Corsair Virtuoso Max headset review: A headset for adults.

Corsair is back with a premium headset offering for Xbox and PC users in its Virtuoso Max.

Appropriately named, the Virtuoso Max is designed for the connoisseur of the Xbox and PC gaming audio world, complete with a maximum emphasis on features.

Active noise cancelling joins Bluetooth 5.3 simultaneous audio. 50mm graphene drivers meet RGB ear cups. Wrapped in generous memory foam leather and a surprisingly broad amount of adjustability, the Virtuoso Max is a similarly surprising $329.99 to buy new.

That's a lot of 'bones per headset', or 'BPH' as I'm going to call it from now on. The last headset I reviewed from Corsair was the very capable HS75 XB, which seemed to have a relatively short run despite being a fantastic option.

Xbox is quite a competitive space when it comes to headsets right now, and Corsair finds itself with a variety of rather strong competitors as we head into 2025.

Does the ratio of price-to-premium add up for the Corsair Virtuoso Max? Will it land on my best Xbox headsets list? Let's review together.

Corsair Virtuoso Max: Specifications and price

The Virtuoso Max is an impressive product on paper, sporting many of the central features many of us have come to expect of the high-end. On the spec sheet, you'll see a simultaneous 2.4 GHz wireless USB radio with Bluetooth 5.3. There are also 50mm graphene drivers that run up to 40 kHz, which is not something you often see in a gaming headset, and Corsair also includes active noise canceling (ANC) for good measure.

My sample is the 'Xbox version' of this headset, which costs the same as its non-Xbox counterpart, save for the fact it also supports Xbox. The other version is identical but doesn't support Xbox, likely owing to some licensing requirements from Microsoft.

In any case, this is an ultra-multiplatform beast, supporting Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Bluetooth devices in a single package — and ultimately, that's who it's for. The Corsair Virtuoso Max is for the gamer who wants a device for literally every scenario where you might need a headset.

The Corsair Virtuoso Max is available practically everywhere, and anywhere you might want to buy a headset, although the Xbox version seems a little harder to come by. The standard version is all you need if you don't need to add Xbox into the mix, but they both cost the same either way. That cost is $329.99 at Amazon, putting it up there with the likes of other premium options like the Astro A50 and the Audeze Maxwell.

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Corsair Virtuoso Max: Features, design, and comfort

The last time I reviewed a Corsair headset, it was the impressive HS75 XB designed for the Xbox One. Although that was a no-frills affair, it was a huge insight into Corsair's potential as a headset manufacturer as someone who hadn't experienced their products before. Fast forward a few years, and Corsair has been building an impressive range of headsets up and down the price spectrum, culminating in this: the all-singing, all-dancing Corsair Virtuoso Max.

This headset is ultimately designed to be used in every imaginable scenario where you'd need a headset, and that design intent can be seen throughout the product at every angle.

First and foremost, it looks fantastic and might be among the best-looking headsets I've seen recently. Clearly targeting the fashion-conscious user, it has a very premium finish with metal accents and a razor-thin RGB light ring running around each earcup. Indeed, coupled with active noise canceling and Bluetooth playback capabilities, it's clear Corsair wanted to make sure this headset would look right at home when playing Xbox from the sofa or ambient-muting irritating plane noise while gaming on a flight. The mic is detachable to that end, too, if you're going mobile.

The headset has fabric ear cups, which I'm not always a huge fan of. Although I have sensitive skin, I generally prefer either leatherette style or finer satin-style fabric on my ears. I also find the coarser fabric to be a bit of a heat trap, although it's ultimately subjective to your preferences. The cushioning is thick and generous in any case and should ensure lengthy and very comfortable gaming sessions when paired with its ~60-hour battery life. I just wish they'd used the leather from the carrying case on the earcups instead.

Another impressively generous aspect is its adjustability. I have a pretty large head (figuratively and literally), so generally, I find myself maxing out the sliders when reviewing headsets. However, on this, I only needed to go halfway before it was slipping off my head. I think even Andre the Giant would feel reassured by this product, which is a strong plus for anyone seeking a headset specifically for that reason.

The Corsair Virtuoso Max is recharged using a USB-C braided cable included in the box, which also comes with a hard shell carry case for good measure. It connects to mobile devices via Bluetooth 5.3 and to Xbox and PC with a USB dongle that automatically detects the device it's plugged into. It has Dolby Atmos support on board, too, which is a nice bonus.

The on-ear controls on the Corsair Virtuoso Max are more than adequate. They sport large dials for controlling volume across devices via the USB dongle or Bluetooth and have specific inputs on the right side for controlling Spotify and similar apps. The action on the buttons is solid and reassuring, continuing the "premium" theme running throughout.

The right cup also has a custom button for cycling between EQ pre-sets you can set up via Corsair's iCUE app software, in addition to a long-press for cycling between active noise canceling modes. It has an integrated voice that chimes up when you're muting and unmuting the headset, but it's oddly quiet when you're cycling through ANC modes, or EQ pre-sets, relying on tones instead.

On paper, we have a ton of great features here. We have a stunning visual design, we have a comfortable profile, and massive battery life. How does it sound, though?

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Corsair Virtuoso Max: Audio and mic experience

I spent several hours listening to all types of audio with this headset, maxed out quality where applicable, across both PC, mobile, and Xbox Series X. There are aspects of the sound profile that are absolutely immaculate, but there are a few frustrations that prevent it from getting top marks in this area.

The Corsair Virtuoso Max has 50mm graphene drivers that offer a compelling soundscape. The out-of-the-box "balanced" sound profile, I didn't find to be particularly awe-inspiring, but the bass boost pre-set felt more representative of what this headset is capable of. Heady bass that other headsets might struggle with comes through warm and smooth here, shining in both cinematic action games and music alike.

The soundscape also lends itself incredibly well to tactical play, with strong separation buoyed further by Dolby Atmos. Valorant and Call of Duty will flood your ears and give away enemy positions at will, although sadly, it won't help you with skill gaps directly.

If there's one criticism of the headset's limitations that I felt immediately, it's that its max volume isn't very generous. Maybe I'm just getting harder of hearing as I get older, but it was fairly noticeable even when compared to my aging and battered Samsung Galaxy Buds. Still, I think that, for most people, they'll probably be more than fine. However, there are some aspects of the soundscape I think most people probably won't be fine with.

This is a headset that works across all devices all the time, everywhere, all at once, you know, like the movie. To that end, it comes with active noise-canceling capabilities, which have become popular in recent years for commuters and travelers. I love the ANC on my Samsung Galaxy Buds for long flights and train rides, and I can't imagine going without it now.

Microphones on the headset record, analyze and then introduce a soundwave that cancels out the external noise. When it works well, it's great. However, I think Corsair needed to make some tweaks here. I found that when ANC was turned on, even in a relatively quiet place, it introduced distortion at times into the audio.

Admittedly, you have to really listen for it, but I found it was quite easy to reproduce simply by turning my desk fan on and off, which isn't ideal. I found that certain frequencies can also trigger distortion and interference sounds, especially in the high-mids.

I hope it's something that could be fixed with firmware because the alternative is some kind of electrical design flaw that allows for interference. At this point, it's hard to tell. I will say that it's quite subtle and something you'd have to listen out for. I'm someone who listens to a lot of music and would seek to use a product like this beyond its Xbox configuration.

Generally, the headset is performant all up and down the spectrum, but you might be listening to a certain piece of music at a certain moment and get hit with noticeable distortion because the rest of the soundscape presents so cleanly otherwise. It's almost like the quality bar set by the full range is set so high that it ends up disproportionately let down by a couple of small inconsistencies on the low highs and upper mids.

Corsair describes its Virtuoso Max as having a broadcast-grade mic, but I'm not sure I'd necessarily agree. It's not terrible, as you can hear in the recording above, but the mid-range blows out the reproduction a little bit too much. Another downside is the sidetone here, too. It's far too quiet, and this was an issue on the HS75 XB as well in years past. You practically have to have the microphone on your lips for the sidetone to produce any sound, even set to maximum volume in iCUE, which is a shame if you like sidetone. I know not everybody wants it, though.

It's a shame that the Virtuoso Max misses out on top marks for audio. Given the price ask, I had fairly high hopes for an immaculate sound experience, and it comes very close. When listening to audio that sidesteps the problem frequencies with ANC turned off, it's absolutely stunning and sounds like someone shrank an IMAX cinema system and put it on your head.

But then, the distortion slams you in the side of the head like an inconsiderate teenager throwing popcorn from the back of the room in that very same theatre. Hopefully, it's something that can be solved with firmware updates, and I've noticed the Virtuoso Max has already had a couple come through since I received my sample unit.

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Corsair Virtuoso Max: Competition

This part is tough because while admittedly the audio issues I hit are quite niche and subtle and, perhaps, I'm uniquely susceptible for some biological reason — I'm here to compare and contrast to other products I've reviewed. At this price point, there are a lot of very strong alternatives, but problematically, there are strong alternatives at a far lower price point, too.

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3) might not have ANC or a detachable mic, and it also isn't the most "fashion-conscious" headset on the market for mobile use. However, it is over $100 cheaper while having arguably comparable sound — and perhaps even better sound if the distortion issues are universal.

The Astro A50, also from this year, perhaps doesn't sound quite as impressive as the Virtuoso Max, but it does come with a recharge battery dock, although it lacks the versatility of an "outside" headset.

In this price range, it's worth mentioning the multi-functional SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro as well, which does sport ANC, multi-platform capabilities, and has a desktop digital audio controller as well, although it perhaps doesn't have as impressive sound overall.

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Corsair Virtuoso Max: Should you buy?

It's a bit frustrating because the Corsair Virtuoso Max should be an easy win on the high end for someone who wants a truly "everything" headset, but the bits of fuzz that cut through in certain situations, albeit infrequent, definitely detract from the package. When you're offering a product that costs even more than an Xbox Series S, I don't think it's unfair to expect as close to perfection as possible.

The fact the ANC introduces interference makes it difficult to recommend that headline feature, which has undoubtedly contributed to boosting the price. Also, the RGB lights, while attractive for those who are interested in them, don't really serve a purpose for the vast majority of users, since they're more for people looking at you.

I'm sure that's of value to some people out there, but I can't say I've ever seen someone wearing a headset with RGB lights in public, and it's quite rare on streams, too, honestly. The kicker is ultimately the sound because it's so close to incredible and top-tier, but the areas where it struggles can be overlooked most of the time, and I feel like I shouldn't have to make that kind of caveat with a $329.99 headset.

You should buy this if ...

✅ You want a headset that sounds and looks great.

✅ You want to use it in every aspect of day-to-day life, beyond gaming.

✅ You have a particularly large head, as it has some of the most generous headset adjustability I've seen in a long time.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You don't need active noise canceling or RGB lights.

❌ You want to save money; there are more affordable options.

❌ You are sensitive to electrical buzzing since this headset seems susceptible in certain sound scenarios.

Most reviews I've seen for this headset are glowing in general, and it's true that the Corsair Virtuoso Max is a fantastic product overall. I think it's possible that my ears are particularly sensitive to the random bouts of fuzz I discovered during my time with it. It may also be possible that my review unit has some type of flaw or fault. I'm cognizant of the fact that I have the luxury of direct comparisons to other headsets — I'm currently surrounded by some of the best Xbox headsets I've been reviewing as we head through 2025. So it's easy to compare and contrast sound reproduction on the fly here.

For the most part, the Corsair Virtuoso Max does absolutely everything right. It's let down by a couple of what might otherwise be relatively minor issues, perhaps exaggerated by that pretty hefty sticker price. I think if you are someone this headset is for — someone who wants a single device they can use for literally every consumer sound scenario imaginable — I think most people won't be disappointed. If you're struggling to justify spending $329.99 on a headset, though, you may want to look elsewhere.

Otherwise, it's an absolutely grand headset that's perhaps a little more premium than it needs to be. The engineering on this headset to incorporate features like RGB likely undermined the headset's price competitiveness against similar, much more affordable options. Still, if you want something that looks fantastic with great sound, that supports EVERY scenario you might need a headset, this is a strong option for you.

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