The Corsair Virtuoso Max gaming headset is the latest in Corsair’s premium gaming lineup. Equipped with 50-mm graphene drivers, Dolby Atmos, noise cancellation and Corsair’s signature SoundID software, the headset is built from the ground up for gamers. While there is much to like about Corsair’s latest offering, one wonders if there is enough to help the Virtuoso Max stand out from the crowd.
In line with Corsair’s history of sturdy peripheral designs, the Virtuoso Max is built exceptionally well. The combination of aluminum and hard plastic components builds an impressively rugged headset. While Corsair includes a beautiful carrying case for the Virtuoso Max, which is much appreciated, the headset has no issue surviving in a backpack without concern of damage.
Every component, from the headband to the ear cup mounting brackets, feels durable. The Virtuoso Max had no issues with tough testing, easily withstanding flexing and bending. The ear cups swivel to a flattened position to allow the headset to be packed more easily if the carrying case isn’t available.
“In line with Corsair’s history of sturdy peripheral designs, the Virtuoso Max is built exceptionally well.”
Corsair has included toggle switch controls instead of traditional push buttons. This allows for easy onboard audio control without fumbling for buttons. Like the rest of the headset, these switches are built with the same aluminum finish and feel sturdy when engaged. Perhaps one of my favourite elements of the design is the volume control, a dial that essentially takes up the whole left ear cup. This dial is easy to find while gaming and offers a satisfying turning experience.
The detachable mic offers plenty of flex for easy position adjustments while still matching the rest of the headset’s durable design. The onboard mute control is also easy to locate without looking, being positioned at the connection point. An indicator light located at the mic capsule offers an easy-to-see mute indicator. Again, it’s a well-designed element that complements a well-designed headset.
To round out the design, Corsair has added six zones (three per ear cup) of RGB lighting that can be easily customized from its in-house iCUE software. The RGB lighting is bright and adds a nice layer of customization for gamers. If RGB isn’t something you’re interested in, the entire system can be deactivated via the software with ease.
With all this said, there is one major critique that detracts from the otherwise well-designed Virtuoso Max: it is not as comfortable as other headsets in the $300-$350 price range. For starters, the ear cup pads are quite thin and offer little additional comfort. Additionally, the headband seems to apply unnecessary pressure inward, forcing the headphones to press too firmly against the sides of the head, creating mild discomfort after a couple of hours of wear.
This issue is further exacerbated when wearing glasses. While I can appreciate the need for a closed-back headset to create a good seal around the ear, the Virtuoso Max unfortunately takes it too far. The padding on the headband, like its ear cup counterparts, is also thin, leaving you feeling the headband after about an hour of use.
Considering the price point and Corsair’s track record of creating solid headsets, I’m a bit disappointed with how uncomfortable the Virtuoso Max are. It seems an odd choice to design an incredibly rugged headset with excellent onboard controls only to have it be uncomfortable. While comfort is, to some degree, subjective, and some may find the Virtuoso Max comfortable, I unfortunately am not part of that group.
“Perhaps one of my favourite elements of the design is the volume control, a dial that essentially takes up the whole left ear cup.”
Thankfully, while the Virtuoso Max missed the mark on comfort, it does a much better job with the audio experience. Starting with the 50-mm graphene drivers, Corsair has built the Virtuoso Max for a superior audio experience. Due to the nature of the graphene material, the resulting drivers are thinner and lighter, providing an audio profile with less distortion overall. The result is an audio driver with cleaner audio that is also more energy efficient.
Audio testing provided some interesting insight. Low-end frequency testing was fairly solid, though there was some notable rattling in the 35 Hz to 60 Hz range. It only happened within that frequency range, but it was consistent. The result was a low end that, while powerful, was a bit muddy in the mix. Mid and higher-end frequency, on the other hand, provided clear and clean playback without any distortion. Vocals and high-frequency-producing instruments are presented quite well, with a clear and clean audio profile. As a result, music vocals and video dialogue were clean, clear and easy to hear.
Stereo and Dolby Atmos both presented quite well, with the latter sounding incredible during game testing. This is an area where the Virtuoso Max shines. Directional audio is presented accurately and balanced well. The overall mix, powered by Dolby Atmos, is a delight, especially for intense FPS titles, providing a beautiful level of immersion during testing. The stereo mix likewise provided a clean and accurate representation of the audio output.
The Virtuoso Max also offers active noise cancellation. In testing, it did a great job isolating, reducing and in some cases eliminating unwanted noise, leaving me with nothing but the audio I was playing. The microphone also offers excellent audio capture, providing consistently clean and clear audio. Sidetone and gain functions are provided via iCUE to help adjust the microphone to the desired capture level.
For those wanting to customize the listening experience, the iCUE software allows the user to swap between preset EQ profiles or create their own via the built-in equalizer. While this is a fairly standard feature on many gaming headsets in this price range, what makes the Virtuoso Max unique is Corsair’s SoundID software. This AI-driven tool runs users through a series of quick sound tests. Once completed, SoundID analyzes the results and builds a tailored EQ profile. In testing, I was quite impressed with the results. While I’ve had plenty of experience creating audio profiles with equalizers, SoundID still managed to create something I enjoyed more than I could build myself. It is a great system that is quick to set up and easy to use.
To further boost the viability of the Virtuoso Max, Corsair has also prioritized connection compatibility. The Virtuoso Max can connect to consoles (a separate Xbox-certified version is also available), PCs and mobile devices with ease, thanks to the inclusion of both wireless 2.4 GHz via dongle and Bluetooth. To ensure a seamless swap between devices, the Virtuoso Max connects with both modes simultaneously, allowing for instant swapping without manually switching sources. In testing, the headset had no issue bouncing between my PC and phone, never missing a beat.
“Considering the price point and Corsair’s track record of creating solid headsets, I’m a bit disappointed with how uncomfortable the Virtuoso Max are.”
As a wireless headset, the battery on the Virtuoso Max is an important feature to consider. Thankfully, Corsair takes battery life seriously and included a battery rated for 60 hours with RGB disabled. In testing, the Virtuoso Max consistently landed in the 58- to 60-hour range (RGB off), allowing me to game for several days without needing to charge the headset. For those times when you forget to charge the headphones, plugging them in for a quick 15-minute charge allows for about six hours of usage.
Finally, the iCUE software provides support for all of the various functions and features in one centralized location. While iCUE is powerful, there is a learning curve to understand the layout and UI. However, once learned, it offers impressive customization for both the visuals (RGB settings) and audio experience.
The Corsair Virtuoso Max gaming headset is an interesting piece of tech. In some ways, it stands toe-to-toe with many gaming headsets in its price range. In fact, features such as its rugged design, SoundID and noise cancellation help elevate the Virtuoso Max above the competition. However, the simple fact that it is the least comfortable gaming headset I’ve reviewed in this price range prevents the Virtuoso Max from really pushing ahead. Solid audio, great features and the aforementioned rugged design help offset this critique somewhat, landing the Virtuoso Max headset somewhere in the middle of the pack for premium gaming headsets.
