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You are here: Home / 2019 / Archives for October 2019

Archives for October 2019

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless High-Fidelity Gaming Headset Review

10/28/2019 By Daniel Nguyen

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS High-Fidelity Gaming Headset Front Packaging

The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless Gaming Headset promises to deliver high-fidelity audio over either a wireless connection (via their proprietary Slipstream technology) or a wired connection (via 3.5mm/USB-C). With a focus on comfort and lightweight construction, will it tick those boxes as well as the high-grade audio quality it boasts? At an MSRP of $179.99, will it live up to its promises and deliver a premium feel that its pricetag implies? So without further delay, let’s take a closer look at this Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless Gaming Headset Review.

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS High-Fidelity Gaming Headset Front Packaging
Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS High-Fidelity Gaming Headset Rear Packaging

Read:   Corsair M65 PRO RGB Mouse Review

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless High-Fidelity Gaming Headset Review

Corsair Virtuoso Headset Specifications

Corsair Virtuoso Technical Specifications

Read:   Gaming: Corsair K70 LUX Keyboard Review

Design and Aesthetics

The Corsair Virtuoso is definitely a gaming headphone at heart, no matter how minimalist it looks. On the outside of both earcups, there’s RGB, which is controllable via iCUE provided you’re using either the USB-C cable or the wireless function. The RGB can be turned off, which helps if you’re going for a more sleek look. There’s always a faint Corsair logo no matter what, so if you’re not looking to have people know what brand your headphones are, it might hard to do so.

The detachable microphone features a green/red LED to indicate its status. The mute button on the bottom of the microphone toggles the mute function, and it turns red whenever muted. This makes it easier to tell at a glance if your microphone is muted or not.

The metal headband doesn’t seem like it’ll ever break, contributing to its premium feel. I flexed it very far, and it didn’t show any signs of temporary or permanent damage or warping. Overall, I don’t see any issues with its build quality or aesthetics.

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS High-Fidelity Gaming Headset

Fit and Comfort

Speaking of lightweight construction and comfort, I had one major nagging issue while using this headset. The left side often bumped onto my ear and made it uncomfortable despite the seemingly thick ear cup padding. It’s a somewhat inconsistent issue, as it only happens to my ears about 50% of the time. It may be something I’m doing wrong, or it could be an issue with the padding on this headset. Overall though, the headband provides an adequate but not too excessive amount of clamping pressure, leading to very good comfort besides the issue mentioned above.

While the lightweight construction is supposed to be a selling point on the Virtuoso RGB Wireless, I weighed them in at 13.6 oz without the cable. My HyperX Stinger weighs in at a mere 7.5 oz and the Cooler Master MH751 at 8.8 oz. The Corsair Virtuoso seems relatively heavy in comparison, even though those other headsets are also well built. Notwithstanding, I didn’t notice the weight too much while gaming for short sessions, though you may feel it over longer sessions.

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS Gaming Headset Exterior
Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS Gaming Headset Earcups interior

Read:   Cooler Master MH751 Gaming Headset Review

Features

The most significant selling point of the Virtuoso headset is the ultra-low-latency wireless technology, which I found to be extremely pleasant. The latency was so low that I could not notice it, even during intense gameplay when the lightning-quick response to sound cues are paramount. The included USB-C cable for wired listening, as well as the 3.5mm cable, worked great. For flexibility in setups between mobile and desktop, these cables are convenient to have. I would have liked to see a USB-C to USB-C cable to be easier to listen on smartphones without a 3.5mm headphone jack (which is a lot these days). Bluetooth would have also been a welcome addition, though I understand that would add to the cost of integrating new technology.

I also enjoyed the built-in microphone monitoring feature on iCUE. It’s helpful to listen to yourself, especially when you’re streaming or recording audio. Microphone feedback helps to make sure your microphone isn’t too loud, soft, or otherwise weird.

I found the feature set on the Corsair Virtuoso to be more than adequate, and it offered enough to unmistakably be a contender in the $150-$200 range, at least on paper.

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS Gaming Headset Ports
Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS Gaming Headset Ports Closeup

Sound Quality

This headset has decent sound quality, though I wouldn’t classify it as anything that would satisfy most audiophiles. The audio sounds rather empty and unquestionably needs some adjustment. However, in iCUE, there is an option to adjust the EQ settings so that you can adapt it to your heart’s content. The Virtuoso can be 7.1 Surround Sound enabled, though I never got the chance to play with this as I don’t have any good games with 7.1 features. I also find 7.1 SS to be lackluster in most cases, so I wouldn’t worry about it much.

In games such as Rainbow Six: Siege, I was able to discern footsteps and sound cues easily. During gaming, I don’t see any issues, and if you’re purely using these for gaming, it’s a great audio system. The emptiness of the audio helps with discerning sound cues, though this isn’t so desirable elsewhere.

While listening to music, particularly music in the background of games, the audio sounded fine; thus, I see no concerns for most gamers. As I stated before, I don’t recommend these for an actual audiophile experience. Still, it certainly is satisfactory for most users.

The microphone quality is great for communicating during games as well as VoIP services, such as Skype. It’s very clear, and communications are a breeze.

Read:   Cooler Master GS750 Desktop Hub Review

Package Contents

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS Gaming Headset Documents

• Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless gaming headset
• Warranty Card
• Detachable microphone
• USB charging cable, 1.8m
• 3.5mm stereo cable, 1.5m
• USB Wireless Transmitter

Final Thoughts

The Corsair Virtuoso offers decent audio performance during a gaming session, though for music listening or movie watching, I found that it could be improved. The soundstage didn’t feel too empty while still being wide enough to discern sound cues in-game easily. The subtle emptiness did make for a less enjoyable media consumption experience, though I found it to be still decent enough. The impressive wireless range allows me more freedom than I’ve experienced before. The excellent gaming performance and decent microphone help with the overall gaming experience.

For gamers who want that extra bling, there’s also RGB. For $179.99, it is a very steep price for those who want to get into wireless audio. If you have the money, though, it’s low latency audio with a very minimalist and comfortable design with decent audio. Overall, I’d give this a 3.5/5 just because of the price, though if it were slightly lower, I’d say it deserves a 4/5.

Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS Gaming Headset Front Packaging

What do you think of this Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless gaming headset review? Do you agree or disagree with our verdict? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

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FTC Disclosure: Corsair provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Corsair Virtuoso RGB wireless gaming headset sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2019

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: Corsair, gaming headset, Virtuoso RGB, Wireless Headphones 01/14/2020

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

10/12/2019 By Daniel Nguyen

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

While the RTX 2060 has been out for a few months now, it’s still a strong contender in the mid-range graphics card market. The MSI Ventus RTX 2060 is a budget graphics card, currently priced at $360. Despite its relatively low price, does it have the premium feel of a flagship card? So without further delay, let’s take a closer look at this MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC review.

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

Package Contents

  • MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Edition
  • User Manual
  • Thank You and Warranty Card

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

Thanks to Salad Technologies!

The MSI Ventus RTX 2060 in today’s review was provided by Salad Technologies. Salad helps gamers tap into a powerful (yet often idle) resource: their gaming PC. These machines are fitted with high-end hardware that can handle the latest AAA titles. Salad connects gamers and their capable hardware to industries that are starved for computing power. Salad hopes to bridge this gap and enable our users to make money and lend their GPUs to the latest research and innovations. In exchange for users’ computing power, they can earn Salad Balance, which is redeemable in-app for items like games, game codes, hardware, gift cards (Visa, etc.), and more.

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

Read:   Cooler Master MH751 Gaming Headset Review

Use code BEANTOWN for 2X the $$ when you sign up on the Salad App.

Specifications

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

Features

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

Aesthetics

While I’d argue that aesthetics isn’t too important when choosing a card, it is to some. The MSI Ventus cooler has a rather neutral silver and black color scheme. It features a metal backplate, which looks very nice on the card. One gripe I have with the Ventus series is that it has random hints of green, which can mess with color coordination. However, it generally looks solid and somewhat premium. There is no RGB, which may or may not be a factor in your mind. I don’t mind the lack of RGB so much.

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

Read:   Cooler Master GS750 Desktop Hub Review

Build Quality

The MSI GeForce Ventus RTX 2060 has a sturdy metal backplate which claims to prevent bending. While I didn’t test how much it bends myself, it sure does feel sturdy and contributes to a premium feel. There is a plastic shroud around the fans; however, its design makes it look high quality and almost like a metal. Overall, I don’t see any concerns with the build quality.

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

Connectivity

The Ventus RTX 2060 has 3 DisplayPort v1.4 ports and 1 HDMI v2.0b port. Overall, I’d say it’s pretty standard though I would have liked to seen a VirtualLink USB-C Port for future VR connectivity.

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

Read:   Patriot Viper V765 Gaming Keyboard Review

Cooling Solution

The Ventus RTX isn’t the best cooler on the market, for sure. However, on the RTX 2060, it works perfectly fine. With my headphones on, I can barely hear the fans while I’m running the 3DMark Port Royal stress test. This test was without audio in my headphones, so it is rather quiet. Temperatures hovered in the high 70°s to low 80°s, and that’s a safe number for most graphics cards. I have no concerns, and for typical gaming, I don’t see any issues with the Ventus cooler.

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

Benchmarks

Okay, this is the meat of the graphics card for most people and what you most likely care about most. For 1080p gaming, this card will absolutely crush any eSports title at 144 fps and run most AAA games with at least 60 fps. In 1440p gaming, the card starts to show signs of struggling. However, it’s tolerable if you’re used to 60 Hz gaming. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the RTX 2060 for AAA games at 1440p, but that goes for any RTX 2060, not just the Ventus. I would steer clear of 4k gaming with an RTX 2060 and go for a beefier solution, such as an RTX 2070 Super. The stock overclock of the Ventus is nice and definitely helps for those who don’t want to mess around and just get the best performance from their GPU.

Here are some graphs from benchmarked games:

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Review

Read:   Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Titanium Gaming Keyboard Review

Conclusion

The MSI RTX 2060 Ventus OC edition is a great all-around card for 1080P, even performing well at 1440P with acceptable performance at 4K. Its price point of $350 is also especially attractive, and for a decent cooler that does well on the RTX 2060, I don’t see any reason to doubt the cooling capabilities of this card over the long run. If you’re in the market for a great VR experience, a 1080P or 1440P gaming card, this is definitely the card to buy for $350.

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FTC Disclosure: The writer was provided with one (1) MSI RTX 2060 Ventus 6G OC Edition as part of a giveaway by Salad Technologies. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador for MSI or Salad Technologies.

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware Tagged With: GeForce, GPU, graphics card, MSI, RTX2060, Ventus 10/14/2019

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