Corsair HS75 XB - Good for Xbox but with some setbacks.
Written by TOMUK
21-04-22
Firstly, let me start off by saying this headset isn't bad, it just isn't great.
Contrary to the other reviews of this headset, I found the sound and lack of other options beyond Xbox as the biggest concern for this headset.
The sound:
The sound is good but way too bass-heavy. The first game I put to the test with this headset was Gears of War 5. It supports Dolby Atmos, as does this headset (free license which is a nice touch), and the sound in Gears Of War is generally to a very good standard.
The headset does a decent job at bringing the 3D audio to life and found this the most impressive. However, the rotars of the helicopter at the start, the firing of the lancer or the gnasher, in both examples the bass just overpowers everything else on the scene. It creates an uneven and distorted sense of what the sound should be.
I enjoy a more full sound where the bass is deep but works in harmony with the mids and lows.
This could have been solved if Corsair allowed you to change the equalizer directly on the headset via your PC (as other headsets do), as I found changing these in the Dolby app on Xbox didn't have the desired result.
However, others may find the bass to be right for them as we all perceive sound differently.
The build:
The headset is very nicely built so no complaint there. It is a little on the heavier side but the memory foam earpads and the headband do a good job of counterbalancing the weight enough to not make it feel uncomfortable. I wore it for a good 3/4 hours while playing through a game and I didn't get any headset fatigue or feel the need to take it off.
Connectivity:
This connects directly to the Xbox via the same connection the controller makes. This practically makes the headset only useable on the Xbox or the wireless adapter for PC. For the price, this is very expensive for something which is bound by such constraints. No Bluetooth either which seems a dire oversight as giving the option to connect to your phone could have at least given it another usecase. For £160, there are far better options in this regards.
Controls:
The controls I feel are the best part of the headset. There has been some thought on the layout and it works well. You have a dial on the left for your game volume while on the right earcup, you have your chat mixer. Everything in terms of sound mixing and volume can be done on the headset without going into menus.
You also have all the other standard buttons like mute which all feel clicky and response.
The detachable mic is a nice touch so when you're not using it to talk - it can be put to one side so it's not distracting. The sound quality of it is decent enough according to friends when I used it. I could be heard clearly enough and there wasn't any distortion or buzzing.
Dolby Atmos / License:
As mentioned above, you do get the Dolby Atmos license included with this headset so when you connect them to the Xbox, the Dolby app instantly recognises it and actives the license. If you disconnect them, however, the license is removed until you connect them again. So the license couldn't be used for your soundbar for instance.
Issue:
Lastly, I had an issue with the headset where a buzzing noise could be heard in the left earcup when no other sound was present. This is annoying if you were just on the dashboard, browsing or just in a party with friends as the buzz was quite distracting. This seems a common issue with this headset and something Corsair should look to remedy in a later revision (if there is one).
Overall:
I can't give this headset anymore than a 3 out of 5 and even then I feel I;m being generous. The price is high and what you get in return falls short of what you would expect from a premium headset. The lack of connectivity outside the Xbox ecosystem and the over bassy sound without any means of properly changing it really do bring this headset down. Especially with the new Xbox headset Microsoft have just released, that would be a much better option for £60/£70 less.