The Corsair Virtuoso Pro Open Back Streaming Gaming Headset is a high-end headset designed for gamers and streamers who demand the best possible audio quality. It features several innovative features, including state-of-the-art 50mm graphene drivers, an open-back design, and compatibility with Elgato Wave Link software. The Corsair Virtuoso Pro Open Back Streaming Gaming Headset is well-built and feels like it was made to be a premium product. At the price tag of the headset, I would expect this and Corsair does not disappoint.
Unfortunately, the big issue with the Virtuoso Pro is its ear cup design. The circular ear pads are small for my head, with the opening of each pad measuring 2.36 inches across. If your ears are larger than that, the ear pads will press against them. While the material is comfortable, I prefer my ear to be fully surrounded by the ear pad, not pressed upon by the pad, as it makes my ears sweat more quickly. I also noticed that my ear seemed to press against the rough foam layer protecting the drivers themselves – the ear cups are not very deep. I believe this probably has to do with the fact that they are open-backed. Since there is no chamber to direct the sound to the wearer, placing the driver closer to the ear is an easy workaround. Unfortunately, it also caused my ears to sweat. The Corsair Virtuoso Pro’s headband is very comfortable, with a decent amount of padding, and the headband does offer some adjustability by extending or retracting the ear cups into it. The Virtuoso Pro is also relatively lightweight at .75 lbs, which helps to reduce fatigue. The headset has a sleek and modern design and is available in black and silver color schemes.
The Corsair Virtuoso Pro Open Back Streaming Gaming Headset delivers excellent sound quality. The 50mm graphene drivers produce clear, detailed audio. The bass response is also very good, with deep and punchy bass tones. This is ideal for gaming, allowing you to hear footsteps and other positional cues more accurately. It is also ideal for music listening, as it allows you to hear all of the details in the music. I loved playing games and listening to music while using the Virtuoso Pro, Corsair has done a great job crafting an open-back audio soundstage. I plugged the Virtuoso Pro into both my PC as well as my Valve Steam Deck – both provided excellent gaming experiences. A big selling point of the Virtuoso Pro headphones is its 50mm graphene drivers. As the name suggests, these drivers use graphene for their diaphragm material. The claim is that this material allows for less distortion and a more natural sound. Based on my experience, I have to agree!
The Virtuoso Pro comes with two beefy 3.5mm headphone cables – one of those has a flexible boom microphone attached to it. The microphone is uni-directional, picking up sound from the front and reducing noise from the back and sides. The microphone also has a built-in pop filter to reduce plosives. While the microphone quality is a good option for streaming and gaming, it is not as good as many dedicated microphones if you are looking at doing more professional-level video or audio content. If you are creating that kind of content, you may want to consider purchasing a dedicated microphone and using the 3.5mm cable that does not feature the microphone option. I love that Corsair is providing that flexibility with this product.
The Corsair Virtuoso Pro Open Back Streaming Gaming Headset is compatible with Elgato Wave Link software, which allows you to control the audio levels of your headset and microphone independently. This is ideal for streamers, as it allows you to create a custom audio mix for your stream. Of course, being a 3.5mm stereo headset, you can also use other audio mixers and applications to tweak the audio to your liking.
Overall, the Corsair Virtuoso Pro Open Back Streaming Gaming Headset is a great headset for gamers and streamers who are looking for great audio with an open-backed design. It features state-of-the-art 50mm graphene drivers, an open-back design, and two different audio cables (one with a flexible microphone). The Virtuoso Pro is available now for $199.99 on Corsair’s official website.