Graphene drivers explained

With the release of the CORSAIR VIRTUOSO PRO, we have introduced our first headset utilizing Graphene drivers. This sounds very fancy, but what is it? Does it result in better sound? Today we’re going to take a brief dive into Graphene driver technology and figure it out.

Firstly, a bit of background. When we say “drivers”, we’re referring to dynamic drivers, which are the “speakers” in each earcup. Dynamic drivers are fascinating technology, by the way. Regular full-size speakers have three drivers: A tweeter for the high pitches, mid-range for the middle frequencies, and a subwoofer for the low notes. These vibrate different amounts, shaking the air, creating perceivable sound.

You see, subwoofers move a lot, and more slowly, and tweeters move very small distances, but very quickly, with the mid-range filling in the middle of that. Now, dynamic drivers accomplish the jobs of all three, doing the big, medium, and small movements simultaneously. This is why headphones and yes, gaming headsets, can provide impressive audio results. But where does the Graphene come in?

To simplify, the sound is created here by vibrating a super thin piece of material called a diaphragm, usually made from a plastic derivative. In the case of the CORSAIR VIRTUOSO PRO, however, we’ve used Graphene, so what’s going on?

Graphene is a material comprised of carbon atoms. This might sound like posturing, pointless over-engineering, but the use of this material for the diaphragm results in some key benefits, due to its unique characteristics.

The properties of graphene make it extremely light, yet stronger than other diaphragm materials. This super low weight means that the diaphragm can be moved very easily, requiring less power than the traditional equivalent. Additionally, being able to move the Graphene with such little effort means that it’s less prone to distortion as you can modulate it more precisely.

So, you can see how this novel technology has helped the CORSAIR VIRTUOSO PRO become a bona fide audiophile headset. It’s not just graphene, either, we’ve also utilized an open-back design. This provides a wider soundstage and more realistic audio. You can read about the differences between open-back and closed-back headsets in our dedicated article if you’re curious.

So, it’s safe to say the CORSAIR VIRTUOSO PRO is the best audio experience we’ve created so far. So, if you’re anxious to grab our first open-back graphene driver headset, head over to our retail site and grab one.