Corsair HS55 Wireless Core

Microphone Omnidirectional / Impedance: 2.2k Ohms / Frequency Response: 100Hz to 10kHz / Sensitivity: -41dB (+/-2dB) Compatibility PC / Laptop / PS4 / PS5 / Bluetooth

The Corsair HS55 Wireless Core is a gaming headset designed for use with a range of consoles and devices.

What's Included HS55 Wireless Core Gaming Headset / USB wireless transmitter / 1.8m USB charging cable / warranty card Weight 275 g Battery Life Up to 24 hours Buy on Corsair Buy on Walmart Expand Collapse

I’m a fussy bugger when it comes to wireless headsets. I’ve always preferred convenience to excess, and thus my sick gamer space is filled with relatively bland products that serve their purpose without the distracting allure of RGB lighting and other cool ideas. The Corsair HS55 Wireless Core Headset strikes a worthwhile balance though, offering a cheap, varied, and surprisingly impressive audio experience that plays nicely with a number of devices.

After using the HS55 for several months as my daily driver on my PC and Nintendo Switch I’ve developed a fondness for it, admiring its sleek yet simple plastic design that combines with its strong audio quality and decent microphone to make a relatively budget headset that falls short in some areas, but remains consistent enough to avoid major complaints.

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As someone who sits at their desk for long hours throughout the day toiling away on content, I appreciate a headset that is equal parts lightweight and comfortable. In the past I’ve thrown aside headsets that uncomfortably clamp down on my glasses or give me subtle headaches after prolonged use. I’ve never had that with the HS55, largely because you can hold it up by the headband with a single finger and not feel a thing. The lightweight and plastic-dominant chassis can make it feel rather cheap compared to its rivals, but it makes up for this with a classy use of distinct logos and a minimal form factor that never gets in its own way. 266g is laughably light though. It weighs nothing to me, like taping a couple of grapes to my head and somehow hearing sounds through them.

Retailing for £89/$99, the HS55 Wireless has no intention of blowing us away or redefining our consumption of audio in the gaming space. It instead positions itself as an affordable and approachable gaming headset that doesn’t beat around the bush. You plug it in, turn it on, it works, and you can get with your day with minimal fuss. Occasionally I’d come across weird connectivity issues when the battery was low, having to remove the dongle and reinsert it into my PC several times before things would play ball. Yet I couldn’t tell if this was an issue with the hardware or my own incompetence, so I waived it off as a small, easily excusable flaw.

Bluetooth and power buttons can be found on the underside of the right ear cup, while the left houses volume, mute, and a USB port for charging and wired connectivity. The mic is rather old fashioned in how you’re required to pull down a long piece of plastic to make use of it, while a loud sound cue makes it immediately clear when friends or colleagues can hear you. If you need to make a cup of coffee or tell your cats to stop meowing up a storm while on a boring and/or super important call, the HS55 is flexible enough to accommodate you.

Connectivity is also stellar. I could be across my flat taking the bins out or doing random chores and the HS55 would have zero trouble staying connected to my phone or PC. This obviously isn’t their intended purpose, but the fact it was able to cooperate with my unusual use cases and come out on top is impressive. Battery life is amazing too, and I got through multiple days of frequent use until a stream of beeps started to inform me the headset needs to be plugged in. It fills up fast, so having to switch to a different device to charge wasn't an issue, especially if I didn’t mind switching into wired mode for a spell.

The custom-tuned 50mm neodymium audio drivers (so futuristic!) are strong too. You aren’t going to encounter strong bass or treble in these babies, but most audio comes through loud and clear with minimal artefacts muddying the experience. It doesn’t ever come close to more expensive headsets or my living room soundbar, but in the context of my daily workspace and playing Switch games in bed, there are few complaints to be had.

If you’re after a cheap and cheerful wireless gaming headset that works nicely across PC and Nintendo Switch you can do much worse than the Corsair HS55. After toying around with them for so long I can’t really see myself changing things up because they’re just so damn convenient. Just try not to drop them and you’ll be golden. Oh, and buy some stickers to cover up the bland aesthetic.

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