Corsair Gaming’s Void Surround can connect to your PC using a standard 3.5mm audio jack, but its primary connector is USB, as it sports its own sound card. This USB sound card provides virtual Dolby 7.1 surround sound – a feature that’s missing on both its Void siblings, although it’s purely a software-based implementation. The Void Surround still only has single 50mm drivers, so the effects only offer a small surround effect, but that’s the same with most 7.1 headsets. The effect is certainly noticeable, and it helps to increase your perception in games, but it’s no match for a decent surround speaker system.
The USB connection also allows you to use the built-in, pull-down microphone, although if your PC or laptop supports 4-pole mini-jacks, you’ll also be able to use the microphone with your own sound card. The microphone lacks much of the reposition capabilities we’ve seen with other headsets though. It’s also quite visible in your peripheral vision when deployed, and doesn’t rotate down quite far enough. There’s also a shiny metal cap on the microphone, which sometimes reflects light and distracts you when you’re gaming. Thankfully, the microphone offers reasonable recording quality, although the sound lacked bass and sounded a little tinny.
On the plus side, the headset itself is extremely comfortable to wear and sports plenty of adjustment. Its light weight is complemented by a large head cushion and fabric circumaural ear cups. It’s comfortable to wear for long periods, although HyperX’s Cloud II is still the king in this respect. There’s no inline remote either – the volume and microphone mute buttons are located on the left earpiece. Thankfully, they’re both large and easy to use, and you have the added benefit of no heavy remote dangling from your ears too.
Sound-wise, the Void Surround excelled in bass-heavy audio, with games especially sounding punchy, detailed and lively, but while drum and bass fans may enjoy this sound balance, it doesn’t quite suit music types that make good use of mid and high-range frequencies. That isn’t to say the mid and high-range sound quality is poor; it’s just isn’t as balanced as the likes of the Cloud II. However, the audio quality was slightly better than that of the standard Void headset, plus you can tweak the sound in Corsair’s own CUE software, which sports an equaliser and program profiles. Some of the bass-heavy bias can, therefore, be tuned out with specific profiles that are applied as you launch programs.
The Corsair Gaming Void Surround’s main issue is its price. Its introductory offer of £60 wasn’t bad, but it now costs around £70. That price is £15 more than that of the original and excellent Hyper X Cloud, and the same price as the Cloud II, which also sports virtual 7.1 surround sound, plus a carry bag, aeroplane adaptor and a flexible microphone boom. While the Cloud II is a better headset at this price, though, Corsair’s Void Surround still has a solid and comfortable design, and is recommended if you can find it cheaper.
VERDICT
A good all-rounder with great comfort and virtual Dolby 7.1 surround sound, but the same money will buy you slightly better sound and more flexibility elsewhere.
SPECIFICATIONS
Cup type Circumaural
Connection USB or mini-jack
Driver(s) 50mm
Frequency response 20Hz - 20kHz
Impedance 32K Ohms at 1kHz