Our Verdict
Very good for neutral listening. The Corsair HS50 have a deep, powerful and punchy bass, a flat and even mid-range, and a great treble. Unfortunately, their bass is a bit boomy and prone to inconsistencies across multiple users. Their treble range is also a bit uneven, and some S and T sounds may be piercing or lacking in detail for some. Unfortunately, they aren’t compatible with the iCUE software, which offers an EQ.
- Very good audio reproduction.
- Good microphone for online gaming.
- Comfortable and sturdy build.
- Bass delivery varies noticeably across users.
- Poor noise isolation.
- No customization options.
Sub-par for commuting. These headphones are quite bulky and aren’t easy to carry around. They also don’t isolate any lower-frequency noises such as engine rumbles, making them a bad option for your daily commute. On the upside, you can block more noise by playing audio, but you might disturb people surrounding you as they are a bit leaky at higher volumes.
- Very good audio reproduction.
- Good microphone for online gaming.
- Comfortable and sturdy build.
- Bass delivery varies noticeably across users.
- Poor noise isolation.
- No customization options.
Mediocre for sports. These over-ear headphones have a bulky design that won’t be ideal for physical activity. You might be able to jog with these, but they aren’t the most stable and might move around a bit. You’ll also have a wire in your way, and it might get hooked on something and yank the headphones off your head. They also don’t allow much airflow, so you will probably sweat more than usual when working out with these.
- Very good audio reproduction.
- Good microphone for online gaming.
- Comfortable and sturdy build.
- Bass delivery varies noticeably across users.
- Poor noise isolation.
- No customization options.
Passable for the office. They don’t isolate ambient chatter well if you aren’t playing any audio. They are also a bit leaky at higher volumes, so you might bother coworkers surrounding you. On the upside, you won’t have to manage battery life, and you can take calls with their good microphone.
- Very good audio reproduction.
- Good microphone for online gaming.
- Comfortable and sturdy build.
- Bass delivery varies noticeably across users.
- Poor noise isolation.
- No customization options.
Decent for gaming. The Corsair HS50 do most things well but don’t really stand out in any gaming categories. Their microphone is good; it will please most online gamers, and you’ll be able to wear them for long gaming sessions. Also, you won’t have any delay due to their wired connection, which is great. They have a simple gaming-oriented control scheme with a mic-mute switch. However, they aren’t customizable like some other gaming headsets, since they aren’t compatible with the Corsair iCUE software and don’t have channel mixing. On the upside, their simple 1/8” TRRS connector is compatible with all consoles and PCs, making them a versatile headset.
- Very good audio reproduction.
- Good microphone for online gaming.
- Comfortable and sturdy build.
- Bass delivery varies noticeably across users.
- Poor noise isolation.
- No customization options.
- Very good audio reproduction.
- Good microphone for online gaming.
- Comfortable and sturdy build.
- Bass delivery varies noticeably across users.
- Poor noise isolation.
- No customization options.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 03, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated May 06, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Corsair HS50 is a decent gaming headset that sets itself apart by its very good sound and build quality for such an affordable price. Unfortunately, it doesn't block ambient noise well, and its sound delivery varies noticeably across users. If you’re interested in affordable gaming headset options, look at our recommendations for the best gaming headsets under $50. See also our recommendations for the best gaming headsets for PC and the best gaming headsets under $100.
The Corsair HS50 is a better wired gaming headset than the Corsair HS35. The HS50 feels better-built and has a more neutral, accurate sound profile. The HS35 feel more cheaply made, but some may prefer their more lightweight design.
The Corsair HS50 and Corsair HS60 are basically the same headset, but the HS60 come with a USB adapter for you to use the Corsair iCUE software on PC. If you are a console gamer, save a few bucks and grab the HS50, but if you are playing on PC, the customization available on the app might be worth the extra few dollars.
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II are better overall wired gaming headphones than the Corsair HS50. While both models feel very well-made, the HyperX are much more comfortable for long gaming sessions. They also have more control options, like channel mixing and an option to activate surround sound on PC and PS4 thanks to their USB sound card/in-line remote. They also have a much better microphone and isolate more noise too. However, the Corsair reproduce sounds in the treble range more accurately, though, and their simpler controls are also easier to use.
The Corsair HS50 are better gaming headphones than the Razer Kraken X. The Corsair are more comfortable, feel much better-built, and sound significantly more balanced overall. However, the Razer have a better-sounding boom microphone and a more lightweight design.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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