The Corsair HS65 Wireless gaming headset iterates on the previous version by adding wireless audio capability for PC, Mac, PS5, and PS4, as well as support for Bluetooth audio devices. It’s a well-built, lightweight headset that features all-day battery and capable surround sound audio for games, music, and movies.
Corsair HS65 Wireless – Design and Features
Like its predecessor, the Corsair HS65 Wireless headset is a pretty straightforward headset without many frills. What it does offer, however, is the freedom to play wirelessly, either using the included USB receiver or connecting to your device of choice via Bluetooth.
Right off the bat, the HS65 Wireless feels nice to hold. It’s made from aluminum to give it a premium feel without the added heft. And at just 275g, it’s a rather lightweight headset, all things considered. It features rotating ear cups that lay flat when not in use, and is made with leatherette memory foam for added comfort while playing games or listening to music. It’s available in two different matte color options: Carbon (black) or White, although I found the Carbon to attract fingerprints quite easily.
At the core of the headset are custom-built 50mm audio drivers to deliver a wide spectrum of sound, as well as support for Dolby Audio 7.1 surround sound on PC and Mac. If you’re using Corsair’s iCue software, you can also utilize SoundID for a personalized audio experience that’s tailored to your specific taste. Additionally, the HS65 Wireless also works with PS4 and PS5 consoles, with the latter enabling Sony’s Tempest 3D audio for supported games.
The USB receiver provides a solid plug-and-play wireless experience right out of the box, letting you jump into your game right away. The 2.4GHz wireless connection works well up to 50 feet, and Bluetooth 5.2 gives you even more connectivity options. While you can connect to two devices simultaneously (one via the USB receiver and one over Bluetooth), you can’t listen to two concurrent audio streams, a feature found on some higher-end headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 and Logitech G735.
The headset features minimal control options on the exterior of the left and right earcups. On the left side, you’ll find a notched volume dial that provides subtle feedback as you rotate it, as well as a mute button and USB-C port for charging the device.
The left side of the headset is also where you’ll find the omnidirectional microphone. While you can mute the microphone by pressing the mute button, you can also flip the microphone upwards to automatically mute your voice without fumbling with the controls. The microphone is rigid, yet flexible, allowing you to position it in a way that best suits your vocal preferences. On PC and Mac, you can also take advantage of built-in Nvidia Broadcast through the iCue app for more robust noise removal.
The rechargeable battery provides 24 hours of continuous listening time using the 2.4GHz wireless connection. And with USB-C quick charge support, you can get six hours of listening time from just a 15-minute charge. However, I did find the lack of a 3.5mm auxiliary port a bit concerning as there’s no option to manually connect your headset if the battery goes out while playing a game or listening to music, so you’ll need to be diligent about maintaining its charge.
Corsair HS65 Wireless – Software
As previously mentioned, you can download the optional Corsair iCue app on PC or Mac to further customize your headset. Here, you’ll find mostly expected options to tweak such as custom EQ settings, firmware updates, battery percentage, and more.
However, the marquee feature is the SoundID personalization, which tailors the audio experience to your preferences. To enable this feature, you’ll first need to take a short “test.” This requires you to select from a small selection of royalty-free music options such as generic guitar riffs to bass-heavy EDM tracks. Once you’ve selected your music style, the sample will play on loop and you’ll have the ability to toggle between an “A” and “B” version, a bit like an eye exam.
After a handful of choices, your SoundID is locked in, and you can turn it on or off as you please. I took the test multiple times and none of my results made anything sound particularly great. In fact, I actually preferred the default audio settings. The issue is that it only gives you a handful of audio samples to choose from, and unless you’re specifically listening to that style of music – and only that style of music – it doesn’t really work. Not to mention video game audio is so dynamic, and there’s no option to tune the audio based on specific types of games.
Additionally, you can enable Nvidia Broadcast for the microphone, with options to automatically remove noise and room echo to ensure your comms are clean, even with a loud fan staring you down.
Corsair HS65 Wireless – Gaming
After setting up – and ultimately abandoning – my SoundID profile, I opted for the standard Dolby Audio surround experience on PC. I spent most of my time testing the HS65 Wireless while prepping for the upcoming Lightfall expansion in Destiny 2, which meant playing through a variety of different activities to really put this headset through the wringer.
After multiple extended sessions, I will say that the audio experience is notable. It’s nothing absolutely game-changing, but it’s definitely not bad. The surround sound worked well as I explored the many planets in the Sol system, allowing me to hear plenty of ambient sounds on the surface, as well as locate enemies’ positions in both PvE and PvP settings.
While the headset itself is lightweight, I found it pressed against my head a bit more than I prefer, and the rigid frame didn’t allow it to flex much. If you wear glasses, there are definitely more comfortable options out there. However, despite having thick memory foam ear cushions, it stayed surprisingly cool, which was a pleasant surprise.
Over on the PS5 side of things, I continued my playthrough of Hogwarts Legacy and was impressed with how well the 3D audio sounded. As I roamed the halls of Hogwarts, I could easily hear each conversation from the many talking portraits and suits of armor, as well as the crisp crackle of the flames that lit the lanterns. The music sounded fantastic, with highs and lows represented well and without distortion. Even chatting with the various students was an exciting experience as I could hear their voices echo throughout the halls to really give a sense of depth to the towering structure of Hogwarts castle.
The Bluetooth connection was easy to pair with my phone and worked well. The HS65 Wireless was able to seamlessly swap between audio streams when necessary, and didn’t require that I lift a finger. For example, when I received a call, it automatically muted my game audio and swapped to the Bluetooth connection for the duration of the call, and then switched back to the PS5 audio after I hung up. It’s a bit of a bummer that you can’t listen to two audio streams simultaneously like other similarly-priced headsets, but the option for Bluetooth at all is a nice addition, and the way it handles the audio streams was flawless.
