Corsair Void Elite Surround Headset Review

A Closer Look & Performance

In the box, you’ll find the headset (of course), as well as two handy accessories. There’s a foam head for the microphone, but it’s completely optional. Plus, the USB to 3.5 adaptor which unlocks the virtual surround features on PC. However, you can use the 3.5mm jack directly on just about anything that outputs audio, so that’s nice.

The 3.5mm cable its self is actually hard-wired. I prefer fully removable cables, as they’re easily replaced and I find the headset is easier to store with the cable removed. However, it’s pretty durable and a decent cable overall, so no real deal breakers here.

Plus, the cable has a 4-pole connection, allowing the use of the microphone on mobile devices, consoles etc.

The Headset

The Corsair Void series evolves slower than the Porsche 911, but that’s not a bad thing really. They made a great design a few years ago and they’ve run with it. The only real differences with various Void headsets is the accent colour really, but beyond that, it’s the internal hardware that has been given a makeover this time around.

On the left ear cup, there’s quite a bit going on. The wire connects to this side, the microphone is mounted here, and so is the microphone mute button. I love the huge mute button though, as many headsets make this quite small, and this large one is easier to hit in a hurry.

The branding is kept pretty simple too. There’s the Corsair sailing ship on the ear cups, but other than that, just a tasteful Corsair logo on the headband edge. I mean, it’s not understated when you have the black and red model, but I imagine the Carbon finished model would stand out a lot loess.

Durable

I love that Corsair didn’t just bodge this out of plastic either. The ear cup mount is a cast metal design that’s incredibly strong. It’s so rigid, they’re able to give the ear cups a pivoting and rotating design on a single mounting arm, rather than the traditional Y split design.

The ear cup has a simple volume control wheel on the bottom too. It’s easy enough to reach, although I do find it turns a little too easily, so if you knock it while adjusting the fit, it turns down slightly. Of course, that may just be me and my big clumsy hands.

Memory Foam

The ear cups are padded with a very soft and comfortable memory foam. There’s a breathable fabric over them too, which is pretty comfortable against your skin. This allows plenty of airflow to your ears, keeping them from getting hot and sweaty. However, it also means the drivers are left open, so there’s not much noise isolation here. That’s not a bad thing, it’s a preference thing; you can hear your environment a little more, and the mid and treble frequencies sound more open this way. Leather pads that lock up the sound tighten up the bass, but have their own downsides too.

You’ll find the same padding on the headband too, which is great, as there’s plenty of it giving you loads of comfort.

I love the integrated size adjustment too. The headband kinda slides over its self, rather than just being a telescopic bit that sticks off either end. There are some markers here too, allowing you to dial in the right size at a glance.

Powerful Drivers

The new 50mm drivers are a nice upgrade. I mean, they’re not a world away from the old ones and still have very similar acoustic qualities. However, with the right audio source, there are notable differences. If you’re not using the extended frequency range, you may not care. However, for Hi-Res audio, Blu-Ray movies, or games with higher bitrates in general, there’s a nice improvement in the range. There’s a lot more clarity on the high-end, which really works well for adding depth to the surround sound features. However, I find that it brings more balance to the mix if you’re gaming and using voice chat at the same time.

While the drivers aren’t lacking in bass, the open design of the foam padding prevents those real bone-shaking frequencies from gaining momentum. There’s more than enough punch though, and the crunch of heavy guitars and the thump of a bass drum sound great. Of course, since they’re not noise-isolating, listening to some crushing heavy metal at higher volumes means the person next to you will be listening to it too; whether they like it or not.

Microphone

The microphone is pretty decent, I don’t think it’s been upgraded really for this refresh, but it’s still as good as it was. It doesn’t hiss and crackle, and you put a good bit of gain on it without issue. The foam head does help if you happen to breathe and blow over the mic a lot; at least for those listening to you.

Overall, the headset is pretty decent really. It’s the Void we know and love, it’s just a little bit better now. 3.5mm works great on mobile and consoles, but if you want the full-fat experience, the USB adaptor is best on PC, as it gives it a little extra amplification and the surround sound features.