Unbelievable comfort combined with an impressive microphone makes the Void RGB Elite USB far superior to its successor.
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
The good definitely outweighs the bad in the Void RGB Elite USB, but it’s a shame we couldn’t find a snug fit that produced an audio response sounding as Corsair obviously intended.
Pros
- Carbon finish looks great
- You could land planes with this mic
- Exceptionally soft foam padding
- Very breathable
Cons
- – Some fitting issues on smaller heads
- – Sound leakage affects bass tightness
- – Awkward mic mute button
- – Earcup shape isn’t best suited to audio performance
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If you don’t have ‘pro’ and/ or ‘elite‘ in your product name, are you even a gaming headset? While not the best gaming headset overall, the Corsair Void RGB Elite USB (MSRP of 80/£70 and sale price of 50 at the time of publishing) for PC with virtual 7.1 surround sound checks off that box and also brings with subtle changes over its predecessor.
It all comes down to a new set of 50mm drivers that extend the frequency response range from the usual 20KHz you’ll find on most gaming headset spec sheets up to 30KHz. That’s well beyond what even the best human ears can hear, but that doesn’t mean it can’t augment the sounds we do hear. There’s also a new Discord-certified mic with increased sensitivity versus previous Void models.
Corsair Void RGB Elite USB Specifications
| 50mm neodymium |
| 32 Ohms |
| 20 Hz-30 KHz |
| Closed-back |
| Omnidirectional electret condenser |
| USB Type-A |
| 0.9 pounds / 390g |
| 5.9 feet / 1.8m |
| RGB |
| Corsair iCUE |
Design and Comfort
The Void RGB Elite USB is one of two new Void models, the other being the Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless (100 MSRP, available for 80 at the time of publishing).
Both model’s are available in white, or the more traditional carbon all-black finish, like our review unit. For that mid-range price point you wouldn’t expect much in the way of extras, and your expectations would be correct. The package contains just the headset itself and an optional foam cover for the mic, which I didn’t find necessary during my testing. Just because it doesn’t shower you in added goodies when you crack open the box doesn’t mean it’s lacking anything, however. It’s comfort and sound that matter.
Our review subject carries over various design choices of earlier models from Corsair’s Void line. That includes a broad aluminum headband covered in lightweight plastic that’s angled to sit slightly further forward on the head than that of most other gaming headsets. The headband’s finished to a nice matte effect, and there are markers on the adjustable section so that you can make sure it’s evenly adjusted. On the underside, a huge chunk of exceptionally soft memory foam cushions the Band against your head, and it’s finished in the same breathable microfiber cloth material found around the earcups. There’s a good degree of difference between the smallest and biggest setting on the headband, so no worries for those with exceptional cranial volume or svelteness.
Corsair really knows how to nail the grown-up aesthetic, and it demonstrates it with this model, keeping the branding relatively restrained with a light gray ‘Corsair’ offset on one side of the headband and a brand logo in the middle of each earcup. These logos are also RGB zones and cycle through the gamut of colors by default. You can, of course, use Corsair‘s iCUE software to customize the lighting if you wish.
There’s another lighting area in a small Band around the mic that pulses red when muted, and the mic arm is on a hinge that can be pushed up out of the way if you don’t feel like talking. However, it’s plenty long enough to place properly when you do want it, and it stays roughly in place once you bend the rubberized arm to taste. I prefer detachable mics and thinner designs that hold their shape more accurately, but the mic’s more than good enough to work well at range if it should happen to slip away from you (we’ll get into that later).
Around the earcups are two gloss areas where the RGB brand logos live, and there’s a matte plastic accent running along the outer edge
The left earcup features the mic mute button, but I’m displeased with its placement, since it can easily be hit accidentally when putting on or taking off the headset. Luckily, there’s that light Band.
The corner of the left cup also features a volume control, which looks like a scroll wheel but behaves like a sprung switch. It’s easy to make precise adjustments with, and even though users accustomed to wheels will have to adjust, it’s a superior design overall.
At 0.9 pounds (390g) this headset’s on the heavier side. As with previous Void models though, it distributes its weight well and doesn’t dig in across the head or around the ears. The trade-off here is that since the fit isn’t that snug, the headset can move around more easily on your head. Particularly if you get a bit, well, let’s say animated when you get that clutch kill or earn a chicken dinner.
The cloth fabric around the earcups provide betters temperature control than leather or leatherette, so these are well-suited to gamers in hotter climates or who tend to heat up when gaming. That material’s not so good at sound leakage, however. In addition to output being audible to anyone around you, that also means a detriment to the audio quality that you yourself hear. There’s a bigger problem relating to the fit and its effect on tone, though.
Audio Performance
On my head, the Void RGB Elite USB tends to flare out at the bottom, meaning they’re much less snug around the bottom of my ears than the top of them. It can be mitigated by adjusting the headband for a looser overall fit, but it doesn’t eradicate the problem completely. And that problem is all about the bass.
On a leaky headset, the bass is always in danger of sounding loose and lacking warmth, because those lower, longer frequencies are escaping out beyond the earcup instead of sounding out in a sealed chamber around your ear. That’s especially important since Corsair markets these new Elite cans’ 50mm drivers as having more powerful bass than ever.
The headset also offers virtual 7.1 surround sound; although, this isn’t typically something we get excited for, due to its artificial-sounding nature.
When I pushed the earcups tightly into my head, I could hear what this model’s supposed to sound like, and it’s a great tone for a midrange product like this. The bass is powerful but matched by overall presence. But when wearing the headset normally, I experienced the flaring effect. It’s important to note that while this was my experience with my smaller-sized head, your experience may differ, depending on the size and shape of your own cranium. Those fearing a similar flared fit might be better served by the much cheaper Corsair HS50, which has a rounder earcup design that provides a more snug fit on smaller heads, and the sound quality’s pretty comparable.
In much brighter news, that new Discord-certified mic is straight-up excellent, with a better-rounded low-end response than older Void models and most of today’s competitors too.
You get a warmth here that’s not quite up there with dedicated USB mics, but certainly knocking on their door. It’s vastly overqualified for play-calling in games and chatting nonsense over Discord, but having vastly overqualified gear for the task is what PC gaming’s all about.
Features and Software
Corsair’s iCUE is one of the most feature-rich peripheral software programs out there. Although we’ve experienced technical hiccups, like issues saving and applying audio profiles or products simply ceasing to work after a firmware update, using this software with other models, there was no such drama during my testing of the Void RGB Elite USB.
It’s literally three clicks’ worth of work to tweak RGB lighting of the logos. iCUE also comes pre-loaded with EQ presets ready to try out. Every now and then I found a profile being useful for a certain game. Virtual 7.1 surround sound can also easily be disabled or. if you’re feeling especially brave. enabled, right from the main menu.
Bottom Line
Things are heating up in the midrange headset market, ironically enough, thanks to the Corsair Void RGB Elite USB.
I had some issues getting a snug fit with my smaller head, which affected overall sound, but there’s plenty else to entice gamers shopping around at the sub-100 point. That’s especially considering the headset is enjoying a Black Friday deal that puts it at 50, which 30 under MSRP. But if you have a small head and don’t feel experimenting, we recommend taking a look at the cheaper Corsair HS50.
Smart looks, restrained RGB implementation, a fantastic mic and generous padding all add up to a tempting wired proposition. You just may want to try it on for size before completely committing.
Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless Carbon
Note: We Are Unable to Sell this Product to Dealers. Provantage is authorized to only sell this product to a final purchaser or licensee that has acquired it for their own use and not for resale, remarketing or distribution.
Overview
Immerse yourself in the action with the CORSAIR VOID RGB ELITE Wireless, boasting custom-tuned 50mm neodymium audio drivers, comfortable microfiber mesh fabric with memory foam earpads, and a 2.4GHz wireless connection.
VOID RGB ELITE WIRELESS
Hear everything in 7.1 surround sound from the lightest footstep to the most thundering explosion thanks to premium, custom-tuned 50mm high-density neodymium audio drivers with an expanded frequency range of 20Hz-30,000Hz.
Constructed for enduring comfort through long gaming sessions with breathable microfiber mesh fabric and plush memory foam earpads.
LOW-LATENCY 2.4GHZ WIRELESS
Play with the freedom of up to 40ft of wireless range and up to 16 hours of battery life.
Durable Construction with Aluminum Yokes built to last through years of gaming.
ON-EAR VOLUME AND MUTE CONTROLS
Make on-the-fly adjustments without distracting you from your game.
OPTIMIZED OMNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE
Picks up your voice with exceptional clarity, while a flip-up mute function and a built-in LED mute indicator ensure you know when you’ll be heard, and when you won’t.
Customize your look with RGB lighting on each ear cup allowing for a near limitless array of colors and effects.
CORSAIR iCUE software enables precise control over your headset, with pre-tuned audio profiles, custom equalizer settings, immersive 7.1 surround sound, and sidetone control.
Customize your RGB lighting on each ear cup with virtually unlimited color options and dynamic effects. Synchronize your lighting with compatible CORSAIR peripherals.
Package Contents
- VOID RGB ELITE Wireless Premium Gaming Headset with 7.1 Surround Sound. Carbon
- Wireless USB Adapter
- USB Charging Cable (1.5m)
- Quick Start Guide
- Safety Leaflet
- Warranty Card
Corsair VOID RGB ELITE Wireless Gaming Headset Review
Today we are going to review one of Corsair’s latest (gaming) peripheral – the Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless gaming headset. That’s quite a long name if you ask me. Also, not to be confused with the Corsair Void Pro RGB wireless gaming headset that looks exactly the same as this one and priced similarly as well. Both are different products, but I think the Void RGB Elite is the “better” one, aside from being the newer headset as well. The Void RGB Elite wireless is a hundred-dollar gaming headset (or less), targeted towards gamers of course; and is compatible with both PC and PlayStation 4. This is a completely wireless headset with omni-directional microphone and 7.1 surround audio. So, if you are in the market looking for a budget-friendly wireless gaming headset, please continue reading our review below and find out what we think about this gaming headset.
Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless Gaming Headset with 7.1 Surround Sound Review
Like I mentioned earlier, the Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless gaming headset is one of the company’s latest gaming peripheral that is priced at 99.99 MSRP. They also have a higher end gaming headset – the Virtuoso RGB wireless. The Virtuoso is more expensive than the Void RGB Elite, at 179.99. Corsair is marketing that one as a “high-fidelity” gaming headset with more set of features.
Going back to the Void RGB Elite wireless, I think this is an updated version of the Void Pro wireless gaming headset that came with the same set of features and pricing. I haven’t tried the Void Pro wireless; but based on specs sheet it looks like the Void RGB Elite wireless is supposed to be better especially in the audio department.
The Void RGB Elite wireless features a custom-tuned 50mm neodymium dynamic drivers with an expanded frequency range of 20Hz-30KHz. The Void Pro wireless only goes from 20Hz-20KHz. Aside from the expanded range, the Void RGB Elite also features 7.1 surround sound that is available when connected to PC only. The 7.1 surround sound, of course, isn’t “real surround”. It’s a virtual surround but no big deal about that.
Corsair is also using a 2.4GHz low-latency wireless connection to connect the Void RGB Elite to the device. The wireless connection has a range of up to 40 feet; I think it has a robust connection. The downside is, it does require the included wireless dongle to function. Without it, you can’t use or connect the Void RGB Elite to any device.
On the specs sheet, it’s compatible with PC and Playstation 4 only, but we were only able to test this gaming headset with our gaming PC. Below you can see the rest of the specifications of the Void RGB Elite wireless and after that let’s take a closer look.
Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless Headset Specifications
Latest pricing and availability: For US: Available on Amazon.com here or Newegg.com here For UK: Available on Amazon UK here
Packaging and Closer Look (Comfort / Fit)
The Void RGB Elite wireless comes in a squarish black box with yellow accent. As you can see from the side, it says “never miss a beat”. It’s easy not to miss a beat; but how about details, micro details, tonality and other audio characteristics. That’s what we are going to find out in our subjective listening.
Corsair’s packaging is quite nice, as usual. The box includes some reading materials, a micro-USB to USB Type-A for charging and the wireless dongle. Never lose this dongle, otherwise you won’t be able to connect and use the headset.
The Void RGB Elite’s headband design is somewhat different from your typical headphone’s headband. Instead of it sitting on the middle top or rear top of your head, this one sits somewhere on the middle-front portion of your head. The headband is adjustable though and clicks as you slide it; but the slider doesn’t offer much resistance.
The cushion is thick enough and according to Corsair they are using a “plush memory foam”. Compared to other memory foams I have tried, this one feels less-dense and immediately returns to its normal shape.
Clamping force doesn’t seem to be an issue. It doesn’t have a strong clamping force right out of the box, but I do feel it’s a little bit unbalanced. I can feel more clamping force on the top portion and not so much on the lower portion of the ear cups. It’s not evenly distributed, as a result the lower portion of the ear cups doesn’t have a good seal or snugly fit.
The foams are covered with breathable microfiber mesh fabric, I doubt it is cotton. For me it feels okay, but it gets hotter after 30 minutes or more.
The controls are all located on the left ear cups. It makes sense since you don’t have to let go of your mouse (if you are right-handed) just to adjust or control something. There are only three buttons and a micro USB port for charging.
Hold the power button a few seconds to turn it on / off. The volume wheel (a.k.a jog dial) controls the volume, and pressing the wheel cycles through the EQ presets. My complain with this is that the voice only says “1” / “2” etc, instead of the name of the preset. It would be nice if it will say what preset are you on.
The microphone is not removable. You can only swing it up and down. When the microphone’s hand is down and there is no red light, it means the mic is active. You can also raise the microphone hand to simply turn it off.
Holding the mic mute button will also turn the mic feedback on or off. I don’t think there is a (shortcut) button for turning 3D surround on / off though. You’ll have to turn it on / off via the iCUE software. Speaking of the software, let’s check it out below.
iCUE Software for Void RGB Elite Wireless
The iCUE Software isn’t required, but if you want to change the lighting effects, play with the EQ settings, fine tune a preset or make your own EQ preset, then you’ll have to install it. If you’re already using other Corsair products, then it’s convenient since there’s only 1 software you need to install for all of Corsair’s products.
This is also where you can enable or disable the Dolby 7.1 (virtual) surround sound effect. I don’t play much with EQ, as I prefer to listen to the default or stock sound signature of a headphone. The names of the EQ presets are pretty much self-explanatory as well.
Ah, I do have an issue with how you interact or change the EQ preset. Earlier I mentioned that when you press the job wheel and cycle through the presets, the voice will only say 1, 2, 3 etc. I noticed that when you turn on / off an EQ preset, its position will also change as well; depending on which preset you enabled last.
This means, that preset 1 may no longer be equivalent to “movie theater” if you turn on / off a different preset or several of the presets. It will be annoying if you are using this feature. I hope Corsair will fix this. Make the voice say the name of the preset and/or not change the position of the preset when turning it on / off.
Testing and Subjective Listening Experience
I’ve been using the Void RGB Elite Wireless for about a couple of weeks now and I’m pretty sure the drivers are at their prime condition already. I’m not expecting that this headset would sound like an audiophile headphone. Let’s be realistic here.
My ears are already exposed to different kinds of headphones; from entry level headphones / (gaming) headsets, to planar magnetic headphone and even audiophile-grade headphones. You can check some of the headphones I have reviewed here.
So, in terms of sound quality, to my ears they sound good for its price and good for gaming. As expected, it is leaning towards the warm side of the spectrum. It has the enough bass depth so that gamers would enjoy the sound of gun fires and explosions.
The mids are a bit veiled or laid back to my ears and the highs aren’t that extended as well. Sibilance is not an issue but clarity is a bit lacking on the treble region. Sound stage and layering isn’t it’s best characteristics as well. It’s a closed back headphone after all. Enabling the 7.1 surround offers a 3D-like experience or cinema-like experience, but again it’s nothing spectacular.
If you ever plan to get this headphone and you like to listen to music a lot, you might want to look somewhere else, or perhaps try Corsair’s Virtuoso (haven’t tried it yet though). But for gaming purposes and multi-media consumption it’s definitely good for its price.
Currently, I don’t have a (gaming) headphone or headset that is priced similarly to the Void Elite that I can compare with. The last gaming headset I was able to test and review is the Audeze Mobius. And that one is definitely on another level overall. The Void RGB Elite is simply no match for that headset.
The mic is decent as well, it is serviceable. Be sure to install the microphone foam windscreen to reduce the popping sound or “tssss”.
Pricing and Availability
The Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless gaming headset is now available and comes with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of 99.99 USD. It is available in White and Black colors. Pricing and availability may change, so for latest pricing and availability be sure to check out the links below.
For US: Available on Amazon.com here or Newegg.com here For UK: Available on Amazon UK here
Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless Headset Review Conclusion
Overall, the Corsair Void RGB Elite wireless headset is a good headset for gaming and media consumption. It’s okay for casual music listening as well, but if you need something analytical, detailed and accurate tuning, this isn’t the headphone for you.
I think it is okay for its price and aesthetically speaking it does look “premium”. However, once I hold it with my hands and upon closer look, that word “premium” slowly vanishes. The overall construction and materials used doesn’t make it premium. But again, it’s okay, just don’t call it a “premium” headset.
I can’t find any cons about this product. But there are things that you may want to consider before pulling the trigger. It’s a pure wireless headset. There is no wired connection option. If you lose or damaged the wireless dongle, then good luck in using the headset. You’ll have to contact Corsair for that matter.
Also, I hope Corsair fixes the issue I pointed out with the EQ presets. If you don’t use EQ at all, then it might not be an issue for you. As for battery life, 2 weeks isn’t enough to gauge it’s reliability. On paper it says up to 16 hours; and based on my actual use, one charge lasted for a day or two depending on how long I use it.
Finally, the Corsair Void RGB Elite wireless is loaded with a good number of features for its price. Sound quality is good; it has RGB lighting; it’s wireless and that’s convenient; and it has 7.1 surround sound if you are into that as well. 7.1 works only in PC though. In the end, I can’t find any reason not to recommend it.
