Corsair HS65 wireless headset review: Comfort and connectivity without the cables

After previously reviewing the wired Corsair HS65 headset, I was very excited to see how the wireless version stacked up against its older brother. Keep reading to see how it compared.

Priced at $239, it sits on par with other wireless headsets with similar battery life - JBL Quantum 810, Logitech G G935, HyperX Cloud II and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 -  and comes with a two-year warranty. It’s available from several retailers including JB Hi-Fi, Kogan.com and Amazon.

First impressions are very important and Corsair made a pretty big impact with this headset and for a very unique reason. While unboxing the headset I immediately noticed something most brands should pay closer attention to - minimising as much packaging as possible.

The Corsair HS65 arrived carefully wedged in a recyclable cardboard mould. Its charging cable and Bluetooth USB dongle were packaged together in just one tiny plastic pouch. No packing peanuts, no oversized box and no environmentally hazardous Styrofoam, which is a real win for Mother Nature! Now more on the design of the headset...

Sleek and modern, this headset has a tidy, matte finish. This time around I tested the Black version over the White and Grey design.

Keeping with the same minimalist design as the wired version, Corsair has cleverly left the same buttons in the same places, presumably to minimise confusion if you upgrade. 

The power and Bluetooth buttons are located on the back right earpiece while the volume wheel and charging port are on the left. The omnidirectional microphone still flips down on the left-hand side but Corsair has added a mute button to the left earpiece. This is both strange and helpful. Strange because the mic has a flip-to-mute function built into it. Helpful because you can now mute yourself without needing to adjust the mic. 

The most anticipated design feature, however, is the addition of Bluetooth connectivity. According to Corsair, on a fast 15-minute charge the headset can last up to 6 hours of gameplay but a full charge will earn users 24 hours of battery life. Through repeated testing, I found the headset holds up to both these claims. If you need to wander to the kitchen for a mid-game snack, rest assured the wireless range reaches up to 15.24m (or 50ft) until you lose connectivity. This has also been tried and tested.

For those who loved the feel of Corsair’s wired HS65 headset, this version will not disappoint. The plush leatherette memory foam along the inner headband and ear pieces offers dense padding and long-term comfort. Essentially, no news is good news here. 

The same can be said for the lightweight construction which, at 275g, is lighter than the wired version. 

Corsair users will be familiar with the brand’s Sonarworks SoundID Technology, which personalises your headset’s sound to match your audio preferences. By downloading the Corsair iCUE software, users can unlock the headset’s multi-channel 7.1 surround sound and access important equalizer settings.

Simply sync up your headset to the program, complete its less than 2-minute quiz to determine your listening preferences and you’ll have a personalised SoundID. The audio quality is sufficient enough without it but once you customise your own listening profile, you won’t want to go back. 

While I really enjoyed playing with this feature, I would’ve been impressed to see more data such as how much bass my profile included. In addition, it’s frustrating that the unique SoundID and 7.1 surround sound can only be accessed while connected to a computer. This means console gamers won’t have the same personalised sound experience as computer gamers.

The infinite on-ear volume control wheel allows for convenient audio adjustments although I did run into some issues. The first time I accidentally pressed the volume wheel, it disabled my volume and I was unable to scroll and change the setting. Only after turning the headset off and on again a couple of times was I able to clear it and use the volume wheel again. 

To paint a picture, the volume wheel has the ability to press in. Each time you do a sequence of beeps will sound - first one beep, then two, then three, then four. This will cycle through again once you reach the end of the sequence.

After reading through the provided instruction guides but struggled to figure out what pressing the volume wheel actually does. It turns out pressing the wheel allows users to switch between different EQ selections - Standard, Bass Boost, Movie Theater, and FPS Competition - according to Corsair’s online Quick Start Guide.

It’s also worth noting these aren’t noise-cancelling and when set at a high volume, the sound will be audible to those around you. So keep that in mind if you plan to use them for watching movies or listening to loud music while travelling in confined spaces.

The Corsair HS65 Wireless headset is compatible with PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 and 5 and other devices that support Bluetooth.

As soon as I saw the higher price tag I knew this headset would need to provide a seamless wireless experience to warrant the upgrade. And I’m pleased to report it does.

The Bluetooth range, the plush comfort, the design and the general feel of the headset leave little to be desired. But if you want a design where you can detach the microphone that still sits in your peripherals, you’ll have to shell out a bit more for either the HyperX Cloud II Wireless headset or EPOS Audio Gaming H3PRO. Or if you want a headset that guarantees more than a whole day’s worth of battery life, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 headset boasting 38 hours for less than $20 more is an excellent choice. 

The other caveat is that the only guides included with the device are safety information and a warranty guide. This doesn’t offer any initial setup information or troubleshooting tips if you run into an issue, say with a volume wheel. 

Overall if you’re looking for an affordable headset with lasting comfort, an attractive design and lightweight for travel, Corsair’s HS65 wireless headset is a solid investment.