Corsair HS55 Wireless Core review TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. Corsair HS55 Wireless Core review The Corsair HS55 Wireless Core does on-the-go gaming well By Michelle Rae Uy published 20 September 2022 (Image: © Future / Michelle Rae Uy) TechRadar Verdict The Corsair HS55 Wireless Core has all the makings of a gaming headset that's great for gaming on the go, with its on-the-fly EQ preset control, lightweight design, wireless connectivity with a 50ft signal range, and a decent 24-hour battery life. We only wish the sound quality is as good as the wired Corsair HS65. Pros + Lightweight design, fresh new look+ 2.4GHz wireless + Bluetooth connectivity+ Fairly affordable Cons - Sound quality isn't as good as the HS65- No USB-C dongle- Battery life is just ok Jump to: One-minute review Price Design Performance Should I buy it? Also consider Report card Corsair HS55 Wireless Core One-minute review With the Corsair HS55 Wireless Core, Corsair seems to be throwing its hat in the versatile and travel-friendly gaming headset ring. But, whereas the likes of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and Arctis Nova 7 are filled to the brim with all the stuff you could want from a PC gaming headset that you can use anywhere and with anything, the brand scales it back to something simpler and much more affordable. It may not be the stuff of gaming headset legend, but the Corsair HS55 Wireless Core still has all the makings of an on-the-go gaming headset. It's got a lightweight design that easily flattens for storage. It has a decent 24-hour battery life and fast charging. And, it has an on-the-fly EQ preset control that lets you cycle through four of the most vital sound presets in the gaming headset scene. So, while we have been spoiled by the Arctis Nova Pro's brimming cup of features and extras, we also appreciate what Corsair is trying to do here, which is to offer gamers a great wireless gaming headset alternative that costs less yet still comes with all the basics. We only wish its sound quality was as good as that of the wired Corsair HS65 Surround. Corsair HS55 Wireless Core Price and availabilityHow much does it cost? $99 (£99, AU$169)Where is it available? Available nowWhere can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and AustraliaCorsair HS55 Wireless Core: SPECSInterface: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth Compatibility: Windows, Mac, PS4/5, mobile devices Mic: Omni-directional flip-to-mute Surround sound: Dolby Audio 7.1 on PC and Mac Weight: 9.38oz (266g) The Corsair HS55 Wireless Core will set you back $99 (£99, AU$169). While that sounds like a lot to spend on a gaming headset, even a wireless one, it's also fair to mention that it's more affordable than the competition. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7, which we're in the process of reviewing, will cost you twice as much for very similar features and a pair of smaller drivers. Meanwhile, the Razer Barracuda will set you back $60/£60 more, and again, for largely the same specs and features. Still, is its price tag fair for its feature set and level of performance? It could be a little cheaper, perhaps. But, also considering that wireless gaming headsets still aren't cheap, we can say that this price tag also isn't surprising. If you do want something more affordable, you can go for a wired option. Both the Corsair HS65 Surround ($79 / £79 / AU$129) and the Corsair HS55 Stereo ($59 / £49 / AU$89) are terrific for budget-gamers.Value: 4 / 5 (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy) Corsair HS55 Wireless Core DesignLightweight, elegant design and good constructionOn-the-fly sound preset control2.4GHz wireless transmitter still not USB-C Although it isn't the most robust and premium-made gaming headset we've tested, the Corsair HS55 Wireless Core is still designed to be travel-friendly. It's lightweight at 266g (that's less than 0.60 lbs), comes with ear foams that are soft and plush, has clamping power that allows it to stay in place even when you're moving through a crowd, and boasts ear cups with plenty of swivel so you can lay the whole thing flat for storage in your weekender or laptop bag. (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy) Naturally, all those elements also help make this gaming headset a comfortable one. The plush leatherette ear foams feel luxurious against our ears and do not get too hot even after an hour or so of wear. Although there is a tad more clamping force than necessary, which means you might have to break it in a little before use. The construction is pretty solid overall despite the fact that it's mostly made of smooth matte plastic, which is nice to the touch. We don't presume to know just how sturdy it is, though we can safely speculate that it will easily crack if it falls from a higher floor or under the weight of a gaming PC. However, we do think it's solid enough to survive normal wear and tear. (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy) There are three buttons here, with the Bluetooth and power buttons on the right earcup and the mic mute button on the left earcup next to the volume dial, which you can also press to cycle through the aforementioned sound presets. The choice of adding a mic mute button seems bizarre as the mic boom itself is a flip-to-mute one, and it feels a lot more convenient to flip it up and down. (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy) The buttons have some resistance to them when pressed, but that's really neither good nor bad, just a matter of preference. We just wish we didn't have to press and hold the power button to turn it on and off – although even that is standard with most gaming headsets. Disappointingly, Corsair still went with a USB-A 2.4GHz wireless transmitter, instead of a USB-C. At least, Bluetooth connectivity so you can use it with your smartphone or Nintendo Switch.Design: 4.5 / 5 (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy) Corsair HS55 Wireless Core Performance2.4GHz wireless connectivity with a 50-foot rangeGood spatial audio and decent sound qualityOn-the-fly sound presets instead of app support One of the things the Corsair HS55 Wireless Core does go above and beyond with is its 2.4GHz wireless connectivity. It offers a 50-foot (or 15-meter) range, which is impressive for a mid-range gaming headset considering that others start to break up as soon as you step into the next room. We also appreciate the attempt to deliver digital surround sound. Though this headset sounds more intimate rather than expansive like a proper surround sound, it's great in terms of spatial audio. You can hear the different individual elements around you, whether it's the wind going from right to left or a battle going on around you. Still, don't expect a wide soundstage, as it doesn't feel very spacious, limiting its immersiveness. The sound quality is good overall, though not quite as rich and as full as we hoped. At default, there's plenty of bass here, though perhaps not enough low bass extension to deliver that rumble you want from games and movies. There's decent high end as well, but it's a little rolled off so it doesn't sound as crisp and detailed. The mid-range sounds a little recessed, particularly affecting the dialogue, which isn't as crisp and clear. While you can still hear what the characters are saying, it sounds a little hollow. Funny enough, the cheaper 3.5mm Corsair HS65 Surround delivers more rumble, a clearer sound, and a lot more punch. Usually, it's the other way around, and the one with the digital connection sounds better, even if it is 2.4GHz wireless. So, this doesn't make a lot of sense. We can only assume that Corsair probably used cheaper drivers so they can fit all the other features in the Corsair HS55 Wireless without it costing a lot more – it's only $20 more than the HS65 – or they tuned it a little differently. Unlike the H65, the HS55 Wireless also doesn't have app support. We tried to use it with the Corsair iCue software, and all it allowed us to do was link it with the 2.4GHz wireless transmitter, which was moot as they're already linked. This means that you won't be getting proper EQ privileges here. You can, however, cycle through four different sound profiles on-the-fly by pressing the volume button. You have standard, bass boost, movie theater, and FPS competition available to you. These profiles aren't very audibly different from one another, but the bass boost does give you that nice rumble that's missing at default while the FPS competition very slightly makes the individual elements sound crisper. (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy) When it comes to the mic, there's no background noise rejection, sadly. The person on the other end will hear you click-clacking away at your keyboard. However, your voice will come through loud and clear and dominant, albeit slightly compressed, so as long as the background noise isn't very loud, it shouldn't be distracting. There's up to 24 hours of battery life here, which is good, if not amazing. Luckily, it does have fast charging, and 15 minutes should get you up to six hours of gameplay.Performance: 3.5 / 5 Should I buy the Corsair HS55 Wireless Core (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy) Buy it if You want a gaming headset to travel with Its wireless connectivity, on-the-fly sound preset control, lightweight design, and more allow the Corsair HS55 Wireless Core to be a great travel companion for gamers.You're a minimalist The Corsair HS55 Wireless Core has the basics down. More than that, it works beautifully with not just gaming PCs and PS4/PS5, but with Macs and mobile devices as well.You're looking for an affordable wireless gaming headset This might not be as cheap as the wired ones, but it is fairly affordable for a wireless headset. Others with similar specs and features cost a lot more. Don t buy it if You're a maximalist If you want the whole caboodle, you should look elsewhere… and be prepared to pay a whole lot more.You're on a super tight budget If you want something cheap, there are other options, including the Corsair HS65, which delivers great sound quality. Also consider (opens in new tab)SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless This full-featured premium gaming headset comes with practically everything. You can even use it as a pair of headphones when commuting or traveling. Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)Corsair HS65 Surround For an affordable pair of wired gaming headset, this offering from Corsair delivers impressive sound with plenty of clarity and rumble. Read our full Corsair HS65 Surround review (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)Razer Barracuda X This multi-platform gaming headset comes with the same features as the HS55 Wireless as well as the same price tag. Read our full Razer Barracuda X review (opens in new tab) Corsair HS55 Wireless Core Report card ValueThis mid-range gaming headset comes with all the important stuff for less than the price of some of its rivals.4 / 5DesignA lightweight design with nice details that make it travel-friendly, the HS55 Wireless hits the spot in form.4.5 / 5PerformanceThe sound quality is good. As is its spatial audio. But, there's room for improvement here.3.5 / 5TotalOverall, the Corsair HS55 Wireless Core is a great and affordable choice.4 / 5 First reviewed September 2022 How we test We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar. Read more about how we test Michelle Rae UyBuying Guides EditorMichelle Rae Uy is the Buying Guides Editor here at TechRadar. She's a Los Angeles-based tech, travel and lifestyle writer covering a wide range of topics, from computing to the latest in green commutes to the best hiking trails. She's an ambivert who enjoys communing with nature and traveling for months at a time just as much as watching movies and playing sim games at home. That also means that she has a lot more avenues to explore in terms of understanding how tech can improve the different aspects of our lives. TechRadar Newsletter Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. 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