The Corsair HS35 v3 Wireless Gaming Headset is the latest budget-friendly gaming headset release from the company. Featuring Tir-mode connectivity, multiplatform support, 30 hours of battery life, and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio, the HS35 v3 promise some impressive features for a sub-$100 gaming headset. Can they live up to their impressive spec sheet? Let’s dive in and take a look.
Opting for a more traditional style than the excellent VOID Wireless v2 I reviewed last year, the HS35 v3 offer an impressive light frame weighing only 250g. While they are constructed of plastic, the headband, earcup casings and connection points all feel sturdy and handled stress tests quite well.
Each earcup interior is covered with fairly soft fabric pads that offer both breathability and long-term comfort. Even after a 6-hour play session of the new DLC for DOOM: The Dark Ages, I still found them to be comfortable. I should note that most of that playthrough was while wearing my glasses, and thankfully, the foam provides ample give so that there is no additional pressure on the sides of the head.
“The HS35 v3 promise some impressive features for a sub-$100 gaming headset.”
The theme of comfort is extended through the adjustable floating headband. This new addition is essentially a stretchable fabric band that can be set to three different levels of tension, providing ample positioning options for users. It’s quite comfortable and, when compared to the VOID Wireless v2, is more comfortable for long-term wearing.
The earcups provide 90° turn ratios, meaning you can easily lay them flat on the table, wall-mount, or even store them in a bag without worrying about damage. Even when carting them back and forth to work during testing, they easily slotted into the second pouch in the main compartment of my bag, making them a fairly versatile headset.
This versatility is further enhanced thanks to the detachable omnidirectional microphone. When in use, it attaches to a 3.5mm port on the left earcup, which also houses all of the HS35 v3’s controls. Along with the microphone port, the left earcup also houses a Multifunction button (MFB), volume control and a USB-C port for charging the removable 500mAh battery.
The whole system is quite easy to use, and thanks to the distinct feel of each control, it is easy to navigate quickly. The MFB is quite helpful in managing power, mode selection and media control. Likewise, the volume control also doubles as the mic-mute system, with a quick press muting and unmuting the mic as needed.
The Corsair HS35 v3 is well designed, well constructed and exceptionally comfortable to wear for long periods of time. On that note of longevity, the HS35 v3 is rated for 30 hours at 50% volume. After two days of testing, I was able to reproduce these results. For those wondering, even at 50% volume, this headset packs a punch.
This brings me to audio testing. In frequency testing, I found them to be clean across the board, with clean, though maybe a little whelming, low-end specifically as it pertains to gaming. Interestingly, when I ran a music test, I actually found the low end to have more punch. The mids and high-end come through quite clearly, producing an audio profile that I would describe as a little bright. Not so bright as to fatigue your ears quickly, but one that helps the detail of an audio mix, specifically in gaming, come through loud and clear.
“The Corsair HS35 v3 are a solid gaming headset and my new favourite budget-friendly gaming headset.”
For those using PC and Spatial Audio, this will be quite notable. In fact, I am thoroughly impressed with just how immersive these headphones are, especially considering their sub-$100 price point. While playing through the aforementioned DLC for DOOM: The Dark Ages, I was struck by just how much directional detail was coming through in the mix. While I would like to hear slightly punchier bass in the mix, the immersive sound far outweighs this small critique.
Overall, the sound profile is impressive for gaming and sounds great while listening to music. When combined with their exceptional comfort, lightweight design and impressive 60ft range, I found myself using the HS35 v3 even while cleaning around the house. They are just a great pair of budget-friendly headphones to wear.
As for the microphone, once again, I find myself impressed with what the HS35 v3 can produce. Audio capture is clean and clear, and it does a great job of representing the source audio without capturing a lot of background noise. I would venture to say that this microphone is the best headset mic I’ve tested on a sub-$100 gaming headset.
So while they lack some premium features such as ANC, RGB or custom EQ profiles, they sound incredible, providing exceptional detail to punch through in the audio mix, be it your favourite game, music or streaming video. The Corsair HS35 v3 are a solid gaming headset and my new favourite budget-friendly gaming headset.
