Corsair HS70 Bluetooth Headset Review

Corsair has one of the biggest and best ranges of headsets on the market today. From gaming to those office Zoom meetings, they've got a little bit of something for everyone. However, the Corsair HS70 Bluetooth looks set to be a headset for just about everyone and everything. It's a wired headset, but it also comes with Bluetooth support built-in. That means it'll work on PC, Mobile devices, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S, Xbox One, and Switch, to name but a few. That's ideal for those who love to work and game on multiple systems, as it means you'll only need a single headset, which can save time, space and money. Corsair HS70 Bluetooth The headset connects to your consoles via the included cable, so it's literally just plug and play. However, with the Bluetooth feature, you can connect to a lot of other devices too. However, if you pair your phone, you can use voice chat apps, listen to music, make phone calls and more while you're gaming, so you next have to pause the action. The headset has a built-in battery to supply this feature, and it'll go 30-hours between charges too, so you can game long into the night. Of course, this isn't the first Corsair HS70 that I've reviewed. As I check out the HS70 Pro a year ago and the HS70 Wireless three years ago! So the series has been around for some time now. I loved the previous models, so I'll be expecting the same high standards from the HS70 Bluetooth. Features Simultaneous Game and Chat Audio: Connect to wired gaming audio on PC or console and Bluetooth on your mobile device at the same time for voice chat applications or phone calls.Wide Device Compatibility: Connect with either high-fidelity 24bit, 96KHz USB wired, 3.5mm, or Bluetooth wireless.Superb Sound Quality: High-quality, custom-tuned 50mm neodymium audio drivers deliver the range to hear everything you need on the battlefield.Crafted for Comfort: Adjustable ear cups fitted with plush memory foam provide exceptional comfort for hours of gameplay.Noise-Cancelling Unidirectional Microphone: A fully detachable microphone reduces ambient noise for excellent voice clarity. What Corsair Had to Say "The CORSAIR HS70 BLUETOOTH Gaming Headset delivers both comfort and quality with memory foam earpads and custom-tuned 50 mm neodymium audio drivers, built to last thanks to its lightweight and durable construction. Connect to Switch, PS4, Xbox, or PC with high-fidelity USB or 3.5 mm for game audio while simultaneously connecting to your mobile device with Bluetooth for chat. Make sure you’re heard with a fully detachable, noise-cancelling unidirectional microphone. on-ear volume and mute controls make it easy to adjust audio on-the-fly, while CORSAIR iCUE software lets you fine-tune all of your settings from a single intuitive interface." - Corsair Packaging & Accessories The box is typical of any newer Corsair product, with that stylish black and yellow design, and a large clear photo of the headset on the front. Around the back, it's technical information in eight languages, covering all the formats and options, but nothing we haven't covered already. The box is nice and durable, and the headset is firmly secured into the plastic mould. There's even an extra compartment here, with all the cables stored very securely too. Everything comes with some form of protective wrap, so it should reach you in perfect condition. In the box, you'll find the microphone, the audio cable, and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable. Much like other Corsair products, you get Corsair branded headers on the cables too. It's a small detail, but it just gives it a premium quality look and feel. A Closer Look & Performance The design of this headset is pretty familiar to me, and over the last three years, the HS70 design has barely changed. The tone of the black and grey gets tweaked, and on some versions, Corsair changes the colour of the stitching, but the core design remains the same. Branding is kept minimal and tasteful, with a small 70BT signifying the HS70 Bluetooth on the side here. And a crisp Corsair logo on one side of the headband. There's a simple Corsair sails logo on the back of the ear cup too, and that's about it. It's a little detail, but while this is a "gaming" headset, its design means you won't look a muppet wearing it on the bus, in the office, or on a work video meeting, which is awesome, it's a sleeper! The headset has a cool polygon style on the back, it looks like an open-back driver, but it's actually sealed up pretty tight. It does look great though, and I like that they've kept all the hardware a dark colour and just mixed up a few matte and gloss finish to give it some dynamics. The headset has a good range of ergonomic adjustment. There's a friction slider on each side, and when opened, a sneaky burst of colour can be seen on the headband, didn't expect that, but it does look good! Each ear cup is mounted on a C-shaped arm, so they can't be rotated inwards/outwards. However, you can tilt them inwards like this. Also, they can be tipped out like this, which should ensure a clean fit depending on your head size and how you adjust the headband. From my experience, this headset fits younger gamers pretty well, and it has enough adjustment to fit me on the maximum setting; I have a big head, most headsets do not fit me. The headband feels nice and durable, but it does have a good level of flexibility too. It'll take a firm bend without anything feeling like it was going to break, so if you do drop it or snag it, it should hold up just fine. The inner section of the headband has a grippy rubber finish, with a good amount of padding on it. It's fairly firm, but it is forgiving and does a great job of distributing the headsets weight. While the headset wired, it is also wireless with the Bluetooth feature, so you'll find a good range of controls on the side. You can adjust the volume with the wheel, or mute the microphone with that lovely big mute button; which has a nice mechanical click to it. There's a USB C port here for charging, and that's great as it seems Corsair has now completely removed all Micro-USB ports from their current range. Audible gasp, another outlandish burst of colour here with a small yellow ring on the microphone jack. There's a rubber bung in there, keeping it clean and tidy. Just remove it, put it to one side, and promptly lose it forever... maybe. On the other ear cup, you'll find a master power button. The headset uses the built-in battery even in cabled mode, as it provides amplification, but also is required for Bluetooth functions. It's got a 30-hour life though, so you won't be reaching for the charger too often. You can hold this button to start Bluetooth pairing also. As for the drivers, they're the same 50mm model we've seen in the previous versions of this headset, which is to say, they're rather fantastic. They scale really well, with a nice full sound even at lower volumes and a fairly balanced sound overall. However, crank them up and they become real boneshakers with a nice and punchy bass; albeit, it still doesn't overpower the rest of the EQ. While the headset works great wired on PC, consoles, and a whole host of devices, it's nothing I didn't see in the previous reviews. What I was interested in was the Bluetooth. Corsair market it as pairing with your phone while you use the wired connection for your main gaming. Actually, this works great, taking calls, using Discord on my phone, and even listening to music from my phone has been pretty cool. However, I actually found myself using the headset solely in Bluetooth mode, exclusively on my phone when I'm out for a walk; plus it handles phones calls really well, not just my music! Plus, I've been watching a LOT of movies this last few months, so pairing this up with my Nvidia Shield TV means I can watch movies into the wee hours of the morning without waking up others. Overall, I do find the headset very comfortable. Some rotation to the ear cups would be nice, but honestly, it didn't seem to impact the overall comfort. They're not quite tight fitting for me, which is comfortable, but it does mean they don't fully noise isolate; that may vary depending on your head shape though. The microphone is decent too, it's got a really flexible boom, but stays where you put it. It's nothing innovative, but it's certainly completive for this price range. It doesn't pick up too much background noise, and it's lovely and clear while making calls. There's a mini foam pad inside there, but there is a foam head in the box too. How Much Does it Cost? The Corsair HS70 Bluetooth Multi-Platform Gaming Headset is available right now from many major retailers. It's currently on Amazon for just £93.54, which is a pretty competitive price for such a feature-packed headset. However, there aren't many headsets that offer gameplay audio and secondary audio from a Bluetooth device, and certainly not in this price range; the ones that spring to mind at Turtle Beach and SteelSeries flagship models, which are £250. Overview I got this headset in for review simply for my movie nights, I make no excuses about that, and honestly, I'm thrilled with it. Sure, it's a gaming headset, but the Bluetooth performance really puts this into a different league for me. It paired up with my TV directly. It paired with my Nvidia Shield TV and worked great! Enjoying a range of classic movies, the headset has really put a big smile on my face. It's got clear dialogue, good mid-range detail and plenty of punch when you crank it up for action movies; I tried it on everything from Uncle Buck to Robocop (the original, of course). Gaming Of course, this is a gaming headset, and it really does shine at that too. The sound quality is spot on, no issues there. That being said, it sounds the same as the last two models from Corsair, and I love those too, so no change. Being able to use Discord, Skype, Whatapp, etc on my phone while gaming though, that's a real game changer for me. Plus, if you're on console and want to use your phone for music, it's great for that too. Build Quality It's a solid looking and feeling headset, with premium materials where they matter. A metal headband, lovely metal mounts for the ear cups, soft leather-like material for the padding, matte finishes on all the plastics, which all look and feel premium too. Even the cables are fantastic, with great quality braided, custom headers, etc. Plus, all the cables are standard fittings, so you can easily use your own if required. Should I Buy One? It's one of the best-equipped headsets for under £100. Actually, I can think of headsets that cost twice as much that don't offer anything extra! For watching movies, tinkering with YouTube on your tablet, making calls from your phone, gaming on any major console, or playing on PC, the HS70 Bluetooth ticks every box. If you want to have one headset for everything, this is it!