A lot has changed in the gaming world in recent years. With more and more gamers adopting the PC as their primary platform for gaming, the gaming peripheral market has exploded. And while there are a lot of great gaming headsets on the market, Corsair’s HS65 simultaneous surround wired gaming headset is one of our favorites. In this review, we’ll take a look at why we think it’s such a great choice for gamers, and what sets it apart from other competition.
The Corsair HS65 Surround wired gaming headset is simple and effective. It brilliantly combines good comfort, a robust design, and more than adequate performance for under 90$.
Even if the finishes aren’t perfect (particularly the cable and fixed pads), the set has good intentions and is a good value in this price range.
The Corsair HS65 Surround headset includes:
- Inside, the manufacturer goes to the essentials, and the HS65 Surround only comes with an adapter acting as a USB sound card (for 7.1 sound on PC) and a user manual.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Incredible 7.1 Surround Sound | 7.1 doesn’t add much |
| Intriguing SoundID features | Fixed microphone |
| Solid iCUE software | |
| Good sound quality | |
| Affordable price |
Specification
| Corsair HS65 Surround | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Corsair |
| Model | HS65 Surround |
| Product | Headset |
| Weight | 282g |
| Product color | Carbonic |
| Control unit type | On-ear control unit |
| Control type | Rotating |
| Length of cable | 1.5m |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes |
| Headphone type | Full size |
| Headphone frequency | 20 – 20000Hz |
| Impedance | 32Ω |
| Headphone sensitivity | 111 dB |
| Magnet type | Neodymium |
| Dynamic unit | 50mm |
| Microphone type | Boom microphone |
| Microphone frequency | 100 – 10000Hz |
| Microphone sensitivity | -40 dB |
| Microphone input impedance | 2200Ω |
| Noise elimination effect | Yes |
| Foldable microphone | Yes |
| Detachable microphone | Yes |
After the HS50, and HS70 Wireless models, or even more recently, the HS80 RGB Wireless, Corsair continues to expand its range of gaming headsets by unveiling its new Corsair HS65 Surround. A wired model is positioned at entry/mid-range, at the price of $89.99.
Designed to adapt to all current platforms, it has a 3.5 mm connector but also comes with a USB dongle providing additional options on PC. In particular, we will be able to enjoy Dolby Surround 7.1 sound or a new SoundID feature allowing you to personalize the sound reproduction of the headphones.
Design
Corsair HS Surround Wired Gaming Headset is a sleek and stylish headset that comes with a lot of features.
One of the things that set the Corsair HS Surround Wired Gaming Headset apart is its design. This headset is sleek and stylish, and it comes in a variety of colors. It also has a lot of features, including surround sound and microphone control.
The Corsair HS range has accustomed us to headsets with relatively sober looks, and this new HS65 Surround model continues this trend. Available in black or white tones, it takes up a design with a minimalist look, but its design is completely redesigned compared to the old HS50, HS60, or even HS70 models.
As with its cousin, the HS80 RGB Wireless, the lines of this new HS65 Surround are a little more elaborate, and we must admit that the headphones are visually successful. We particularly appreciate the matte plastics with a soft-touch appearance used at the level of the ear cups and the headband.
During the first grip, the helmet also inspires a good feeling of confidence, and despite its featherweight of 282 g, the finishes seem more than correct. The different plastics are well made, the metal hinges are solid, and the whole resist our various tortures without flinching.
However, we can now regret the presence of a cable attached to the headset, which, although reinforced at its base, adds a point to watch closely over the long term.
A little more detail: the headset has a hoop with a fairly pronounced curvature and is reinforced by a metal rod. Here no suspended system as on the HS85 but simple padding with imitation leather covering. The foam is not memory foam, but its generous thickness keeps it comfortable. We will come back to this a little later.
The Corsair HS Surround Wired Gaming Headset also has a lot of other features that make it a great choice for gamers. For example, it has a detachable cable so you can easily move it from one gaming PC to another. It also has an on-board audio controller that makes it easy to control your music and gaming sounds.
The pads have a relatively wide oval format, offering enough space to encompass the ears ideally. Memory foams benefit from correct padding, even if we would have liked a more pronounced density.
No problem as it is, but here we are a little afraid of their durability, especially since removing them does not seem possible. As for the coatings, the external part has a microfiber fabric while the internal part opts for imitation leather to improve passive insulation.
Once placed on the head, the Corsair HS65 Surround has good comfort and can be used for several hours without any real problem. With less than 300 g on the scale, the helmet is particularly light and its headband correctly balances the pressure points on the top of the head. The set is on the other hand quite tight and a slight pressure is felt at the level of the temples.
This does not prevent wearing the headset with glasses; the HS65 remains perfectly in place if you shake your head in all directions. As for the pads, comfort is there, and a microfiber covering limits the feeling of heat during long gaming sessions.
On the control side, the HS65 Surround goes to the essentials. Only the volume is directly controllable from the headphones via a knob positioned at the back of the left atrium. There is no button to switch between Stereo and Surround mode, forcing us to go through Corsair’s software to change modes.
Finally, still on the left atrium is a microphone mounted on a long flexible pole. The latter can be raised along the headset to cut voice capture automatically.
Comfort
Corsair HS Surround Wired Gaming Headset is one of the most comfortable headsets on the market. The ear cups are large and padded, and the headset is lightweight and easy to wear for long periods of time. The surround sound feature is fantastic, and it produces a realistic gaming experience.
The HS Surround Wired Gaming Headset is also noise-cancelling, which makes it perfect for gaming in noisy environments. The microphone is excellent, and it features a wind shield that blocks ambient noise from entering the mic. Overall, Corsair HS Surround Wired Gaming Headset is one of the best gaming headsets on the market.
Connectivity
The headset connects wired to PC, Mac, consoles, and mobile devices via a 3.5 mm connector. As mentioned a little earlier, the cable is unfortunately attached to the left headset, and its length of 1.5 m can be a bit limited if you want to connect the Corsair HS65 Surround to the back of your PC case.
On PC, it is possible to connect the headset via USB via an adapter available in the box. We can then take advantage of the Corsair iCUE software’s options, particularly the virtual 7.1 Dolby Surround sound.
Corsair iCUE Software
From Corsair iCUE, a first tab allows you to manage the equalizer of the Corsair HS65 Surround and adjust its sound reproduction according to your preferences. The brand offers several presets, but creating your settings on 10 bands is possible.
In addition to equalizers, a new customization option called “SoundID” appears alongside the HS65 Surround. Here, rather than manually adjusting an equalizer, the software offers you a solution that is a little more intuitive by making you perform various listening tests. For each proposal, you can select the rendering you prefer and thus automatically refine the sound reproduction of the headphones according to your preferences.
Suppose this solution is a little less precise than a manual equalizer adjustment. In that case, it will probably be much more meaningful for many players even if, on our side, we remain moderately convinced by our results. Switching to an equalizer can be done with your own music/games, rather than the few musical loops offered by SoundID. To see according to the preferences of each one.
A final tab, “Device Settings,” allows you to increase the microphone gain up to 10 dB, change the color of the headphones in the software or even activate voice announcements. However, these only seem to work when connecting the headset and when changing the options directly from the software. If the pole is raised manually, no voice announcement is present.
Speaking of the microphone, on the left of the software, it is possible to adjust its volume and monitoring to hear your voice directly in the headset earpieces. Below, a button allows you to activate or not the Dolby Surround 7.1 mode.
Sound performance
Like its predecessor, the HS60, the new Corsair HS65 features 50mm speakers. In use, the services are convincing; for less than 100$, you get your money’s worth.
If the headset does not offer the most neutral sound reproduction possible for listening to music, immersion is there when gaming. In games such as The Witcher 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider or even God of War, we are perfectly immersed in his adventure, and the HS65 presents a rich and detailed sound. The Dolby Surround 7.1 world can also provide a wider sound stage on specific games without distorting the general sound environment. The integration here is somewhat successful, which is far from the case with all gaming headsets.
By switching to the “FPS Competition” EQ, shooters also find the results interesting. This setting slightly sets back the low frequencies and, on the contrary, accentuates the upper part of the spectrum to spot your opponents more easily. It works pretty well, and on Valorant, the experience is convincing.
Microphone
Microphone performance also lives up to our expectations. We take advantage of a sufficiently clear and powerful capture to exchange without any problem with other players on online games. If it will not replace the best USB microphones in the sector, it has enough to shade many competitors in this price range.
Conclusion!
With its Corsair HS65 Surround, the brand offers an exciting mid-range gaming headset. We appreciate its improved design compared to the old models of the range, its excellent comfort, and its solid sound performance for a gaming headset offered at the MSRP price of 89.99$.
Nevertheless, some small details tarnish the final picture. We think in particular of the presence of a fixed cable, the absence of a physical button for Surround mode, or even a microphone that is not necessarily the most discreet if you want to use the headset for something other than gaming. Points that prevent us from recommending it with our eyes closed at such a price.
For comparison, the Logitech G Pro X is regularly displayed below the 90$ mark and, in our opinion, offers better finishes. If you don’t need the software options of the HS65 Surround, the HyperX Cloud Alpha at around 70$ is also a good alternative. Finally, to stay with Corsair, the HS70 Wireless is available for less than 70$ and has the advantage of working wirelessly; just like its big brother, the HS80 RGB is now displayed at only 10$ more than the HS65 Surround.
As you will have understood, it is difficult for a new helmet to find a place in the sun against a well-established competition in this price range between 60$ and 100$.
