The Corsair HS80 MAX is quite possibly my favorite wireless gaming headset released by Corsair to this date. While it seemingly isn't vastly different from the HS80 RGB Wireless, which costs $30 less and continues to coexist with the HS80 MAX, there are meaningful differences between the two. The most important one is the sound performance. The HS80 MAX offers a very pleasant, warm sound signature, with a rich and punchy low end and an intensive midrange. It has a relatively narrow but accurate soundstage, so it proves to be a great help in games where spatial positioning is essential, such as multiplayer shooters. With the help of Dolby Atmos, its surround sound performance in supported games is impressive, raising the bar of immersion and sense of scale to high heaven.

Also worth mentioning is the Sonarworks SoundID Personalization technology. I was able to achieve great results with it, so much so that I ended up using my SoundID profile much more than expected. Other sound tuning options include factory-made sound profiles, as well as a system-wide 10-band graphic equalizer, which you can utilize to tailor the sound of the HS80 MAX more to your liking. The headset is somewhat lacking in the treble department, so having an EQ at hand is the best way to tackle that issue.

The build quality of the headset is very good, as is the wearing comfort. The suspended headband mechanism distributes the weight of the headset evenly, and, together with a well-adjusted clamping force and comfortable velour-covered ear pads, makes the HS80 MAX usable for many hours without taking a break. This is further made possible by the 60-hour battery life in Wi-Fi mode, and almost double that in Bluetooth mode – as long as you keep the RGB lighting system off.

Bluetooth is a new feature that isn't available on the less expensive HS80 RGB Wireless. You can use the HS80 MAX in "full" Bluetooth mode, or have it connected to the supplied Wi-Fi dongle to receive the sound from your PC or PlayStation, while simultaneously using the Bluetooth connection to your phone to answer phone calls. Bluetooth Multipoint unfortunately isn't supported, which is a shame considering more and more competitors offer it, especially as we're nearing the $200 price tag. I was also disappointed with the complete removal of wired connectivity, but other than that, the HS80 MAX is my new go-to recommendation to anyone looking for a wireless gaming headset in Corsair's portfolio – or a good such device in general.