortunately does not have on-board controls outside muting the headset mic when attached.

The Virtuoso Pro performed equally well in gaming; you quickly get used to the more natural sound if you’ve never experienced it before. You’ll find yourself reacting to directional sounds without a problem and audio is crystal clear, thanks to the high-end 50mm Graphene Drivers. Corsair states that the drivers are entirely made from Graphene, which acts as a rigid yet durable dynamic speaker driver, at least compared to more traditional filaments.

There’s no direct confirmation yet on whether these are Dynamic or Planar Magnetic drivers (we’ve reached out for clarification), but from first listen, it sounds more akin to the former than the latter. Planar Magnetic drivers, generally tend to be a little less bass heavy, however the sound quality develops over time, and make them far warmer than their dynamic counterpart. They are however, more complicated to engineer, and thus more expensive.

Corsair Virtuoso Pro Comfort

Comfort is another big factor, especially since the Virtuoso Pro feels pretty lightweight despite the sturdy materials – the ear pads and headband cause no irritation at all. It was comfortable all day long for us, though we could see the secure clamping force being a downside if you’re particularly sensitive to it. In which case you might be better off with some in-ears or something similar. Sadly Corsair hasn’t launched a pair of these just yet, but we’ve taken a look at some of the top earbuds around. Alternatively something like Corsair’s own HS80 RGB might be a better pick.

It performs exceptionally well in our studio or office setup, though intruding outside noise may be a bit of a problem in a busier setting, that’s the price you pay for that open-backed brilliance. While the Virtuoso Pro is great for gamers, players heading off to a LAN might want to pack something that blocks out distractions.

Anyone looking for a new pair of high quality headphones for gaming, streaming or even studio work, should pick these up

To sum it all up, we have little to complain about. The Corsair Virtuoso Pro was a joy to test and worked a treat with exactly what it’s designed for. You will have to put up with setting up cables correctly, but that’s not much hassle at all. It’s also worth noting the braided design is a nice touch. It also helps on the compatibility front, meaning it’ll be a solid headset for the PS5, Xbox or the Switch. Simply find the right setup for you: partner it with a desk mic and DAC, or slot in the cable with mic readily attached, done. We do wish the microphone detached independently of the cable though. There’s a downside for you to think about, alongside the lack of on-board volume slider/dial.

Although the open-back design means this headset is less than optimal on your noisy public commute, anyone looking for a new pair of high-quality headphones for gaming, streaming, or even studio work should pick up the Corsair Virtuoso Pro. With the use of a DAC, you can enjoy sound-accurate quality, while the comfortable and durable build is perfect for everyday use. As a standalone product, we found them exceptional for gaming and listening to music. The plug and play connectivity makes them fit right in any kind of setup, and the included microphone quality is top-notch too.

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