The Vengeance 2000 is a bold move for Corsair as wireless gaming headsets are not normally well received.
Product on Review: Vengeance 2000 Wireless 7.1 Gaming Headset
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Corsair
Street Price: £114.98 (At time of review)
It goes without saying that Corsair are a leading manufacturer of all things memory orientated but they have also made great strides in producing some top power supplies and now with there Vengeance range, gaming peripherals. It seems Corsair have their fingers in lots of pies at present but if there success in the memory, case and PSU markets are anything to go by, the vengeance gaming line will shake the peripheral markets foundations and inject some much needed ingenuity.
Gamers have yet to sample a wireless gaming headset that performed to expectations so when Corsair asked us to take a look at their flagship headset, the Vengeance 2000, we agreed with trepidation. One of the biggest drawbacks of wireless headsets is the USB connectivity. Couple this with the hissing and dropping of wireless connectivity mid-game and poor battery life has meant that wireless headsets are not normally held in very high regard among the gaming fraternity. Corsair however have thrown caution to the wind and released their own wireless headset which includes 7.1 surround capabilities!
Founded as Corsair Microsystems in 1994, Corsair originally developed Level 2 cache modules for OEMs. After Intel incorporated the L2 cache in the processor with the release of its Pentium Pro processor family, Corsair changed its focus to DRAM modules, primarily in the server market. In 2002, Corsair began shipping DRAM modules that were specifically designed to appeal to computer overclocking enthusiasts. From its roots in high-performance memory, Corsair has expanded its award-winning product portfolio to include ultra-efficient power supplies, builder-friendly cases, ground-breaking CPU coolers, blazing-fast solid-state drives, and other key system components.
Technical Specifications
Headphones
-Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz
-Impedance: 32 Ohms @ 1kHz
-Sensitivity: 105dB (+/-3dB)
-Drivers: 50mm
-USB power consumption: 500mA
-Connector: USB Type A
-Wireless range: up to 40 feet (12m)
-Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Microphone
-Type: Unidirectional noise-cancelling condenser with adjustable, rotating boom
-Impedance: 2.2k Ohms
-Frequency Response: 100Hz to 10kHz
-Sensitivity: -37dB (+/-3dB)
System requirements
-PC with USB port
-Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, or Windows XP
-Internet connection (for software download)
Package contents
Corsair Vengeance 2000 wireless Gaming Headset
Dongle (wireless USB adapter)
1.5m USB extension cable
1.5m USB charging cable
Quick Start Guide
Safety Leaflet
Warranty Card
-Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz
-Impedance: 32 Ohms @ 1kHz
-Sensitivity: 105dB (+/-3dB)
-Drivers: 50mm
-USB power consumption: 500mA
-Connector: USB Type A
-Wireless range: up to 40 feet (12m)
-Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Microphone
-Type: Unidirectional noise-cancelling condenser with adjustable, rotating boom
-Impedance: 2.2k Ohms
-Frequency Response: 100Hz to 10kHz
-Sensitivity: -37dB (+/-3dB)
System requirements
-PC with USB port
-Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, or Windows XP
-Internet connection (for software download)
Package contents
Corsair Vengeance 2000 wireless Gaming Headset
Dongle (wireless USB adapter)
1.5m USB extension cable
1.5m USB charging cable
Quick Start Guide
Safety Leaflet
Warranty Card
Packaging & Accessories
The Vengeance 2000 arrives in the Vengeance themed packaging we saw with the K60 mechanical keyboard. Adorning the front of the package is the main title set along with ‘Wireless’ emblazoned across the top of a window which shows the USB wireless key. A side window shows off one of the ear cups which makes for an attractive all round front facing package.
The rear of the packaging goes on to describe the product in detail in English with shortened versions of prose beneath in multiple languages.
The accessory list is very good and initially I believed there to be one key component missing – the headset charger. This fear however was unfounded as the headset is charged via USB, of which there is an included adaptor measuring 1.5m. Also included is the wireless USB dongle (which coincidently can be used as any other ordinary USB extension cable) which too measures 1.5m in length. There is the usual plethora of paperwork too including a quick start guide, safety leaflet and warranty card. All in all a very complete accessory list.
The USB dongle and wireless key look like any other USB pen drive. The idea behind the dongle is to extend the wireless range of the USB device. While the USB key works perfectly well plugged into a motherboard or front header, removing it from other forms of electrical interference and physical obstructions will enhance reception and prevent the hissing sound which plagues most wireless headsets.
Let’s take a look at the Vengeance 2000 headset…
Corsair Vengeance 7.1 Wireless Gaming Headset
The headset is very attractive to look at with aluminium effect cup holders and polished buckles. The headrest is also padded well with faux leather effect and the blue highlights on the cups and inner lining round the aesthetics off nicely.
Sadly, the looks are not matched by the materials used as despite the headset looking like it is a brushed aluminium and leather affair, it is sadly plastic and PVC. Understandably, Corsair have opted for these materials to keep the weight of the headset down along with costs. I would however have liked to have seen the extendible sides made from tougher material than plastic, however good it looks.
From this angle we can see that Corsair have angled the cups for greater comfort and fitment which works really well in practice. Again the sides have the brushed aluminium effect plastic with a highly polished buckle uppermost.
The business end of the headset is the left hand side which holds the microphone, off/on switch and volume wheel.
The mic boom is no retractable but can be swung completely out of the way and as it is made of pliable rubber, it can be adjusted to be positioned to your tastes. The mic itself has an impedence of 2.2k Ohms with a frequency response of 100Hz to 10kHz which should ensure your voice is heard crisp and clear by your team mates or Skype contacts.
The cups can be rotated 90 degrees in both directions from centre so regardless of your head shape, the cups should fit snugly without leaving a gap for sound to escape or intrude. This design also aids in the headsets storage. Sadly, the headrest is not collapse-able and there is no hanger to hold the headset included.
Let’s take a closer look shall we?
Closer Look
Here we get a better view of the brushed effect aluminium which does give the headset that premium look and I must say they do look great. Because it is not aluminium though I do worry about the long term durability of the side extensions but thankfully you are covered by Corsair’s world renown warranty and RMA service which is second to none.
The headrest is a two-piece design with a perforated section atop of a solid section. the two PVC sections are stitched together with contrasting blue thread which again, adds to the overall aesthetics of the headset.
The cups are fully enclosed units so you may find that the soundstage is a little limited. For audiophiles this could present a problem however, gamers and especially those nearby will appreciate the fact that very little sound escapes when in use. The ear padding is a plush velour material which is very comfortable in use. The cup size means the ear will fit snuggly inside instead of resting upon the ear lobe. The contrasting blue cloth again raises the aesthetic appeal of the headset.
The USB charging port is well hidden away yet easily accessible. Corsair claim a 10 hour lifespan before a re-charge is necessary but in use we managed to exceed this amount by a fair margin, managing nearly 12 hours before we noticed the connection beginning to drop and audio deteriorating. The good news is that the Corsair headset can be used like a wired headset while it is charging so there is no need to stop gaming should the batteries fail mid game. The USB port pulses orange when charging and displays a solid green when fully charged.
The controls of the headset are easy enough to use. A lightly notched, scroll wheel adjusts speaker volume in small increments and the large faceplate is actually a button to turn on wireless connectivity. Once connected the LED below briefly flashes blue intermittently with a matching blue LED on the USB key flashing when searching or displaying a solid blue when connected.
Performance Testing
Setup
Setting the Corsair headset up was relatively simple. I was disappointed to find that I had to wait four hours before use though while the headset battery was charged. Charging the headset was well described in the user manual and the LED indications are pretty much fool proof.
Once charged up, I connected the USB wireless dongle and extension lead and then installed the latest drivers downloadable from the Corsair support page along with the latest Equaliser profiles. After re-booting the PC I checked the dongle which was flashing every 2 seconds, I pressed the the button on the side of the headset and immediately the headset was detected. To test wireless connectivity further I went through the same process but before pressing the on-button I walked out of the test lab and down a flight of stairs into the office hallway. In this position I was about 25 feet away from the USB dongle and the wireless still connected. A few steps away from this location though and the connection began to drop. So Corsair’s claim of a 40ft radio was perhaps under ideal conditions as we managed a little below this but admittedly with 3 walls in-between. Dare I say this measurementw could be increased were it within line-of-sight so regardless of the size of your room, the Corsair headset’s reception should be fine.
Software
The included software for the headset is basic but sufficient. With the updated Profiles installed the headset control panel has 8 profiles available, 4 ‘Audiophile’ settings, MMO gaming, FPS gaming, Movies Mod TX, and a default profile. You can of course adjust the equaliser to your preference which I found I had to use for music as the pre-sets just sounded either too tinny or too dull.
Hitting the bypass button enhances the sound stage by enabling surround sound in one of three pre-sets: Studio, Cinema or Hall, each increasing the soundstage over the latter.
Both the headset and microphone volume controls are adjustable here too which is a relief as there is no physical mic volume found on the headset itself.
Music Test
Mozart’s Ava Maria sounded sublime with crystal clear vocals while Mozarts 7th Symphony was also well received. These pieces sounded best, as you would expect in the ‘Hall’ surround preset. Next up we tried a little Dire Straights ‘Money for nothing’ The guitar riff was extremely clear despite the thumping of drums which was neither too ‘bassy’ nor too weak. Moving things up a notch we entered Metallica’s Sandman and whacked the volume to maximum. While my ears were almost bleeding at this volume level I did detect a little distortion but under comfortable listening levels, everything sounded as it should.
Time for some bass! Bomb Scare (Two Bad Mice) is one of those tunes that will either make or break your speakers and thankfully the Corsair headset dealt with this dance track very well. The bass was head thumping and the drums clear despite the repeated explosions. Sorted.
The Corsair Vengeance 2000 is not a music headset for audiophiles it has to be said. While it did not embarrass itself (far from it), it just fell short of more expensive dedicated 2.1 headsets such as the Sennheiser 595. Being a 7.1 headset it offers a different audio experience to 2.1 sets so the ‘live’ audio tracks you might have taken from an amphitheatre will sound amazing on the corsair headset yet uninspiring on 2.1. In short, were I looking for a music headset then the Corsair Vengeance 2000 certainly work well, especially given that these are wireless but the Corsair are built for gaming and here is where the set really excels.
Gaming Test
Despite performing very well in the music arena, the Corsair Vengeance is designed from the ground up to be a gaming headset.
Battlefield 3
The surround sound engine sounds epic on EA’s flagship title. Jets screaming overhead, the low rumble of tanks nearby and the ricochet of bullets hitting the ground nearby really envelop an ‘in the game’ experience. While the ‘FPS’ profile worked very well, I found it a little too tinny for my tastes. Sure it can pick out the footsteps nearby but the overall sound stage is diminished. Overall though, once setup to your liking the Corsair Vengeance 2000 is simply great.
The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Beautiful games deserve beautiful sound and the Corsair Vengeance 2000 headset satisfies here too. The ambient music coupled with crisp voices and sound effects once again puts you right in the game so to speak and makes you feel you are actually taking part. Some headsets just sound right and the Corsair set it one of these products.
Teamspeak/Ventrillo
The mic is very sensitive, so much so I had to drop the sensitivity quite a way to ensure my Darth Vader like breathing or mouse clicks didn’t activate the mic . In use, my fellow combatants said I sounded a little like I was in a large room due to the echo, alas my office is relatively small. My voice however was clear and aside from the echo issue, the mic works very well. As a side note there is no mic mute button per say as the only was to physically mute the mic is to move the mic into it’s raised position.
I would have preferred an on-board mic volume and mute button rather than having to use the console but this aside, I was impressed with the mic’s capabilities overall.
Closing Thoughts
Overall, the performance of the Corsair Vengeance 2000 7.1 wireless gaming headset is very good. Not once did I notice the hissing and humming synonymous with wireless headsets, so much so I forget I the headset was indeed wireless. It was only when the battery began to fade in the second day of intense testing that I remembered to plug the charging cord back in that I remembered how cluttering it is to have a wire hanging from your head. There is a lot to be said for being ‘wireless’ when gaming.
So, while the Corsair Vengeance 2000 copes well with our music tests, it was the gaming experience that set the headset apart. Music was pleasurable but the gaming experience was simply sublime.
Let’s wrap up this review with the conclusion…
Conclusion
The Corsair Vengeance 2000 7.1 Wireless Gaming Headset is a product that breaks the mould. You see, some wireless headsets simply do not perform as expected. Instead they hiss, hum and generally lack the audio experience of their wired counterparts. Adding 7.1 was a very bold move too as some 7.1 sets vary from adequate to the outright dreadful. Setting up 7.1 usually consists of moving virtual speakers around in a console to get them to correctly determine position of real world events. The Corsair model we reviewed today suffers none of these traits.
The performance of the Corsair Vengeance 2000 was very good on all levels. Music reproduction was crisp and the frequency response of both mid and high range were excellent. Bass was perhaps a little lacking but it was perfectly adequate. If however you are expecting this headset to shake loose your teeth then you may be disappointed. Gaming is the speciality of the Vengeance though and here is where it performed admirably because the positional audio was nigh on perfect despite the explosions and rumbles in the distance. The microphone was also very good once adjusted with my voice being very clear despite the extreme sensitivity.
If there is one area I felt a little let down it was the choice of the materials used. The velour covered memory foam ear pads, while very comfortable, did get very hot in use. This coupled with a closed cup means your ears my get a little too warm during extensive gaming periods. I would have preferred to have seen an interchangeable set of cups, perhaps using the same perforated faux leather on the headband. The fake aluminium, while looking attractive does nothing for the headsets perception of durability. Sure Corsair offer a class leading warranty service but I would happily sacrifice weight to have real aluminium than plastic which in my humble opinion should be used on a premium/flagship model. With that said though it is understandable why Corsair chose the materials they did: Cost.
At close to £115, this headset is not cheap. There are less expensive models in the Corsair line-up but none that offer all of the features as the flagship Vengeance 2000. So I guess Corsair can be forgiven for amending the material choice to keep costs (and weight) down. When you consider that the Corsair Vengeance 2000 is both Wireless and 7.1 and it is really good on both counts then the price of the product is justified but nonetheless be out of many gamers price range.
The Corsair headset is an all-round excellent performer and in all honesty, you will struggle to find a better sounding ‘gaming’ headset on the market. Despite our initial fears of Wireless and 7.1 being utilised on a flagship headset, these fears were unfounded because the fact that Corsair have built a headset which is both wireless and 7.1 which works pretty darn good is nothing short of an exceptional achievement because other manufacturers have simply not managed this. So if you are looking for a class leading, wireless 7.1 gaming headset, there is none better than the Corsair Vengeance 2000.
Pros
+ Great Looking
+ Good Wireless Range
+ Excellent Performance
+ Can be used wired while charging
+ 5 Years warranty
Cons
– Use of Aluminium and additional ear cups would enhance the appeal
+ Great Looking
+ Good Wireless Range
+ Excellent Performance
+ Can be used wired while charging
+ 5 Years warranty
Cons
– Use of Aluminium and additional ear cups would enhance the appeal
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
