Corsair HS1 USB Gaming Headset Review @ [H]

I have to say im impressed with the HS1 headest(thanks HardOCP for the free shizz). The audio is very clean and the virtual 7.1 is a very nice feature.
 
Bought these last week, as I was tired of my ancient midiland speakers, and intergrated sound card.

Disabled my intergrated sound card, junked my speakers, and love this, for either gaming, or using it with vent, or listening to music in hall surround.

Definetly worth the 100 if you want some headsets, and don't have quality speakers, missing so much out of the cheapies.
 
Ok, I got my pair today and after I removed the headphone from the packaging, I found the warranty void if removed sticker somehow stuck to the packaging. Anyone know where it's supposed to be?
 
Rock&Roll said:
Sigh, after corsair went to all that work designing a set of cans with (relatively) flat frequency response (or so they claim), this is what you do::(
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I own the HS1 headphones. I ran them through a few passes on a 19 step tone generator to determine how flat they were: they are reasonably flat from ~300Hz on up to 16kHz with slight peaks in the 2.5-4kHz range; with flat EQ settings the frequencies lose volume as they approach 250Hz and become virtually inaudible (in a quiet room, mind you) as they reach 60Hz and reproduction disappears below 50Hz.

I adjusted my EQ settings on each pass and, after completing the third pass, ended up with this EQ:

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I then read the review in full and noticed Earl had almost identical settings.

Rock&Roll said:
My apologies for preaching.
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You're forgiven for speaking with absolutely no hands-on knowledge of the product whatsoever. The review was as accurate as the EQ settings.
 
ear8dmg said:
I absolutely disagree that Dolby Headphone with music is not for audio purists.

Dolby Headphone is a speaker and environment simulator. If you use it to simulate stereo speakers (and the DH HRTF suits you) you are usually listening closer to how the recording engineer / producer intended. Most music is intended for stereo speakers and using front L & R only, that's what you hear with Dolby Headphone. Well - with DH1 anyway, which is rather like using nearfield monitors. I'm less keen on DH2 and DH3 for music as I find the acoustic reflections sound atificial.

Upmixing to stereo music 5.1 though. That's less clever. Using 2 chanels with Dolby Headphone is great for restoring the soundstage information of the original recording - just like listening to decent stereo speakers out in front of you. That can give some startling 3D effects if recorded well.
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I will agree with you to some extent. When i said what i did about dolby i meant it more specifically towards the HS1's. I will say that Dolby while closer to the original source playback still adds coloration to the music. if you want a submersive sound with little to no coloration. Add some crossfeed to your setup. I recently stumbled upon a VSt plugin called head-fit it adds some nice crossfeed to foobar 2000 and doesn't really add any coloration tot he music. And as stated for dolby DH1 is the way to go if you are using it. hell i got an Asus xonar ST for the dolby to use in gaming. Which is why i bought this headset to begin with. DH2 is nice for gaming duties, DH3 sounds like your always in a cave...
 
I just got these headphones today & they're pretty good so far. I'll be get $20 back from a MIR so $79.99 after MIR isn't so bad.
 
I read a lot of reviews for this myself and decided to take the plunge. Had a $25 Amazon gift card which knocked it down to $75 and the $20 MIR (I'm still in qualification for it cause I ordered it Christmas night from Amazon...I think) knocks it down to $55. So I'm probably going to use the settings Earl used in his review for music. As for gaming, I play Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and I noticed a couple of posters had some success using this headset well in-game. If those guys or others can give me a few pointers as to what the best settings are to use for BC2 I'd be much obliged and appreciative. So I'm going to give these a try while my Steelseries Siberia V2's are being repaired by a friend of mine (one night they took a good knock and ever since they still produce sound and voice but the sound doesn't have the bass thunder those who use the Siberia V2's (USB 7.1 version) know so well. I'm going to have him have a look at them and whichever of the 2 sounds best when the Siberia's are repaired that's what I'll use. Thanks for advice in advance on how to use these in BC2. Until next time I am out!
 
Anyone else using these with LOTRO?

I'm wearing a fresh pair right now, they are comfy, the sound seems good with the above EQ settings approximated, but the MIC is terrible. I'm super quiet... all mic volume sliders are maxed. There no +xDB mic boost in the drivers for this headset.

Can anyone help?

So far, my review of this headset is favourable, aside from the Mic issue.
 
Update on mine:

I've had them for ~60 days. The cord has started to shit the bed on me. I sent in a RMA for tech support / repair.

The part that leads into the headphone is starting to short, causing loss of the bass driver / overall midrange and bass to die off and pop in and out.

I'm not rough, but I do put a LOT of hours into my headsets.

I'll update once CSR gets back to me with RMA and we see how that all works out.

Not dissing the product, just be forewarned that you might run into this same issue, but this is by no means an issue exclusive to corsair, this is a problem with most headsets like this I've ever ran across.
 
Corsair is a stand-up company and if you go through proper RMA steps for repair or replacement and think you will be fixed up in no time. I mean that.
 
Momo said:
Anyone else using these with LOTRO?

I'm wearing a fresh pair right now, they are comfy, the sound seems good with the above EQ settings approximated, but the MIC is terrible. I'm super quiet... all mic volume sliders are maxed. There no +xDB mic boost in the drivers for this headset.

Can anyone help?

So far, my review of this headset is favourable, aside from the Mic issue.
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I don't use them with LOTRO, but I've noticed--and read online--that sometimes the mic volume slider will be turned down significantly, and inexplicably. Have you checked the driver configuration window in the Mixer tab? I put the mic's line volume to maximum there and have had nothing but compliments about the mic quality on my HS1.
 
ya, they are stand-up for sure.
Dealt with them on a mis-aligned motherboard tray-hole'd 800d, and they were great.

I'm gonna wait till after CES/the new year, give them a chance to get back into the office... and see if the can fix this issue.

For me, these were a gift, and purchased online a few months back. No option of return to store.
 
badcaps said:
I don't use them with LOTRO, but I've noticed--and read online--that sometimes the mic volume slider will be turned down significantly, and inexplicably. Have you checked the driver configuration window in the Mixer tab? I put the mic's line volume to maximum there and have had nothing but compliments about the mic quality on my HS1.
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AKAIK it's not a slider movement issue. I've checked to make sure it's at max when i'm quiet, which is always.

... driver configuration window in mixer tab? Do you mean the corsair software's mic vol slider? or?

The only way I can be heard really, is to really speak quite loudly, much much louder than I would normally. (i'm not a quiet talker)
 
Momo said:
AKAIK it's not a slider movement issue. I've checked to make sure it's at max when i'm quiet, which is always.

... driver configuration window in mixer tab? Do you mean the corsair software's mic vol slider? or?

The only way I can be heard really, is to really speak quite loudly, much much louder than I would normally. (i'm not a quiet talker)
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yeah, that's what I meant; it's a c-media driver window with Corsair's logo on it. the mixer tab in there has a mic slider which sometimes inexplicably turns down. if it's maxed and you're still having problems you may want to speak to Corsair about it. I have no troubles communicating clearly with any combination of the sending and receiving environments being loud or quiet--people say it sounds great. very clear.
 
I've got the same problem with the mic, looking at their forums every single person with the same problem is using Win 7 64bit like I am, maybe some year they'll release a driver fix for us.
 
hrm, ok... yeah, i guess i'm gonna have to speak with corsair about it.
 
I had no problem with mic volume the first time I used the headphones, in fact I only needed to put them to like 40% for it to be good- but after I restarted my computer even 100% is inaudible. Win7 64 here as well.
 
In order to troubleshoot your own issue with this headset, why not simply reinstall the software, which may bring back a default that has changed on your system? If you have another soundcard in your system, your Corsair mic and its built in sound card may default to strange recording or volume levels when you switch from your primary to your Corsair HS1 Headset.
 
sent ina ticket to corsair, they sent back an email saying I need to RMA it.

I suggest those with mic issues do the same. Explain your problem in detail in the ticket submission.
 
Corsair support forums have multiple people saying corsair said the same thing to them, and that nothing changed after RMAing it. I don't have a sound card so that's one less thing to worry about.

It could very well be a problem with switching audio devices though.. when I was first using it and didn't have the mic problem my speakers/old mic weren't plugged in the entire time. I guess I'll do some troubleshooting of my own when I have some free time.
 
Should replacing the mic not solve the problem, corsair is gonna hear about it from myself regarding the cost to ship the product back.

We'll see.
 
so ive had my HS1s for about 45-60 days, and it must be some of the drivers or something but they are majorly cutting out. ive tried uninstalling/reinstalling the software, unplugging the usb, restarting pc, disabling them in the windows interface, nothing. I hope i can get this problem resolved.... =/

edit: ive narrowed it down to something either within the braided cable or the volume/mic adjustment console. when moving the wire around and tapping on the plastic/wire connecting to it, the sound cuts in and out..... >_<
 
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I went out tonight and purchased these based on the "Gold" award from my favorite website and I have to say I couldn't be more disappointed. I should have spent 2 minutes looking at the Corsair forums and realized these are crap. Tons of posts about their crap mic. You even mention in your review the issue but make it sound like it was your rigs fault. Corsair has done nothing to address the issue and for a company introducing their first audio product, way to piss off the customers...

I've had the Logitech G35, G930, Razer Barracuda's & Carcharias, Plantonics Gamecon 777, Steel Series 5HV2 & Siberia V2 and those that were USB never had any issues with noise and the crap sound that these do. I can use Team Speak or Vent just fine but get into game and let the noise begin. Nothing says "great product" more than the entire server telling you to shut up because of the feedback on your crappy headset you just dropped $100 on....

Ugh... We'll see if Microcenter has an RMA reason code for "piece of crap"
 
Insomniak said:
I went out tonight and purchased these based on the "Gold" award from my favorite website and I have to say I couldn't be more disappointed. I should have spent 2 minutes looking at the Corsair forums and realized these are crap. Tons of posts about their crap mic. You even mention in your review the issue but make it sound like it was your rigs fault. Corsair has done nothing to address the issue and for a company introducing their first audio product, way to piss off the customers...
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Between this and the Creative WOW headset snapping on those super thin extention pieces within a couple weeks I've decided I can't trust Hard|OCP's audio reviews anymore, just not enough testing involved like the other hardware categories.
 
Insomniak said:
We'll see if Microcenter has an RMA reason code for "piece of crap"
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You likely have a defective unit; if it isn't defective, it could very well be some combination of their v1 drivers and your hardware/software. In either case, you can simply return them to the place you bought them and tell them they're not working properly--it has, after all, been less than 7, 14, or 30 days right?

I run HS1 on a W7X64 build without any issues. In point of fact, everybody I communicate with praises the mic quality and told me they had to turn me down vs my previous microphone.

Corsair may be having a production problem or they may simply need a new iteration of the drivers. In every case of which I've yet heard, they quickly and painlessly grant an RMA for people having problems. There isn't much more a company can do.
 
badcaps said:
You likely have a defective unit; if it isn't defective, it could very well be some combination of their v1 drivers and your hardware/software. In either case, you can simply return them to the place you bought them and tell them they're not working properly--it has, after all, been less than 7, 14, or 30 days right?

Corsair may be having a production problem or they may simply need a new iteration of the drivers. In every case of which I've yet heard, they quickly and painlessly grant an RMA for people having problems. There isn't much more a company can do.
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I'm sure I can get an RMA or return them to Microcenter.

As for "what more can they do?", how about Corsair be more responsive to the people on their forums wanting to know what the hell is going on? Most of us want to give this headset a second chance but haven't heard anything about a new driver or other possible fixes. As my return for refund window closes rapidly, I have to decide if I want to keep these or not.

I'm just surprised at the number of people having the issue and complaining on the Corsair forums. I know that [H] graphics card, proc, mobo, psu reviews are solid. I just can't say the same for the Audio reviews.
 
Insomniak said:
As for "what more can they do?", how about Corsair be more responsive to the people on their forums wanting to know what the hell is going on?
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True enough. The CS/PR policy of most companies is to ignore a problem until they have a fix for it. I'm surprised we haven't seen our local Corsair rep talking about the problem here, though.

I know that [H] graphics card, proc, mobo, psu reviews are solid. I just can't say the same for the Audio reviews.
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How is a review of a single unit, before the product is in the hands of hundreds of thousands of people, supposed to detect problems with the infinite combinations of hardware and software on the market--or with a potential production defect affecting only a certain number of units? I don't understand how you think it could have been more solid.

Earl's review was informative and his assessment of the product lined up with the early reviews from other hardware sites as well, but he can't predict the future.
 
Earl noticed an issue and wrote it off as something caused by the PC. Why not ask Corsair about the issue? Mic noise to me seems like a pretty important issue for a premium gaming headset.

As for your point about a "single review unit".... These are supposed to be production units the same as I can buy off the shelf. I'm hoping that they test them a little before unleashing them on the world. And hundreds of thousands? You should look for a job in sales with that kind of optimistic forecasting. :)
 
I was just wondering if anyone here has noticed that Corsair now offers an HS1A model headset. The "A" model is the "analog version of the HS1 and uses a standard 3.5mm audio jack". Just thought I'd mention it.
 
Between this and the Creative WOW headset snapping on those super thin extention pieces within a couple weeks I've decided I can't trust Hard|OCP's audio reviews anymore, just not enough testing involved like the other hardware categories.
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When playing tf2 since I'm able to utilize the mic boost from the game I have no problems communicating with teammates and the headphones are absolutely superb. If the mic is transmitting crap sound quality that it really does sound like it might just be a defective unit. It would help Corsair if they actually did something instead of just responding to everything mic related with "RMA it"
 
I had the same mic issue as many others. I sent them back to Amazon. They sound great, mic does not work in games.
 
Anybody else finding these earcups really itchy?

Also so far I'm disappointed. I keep wanting to go back to my usual dinky $20 cans.
Ugh give it a couple days I guess.

Edit: I mean, I got these for the surround and for games, I'm not going to listen to a lot of music in them. It's just they're... really not comfortable, and something about the sound quality is grating on me really fast.
Maybe it'll get better in a few days, is that people's experience?
 
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Did you use a different EQ settings of your own? Many audiophiles and casual users often say a flat EQ is the only way to go. This is not a pair of audiophile headphones. It's meant to be used for 5.1 gaming. We set our EQ to what we thought was best for gaming and movies. The headphones take time as any do, to get used to, in sound signature and fit.
http://www.hardocp.com/image.html?image=MTI4NjI5NzY0MkE5cWJOdE1YTGVfNF8xX2wucG5n
As we recommended in our review, try our EQ setting in movies and games, and see how that suits your tastes. There is "memory foam" in those earpads and it will take some time for them to fit to your head. We used a set for a few weeks before we wrote our final evaluation.
 
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I bumped the high frequencies down, which did help.
It's not anything specific, I'm not thinking "argh needs more bass" or anything. It's something in the middle that I can't consciously identify, but I'm pretty sure it's there. It feels a lot like that "listening fatigue" the guy in the promo video was talking about, only he was claiming the headphones would prevent it.

Had a sort of long gaming session just now. It was alright. I think I need to fiddle with things more, I wasn't getting much of a surround. By the end there wasn't really a problem, so either it doesn't crop up in games or I just got used to it.

Since I'm experiencing the very things these are supposed to prevent, I'm assuming I'm setting them up wrong.
 
They are way more comfortable for me than my G35 or the G930 but the mic issue is a show stopper for me.

I've played around a bit more and I almost think it's codec related. For some reason I don't have any issue in DOD:S but in CS:S, 50% of the people hear the feedback and the rest don't. I finally just uninstalled them. Tired of hearing people yell at me that my mic sucks. Returning to Microcenter and I may pick up the analog version.
 
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