Corsair HS1A Analogue Gaming Headset review

1. Introduction2. Corsair HS1A Analogue Gaming Headphones3. Sound Quality Testing4. Closing Thoughts5. View All Pages

Corsair have a well earned reputation for producing quality products, regardless of the market they are targeting. Last summer they released their USB HS1 gaming headset which offered built in USB processing and quality audio output, all for a reasonable asking price of £70. Today we are looking at the followup, the analogue oriented ‘HS1A'.

The Corsair HS1A is created for gamers who want higher quality audio output from their own sound card. As many of us know, gaming headsets are often adjusted to deal with compressed audio, making them less than ideal for listening to quality media files.

The HSA1 uses large 50mm drivers which Corsair claim have been carefully tuned during development for maximum performance. They are a circumaural, closed back design which should offer longer term comfort combined with immersive audio sound quality.

Features

• Massive 50mm drivers for high-quality audio reproduction
• Detailed audio reproduction with clean, accurate bass and sparkling clarity in mids and highs
• Circumaural, closed-back earcups for superior noise isolation
• Memory foam earpads provide a custom fit that won’t weigh you down
• Includes two sets of earpads to customize your comfort – your choice of microfiber or synthetic leather
• Noise-cancelling microphone with flexible, rotating boom works great for in-game chat, Skype, and other VOIP applications

The HS1A arrive in a beautifully designed box, reminiscent of their subtle, yet dramatic power supply artwork.

The headphones are well protected inside heavy duty cardboard packaging. The bundle includes a black folder which contains literature on the product and warranty terms.

Corsair include replaceable, interchangeable fabric and synthetic leather earpads to suit a variety of listening and user demands.

The HS1A look almost identical to the HS1 which is not a bad thing as they are a traditionally styled pair of headphones which will appeal to a wide cross section of users.

The closed back design has generous, and comfortable earpads which house 50mm drivers. They come fitted with the microfibre pads, although they can be changed in a matter of minutes. This closed back isolates the wearer from external noises, meaning that your gaming sessions will be free from distractions. The ear pieces can be rotated 90 degrees on their axis.

Each of the pads has a thin layer which attaches to a rim on the headphones. By carefully tugging on the pad, they can be removed without problem.

When the pads are removed, the earpieces are exposed. They are 50mm drivers, larger than many gaming headsets, which are normally 40mm. Obviously larger drivers, if they are quality designs, will be harder to overload at high volumes.

Above, we have fitted the synthetic leather earpads, which are surprisingly comfortable. The HS1 baffle design is recessed and tuned to align the audio with the ear canal, which in effect minimises azimuth errors and helps provide optimal spatial audio positioning.

One of the main selling points of the HS1A will be the unidirectional noise cancelling microphone which means they are classed as a ‘headset'.

The microphone is fully flexible and can be adjusted into a variety of positions to suit various head sizes and shapes.

Cleverly, if you don't wish to use the microphone, it can be rotated and tilted into the shape of the phones, keeping it firmly out of the way. this rotating boom makes it very easy to position. It can't however be removed completely.

One of the main differences between the HS1 and the HS1A is the cable. The HS1A features two 3.5mm (nickel plated) connectors, for microphone and headphone connection to a PC soundcard. Obviously this means that all processing is handled before the audio reaches the headset. The cable is braided which in theory means it will last longer, especially under rough handling conditions. This cable is a generous 3 meters long, which should help if your PC is under a desk a fair distance away from your chair.

Corsair have also changed the appearance of the in-line volume control which also now is home to a mute switch for the microphone. Is is coated with a soft rubber material which means it is easy to grab, even with sweaty hands. Everything is positioned for easy accessibility, without needing to look at the controller.

When compared with the HS1, the Corsair HS1A no longer handles any of the audio signal processing, which in our opinion is the superior solution. You are therefore free now to partner the headphones up with your own hardware for any processing effects.

For testing today I used the Asus Xonar Essence STX sound card which is one of the finest sound cards on the market, delivering a 124dB signal to noise ratio. Many onboard sound solutions may appear to be good, but they are actually limited to around 88-90dB SNR,  therefore it is important to spend a little extra to get the maximum from the computer audio experience.

For the last week I have been bedding in the HS1A's during the evening, as initially they are rather tight and need several days of high volume music to loosen the drivers into a more relaxed dynamic state. Be aware that in the first few days they sound slightly harsh until the bedding in phase is completed.

Initially the bass seemed to be rather insubstantial. I always start testing audio equipment with a ‘flat line' equaliser setting so this can often be the case. On a more positive note, the mid range was clearly capable of delivering great impact and clarity. Lesser drivers can often produce dull, muddied sound with harsh treble and siblance, specifically with pure digital recordings.

After days of fine tuning I found the microfibre pads were less than ideal for listening to Super Audio CD recordings, so I switched to the leather pads. Bass was immediately improved, and although the differences were subtle, I felt the impact was slightly greater without any negative side effects. I have heard this before with microfibre pads, so the fact that Corsair have included leather alternatives as an ‘extra' is a stroke of genius.

Listening to John Frusiante's 2009 ‘The Empyrean' album indicated that the drivers are certainly capable of producing a focused, dynamic soundstage. Frusiante's ‘Song To The Siren' resolved all the fine, high attention to detail ambient background sound effects. The sound quality reminded me a little of my Grado SR125i headphones. Obviously lacking the subtlety, bass depth and dynamic range of the Grado GS1000i's, but equal to a lower cost high quality set of audiophile phones in their Prestige series. This was immediately surprising as I have never heard any ‘computer' oriented headphones to sound quite as impressive.

Classic guitar was also delivered with drama and poignancy. John H. Clarke's 2006 album ‘Acoustik Guitar' was passionate, warm and embodied the nuances of a live recording. With his track ‘The Most Evolved' you could almost feel the fingers moving down the fretboard during the rhythmic passages. Soundstaging was also excellent, even if at times it would miss some of the finer higher frequency detail. I am cutting hairs however as I am used to listening to this piece of music on my Grado GS1000i's.

They seemed to be equally at home with well recorded rock music. ‘Stranger In My Life' from the 2011 Mr Big album ‘What If ...' was extremely enjoyable, although with the microfibre pads installed, the overall sound quality was certainly lower.

Gaming proved a strong point for the HS1A's, with Call Of Duty: Black Ops conveying the impact of war in a very realistic manner. Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit was a lot of fun with all the engine sounds adding immensely to the overall immersive nature of the racing. The fitting of the headphones is really comfortable and I actually forgot I was wearing them during the middle of a gaming session over the weekend.

Using an onboard sound card, such as a generic Realtek unit really lowered the impact of the headset, although we already expected this after using them for a few days. The dynamic range was reduced and it shows that Corsair have clearly put a lot of work into this design during development. It is imperative not to skimp on an audio partner for the HS1A, it is all down to the hardware you use.

While I am more an audiophile than a hardcore gamer, I can honestly say that the Corsair HS1A's have pleasantly surprised me. While I would immediately recommend that the microfibre pads were removed, some people in our immediate circle found them more comfortable over long term use.

Throughout our testing they never failed to impress me and are easily capable of being used as an ‘all in one' headset, for listening to music, gaming and for talking on Skype with friends. The sound is certainly very neutral, if a little ‘bass light', but this is easily boosted by use of a graphic equaliser in software. We prefer the Corsair approach of ‘clear and focused' rather than a bass heavy design which can prove difficult to neutralise.

Comfort levels are a particular strong point, as over the course of a week I actually forgot I was wearing them while I was playing Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit. If, like me, you end up fiddling with uncomfortable headphones on a regular basis, then these might just hit the spot. The circumaural closed back design is ideal for the target market, and while I prefer a dynamic tranducer with an open air operating principle, for the purposes of gaming privacy these make for a reasonable compromise.

The kicker is the asking price, which I expected to be around £90. The fact that Corsair are selling these for £55 is simply stunning, because at this price point I would actually probably choose these over the excellent Sennheiser PX100-II. I didn't expect to be saying this when I received the package from Corsair for review, thats for sure. If you do buy them however be sure to experiment with the leather pads, they really do enhance the overall sound quality.

KitGuru says: Corsair seem to turn everything they touch into gold. These prove to be no exception.

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