Corsair Virtuoso SE vs. BlackShark V2 Pro vs. SteelSeries Arctis 7: Which Should I Choose for Gaming?
Corsair Virtuoso SE vs. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro vs. SteelSeries Arctis 7: Side-by-Side Comparison
Corsair Virtuoso SE | Razer BlackShark V2 Pro | SteelSeries Arctis 7 | |
Type | Over-ear | Over-ear | Over-ear |
Enclosure | Closed-Back | Closed-Back | Closed-Back |
Wireless | Yes | No | Yes |
Noise Cancelling | No | No | No |
Mic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Transducer | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
Bluetooth | No | No | No |
Weight | 0.86 lbs | 0.72 lbs | 0.77 lbs |
Clamping Force | 1.3 lbs | 1 lbs | 1.1 lbs |
Controls | |||
OS Compatibility | Not OS specific | Not OS specific | Not OS specific |
Ease Of Use | Good | Good | Decent |
Feedback | Decent | Good | Great |
Call/Music Control | No | No | No |
Volume Control | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Microphone Control | Mute/Unmute | Mute/Unmute | Mute/Unmute |
Channel Mixing | No | No | Yes |
Noise Cancelling Control | No | No | No |
Talk-Through | No | No | No |
Additional Controls | No | No | No |
Sound Profile | |||
Bass Amount | -0.47 dB | 1.47 dB | -0.9 dB |
Treble Amount | -2.84 dB | -2.26 dB | -1.29 dB |
Virtual Soundstage | |||
Head Modeling | No | No | No |
Speaker Modeling | On/Off | On/Off | On/Off |
Room Ambience | No | No | No |
Head Tracking | No | No | No |
Virtual Surround | Yes | THX | DTS 7.1 |
Test Settings | |||
Firmware | 0.14.133 | Unknown | Unknown |
Power | On | On | On |
Connection | Wireless (Proprietary) | Wireless (Proprietary) | Wireless (Proprietary) |
Codec | PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz | PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz | PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz |
EQ | Default | Default | Default |
ANC | No ANC | No ANC | No ANC |
Tip/Pad | Default | Default | Default |
Microphone | Boom | Boom | Boom |
Noise Isolation | |||
Overall Attenuation | -14.67 dB | -12.9 dB | -13.16 dB |
Bass | 1.06 dB | 0.57 dB | 0.03 dB |
Mid | -10.69 dB | -9.25 dB | -7.66 dB |
Treble | -35.32 dB | -30.8 dB | -32.33 dB |
Microphone | |||
Integrated | No | No | No |
In-Line | No | No | No |
Boom | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Detachable Boom | Yes | Yes | No |
Battery | |||
Battery Type | Rechargeable | Rechargeable | Rechargeable |
Continuous Battery Life | 13.3 hrs | 23.2 hrs | 25 hrs |
Additional Charges | 0.0 | N/A | 0.0 |
Total Battery Life | 13.3 hrs | 23.2 hrs | 25 hrs |
Charge Time | 3.8 hrs | 3 hrs | 3.3 hrs |
Power-Saving Feature | Standby mode | Auto-Off Timer | Auto-Off Timer |
Audio While Charging | Yes | No | Yes |
Passive Playback | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Charging Port | USB-C | micro-USB | micro-USB |
App Support | |||
App Name | Corsair iCUE | Razer Synapse | SteelSeries Engine |
iOS | No | No | No |
Android | No | No | No |
macOS | No | Yes | Yes |
Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Equalizer | Graphic + Presets | Graphic + Presets | Graphic + Presets |
ANC Control | No | No | No |
Mic Control | Adjustable Level | Adjustable Level | Adjustable Level |
Room Effects | No | No | No |
Playback Control | No | No | No |
Button Mapping | No | No | No |
Surround Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Wired | |||
Analog Audio | Yes | Yes | Yes |
USB Audio | USB Type A | No | No |
Detachable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Length | 5.10 ft (1.55 m) | 4.50 ft (1.37 m) | 4.10 ft (1.25 m) |
Connection | 1/8" TRRS | 1/8" TRRS | 1/8" TRRS |
Analog /USB Audio Latency | 59 ms | 0 ms | 0 ms |
PC Compatibility | |||
Analog | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone |
Wired USB | Audio + Microphone | No | No |
Non-BT Wireless | No | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone |
PlayStation Compatibility | |||
PS4 Analog | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone |
PS4 Wired USB | Audio + Microphone | No | No |
PS4 Non-BT Wireless | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone |
PS5 Analog | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone |
PS5 Wired USB | Audio + Microphone | No | No |
PS5 Non-BT Wireless | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone |
Xbox Compatibility | |||
Xbox One Analog | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone |
Xbox One Wired USB | No | No | No |
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless | No | No | No |
Xbox Series X|S Analog | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone | Audio + Microphone |
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB | No | No | No |
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless | No | No | No |
Base/Dock | |||
Type | Wireless USB Dongle | Wireless Built-In | Wireless Built-In |
USB Input | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Line In | No | No | Yes |
Line Out | No | No | Yes |
Optical Input | No | No | No |
RCA Input | No | No | No |
Dock Charging | No | No | No |
Power Supply | USB | USB | USB |
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Corsair Virtuoso SE, Razer BlackShark V2 Pro and SteelSeries Arctis 7 Review
| #1 CORSAIR VIRTUOSO RGB SE Wireless 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Over-the-Ear Headset
Google Users Rating: 4.1/5
The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE is an expensive wireless gaming headphone that features a plush faux leather design with quality metal railings that adjust to your cranium size. Comfort is another strong point, with foam pads that feel soft and plush that's easy to wear for hours on end. It delivered strong audio, including Hi-res support. Its 50mm drivers also sounded great with gunfights in games like Borderlands 3. In addition, the detachable boom mic has a unique design and is connected via USB. The mic is very sturdy, which helps with overall audio fidelity compared with competing headsets on the market that use a standard auxiliary connection. The boom mic itself is cardioid, which brings a more direct crisp sound for your vocals.
Compare to Corsair VIrtuoso, the Corsair Virtuoso SE has more customization options for their RGB side-lighting, brushed metal aluminum on their ear cups, and a slightly larger microphone. You can use Corsair's iCue software to save EQs, RGB light profiles for customizing, and you can change your listening experience from stereo to digital 7.1 surround sound. The iCue software also helps with updating the headset to the latest software. There is no EQ setting on the computer for wireless console use; This would improve functionality beyond the PC. Moreover, the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE offers low latency when using their USB dongle and offers over 13 hours of continuous playback time. In a word, The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE can provide a great gaming experience for PC and PS4 games with a wonderful mic, decent audio, good customization options, and a comfortable sturdy build.
PROS | CONS |
Luxurious, comfortable design | Wireless range depends on house construction |
Powerful Hi-res audio | The soundscape is treble-heavy |
Great gaming sound | No Bluetooth connectivity |
Detachable microphone with very good performance | |
ICUE software is easy to use with many options | |
Firm seal aids passive noise cancellation | |
USB-C charging |
| #2 Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless THX Spatial Audio Gaming Headse
Google Users Rating: 4.3/5
The BlackShark V2 Pro is a fantastic gaming headset that features everything included in the standard V2 alongside the added wireless capabilities. Wearing the headset feels great due to the adjustable frames that are solid in structure. The FlowKnit memory foam ear cups and headband cushion allows both short and long gaming sessions to be comfortable experiences. For the feature-heavy BlackShark V2 Pro, wireless capabilities are added into the mix alongside a 24-hour battery life. Audio latency also becomes nearly non-existent and sound quality remains consistent thanks to Razer’s HyperSpeed 2.4GHz connection. The basic stereo headset sonic functions are rich-sounding in more single-player-driven games like Doom Eternal, Last of Us II, and Gears 5. Multiplayer games requiring constant communication including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare or Among Us sound just right.
In addition, the Razer Synapse software provides access to a 10-band EQ with multiple presets, along with separate, tweakable Bass Boost, Sound Normalization, and Voice Clarity features. The mic gets its own EQ, along with other enhancements like Volume Normalization, Vocal Clarity, and Ambient Noise Reduction. It also has an adjustable Voice Gate. Synapse also enables THX Spatial Audio and lets you adjust the surround effect calibration by moving virtual speakers around your head. You can enable THX manually for each app and game you open that has sound, let the software automatically determine which mode to use. The BlackShark V2 Pro’s microphone is excellent, the recordings sounded crisp and clean, without a hint of fuzziness or sibilance. In a word, with TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers, removable HyperClear Supercardioid Mic, Ultra-soft FlowKnit memory foam ear cushions, passive noise cancelation, and THX Spatial Audio for surround sound, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro will definitely give you a gaming advantage.
PROS | CONS |
Comfortable fit | Poor noise isolation performance |
Strong audio performance | Nearly twice as expensive as the wired version of the headset |
Exquisite game audio | Isn't fully compatible with consoles |
Detachable boom microphone | |
THX Spatial Audio works well | |
Near-endless versatility and customization with the app | |
Good battery life |
| #3 SteelSeries Arctis 7 (2019 Edition) Lossless Wireless Gaming Headset
Google Users Rating: 4.4/5
SteelSeries’ Arctis 7 2019 Edition aims to be one of the best gaming headsets by hitting the sweet spot between price and performance. You don’t tend to see it around the necks of eSports athletes at major tournaments, but for enthusiasts who care about comfort as much as audio fidelity, it’s long been a mainstay. The Arctis 7 walks a different road entirely, using an elasticated fabric band to suspend the aluminum frame clear of your head which will give you great comfort levels, seemingly in perpetuity. It also offers pretty good audio output, with relative clarity across frequencies. DTS Headphone:X v2.0 virtual surround technology powers the sound space and made for an impressive stereo spread with a just barely perceptible ring of digital artifice. For gaming, this provided an important extra level of precision to sound cues, like footsteps and grenade tosses. In addition, SteelSeries Engine software offers the chance to tweak EQ profiles and create custom profiles for individual games. Boosting the high-mids (the fourth of the five-band EQ) generally boosts footstep noises in multiplayer titles, so Engine offers the chance to save a profile just for this. You can also tweak mic volume and toggle surround sound on or off.
The integrated mic on the SteelSeries Arctis 7 is pretty much bog-standard for a gaming headset. This is a Discord-certified mic that provides studio-quality voice clarity, so teammates hear your commands. And you can enjoy long playing sessions thanks to the 24-hour battery life on this Steel Series Arctis 7 gaming headset. What's more, SteelSeries’ Arctis 7 2019 Edition can connect to nearly any gaming device, it offers wired and wireless connectivity options. When going wireless, it uses a USB dongle compatible with PC, Playstation 4, and the Nintendo Switch when it is docked. For wired connections to the Xbox One and undocked Nintendo Switch there’s a 3.5mm cord, though you lose out on the various software features and multiple audio channels. All in all, Arctis 7 is the PC Gamer’s Best Wireless Gaming Headset, featuring rock-solid, lossless 2.4GHz wireless, DTS Headphone:X v2.0 surround sound and the best mic in gaming.
PROS | CONS |
Magnificent sound quality | Poor noise isolation performance |
Good surround sound | Maybe less comfortable for people with bigger ears or heads |
Retractable mic | |
Solid connectivity options | |
Excellent continuous battery life | |
Great companion software with many customization options | |
Reasonable price |
Verdict
Corsair Virtuoso SE vs. BlackShark V2 Pro vs. SteelSeries Arctis 7: Which Should I Choose for Gaming?
The Corsair Virtuoso SE, the BlackShark V2 Pro, and the SteelSeries Arctis 7 are all excellent choices at their respective budgets. Which should you choose for gaming depends on how much you're willing to spend. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with buying any of the three.
In my opinion, the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE has better features than the SteelSeries Arctis 7 and the BlackShark V2 Pro, because Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE has a better sound quality not only in terms of gaming but also in terms of the microphone. It also has a better design, connectivity features with lower latency. But I have to admit that its battery life is not so good.
Of course, the BlackShark V2 Pro, and the SteelSeries Arctis 7 have their own advantage. For example, both offer a longer continuous battery life. But the SteelSeries Arctis 7 is cheaper and it is better built. If you are choosing between the two, the SteelSeries Arctis 7 offers better value for money. Features-wise, the two are similar. When it comes to sound quality, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is a bit better, but in all honesty, the difference is pretty small.
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