The Corsair HS55 SURROUND is a fairly standard gaming headset with an understated sense of style and a nice build. It uses a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack to connect, but also comes with a USB dongle, required to enable its surround sound and other software features. It’s aiming for a cheaper-than-average section of the market, but how does it compare to the competition?

Editor’s note: this review was updated on August 21, 2023 to adjust formatting and to change wording in certain sections. A mention of the Corsair HS65 Wireless was also added.

The Corsair HS55 SURROUND is a wired gaming headset with a majority plastic construction. The headband has a soft pleather material making contact with the user’s head, as well as an interior metal band for structure. The ear cups are made out of memory foam with the same kind of pleather covering, which is unfortunately not as breathable as we would prefer (although not bad by any means). The headphones swivel to lie flat, and you can lengthen the headband just like most other headsets. Unfortunately, the ear cups don’t feel like they rest evenly over my ears, with more pressure placed above the ear than below. Perhaps the headset is designed for slightly wider heads than mine. Overall it’s comfortable for about an hour or two, but the weight and design will start causing trouble eventually.

The Corsair HS55 SURROUND has extremely basic on-headset controls. It features a volume wheel located on the left ear cup, and you can mute the microphone by flipping it up. All other settings must be controlled in software, either through your operating system or the Corsair iCUE software.

The Corsair iCUE software enables access to the titular 7.1 surround sound support that the headset is marketed with. While this feature is certainly neat, it’s also offered by a wide variety of other gaming headsets, and so far, we haven’t found it to be the best choice for every game. The iCUE software also enables access to other useful features, such as changing EQ presets, creating your own EQ, adjusting the microphone input level, updating the headset’s firmware, and more.

The Corsair HS55 SURROUND has a standard 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack, which means it’s compatible with many devices, including smartphones, the Steam Deck, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode. Corsair also includes a USB adapter for PC and Mac. This adapter is essential for enabling support for iCUE when using the headset—the software won’t recognize it over 3.5mm. Of course, you can still use the HS55 just fine over 3.5mm on PC, it just won’t support certain features.

Generally, the HS55 SURROUND is merely adequate at blocking outside sound. It generally falls in line with most other gaming headsets in this category. Loud noises, such as a conversation in the same room or music playing over speakers, may still demand the attention of someone wearing the Corsair HS55 SURROUND. This is likely not helped by the uneven ear pad seal.

The Corsair HS55 SURROUND has several areas that deviate from our ideal response curve in its frequency response. It has a lot less sub-bass than the ideal due to the poor seal it creates. Bass and low-mids are slightly exaggerated and uneven, and the high end is notably overly exaggerated above 3kHz. Considering the price, this amount of deviation isn’t terrible, and it generally sounds acceptable for most games and songs. However, you wouldn’t want to do any professional audio work with it.

Lows, Mids, and Highs

In the song Welcome to Hell by Black MIDI, the lead singer’s vocals sound slightly too prominent due to the notable deviations from our ideal curve in both the mid and the high end. The blasting trumpets in the chorus of that same song likewise sound slightly too loud. Listening to Gravity’s Rainbow by Klaxons, where the exaggeration in the high end negatively affects the way the hi-hats and crashes sound, creating a slightly hissy quality.

In games, the headset is generally acceptable. Playing games like Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey or Final Fantasy XII, the dialogue, soundtrack, and noise of combat come through with general competence.

The HS55 SURROUND has a non-detachable microphone you can move up and down as needed. When flipped up, the microphone automatically mutes. You can also move it closer and farther away from your mouth depending on your needs, thanks to the semi-flexible plastic material surrounding it.

Unlike many gaming headsets, this headset mic doesn’t focus exclusively on voice frequencies. Its frequency response is notably flat, which means it captures most of the spectrum with impressive evenness. There’s some extra “lift” in the high end above 6kHz, which can result in added sibilance, but not to an unpleasant degree. Listen to the demos below to hear how it sounds yourself, and vote on the attached poll.

Corsair HS55 SURROUND microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Overall, the HS55 SURROUND is a decent choice for a gaming headset, but it’s not the best in its category and price range. It’s nicely built, though it isn’t the most comfortable headset for long periods. The frequency response and isolation are okay, but not incredible. It has a good microphone, but the fact that it isn’t detachable is unfortunate. The software support, especially the titular surround sound, can often be found on other headsets and isn’t done any better here.

However, what the Corsair HS55 SURROUND does have going for it is the price. If you’re feeling pretty pinched, this is a good budget option. It performs as advertised, and it’s compatible with a wide range of devices—for under $80 USD, how much more could you really want?

A solid alternative to the HS55 SURROUND is the well known and respected Razer Barracuda X (2022), which delivers superior performance and comfort for only moderately more than the HS55—it’s wireless, too! The Razer Barracuda X (2022) is a good choice for various platforms ($99 at Amazon). The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 may also be worth looking at, as it checks a lot of same boxes as the Corsair HS55 SURROUND for a lower price. If you’re looking for something more expensive, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is an all-around champion that has everything you could possibly need in a gaming headset (though it’s a lot pricier at $349.99 at Amazon). Finally, if you’re a fan of Corsair’s design style but want a wireless headset then you may be interested in the Corsair HS65 Wireless.