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Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT review – crystal clear microphone

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT review – crystal clear microphone


The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT solves a longstanding problem with wireless gaming headsets: microphone quality. Cutting the cord usually comes at the cost of compression, which reduces your melodious tones to distorted chaos, but the Corsair Virtuoso upgrade doesn’t sacrifice your sound for freedom. In fact, it justifies its price tag as the closest wireless gaming headset to the best gaming mic we’ve seen, even if it’s not perfect.

In the box are headphones, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C to USB-A cable, and a 2.4GHz dongle. It also comes with a padded cloth carrying case, which has enough space to store everything. The suitcase is good enough, but not as sturdy as the hardshell alternatives, and the microfiber material inside feels cheap.

Overall, the Virtuoso XT headphones are built for sturdy build quality and comfortable to wear. Since I’m used to much cheaper models with less tech, it’s a little tighter than I expected from new headphones, and was heavy around my ears at first, though I adjusted quickly.

The adjustable aluminum strap is so strong that it didn’t bend out of shape even after a few months of use. The memory foam around the band is still firm, something I can’t say with my previous headphones.

Connectivity is the name of the game, and there are four ways to use the Virtuoso XT. The most reliable are a 3.5mm jack or a USB-C cable, the latter offering the clearest audio quality. The 2.4GHz dongle provided an ideal wireless connection, although it caused me some issues with setup. If your device doesn’t support a USB receiver, you can use Bluetooth, but be prepared to reduce the sound quality.

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless
driver 50mm 50mm 40mm
Frequency response 20Hz – 40kHz 20Hz – 40kHz 10Hz – 40kHz
connectivity hybrid Wireless | Wired hybrid
Battery Life up to 15 hours up to 20 hours Up to 10 hours per battery
microphone response 100Hz – 10kHz 100Hz – 10kHz 100Hz – 10kHz
weight up to 382 g up to 360 g up to 357 g
price $249.99 | £249.99 $179.99 | £159.99 $349.99 | £319.99

In addition to a gaming PC, the Virtuoso XT also works on consoles and mobile phones, so I can connect to my PlayStation 5 with no issues. Connecting to any supported device via Bluetooth or USB is simple, but you’ll need to switch to PlayStation mode via the iCUE app if you want to use the dongle.

The Virtuoso XT also has the same neat party tricks as the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, connecting to both dongles and Bluetooth devices. This is supported by separate audio controls: the Bluetooth button and wheels for all other connection types. This is a solution for very specific use cases, like chatting with friends on a device that doesn’t support dongles, or keeping an eye on a video doorbell from your phone while gaming on your PC.

Fortunately, no matter how you choose to connect, setting it up is a relatively painless process. After downloading the iCUE app, you have full control over the microphone volume, sidetone and various lighting effects on the side of each speaker.

There are plenty of ways to adjust the colors however you want, but since I prioritize battery life, I’m disappointed there’s no dedicated option to turn off these effects entirely. I did fix this by changing the color to black, but it’s a bit fiddly to do so. I can also customize the sound via the EQ tab with EQ presets. The free version of iCUE only allows manipulation through five presets, which are perfectly acceptable options – I found the “Cinema” preset gave me the clearest audio – but those who want to manually adjust these settings need to Upgrade to iCUE Pro.

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After playing with the EQ presets, I was impressed with the Virtuoso XT’s sound quality. Similar to the original Virtuoso, it features 50mm drivers that deliver a frequency response between 20Hz and 40,000Hz, delivering depth and detail to high-end tones. However, no matter how you hook up the Virtuoso XT, or even if you invest in the iCUE Pro, you can’t fix the headphone’s biggest flaw: the lack of depth and detail in the low-end tone.

Let’s say you’re a PC gamer looking to get the absolute best sound out of your headset. In this case, no matter how you tune it, you’ll never get the exact same rumble you get with the Arctis Pro or Razer BlackShark V2 Pro when you’re shooting a gun or standing near an explosion. It’s also a shame, not only because it’s the same issue that held back the original Virtuoso, but because the Virtuoso XT is one of the better-sounding headphones on the market right now.

The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT’s microphone is close to its broadcast quality requirements

What impresses audiophiles even more is the clarity of the mic – the Virtuoso XT’s main selling point. Corsair describes it as a “broadcast-grade detachable microphone.” From the many tests I’ve done over the past few months, it’s safe to say that the sound quality of the mic when wired over USB-C is close to this standard. It’s not quite on par with a standalone mic, but sound was crisp and clear during gaming, with no audio leakage from the speakers. I didn’t hear a noticeable difference in sound quality when using a dongle or USB-C connection. Still, sadly, the quality of the mic gets a bit poor when using the provided 3.5mm jack, and it gets worse when I connect via bluetooth.

Best of all, the microphone is both adjustable and detachable. I can easily remove it by pulling on the base, but putting it back in place when the headset is on my head is cumbersome because of the tight connection angle.

Having a physical mute button on the mic is handy; however, if the audio feedback occasionally turns off without warning whenever I mute and unmute myself, that’s not ideal since I rely on audio feedback to hear myself and my surroundings other people’s voices. I can get around this quickly with the iCUE app or by pressing and holding the mute button for a few seconds. Still, for people who have become aware of shouting rather than speaking normally, especially when wearing this headset, this is the only hurdle for the microphone.

That said, there are a few other niggles, especially when it comes to wireless batteries. The Virtuoso XT will last about 15 hours on a full charge, though you can extend it for at least a few more hours by changing the lighting settings. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last long compared to other headphones on the market, and it takes a while to fully charge. Usually, this isn’t a problem for me, as I often use the headphones while charging with the USB-C cable. However, those who prefer wireless gaming may find the lack of fast charging a deal breaker.

Then there’s the price. At $270, £249 and €280 in Europe, it’s a relatively expensive proposition. For one thing, it’s $100 cheaper than the Arctis Pro Wireless and its hot-swap battery. On the other hand, it’s $70 more expensive than the original Virtuoso.

While the Virtuoso XT’s microphone is arguably better than the Arctis Pro, it’s up to you whether audio quality is just as important. But if you’re serious about streaming, this headset might be one of the better options currently available if you don’t want to buy a decent pair of headphones and a separate mic at the same time. For everyone else, the original Virtuoso is still more than a reasonable mid-range option if you don’t want to spend the same amount on a headset as the Xbox Series S.

All that said, the Virtuoso XT is pretty easy to set up, and I’m impressed with its ability to handle high-end sound and the clarity of the mic. I’d happily recommend it to anyone looking for a clear-sounding mic, though the sound quality and battery life are a bit inferior to the Arctis Pro.

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Kirsten Bennett
Kirsten is a passionate writer who loves games, and one day he decided to combine the two. She is now professionally writing niche articles about Consoles and hardware .