By Meng Vang
Manufacturer: Corsair Components, Inc.
Product Name: HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset
Model Number: CA-9011171-NA
UPC: 843591060189
Price As Tested: $49.99 (Amazon | Newegg)Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Corsair.
Over the years, Corsair has been providing high quality computer peripherals to the consumer market. With the HS50 Stereo gaming headset, it focuses on bringing outstanding comfort, audio performance, and durability without sacrificing performance and quality. It also has an internal metal headband with metal yokes, and memory foam on the two 50 mm drivers and the top headband cushion for added comfort. Not only is it compatible on the PC, it is compatible with modern gaming consoles and mobile gaming devices. The HS50 comes in three different colors, green, blue, and black (carbon). Corsair was kind enough to send Benchmark Reviews their HS50 in green, so let’s take a look at what it has to offer.
- Ultimate Comfort: Plush memory foam and swiveling earcups provide exceptional comfort
- Premium Build Quality: Legendary CORSAIR build quality featuring rugged metal structural components ensure long term durability
- Precision Gaming Audio: Specially tuned 50mm neodymium speaker drivers bring superior sound quality with wide range and accuracy
- Crystal Clear Microphone: Optimized unidirectional microphone reduces ambient noise for enhanced voice quality and is easily detached for use on the go
- On-Ear Control: Easy access on ear volume and mute controls for adjustments on the fly
- Discord Certified: Play with the confidence that your microphone and audio drivers have been tested and evaluated for crystal clear communication and outstanding sound
- Multi-Platform Compatibility: Use on PC, Xbox One*, PS4, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices
- *May require Microsoft adapter sold separately
- Connector: 3.5 mm analog
- Dimensions: 160mm x 100mm x 205mm
- Warranty: 2 years
- Headphones
- Type: Stereo Headphone
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Impedance: 32 Ohms @ 1kHz
- Sensitivity: 111db (± 3 dB)
- Drivers: 50 mm
- Microphone
- Type: Unidirectional
- Impedance: 2.2k Ohms
- Frequency Response: 100Hz – 10kHz
- Sensitivity: -40db (± 3 dB)
The color of the box reflects the color of our Corsair HS50 gaming headset. It comes in a standard box with a picture of the product along with its features and specifications listed around it. At first glance, the box almost looks like a Microsoft or Nvidia product since the color theme is not the usual Corsair black and yellow. The HS50 is currently available online for $49.99 (Amazon | Newegg).
Once opened, we can see the product nicely packaged by a thick layer of material. This prevents any physical damage to the product during shipment.
In terms of accessories, we find a warranty guide, a Y-adapter (female 4-pole 3.5 mm to dual male 3-pole), and the detachable unidirectional microphone.
Now that we have seen a quick overview of the HS50, let’s go into more details on what this product has to offer.
Looking at the front of the headset, we can see the standard body design of the HS50. The stitching on the top cushion includes some green accents for the black and green theme. Corsair has also implemented a metal internal headband and aluminum yokes for added durability.
The rear of the HS50 looks identical aside from the volume and mic controls on the left driver. Also notice there is only one cable coming out the left driver. This reduces the amount of wires going to the headset, which can prevent unwanted sounds when the cable rubs against a desk or clothing.
On the side, there is the company logo in the center of the metal grills. There is also a halo with a green accent around the grills to color match the stitching on the cushion.
The top of the HS50 has a soft textured surface with the company name.
The headset connects to a device via a 3.5 mm rubberized cable. This allows for multi-platform compatibility with PC, Playstation 4, XBOX One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. Standard desktop computers with a dedicated headphone and microphone jack will need the provided Y-adapter to operate both audio and microphone features. 
In the next section, let’s go over a few more details on what the HS50 has to offer.
Behind the left driver are the volume and microphone controls. The volume control uses a scroll wheel to adjust the volume level, while the microphone uses an on-off power switch to mute or unmute the microphone.
In front of the left driver is where the unidirectional microphone connects to. It connects via a 3.5 mm jack.
The HS50 provides one inch of adjustment to the headband. On the metal part above the yoke, we can see there are some labels for fine tuning the headband position.
For comfort and moisture resistance, Corsair uses form fitting memory foam on both drivers and the headband for long term durability. This reduces the amount of fatigue after hours of gaming.
Now that we have seen what the HS50 headset provides, let’s put it to the test in the next section.
During my testing period with the HS50, I watched several movies, listened to music, and played a few games like StarCraft Remastered, Planetside 2, and Quake Live. I used it with the Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D sound card, which is an excellent sound card for gaming purposes. The microphone was tested during games to see how other players would pick up my voice.
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Motherboard: ASRock X99 Extreme4
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System Memory: 4x8GB 2666MHz DDR4
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Processor: Intel Core i7 5820K @ 4.5GHz
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Audio: Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D
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Video: MSI GeForce 780 Ti
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Disk Drive 1: Crucial MX100 256GB SSD
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Disk Drive 2: WD Blue 3TB HDD
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Enclosure: Anidies AI Crystal Cube Lite
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PSU: EVGA 850P2 850W Modular
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Monitor: HP 23bw 23″ IPS display
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Operating System: Windows 10 Professional 64-Bit
Without an equalizer, the HS50 did okay as I did not experience too much punch from the bass, but it was enough to hear even the slightest conversations in a video. In terms of gaming, that deep bass for explosions just was not there, but I was able to hear most of what was going on around my character. For a stereo headset, the HS50 provided exceptional sound quality for what it is worth. With an equalizer, I noticed a great improvement in audio performance and the overall user experience.
The help of an equalizer did improve sound quality overall. Explosions were deeper without compromising higher tone sounds. The Discord Certified microphone provided excellent noise cancellation and clarity, which made communication easier towards my team in game. However, it had that nasally sound to it, which was acceptable for gaming but not for productivity. Unlike the Corsair Void Pro RGB, the microphone on the HS50 did not have an LED indicator to indicate whether the microphone was muted or not.
In terms of comfort, the HS50 was one of the most comfortable gaming headset I used in this price category. Weighing in at 313 g with the microphone on my scale, the HS50 did not cause any sort of pain in my neck or ears. Because of the memory foam on the two drivers and the headband, I could play for a few hours without feeling fatigue compared to headsets that used standard cotton cushions. The leather-like exterior of the memory foam cushions did prevent bodily fluids from entering the headset, which could greatly improve longevity overtime.
Let’s go into my final thoughts and end this review with my conclusion in the next section.
It is nice to see a company striving towards building long lasting products while maintaining an affordable price. Sound quality is good for the price, but the microphone could have sounded more natural. The metal and ABS plastic construction on the HS50 is nothing to laugh at, but only time can tell how long it will last. So far, I feel confident to say this headset should last a good few years down the road. I say this not just because of build quality, but because of its multi-platform compatibility as well. The HS50 is a great gaming headset that provides good sound quality without extra features that do nothing but waste your money.
In terms of audio performance, sounds do sound rather dull without an equalizer setup. Even without one, the bass does not overpower the treble making it easier to hear most of what is going around you in a game. The microphone is clear for other players to understand, but it does not sound as natural as other gaming headsets.
The simple look of the HS50 is nothing to brag about, but it certainly is not trying to be something it is not. I personally do not mind the lack of RGB lighting, but that feature serves no purpose to gaming especially when it is on your head where you cannot see them. Most of the exterior is composed of a matte finish with just a few glossy rings around both drivers. This reduces the surface from attracting fingerprints.
As for construction, the internal metal structure provides excellent durability to the headset. The yokes holding the drivers together are made of metal, which is a great thing to see since the drivers will be moving around often. With form fitting memory foam on both drivers and headband, this provides better durability to the headset as these parts will usually wear out first.
Although the HS50 contains no software support, it is compatible on multiple platforms. Aside from the PC, it is supported by the Playstation 4, XBOX One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. The unidirectional microphone is detachable, making it ideal for travel especially for its lighter weight. The HS50 does well in gaming, but I would have liked more bass while listening to music and watching videos.
As of December 2017, the Corsair HS50 Stereo gaming headset currently sells online for $49.99 (Amazon | Newegg). This is a great asking price for a user who is not looking at the fanciest looking headset, but just something affordable for gaming and general usage. If you are looking for a long lasting gaming headset that provides exceptional audio performance without sacrificing build quality and comfort, the HS50 is definitely the headset to consider.
+ Good value
+ Excellent build quality
+ Multi-platform compatible
+ Comfortable for hours of gaming
– Audio performance is better with an EQ
– Microphone does not sound very natural
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Performance: 8.00
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Appearance: 8.75
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Construction: 9.25
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Functionality: 8.50
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Value: 9.00
