HS75 XB Wireless Headset for Xbox One/Series X|S Review

Manufacturer: Corsair
Where to Buy: Corsair
RRP: £149.99 or region equivalent

When it comes to audio options for gaming, we’re pretty spoiled these days. Speakers and headsets that encompass all ranges of budgets and quality are out there, and it really is down to the player to find one that suits them. We’ve been lucky enough to test a few out for review here at the Tavern, and our latest pair – the HS75 XB Wireless Headset for Xbox One/Series X|S – might just be the best ones yet.

First impressions are very strong across the board, from packaging to looks, to that all important sound, and they only go up from there. The HS75 manages to be comfortable for long sessions while also delivering excellent sound thanks to its integration of Dolby Atmos. I’ve been using the Dolby Atmos app for about a year now with my older headphones which worked great but having a set be designed for them honestly made far more difference than I imagined.

It’s a bit cliché to talk about hearing footsteps approaching, or the sound of an enemy reloading around a corner, but the HS75 truly makes these worn out claims come alive. Across the handful of titles I tested with it, there was a marked improvement in my ability to detect nearby players (if not my actual gaming skill to defeat them). On more than one occasion during my weekly dips into Fortnite I could genuinely hear exactly where players were around me, even managing to give some of my squad mates heads up of players they couldn’t hear. My Apex Legends skills are lamentable at best, yet having the HS75 on meant I could once more pin point where other squads were, even if it fell to my team mates to handle them.

For a long time I wondered just how different 5.1 Surround would be versus 3D audio. Again, using the Atmos app with other headsets worked great, but it really did come alive here. Going back to Metro Exodus, a title that really needs Atmos, I found the radiated wasteland of Russia sounded better than ever. Hearing spiders scuttling behind a wall, or the oppressive hum of the highly toxic areas gave the world new life – as impressive as it is unnerving! Gears 5 is another title designed with Atmos in mind, it’s explosive battlefields full of things to hear and pick up on. Chainsawing a Grub in half in Atmos really lets us appreciate the fine detail The Coalition put into this gruesome effect, yet we can also still hear the squad fighting around us, Brumak kicking and screaming and the gentle clink of a thrown grenade. The HS75 manages to handle all this and more with ease, and I was constantly amazed at just how…encompassing the audio could be.

Volume is controlled by an infinite-scrolling rocker on the left ear and goes up to quite some level; I like to have my audio loud but even the top end here was too much for me. Yet, for the brief time I had it so it was still crystal clear. The 50mm drivers handle bass and treble with ease, with loud explosions or the daintiest of door openings easily detected in play. Of course, the excellent Dolby Atmos is a big one up and this audio solution should be at the top of players pick-ups regardless of what they play, or how they listen. But again, having the headset integrate it so much so that it is auto enabled when the headset connects is a blessing.

On the right ear is a rocker that I am very glad to see too; if you’ve read any of my other reviews, you’ll know that I always lament the ability to easily adjust game and voice volume on the set itself. My Turtle Beach 400X+ from several years back have remained the gold standard here, with rockers for each individually. The HS75 might just be on level pegging now though as it features a rocker that adjusts the balance towards game or chat super easily. In practice it effectively acts as the sliders do in the Xbox guide, but having it on the headset itself is *chef’s kiss* excellent stuff. If anything, this implementation is slightly preferable to the Turtle Beach set, as it’s easier to get it just right rather than have two volumes overly loud trying to cancel each other out. There’s even a nice physical click when we reach the half way point letting us know that both are being put out equally and scrolling either way will adjust one or the other.

Rounding out the features are a solid mute toggle and detachable mic that is just the right length and flexibility for my liking. It was easy to get it in the right position and have it stay, with the mic picking up my voice clearly across the board.

Perhaps my favourite part of the HS75 is that it connects to the Xbox via the same tech than powers our Xbox controllers; there’s no wires, and no need for a USB port to be taken up with a dongle. Pairing it with the console is done in the same manner as a controller, while turning it on after being paired sees it connect and be ready to use in about 4 seconds. To my less than Digital Foundry ear there is no perceptible latency either and while I did have a couple of audio drop outs at times, I’ve found the same issue with other sets  – I think the Series X can’t come soon enough to replace my slowly dying launch model One. Speaking of the Series, the HS75 will work on next gen too thanks to MS’s enabling of back-compat across both software and hardware, so upgrading now will see you sorted for some time to come yet.

In the same manner though, it’s a shame there’s no sort of Bluetooth or even optional wired functionality in the HS75. At £149.99 it’s not exactly cheap, and while it more than fits the bill for our gaming needs, being able to use it to listen to music on our phone or PC would have made the deal that much sweeter. It does clearly state on the box that it is Designed for Xbox, but it’s still a shame that this is its sole use. Especially for how good the audio and all round feel is.

In terms of looks and feel, well, it’s much the same as the excellent audio. It had a nice look to it, with light grey hatched metal adorning the outer of the cups, while the inner cups and head band are some of the softest material I’ve ever felt. Even over many hours of play I was comfortable, with my large head and ears fitting nicely within its design. Charging is handled via the included USB-C cable, and there’s even a little rubber stopper to go in the mic hole if you want to plug the gap while it’s not in use.

Conclusion

All in then, the HS75 XB Wireless Headset for Xbox One/Series X|S is quite frankly excellent. From being able to connect wirelessly with no dongle, to the chat/game mix rocker being on the set itself, the top notch audio thanks to the included Dolby Atmos, and the premium look and feel, anyone looking to get a new set of headphones to go with this Winter’s biggest titles (and their new console should they be upgrading) cannot go wrong here. It would have been nice to be able to use them via Bluetooth on other devices considering the entry fee, but that’s a small disappointment in an otherwise brilliant accessory.

Hardware purchased for review.