Corsair’s Void headset lineup has been kicking around for the better part of a decade, and though it’s had iterations like the Void with Dolby 7.1 and the Void Pro RGB SE (some might even consider the Corsair HS80 as Void-adjacent given its design), somehow it’s only just now landed a proper “V2” with Void Wireless V2 headset. The new headset brings the technology up to modern standards, making a few minor tweaks to the design in the process. However, the headset faces plenty of competition as a mid-ranger with a $129 base price tag, but holds steady as a solid gaming headset.
Corsair Void V2 – Design and Features
It’s almost astounding how little has changed from previous Void headsets. The shape of the earcups are perhaps the signature element of its design, as they’re mostly untouched on the Void V2. Their odd, angular shape continues to make it stand out but also calls for distinct, hooked yokes.
The Void V2 gets a simpler headband that just runs straight across from yoke to yoke. It’s fairly wide though, offering a large fabric cushion to help it rest easily on your head. The earcups are also sizable, leaving a lot of space for larger ears and providing plenty of cushioning of their own. With a fairly light clamping force, the headset is easy to wear comfortably for long sessions, though it doesn’t exactly hold tight if you’re headbanging to your favorite music.
The Void V2 proves a worthy mid-range option that should serve nicely for most gamers.
As metal as they look at first glance, the yokes and size adjustment sliders are just plastic, like the rest of the construction. The plastic seems sturdy enough to put up with regular, everyday use. It doesn’t creak or groan, at least. But some aluminum construction here and there always helps allay durability concerns.
Surprisingly, despite moving the tech forward, the Void V2 has a similar control layout to its predecessors with a volume toggle at the corner of the left earcup and two buttons on the outside of the same earcup. Combining many functions into just a few buttons can either be convenient or confusing, but unfortunately it’s the latter for the Void V2.
On one occasion, I was getting no audio from my PC despite tapping various buttons on the headset, reconnecting the dongle, power cycling the headset, and such. It turned out all I needed to do was tap the power button once to switch away from Bluetooth mode (even though no audio was playing over Bluetooth). The thing is, I’m fairly certain I did tap the power button in my troubleshooting. Without clear indicators or physical toggles, the headset ends up a little bit harder to use than it needed to be.
Corsair has considered portability somewhat. The headphones can swivel to lay flat, letting them pack into a bag easier or rest more comfortably around your neck. That said, the USB dongle that provides the quality wireless connection is a bit large and doesn’t have anywhere it can tuck away easily if you want to bring it on the go. As mentioned earlier, the headset supports Bluetooth as well, so you can simply switch over to that when using the headphones on the go, making the Void V2 a versatile headset for different platforms (except Xbox). Wired audio over a USB connection is not supported, though.
The mic is conveniently designed, flipping up when not needed and bending precisely to where you want it. But there’s no ditching it if you want to go without it entirely when you’re out of the house. Thankfully, it’s fairly small.
The front of each earcup has the traditional appeal to gamers who care about aesthetics: RGB lighting. But these are just simple little slits filled with RGB light bars. As far as flair goes, they come up lacking as it seems like the RGB lighting was haphazardly integrated as it doesn’t quite meld with the design of the headset.
Corsair Void V2 – Software
The Void V2 relies on the Corsair iCue app for customization. The download itself was 1.1GB, and immediately after downloading and installing it, the app told me it was several versions out of date and needed to be updated. As it stood, the installed version didn’t recognize the headset and required a reset. Curiously, installing the iCue client on a second computer, the download was just 3.3MB, which then handles the download of the actual software you need.
There’s not much customization to be done with the Void V2. You can change the lighting with an upper and lower zone on the little RGB light bars on each side, and you can change what pressing the volume flicker inward does. There are also Nvidia Broadcast integrations, but only if you have that app, and there’s a 10-band equalizer. The thing is, all of this is managed in iCue, and if you switch to another machine, none of it is saved onboard. The only settings you can save to the device are the lighting effects.
Corsair Void V2 – Gaming and Performance
When it comes to sound quality, the Corsair Void V2 does its job well. The headset provides clear audio that makes it easier to not only enjoy the soundtrack and booming effects in a game, but it’s tuned well for positional audio to help pick out where sounds are coming from. I found this more than a little handy in games like Insurgency: Sandstorm and Delta Force, where audio is a big hint at where danger is.
As far as engrossing you in the game goes, the Void V2 goes heavy on bass. Games will sound explosive, but it’s a bit too pronounced, pushing it over the top a bit. So if you care for accurate sound in music, you’ll probably want to dial it back a little. They’re also fantastically loud; even with Windows set to just 20% volume, they were at danger of hurting my ears, so just be aware.
The headset doesn’t offer much passive isolation, so that volume may become important. They slightly muffle external sound, making it harder to discern ambient noise like people’s speech and such, but plenty of it still gets through. So, you’ll want to use these in a quiet space for the best experience.
Part of the reason the headset offers such modest isolation is that the ear cushions are wrapped in fabric (as opposed to leatherette which creates a better seal for natural noise isolation). This proves pleasantly comfortable and hasn’t been overly hot even while testing on some heated summer days. Of course, if I turn on the AC to combat the heat, the headphones let me hear it running.
The microphone on the headset is a decent one. It captures a mostly natural tone, though it can get a touch of digitization in its attempts to cut out background noise. That background noise cancellation is effective, though, which will help you keep your teammates happy. But it’s best at blocking constant, droning noises. Loud typing or mouse clicks can get through. My voice doesn’t sound overly thin or nasally through the mic, but I wouldn’t rely on it for streaming or professional use. Though iCue can enable sidetone, it doesn’t sound very clear. It’s virtually inaudible until it’s cranked up, and at that point the sidetone sounds like I’m speaking inside of a cardboard box.
A big perk of the headset is its wireless connection which has proven bulletproof while near the transmitter. As long as I was within the same room and didn’t have walls in the way, I could reliably and cleanly hear my audio. If I wandered away, the mic quality seemed to drop the quickest. That wireless connection is supported by a large battery that offers up to 70 hours of runtime, and the headset hasn’t left me wanting in this regard, though the RGB lighting isn’t ideal for longevity. On Bluetooth, battery life can go even further for a rated 130 hours. I’ve tested the headset for weeks and haven’t had to think about charging it more than once or twice during that time.
The Corsair Void V2 headset does plenty right for the money. It’s got the connectivity chops I’d want to see, the battery lasts long, and it’s comfortable to wear for hours. It could have smarter onboard controls and a more inspiring design, but it doesn’t feel flimsy or look bad. Its audio performance is also quite strong, especially with its noteworthy bass, while still being precise enough with positional sound to catch an enemy sneaking up from behind. It’s not quite beating out the best budget options in terms of value or offering as much audio intrigue if you go up in price tier, but the Void V2 proves a worthy mid-range option that should serve nicely for most gamers.
