In our previous Corsair Gaming Headset coverage, we tested HS35, an entry-level model under Corsairs 3.5mm Gaming Headset category and today we have HS50. There are four products in the category among which HS60 Pro Surround Gaming Headset and Void Elite Surround Premium (7.1) are top models, all of them are wired 3.5mm gaming headphone offering an array of features in terms of design, audio quality, and features. There are a mid-model HS45 that comes with a unique feature of where you can turn on 7.1 surround sound using a USB Adapter. But we will go with the Corsair HS50 test today, which is quite similar to HS35 but a higher series in a similar category and find out how well it fits in performance and the price factor.
Design:
Corsair HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset features rugged metal components that as add more life to the headphone. This indicates it’s designed to deliver long-term performance. One common thing you will find in almost every Gaming Headset is Memory Foam over the earcups to add comfort. HS50 has plush memory foam for superior comfort and is built with a 50mm neodymium speaker.
The headband also has a soft cushion to support the upper head embedded to a metal frame with simple height adjustment. The headband has a full cushion cover while in some budget gaming headphones it remains only in the center. This is where HS50 gets a little more comfortable, the metal frame adds strong grips, which sometimes add a little pressure on the ears. This can be causing its news, but the plush foam over the ear-cups makes wearing it comfortable. It completes blocks outside noise.
Dedicated controls over the body are useful, but I found volume control over the wires easier to access. Corsair HS50 has a volume control on the left earcup along with a mute mic button and slot to place the detachable microphone.
When you are using MIC, you will have to use the Y-Adapter Cable, and with dual male 3.5mm pole for PC. Otherwise, you can enjoy the sound only by keeping the Mic aside and using HS50 with single 3.5mm audio connector.
Performance:
Corsair HS50 is a straightforward stereo gaming headset. It does not come with flashy led lights, but it offers great audio quality, thanks to a 50mm neodymium speaker. Audio is pretty loud here, I found it decent on a mid-volume for entertainment purpose and a little higher for gaming. Mic quality is good here, with the noise-cancellation feature you can talk to your friends with no errors. I consider Corsair HS50 a basic design headphone with good audio features. Corsair focused more on giving durability as its X factor by adding metal structural components on it. So it is a kind of sweet deal for those who are looking for a sturdy headphone, especially when you are little careless about carrying your stuff.
I tested out the headphones on multiple games and to an extent, I was a little annoyed with the loudness. Well, it is not a negative aspect of the product, well it’s a feature. Corsair HS50 is really loud, I was expecting to have some kind of audio manager software that can help to play with the basic sound settings. But if you can keep the audio at mid it is a comfortable piece of high-quality audio accessory.
Corsair HS50 is also great for entertainment, that means watching moves or listening to your favorite music. If you are looking for a headset that gives you complete privacy while watching videos on YouTube, even if there is too much disturbance then HS50 is really good.
Conclusion:
Corsair HS50 costs $49.99 on Amazon.com and around Rs.4200 in India. In comparison to close competitors like SteelSeries Arctis 1 ($49.99) & HyperX Cloud Stinger ($42.99) HS50 is has a more professional look and a sturdy design. It is a successful model and used by many gamers. HS50 also features Discord Certification, where it is certified by Discord for crystal clear communication and outstanding sound. With our overall test, I was quite happy and satisfied with usage. I tested it on PS4 attached to the controller, and it worked just fine. Corsair HS50 a good headphone, I will still consider it as a branded entry-level gaming headset where clear audio loudness with noise cancellation mic is two prominent aspects followed by sturdy design.
