Corsair recently rebranded a portion of its business, spinning off gaming-focused products and services into Corsair Gaming. With the change comes a new line of peripherals including keyboards, headsets, mice, and more.
Corsair Launches Line Of New High-End Gaming Peripherals, See All Products Here
I got a chance to review the new H2100 wireless gaming headset, a product that also comes in a wired variant (H1500). The H2100 offers 7.1 Dolby Surround Sound and comes with a USB charging cable, wireless USB adapter, and an extending cable and base for the USB adapter. The wired version will cost you $79.99, while the wireless product is priced at $99.99- I can only speak for the latter.
The H2100 does exactly what you'd expect it to, perhaps without exceeding those expectations in any area. Setting up the headset is simple- just plug in the wireless adapter, download the software it instructs you to, and link the headset to the receiver by holding down the power button. The software provides a control panel for the headset to adjust the sound source type (2.0 stereo, 5.1 surround, and 7.1 surround), as well as the volume and balance levels.
A scrolling bar on the left side under the power button changes the volume, and it's satisfying to roll. It's worth noting that switching from my laptop's mic to the H2100's built-in one resulted in a sharp drop in audio quality, according to those on the other end of my Skype call. I tested it as many ways as I could, and it seemed almost certain the mic was to blame for the quality drop. Your mileage could vary depending on settings, but my experience had me staying with my laptop's mic.
Still, the headset performs admirably while gaming in terms of audio, which is its primary focus. The battery life is perhaps the best aspect-the H2100 stays powered for many hours of use, usually only requiring a charge after somewhere between 6 and 8 hours if not longer. A simple cable charges the headset, pulsing orange during charge and glowing green when complete. It shares port type with the PlayStation 4's controller, meaning you can use a controller wire to charge the headset. As a side note, the headset sadly isn't compatible with the console-the signal constantly switches on and off, likely because there's no software running on the PS4.
Overall, the wireless H2100 is a solid product that does what you'll need it to well. The sound quality is above average, and the build quality is overall good, even if it could feel a bit sturdier. The options and accessories get the job done, and given the H2100's price point (you may even want to go for the cheaper wired version, which I understand eliminates the dead air noise) I would recommend it to gamers looking for good value.
