Today we’re taking a look at the HS35 Stereo Gaming Headset, the latest entry level, multiplatform headset from Corsair. Is it worth the price? Read on to find out.
Product on Review: HS35 Stereo Gaming Headset
Manufacturer: Corsair
Street Price: £39.99 GBP / $39.99 USD / $69.99 AUD
Corsair are aiming to take the entry level gaming headset market by storm with the HS35 Stereo Gaming Headset, it’s compatible with PC, Xbox one, PS4, Switch & Mobile devices so the value proposition is great if you’re wanting one headset to use across all platforms.
The HS35 takes many design cues from the current HS line up, featuring oval earcups rather than the angular design of the Void series, it features the same controls and detachable microphone however to save on costs Corsair have chosen to use mesh fabric rather than leatherette for the earcups however they are backed by memory foam still.
At this price point we are not expecting the world in terms of sound quality, but it’s always a risk buying a headset in this price range, especially if you’re used to using higher end headsets. We ask if the HS35 is worth your time, read on to find out.
Corsair on the HS35 Stereo Gaming Headset:
Every way to win – Easily plug in and play on PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch or mobile devices with a 3.5mm connector.
Technical Specifications
Audio Product: Headset
Audio CUE Software: No
Surround Sound: No
Detachable Microphone: Yes
Headphone Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20 kHz
Headphone Sensitivity: 113dB (+/- 3dB)
Impedance: 32 Ohms @ 1 kHz
Headphone Type: Wired
Headphone Connector: 3.5mm Analogue
Headphone Drivers: 50mm
Cable Length: 1.8m
Audio: Stereo
Platform: PC, PS4, XBOX One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile Devices.
Microphone Impedance: 2.2k Ohms
Microphone Type: Unidirectional Noise Cancelling
Microphone Frequency Response: 100Hz to 10kHz
Microphone Sensitivity: -40dB (+/- 3dB)
Audio CUE Software: No
Surround Sound: No
Detachable Microphone: Yes
Headphone Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20 kHz
Headphone Sensitivity: 113dB (+/- 3dB)
Impedance: 32 Ohms @ 1 kHz
Headphone Type: Wired
Headphone Connector: 3.5mm Analogue
Headphone Drivers: 50mm
Cable Length: 1.8m
Audio: Stereo
Platform: PC, PS4, XBOX One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile Devices.
Microphone Impedance: 2.2k Ohms
Microphone Type: Unidirectional Noise Cancelling
Microphone Frequency Response: 100Hz to 10kHz
Microphone Sensitivity: -40dB (+/- 3dB)
Packaging & First Look
Looking at the front of the box and it’s adorned with a profile shot of the HS35 along with a badge advising the headset is Discord certified.
On the left hand side of the box we get a side profile shot of the headset and a first look at the volume wheel & mute button.
The back of the box gives us the 4 biggest unique selling points in multiple languages.
The right hand side of the box sports Corsairs tag line for their audio products “Never miss a beat”
Taking the headset out of the box and it’s secured in a plastic shroud which will help protect the headset while it is in transit.
Closer Look
In the box we get a detachable microphone and the headset itself, there is no splitter included with this particular model.
On the left ear cup there is a rubberised cover which has the Corsair logo on it which when removed reveals the slot for the detachable microphone.
The microphone is fitted to the end of a flexible boom arm and is a unidirectional, noise cancelling affair.
Looking a bit closer at the right ear cup and we get a proper look at just how thick the memory foam padding on these ear cups are, this should help offset the loss to noise cancellation due to choosing fabric over leatherette. We also get our first proper look at the volume wheel and mute button.
The headband does sport a fair amount of padding to ensure comfort in those long gaming sessions.
Performance Testing
Design & Build Quality
In practice the HS35 is very comfortable and it holds up well in the comfort department, we used it in multi hour gaming sessions and didn’t have any discomfort at all thanks in no small part to the memory foam ear cups & headband padding & the relatively low weight of 250g.
The volume scroll wheel has some resistance to it which is nice and the mute button has a tactile click when you press it in, the microphone also feels like it should be found on a higher end headset.
Audio Quality
The audio on the HS35 is rather bass heavy and it does not perform well for certain genres of music, however it is certainly usable for gaming. Usually with headsets in this price range there can be issues with volume however the Corsair HS35 performs well in the volume department.
The microphone performs better than what you would expect and it is easily positionable in front of your mouth. When using the headset with Discord and Skype the microphone was clear and easy to understand from my teammates point of view.
A demonstration of the microphone is available below.
Conclusion
At this price point a headset boasting design choices that include custom-tuned 50mm audio drivers, a detachable microphone and memory foam ear cups is certainly impressive but the audio quality could really use some work to improve it’s standing.The build quality & comfort is great and really gives the feel of a premium product rather than an entry level model however as suspected the noise isolation does suffer due to the fabric ear cups.
There aren’t any accessories packaged with the HS35, so you only get the headset and the detachable microphone. The HS35 is available in 4 different colours, Red, Green, Blue & Black, the colours are to represent the Nintendo Switch, the Xbox One, the PS4 and the PC platform respectively.
The compatibility with multiple platforms is great however one issue we came across is that only the black model comes with a 3.5mm audio splitter, which is confusing to us as all colours are the same price so it doesn’t make sense to not include them with all models.
There aren’t any accessories packaged with the HS35, so you only get the headset and the detachable microphone. The HS35 is available in 4 different colours, Red, Green, Blue & Black, the colours are to represent the Nintendo Switch, the Xbox One, the PS4 and the PC platform respectively.
Overall at this price the HS35 packages some nice quality of life features into a well built headset.
The audio quality isn’t the greatest, but in this price range you can’t go wrong with the Corsair HS35, especially if you plan to use the headset on multiple platforms
Pros
+Build Quality
+Comfort
+Price
Cons
-Poor Noise Isolation
-3.5 Adaptor not included
+Build Quality
+Comfort
+Price
Cons
-Poor Noise Isolation
-3.5 Adaptor not included
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