CORSAIR HS80 MAX: Everything you need to know

The CORSAIR HS80 MAX is our newest audio offering. It’s one of the most versatile gaming headsets we’ve ever made, and it’s packing some awesome features. If you’re familiar with the previous HS80, and want to know how they stack up against each other, we’ve written an entire HS80 vs HS80 MAX page. For now, let’s see what makes the CORSAIR HS80 MAX our latest and greatest.

Before we pick and choose the bits we think are cool, here’s the full HS80 MAX specs, for those of you who already know what you’re looking for.

• Audio Driver: Custom 50mm Neodymium
• Frequency Response: 20Hz–20kHz
• Impedance: 32 Ohms @ 1kHz
• Sensitivity: 119dB (± 3dB)
• Mic Type: Omni-directional
• Mic Impedance: 2.2k Ohms
• Mic Frequency Response: 100Hz – 10kHz
• Mic Sensitivity: -38dB (± 3dB)
• Dimensions: 200mm(L) x 97mm(W) x 183mm(H)
• Weight: 352g/12.41oz
• Warranty: 2 years

It’s not easy to make a headset comfortable. You must balance several elements just right to avoid an unergonomic and expensive mess. Luckily for you the HS80 MAX has been designed ingeniously to avoid these potential issues.

From the top, then. Starting with the headband, which is arguably the most important part to get right in order to ensure a comfortably fitting headset. The HS80 MAX has been equipped with a floating headband.

Unfortunately, this isn’t quite as futuristic as it sounds, but it’s still pretty cool. Instead of a simple band connecting the earcups with padding on the underside, the band is split. The usual style of band has no padding at all, as there’s a second elasticated band underneath. After you adjust it, the elastic nature of the band evenly spreads the pressure on the user’s head and prevents the rigid first band from contacting the head.

This is particularly useful for those who wear hats often, as there is enough give in the elastic to remove the need to adjust the headset depending on if you’re rolling sans-hat on the day in question.

Memory foam is the ideal material for the padding of earcups, as it rides the line between soft and robust perfectly. Too soft and the clamping force of the headband can basically render the padding useless, too hard and the padding won’t shape to the user’s head.

Memory foam is resistant enough to not flatten over time, and soft enough to still cradle the user’s head. This results in a particularly cozy fit that stays comfortable for far longer than anyone should reasonably be playing games for. However, PC gamers will be PC gamers so we're sure the HS80 MAX will still be worn to the limit.

The HS80 MAX also has a flip to mute mic, which is a particular favorite for multiple reasons. First and foremost is that when you’re not using it, it swivels up entirely out of view. This frees up your eyeline for more immersive gaming and frees up your mouth for more efficient snack ingestion.

Additionally, for those who are apprehensive about the mute buttons on applications like MS Teams and Discord, the physical mechanism of a flip to mute mic can be a lot more reassuring. This gives you the confidence to flip it up, express some “frustration”, then flip it down to continue talking to your boss. The mic is bendable as well, allowing you curl it round to the optimum position for you. It stays where you leave it, too so you don’t need to worry about constant adjustments, just set it, and forget it.

Of course, what use is a wireless gaming headset if you must return it to it’s wired state over and over again? It’s going to have to be charged at some point, yes, but the longer we can go between these instances, the better.

This is why the CORSAIR HS80 MAX lasts for up to 65 hours on 2.4GHz using the dongle, and up to 130 hours on Bluetooth. Those of you who like to live the RGB life will notice the battery life to be less than these metrics, with the 2.4GHz mode lasting about 24 hours with the lighting on.

Additionally, when it does finally come time to plug the HS80 MAX in to charge, it won’t take long. As long as you’re using at least a USB 2.0 port, you can benefit from fast charging, allowing you to significantly top the headset up during an insignificant amount of time plugged in.

We covered this at length in a dedicated Sonarworks SoundID page, but we’ll mention it here just to be thorough.

The CORSAIR HS80 is equipped with Sonarworks SoundID. Simply download iCUE and click the SoundID tab in the device settings. You’ll then be treated to a 5-minute survey/quiz that will use the data to create a personal EQ setting tailored specifically to your own hearing abilities and characteristics.

One of the core benefits of a wireless headset is the ability to physically leave your desk while retaining a solid connection. You might want to grab a snack without interrupting the music or take your discord buddies to the bathroom with you. Former or latter, the CORSAIR HS80 MAX’s 50ft/15m 2.4GHz range will help you keep connected.

If you’re curious about the CORSAIR HS80 MAX, check it out over on our webstore, or stick around here for more helpful articles about tech, CORSAIR or otherwise. We've also launched the new K70 MAX alongside this headset, so check that out, too.