Nathan Rizzuti, dedicated to Gadget Review for over 4 years, specializes in home entertainment technology and purchasing decisions. Outside of work, Nathan finds solace in playing bluegrass. With 50 months of consistent contributions at GadgetReview, Nathan’s expertise lies in navigating the realms of home entertainment technology and aiding purchasing decisions. His insightful articles, such as “Oh Ballers of Pittsburgh, Where Art Thou,” reflect a unique perspective that resonates with readers.
The Corsair HS65 Surround headset produces high-quality surround sound and is built for comfort. However, its microphone has poor performance and experiences latency.
We’re reader-supported. Commissions finance our mission. Our ‘True Score‘ system independently powers ratings. Learn more
Table of Contents
Product Snapshot
Overview
The Corsair HS65 SURROUND Gaming Headset, released in 2022, offers many features common to the best gaming headsets. Its 7.1 HS65 SURROUND is designed for long gaming sessions and provides a 360-degree audio experience. The headset features custom-tuned 50mm neodymium audio drivers, a 3.5 mm headphone interface, and adjustable memory foam ear cups, ensuring comfort without compromising on audio quality.
It has a lightweight aluminum frame, providing both durability and comfort, and includes a detachable, noise-canceling unidirectional microphone. It’s widely compatible with multiple platforms, including PCs, consoles, and mobile devices, making it versatile for different gaming setups. Check out our HyperX Cloud Orbit S review for another gaming headset.
Consensus
our Verdict
The Corsair HS65 Surround wired headset is a good option for gamers looking for high-end audio and comfort. The frequency range, 20-20,000Hz, accurately reproduces highs and mids, although it doesn’t produce the deepest bass frequencies. Its 7.1 surround sound setup and companion software allow users to create an immersive audio experience and accurately recreate all kinds of in-game effects. Design-wise, the headphones excel, producing both durability and comfort, given they are lightweight and have plush memory foam, allowing users to play for long sessions.
However, the headphones have some drawbacks, like high latency, which causes lag and can be frustrating for competitive gamers. Additionally, the microphone has a narrow frequency range and struggles to create quality recordings.
ReasonS to Buy
Excellent audio quality
The Corsair HS65 SURROUND is a gaming headset known for its 7.1 surround sound and custom 50mm Neodymium driver, offering immersive, directional audio.
It features a frequency range of 20Hz to 20,000Hz, ensuring detailed sound reproduction across all gaming environments and placing it in the top third of the category.
Built for comfort
The Corsair HS65 SURROUND headset is designed for comfort with adjustable memory foam ear cups that conform to the user’s ears, reducing pressure.
Its lightweight aluminum frame ensures durability without adding extra weight, making it ideal for prolonged gaming sessions without causing discomfort or fatigue.
Great build and design
The Corsair HS65 SURROUND boasts a robust design with a durable and lightweight aluminum frame. Its aesthetic is sleek and gamer-centric, with a refined finish.
Intuitive user experience
Corsair’s iCue software provides users with a handful of great customization options, like a graphic EQ and the ability to control the virtual sound feature. The headset has a scroll wheel for volume and a button to mute/unmute.
Reason to Avoid
Mediocre microphone performance
The microphone isn’t good for recording streaming or gaming content, as tests reveal the frequency to fall between 100Hz and 10kHz. We rated mic quality at 6.8 out of 10, which places it in the bottom half of gaming headsets.
Additionally, this model has a non-detachable microphone, so users cannot remove it if they desire.
Wired-only connectivity
Given the headphones are wired only, users are limited to staying within 6 ft of their console or connected device.
High-latency
The headphones have a fairly heavy lag. At 100 ms, they rank below average compared to our certified tested gaming headphones.
Corsair HS65 Surround Specs
Adjustable Headband
Yes
Auto-Adjusting Headband
No
Battery Charge Time
Wired
Battery Life
Wired
Built In Microphone
Yes
Compatible Platforms
Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
Connector Size
3.5mm
Detachable Mic
No
Driver Size
50mm
Earcup Foam Material
Leatherette, Memory Foam
Headphone Fit
Over-ear
Max Frequency Response
20,000 Hz
Min Frequency Response
20Hz
Noise Canceling
Yes
Programmable Buttons
No
Transparency Mode
No
True Wireless
No
Voice Assistant
na
Weight
0.6 lbs
Wireless
No
Wireless Connectivity
n/a
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Gaming Headsets based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
Max Volume (dB)
0
Microphone Sound Quality Rating (out of 10.0)
0
Speech To Noise Ratio (dB)
0
BT Latency (ms)
0
Non-BT Latency (ms)
0
Low End Roll Off (Hz)
0
High End Roll Off (Hz)
0
All Tests
Like what you’re reading? Get trustworthy, transparent product reviews and the latest tech news delivered to your inbox every morning.
The Corsair HS65 SURROUND Gaming Headset, released in 2022, offers many features common to the best gaming headsets. Its 7.1 HS65 SURROUND is designed for…
The Corsair HS65 SURROUND Gaming Headset, released in 2022, offers many features common to the best gaming headsets. Its 7.1 HS65 SURROUND is designed for long gaming sessions and provides a 360-degree audio experience. The headset features custom-tuned 50mm neodymium audio drivers, a 3.5 mm headphone interface, and adjustable memory foam ear cups, ensuring comfort without compromising on audio quality.
It has a lightweight aluminum frame, providing both durability and comfort, and includes a detachable, noise-canceling unidirectional microphone. It’s widely compatible with multiple platforms, including PCs, consoles, and mobile devices, making it versatile for different gaming setups. Check out our HyperX Cloud Orbit S review for another gaming headset.
The main difference between the Corsair HS65 and Corsair HS70 is that the HS70 has a 52 ms wireless latency compared to the HS65’s 100…
The main difference between the Corsair HS65 and Corsair HS70 is that the HS70 has a 52 ms wireless latency compared to the HS65’s 100 ms latency. Additionally, the HS70 has a superior sound profile that produces more consistent bass frequencies and mids than the HS65. However, if you don’t like changing your battery, the wired HS65 guarantees your headset won’t crash during gameplay. For more of a more stylistic model from this brand, check out our Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless review.
Concerning sound, the Corsair HS65 SURROUND offers 7.1 surround sound, enhancing directional audio in gaming, while the Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED relies on stereo sound, which…
Concerning sound, the Corsair HS65 SURROUND offers 7.1 surround sound, enhancing directional audio in gaming, while the Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED relies on stereo sound, which is less immersive but still provides clear audio. In terms of design, the HS65’s robust aluminum frame and memory foam ear cups edge out the G535’s more basic plastic build and standard padding. For a look into different brands, we offer an in-depth Beyerdynamic MMX 150 review.
Compared to the Logitech G735, the HS65’s 7.1 surround sound provides an immersive audio experience with precise directional cues, whereas the G735, typically offering stereo…
Compared to the Logitech G735, the HS65’s 7.1 surround sound provides an immersive audio experience with precise directional cues, whereas the G735, typically offering stereo sound, may lack this level of immersion. However, the G735 stands out with its microphone quality, offering clear and consistent voice capture, a slight edge over the HS65. For more on this brand, check out our guide to the best Logitech headsets.
The Corsair HS65 SURROUND and HS60 differ notably in audio and comfort features. The HS65’s 7.1 surround sound provides a more immersive audio experience with…
The Corsair HS65 SURROUND and HS60 differ notably in audio and comfort features. The HS65’s 7.1 surround sound provides a more immersive audio experience with superior directional cues compared to the HS60’s standard stereo sound. The HS65 boasts a slightly enhanced microphone quality with better noise cancellation, aiding clearer in-game communication. Comfort-wise, the HS65 edges out with its updated memory foam ear cups and lightweight design, offering prolonged comfort during gaming sessions. Feel free to continue researching Corsair’s headset lineup and read our Corsair Virtuoso Pro review.
Adjustable Headband
Yes
–
Yes
Yes
Yes
Auto-Adjusting Headband
No
–
No
No
No
Battery Charge Time
Wired
3 hrs
–
–
–
Battery Life
Wired
30 hrs
33 hrs
–
Wired
Built In Microphone
Yes
Yes
–
–
–
Compatible Platforms
Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
–
PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Android, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Controllers
Android, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X