CORSAIR Gaming Headsets: Base vs PRO vs ELITE vs MAX

Over the years CORSAIR has cemented itself in the gaming industry. What started off as a memory focused company has grown into a gaming goliath with several products in dozens of categories. But while having several great options is beneficial for reaching a variety of consumers, it can also make things complex for someone that just wants a headset. So while our headsets like the HS80, VOID, and VIRTUOSO are divided in their core features and target demographics, the differences between the VOID, VOID PRO, and VOID ELITE are not as clear. Let’s talk about that.

To reiterate, the major differences are found between different product lines and so those come with different price tags to match. The differences within a product line are much more subtle so the prices and features are mostly the same. The differences are generally found in small improvements to material and quality which can be important for comfort and slight changes in audio.

For example at the entry level, our HS70 Wireless can be upgraded to the HS70 PRO Wireless that has improved materials all around, resulting in slightly better headphones, microphone, and padding. A similar story can be told with our VOID line that has been around since 2015. Going from the base model to PRO and from the PRO to ELITE is more about improvements to quality and materials to keep up with our learning through the years.

Moving up you’ll see the same principle with our HS80 headsets but with a little extra. While there the HS80 MAX improves on materials, it also adds Bluetooth and an improved battery life that doesn’t come in any version other version of the HS80. With our high end headset you’ll find a similar experience going from the VIRTUOSO to the VIRTUOSO XT. The VIRTUOSO XT has an extra Bluetooth connection, leading to a total of 4 ways to connect: wireless, USB wired, 3.5mm line in, and Bluetooth. Build quality is a major distinction that does improve the audio, but on top of that, it is also bundled with physically larger uni-directional microphone that simply catches sound better than other standard headset mics.

The formula changes up a little bit when looking at the VIRUTOSO PRO. While the base version of the VIRTUOSO already has great build quality and premium audio, the VIRTUOSO PRO is an entirely different experience. It is an audio first design that features an open back design rarely found in gaming headsets. Because of this audio prioritization, the VIRTUOSO PRO also doesn’t have a USB cable or a wireless dongle. It uses the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack that can be powered up with a DAC to push these headphones into an audiophile experience.

To wrap things up, the difference between a base model and a PRO or ELITE model is mainly about changes to build quality and keeping up with generational improvements. With higher end headsets, adding a MAX or XT also adds features like Bluetooth on top of the material improvements. And our VIRTUOSO PRO is a special case where we deliver an entirely different experience with the open back design.