Corsair HS70BT review

When one connection won’t do

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Corsair HS70BT
(Image: © Future)

TechRadar Verdict

The Corsair HS70 Bluetooth is a sleek and sturdy headset, and it’s great if you need two audio connections at once, otherwise it’s flanked by better options right in Corsair’s own product stack.

Pros

  • +

    Sturdy design

  • +

    Three connections

  • +

    Brilliant mic

Cons

  • -

    Subtle interference

  • -

    Niche

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Two-minute review

Corsair is keeping the alterations on the same gaming headset coming with the Corsair HS70 Bluetooth. Don’t be fooled by the name, though. This is a wired headset that also features a Bluetooth connection that can run concurrently with the wired connection for dual audio sources. 

This dual-audio trick is one we’ve been seeing more of recently, with the SteelSeries Arctis 3 Bluetooth being the first gaming headset we can remember offering it. The difference here is that Corsair has made it a more affordable feature while maintaining its high bar for build quality.

Corsair HS70BT

(Image credit: Future)

The Corsair HS70 Bluetooth is $99 (£99, AU$179), which actually sees it pitted right up against the SteelSeries Arctis 3 Bluetooth. It’s also about the same price the Corsair charges for the Corsair HS70 wireless gaming headset and its successor, the Corsair HS70 Pro. Those two headphones predictably feature a near-identical design, but use a 2.4GHz wireless dongle for a latency-free gaming connection. They also include surround sound, something the HS70 Bluetooth supports but doesn’t include.

Corsair HS70BT

(Image credit: Future)

The Corsair HS70 Bluetooth has a design that comes from a higher class of peripherals. It has solid metal yolks to hold it’s subdued-yet-exciting earcups. The grille on the outside of the earcups isn’t functional, but it’s a step up from a flat plastic backing. 

The headband and ear cups feature matching, faux-leather coverings in the same pitch black as the rest of the headset. Two yellow accents – one around the microphone port and one hidden where the size adjustment sliders live – remind us that this is a Corsair product.

In terms of connectivity, there are two primary options: 3.5mm or USB. The headset comes with braided cables for both. The included USB-C port on the headset is great to see, and also slightly recessed in the earcup, giving it some protection. 

The left earcup is home to most of the ports and controls with a volume wheel, mic mute toggle, USB port, 3.5mm jack, and microphone jack. The Bluetooth power button is on the right earcup. The microphone jack holds the microphone securely in place, while the arm itself is incredibly flexible and includes a pop filter.

Corsair HS70BT

(Image credit: Future)

That microphone is one of the headset’s most impressive features. It captures our voice with exceptional clarity. It’s better even than what we’ve seen from the Sennheiser GSP370 and as good as any ClearCast microphone from SteelSeries. With Corsair’s iCue software, Sidetone is also available along with control of the microphone volume.

The rest of the audio experience can simply be described as decent. Using the USB-A-to-C cable, the headset offers a hi-fi audio support with a 96kH/24-bit resolution. That comes in handy when cranking tunes or gaming, but we wouldn’t rely on it for professional audio. This headset is susceptible to some noticeable interference even while connected via USB (we can actually hear faint radio signals coming through). It’s subtle and easily drowned out, but it makes the headset unreliable for creative work.

Corsair HS70BT

(Image credit: Future)

It’s a shame, because the thick cushions make the headset quite comfortable for a $100 headset. During intense gaming sessions, they can get a bit hot though, as the leather-like material is not very breathable. On the plus side, the lack of surround sound didn’t present much of an issue, as the quality audio and stereo separation was good enough to pick out enemy directions in Rainbow Six Siege and Call of Duty Warzone quite easily. This headset can really boom, though, easily to the point of pain, so balancing the sound requires some care.

All told, the experience is good, but not great. And, for many, the wireless offering of the Corsair’s other HS70 models may have more appeal. 

Corsair HS70BT

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You you want multiple connection options on a budget

The Corsair HS70 Bluetooth will let you use the same headset with a wide variety of different platforms, so you won’t need to spend a ton getting a fancy headset or multiple headsets to support different devices. 

You need simultaneous wired and Bluetooth connections
Plugging this headset into an Xbox or PlayStation controller is a perfectly valid way to play, and the Bluetooth connection will let you easily enjoy music from your phone or connect with other players via chat.

You need a great mic at a good price
The clarity on the Corsair HS70 Bluetooth’s microphone is well above its weight class. It may not be a broadcast-quality mic, but it’ll do if you’re just getting started in streaming and need an affordable headset with a microphone to help you get by.

Don't buy it if...

You hate wires
The Bluetooth on this headset isn’t intended to be the primary connection. You should plan on gaming over a wired connection or just grab the Corsair H70 Wireless. We tripped on the cable once, so we get it.

You want studio-ready cans
This headset may boast a high audio resolution, but the subtle interference that comes through will stand in the way of critical listening. You’ll be left wondering: is that my guitar humming or the headset?

You don’t need dual-audio
This is a special feature, and you’ll pay for it. If you don’t think you’ll use wired and Bluetooth connections at the same time, you’ve got better options. You can even save a bunch of money without missing out on the design by opting for something like the Corsair HS50.

Mark Knapp
Mark Knapp

Over the last several years, Mark has been tasked as a writer, an editor, and a manager, interacting with published content from all angles. He is intimately familiar with the editorial process from the inception of an article idea, through the iterative process, past publishing, and down the road into performance analysis.