Corsair HS60 Gaming Headphones Review

Over the past week, I began and finished my first custom PC build (look for my upcoming article detailing my experience and insights). Intended for everyday use, yet powerful enough to handle the major AAA game releases for the foreseeable future, I decided it was time to finally upgrade my standard headset and mic that came with my Xbox.

Deciding to go with a cheaper and less complex design for my gaming headset, I ultimately chose the Corsair HS60. First impressions and continued use have left a positive impression on me.

Unlike the cheap feeling plastic that seems to plague many other headsets, the all-aluminum frame of the Corsair headphones is surprisingly light yet extremely sturdy. As a dark, standard looking set of over-ear headphones, this pair doesn’t have to be limited to only gaming. Wearing them out of the house shouldn’t net you too many strange looks, so long as you unplug the microphone boom. Over-ear headphones have always been the most comfortable to me and these are no exception, being so light the soft faux leather provided no discomfort over a long game or work sessions.
Built into the left headphone there is a mute button for the detachable microphone, which I will get into later, and the volume control by a spin wheel. The loss of a remote built into the cord is a welcome feature for me. Not typically a fan of the remotes built into the cord the utility and easy functionality of the controls being easily accessible on the headphones themselves make quick adjustments easy during gameplay or simply during work.

image7
In terms of features, the headset does come with a USB 7.1 Surround Sound dongle. This did provide a sharper and more accurate acoustic range while gaming but little to no benefit elsewhere or during some movie testing.

image8

Now, back to the microphone. At this point, I am a bit conflicted. The HS60 includes a detachable microphone which is great for portability and other uses outside of gaming, as I don’t particularly enjoy a microphone boom hanging in my face as I work or listen to music.

image10

 

The rubber stopper that closes the microphone jack is a major concern of mine. The rubber stopper is tiny, while not a real choking hazard I have had to wrangle it out of my dog’s mouth once thus far and have nearly lost it on my desk more than once when unplugged. If you plan on only using the headset for gaming this shouldn’t be too much of an issue but those wishing to use it for multi-platform uses, make sure to be careful where you place it. Hopefully, later iterations of this headset will address this by including extras or attaching it to the headset.

image4
In terms of audio quality, these headphones do a solid job all around. For gaming, these headphones are not the best on the market but they are crisp sounding and chatting comes through clear. As these a gaming headset they do not have the deeper bass and higher acoustic range of most higher end headphones and those audiophiles looking to use these for purely music and internet usage might be a bit disappointed there. Corsair does offer a free application on the PC, iCue, which does allow for custom frequency configurations and presets so those with specific needs or frequency desires can tune in the headset to meet those.

image1

At the end of the day, for $49.99 at Amazon, these headphones are of significantly better quality and comfort than similarly priced gaming headphones, yet they are discreet enough to not garner unnecessary attention if other uses are needed. They have a decent sound range so that users shouldn’t have any issue when listening to their favorite music.

The Corsair HS60 Gaming Headphones retails for $69.99, and they are available directly from the manufacturer and from other retailers including Amazon [affiliate link].

Source: Self-purchased

What I Like: Light and comfortable: Sturdy build: Detachable microphone boom: Controls integrated into headphones: Complete customization for sound ranges

What Needs Improvement: Microphone stopper is easily lost: Low bass quality

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you are shopping on Amazon anyway, buying from our links gives Gear Diary a small commission.

About the Author

Gear Diary Staff
Gear Diary was founded on September 30, 2006, with the goal to create a website that would not easily be labeled. Everyone who is part of Gear Diary is a professional who uses technology in their work and daily lives. On this site, we share our enthusiasm while exploring the gear we use — the equipment that makes our lives easier, more entertaining, more productive, and more manageable. Our hope is that Gear Diary visitors find this site to be a welcoming, friendly, and accessible place to learn about and discuss interesting topics — and not only those that are tech-related! Gear Diary is a place to discover and explore all kinds of new gear, including smartphones, computers, kitchen gadgets, Toys, EDC, camping gear, or even your next new car! You can follow us on Twitter @GearDiarySite.