Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT headset review - Final words and conclusion

Final words and conclusion

We didn't think Corsair could improve on the SE, but they in fact did. It's not the specs or the hardware that is vastly different, aside from dual-connect with Bluetooth. Truth be told, the money is to be found in the Dolby Access suite, which really surprised me in terms of audio quality. The default modes are a little more normalized, but once you crank up the Dolby Access EQ and tweak a bit, that's where you'll find even better clarity. Also, an added plus is the support for Dolby Atmos for the headset. And while with two drivers that's a bit fake, it did sound really well in games, surprisingly well, and even worthy of a recommendation. That said this kit is 100 USD more expensive than the SE, and that does make this a tougher recommendation. A premium look, feel, and proper wireless experience with many options is what Corsair is offering with the all-new Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT edition. It's a job well done. Now brutally honest, can I tell (hear) a difference compared towards their previous 50mm driver headsets or even the SE version? .. gosh no not really but then again these already were very very good in audio quality. Now, I am a bit of a devotee of the Corsair headsets, and also realize that not everybody will agree with me for one simple reason and fact, as audio is a subjective experience. What I deem and experience as great audio, you might hate. Here's where the flexibility comes in with iCUE, you gain that EQ and are able to tweak things to your preference. Overall you get a rich and vibrant audio quality coming from the two big neodymium 50mm drivers. They offer a wide audio spectrum. But again, nothing is as subjective as sound can be.

Wearing Comfort 

Subjective listening experiences aside, the headset offers a nice improvement in wear quality, it feels light enough (but is not light) and comfy all way around, plain and simple. It's not that light at 360g really. We like how comfortable the headband is, you can wear it for hours and not get irritated. The Virtuoso units have been designed to be much comfier while wearing for a long timeframe. One remark I could make, and I do have quite a number of hours into the headset, your ears do get warm after a while with the close ear cups.

Wireless and wired

The wireless functionality is great, really. In a range of say 10~15 meters, you will have perfect reception. Even a concrete floor below the transmitter we had reception but when moving outside a range of 5 to 10 meters on the floor below the signal dropped at one point. Overall though we feel it's by far enough for what we need to accomplish with the headset. It'll work beautifully in a range of 10m from a PC, TV or whatever device you're connected to.  

Being wireless we have to talk about battery life. It's actually pretty okay, we got a good 15 hours out of one charge so that will definitely get you through a few movies or FPS frag-fests. However, if you connect two devices, say Bluetooth and slipstream, you have two active connections that will decrease battery life by roughly a third (in our experience). But that's still a good ten hours. And a recharge is easy enough over the USB connector.  And once connected to USB you can still use the device of course. Also, remember that you can simply use the wired 3.5mm plug cable as well and hook the unit into anything with a matching connector. 

Any Remarks?

Yes, two. First of the XT edition has the aluminum CPU inserts, they look bloody fantastic, but are prone to smudges. You'll need to clean them off on a regular basis. Secondly, and this is a bit of a thing, the MSRP of $269 for the XT model. That's a lot of cash for a headset. While you can go wired and wireless it just s serious chunk of cash. The SE model can be found roughly 100 bucks cheaper right now, that, however, does not have the Dolby suite, Bluetooth, and dual-connect. 

Concluding

Corsair has reached a state of excellence with the Virtuoso RGB XT, the connectivity is so incredibly diverse, and that audio quality excellent. If it's not up to your audio envelope of taste, you can tweak it with EQ in iCUE or the Dolby suite. That Dolby audio suite is what really caught me off guard, I did not expect anything from it, and albeit it is limited towards Windows 10, you should really try it out (if you decide to purchase this headset). Go into the EQ segment, tweak to your liking and be amazed at how different and crisp everything sounds. Add to that the support of Dolby Atmos in (compatible ) games and movies and I guarantee you, you will be awed and perhaps a bit shocked. The same with the MIC, it's just amazing how good my voice sounds over that boom'isch stick. At defaults, the headset hits a more pure audio sound stage, I myself need more bass, treble, and a hint in the mid- EQ spectrum and sure, some more clarity, and that is all tweakable with this gear. Whether it is gaming or listening to music, you'll appreciate the headset for sure. And yes, you will likely tweak with the EQ a bit. It is fantastic not to have a wire running to the ear cups, wireless rules, and this Slipstream setup lasts you plenty of time before you need to re-charge. We agree audio is such an incredibly subjective thing, so let me close on a personal note as for design, audio quality and features, wear comfort, and connectivity this unit deserves a recommended award quite easily. Wireless slipstream range perhaps could have been a notch better, but I am nitpicking here. It's a mighty stack of money though, then again this is truly excellent and a product I'll be enjoying myself for a very long time

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