The Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND are the successor of the popular Corsair HS60. These wired gaming headphones perform decently overall and look almost identical to the previous model, but with slightly thicker padding on the ear cups. Due to their thicker padding, they create a tighter seal on the head, resulting in a more bass-heavy sound profile. Their boom microphone performs fairly well overall, and while your voice is fairly thin-sounding, it's easy to hear even in moderately noisy environments. They're comfortable enough to wear for long gaming sessions, and they look and feel very well-built and durable.
Our Verdict
The Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND aren't recommended for mixed usage. While their boom microphone can be detachable for day-to-day use, they're quite bulky and block out almost no background noise. Their sound profile is very bass-heavy and isn't the most accurate, and they leak a fair amount of audio, which could be an issue while traveling or in a quiet office. On the bright side, they're quite comfortable and they look and feel very well-built and durable.
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Comfortable fit.
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Headphones look and feel very well-built.
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Companion software gives access to graphic EQ.
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Bulky design doesn't fold into more compact shape.
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Very bass-heavy sound profile.
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Disappointing control scheme with limited media/call functionality.
The Corsair HS60 PRO are only mediocre headphones for neutral sound listening. They have a very bass-heavy sound profile which isn't very accurate, and they're very inconsistent among different users. On the bright side, their companion app gives you access to a graphic EQ so you can change the way they sound, and their soundstage is fairly large.
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Comfortable fit.
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Companion software gives access to graphic EQ.
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Very bass-heavy sound profile.
The Corsair HS60 PRO are bad headphones for commuting or travel. While their boom microphone can be detachable, the headphones are still quite bulky and they block almost no background noise. They also leak a fair amount of audio which could bother people next to you on a plane or bus. On the bright side, they're quite comfortable and you should be able to wear them for an entire flight without feeling too much fatigue.
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Comfortable fit.
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Headphones look and feel very well-built.
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Bulky design doesn't fold into more compact shape.
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Disappointing control scheme with limited media/call functionality.
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Block very little background noise.
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Leak a fair amount of audio.
The Corsair HS60 PRO aren't recommended for sports or fitness. Their bulky over-ear design isn't very stable, and they'll likely cause your ears to get quite warm while working out, though we currently are unable to test this. Their wired-only design also means they can easily get snagged and pulled off your head, and their control scheme doesn't allow you to adjust your music, which can be a shame when you want to skip a track in the middle of a workout. On the bright side, they're quite comfortable, and their bass-heavy sound profile may keep you pumped up in the gym.
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Headphones look and feel very well-built.
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Disappointing control scheme with limited media/call functionality.
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Wired design may get easily snagged.
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Not the most stable on the head.
The Corsair HS60 PRO aren't the best choice for use in the office. They don't help with blocking out any background chatter, though they do a good job of isolating out the high-pitched sounds of a fan or AC unit. They also leak a fair amount of audio, so your coworkers will likely hear your music if you play it at high volumes. On the bright side, they're quite comfortable, and their wired-design means you don't have to worry about their battery dying on you in the middle of work.
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Comfortable fit.
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Companion software gives access to graphic EQ.
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Disappointing control scheme with limited media/call functionality.
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Block very little background noise.
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Leak a fair amount of audio.
The Corsair HS60 PRO are wired-only headphones that can't be used wirelessly.
The Corsair HS60 PRO are fairly decent wired gaming headphones. They're comfortable enough for long gaming sessions, and their wired design means you don't have to take breaks to charge a battery. Their microphone is decent, though your voice sounds fairly thin and lacking in detail. On the bright side, it does a good job of separating your voice from background noise, so your teammates should have no problems hearing you, even in noisy environments. Unfortunately, they have fairly high latency for wired headphones, so competitive gamers may notice a small amount of lag.
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Comfortable fit.
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Companion software gives access to graphic EQ.
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Microphone's recording quality is only okay.
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High latency when using USB adapter.
The Corsair HS60 PRO are mediocre headphones for phone calls. They only have a detachable boom microphone, which means if you use them for phone calls out-and-about, you'll have a large boom mic in front of your face at all times. The recording quality of the mic is also only acceptable, though on the bright side it does a good job of separating your voice from background noise.
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Comfortable fit.
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Companion software gives access to graphic EQ.
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Microphone's recording quality is only okay.
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Disappointing control scheme with limited media/call functionality.
- 5.4 Mixed Usage
- 6.4 Neutral Sound
- 4.7 Commute/Travel
- 5.4 Sports/Fitness
- 5.4 Office
- 5.3 Wireless Gaming
- 6.8 Wired Gaming
- 6.4 Phone Calls
- Updated Dec 04, 2020: We've updated the USB Audio test results.
- Updated Jun 30, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jun 25, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Jun 03, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jun 01, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated May 26, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND are the upgraded version of the Corsair HS60. Unfortunately, they don't improve much upon the original version and perform slightly worse overall. They have thicker padding in the ear cups which causes a tighter fit, resulting in a more bass-heavy sound profile, and their mic doesn't perform quite as well.
If you're looking for a good pair of gaming headphones, check out our recommendations for the best PS4 gaming headsets or the best gaming headsets overall.
The Corsair HS70 Wireless are better gaming headphones than the Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND. The HS70 have a wireless connection that offers lower latency than when using the included USB adapter of the PRO. The HS70 also feel a bit more stable and have a better-balanced sound profile that's much more consistent among various users. On the other hand, the wired connection of the PRO means you don't have to worry about your battery dying in the middle of a gaming session. They're also compatible with a wider range of consoles and devices, as you can simply plug them into the controller of most modern consoles.
The Corsair HS50 are better wired gaming headphones than the Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND. Both headphones look and feel very similar and are equally comfortable, but the HS50 have a slightly more accurate and less bass-heavy sound profile. We also measured much less distortion with their audio reproduction, and their mic is slightly better at separating your voice from background noise. On the other hand, the PRO SURROUND have a virtual surround feature, though we don't test the effectiveness of this. They're also compatible with the Corsair iCUE software, so you can customize the way they sound via a graphic EQ and presets.
The Corsair HS60 are better wired gaming headphones than the Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND. The regular HS60 have a better-balanced sound profile which much less bass, have less distortion, lower wired latency via their USB adapter, and a better-performing microphone. On the other hand, the PRO have thicker padding on the earcups, and fans of genres like EDM or hip-hop may prefer their more bass-heavy sound profile.
The Corsair HS60 HAPTIC are better for wired gaming than the Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND. The HAPTIC come with a haptic bass slider, which lets you control the level of haptic bass. However, if you're using it on a somewhat high setting, it can bleed into the mic. Their detachable boom microphone has a better recording quality, and the mic performs better in noisier environments. However, the PRO SURROUND are compatible with Xbox One consoles, unlike the HAPTIC.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are better wired gaming headphones than the Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND. The HyperX have a less bass-heavy default sound profile and have less distortion. Their microphone also performs much better as your voice sounds more full-bodied and natural, and is easier to hear in noisy environments. On the other hand, the Corsair have a virtual surround feature, feel much more durable, and have dedicated companion software to make changes to their EQ.
The Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND and Corsair VOID ELITE are both wired gaming headphones with different advantages. The HS60 are more comfortable, better-built, and more versatile courtesy of their detachable boom microphone and 1/8” TRRS audio cable. They also come with an analog to USB-A adapter for systems that don’t have an aux port. Meanwhile, the VOID deliver a more consistent listening experience, a more well-balanced default sound profile, and lower latency USB-A audio.
The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are significantly better wired gaming headphones than the Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND. The Astro are more comfortable, and their MixAmp remote gives much better control options than the basic control scheme found on the ear cups of the Corsair. The Astro also have a more neutral default sound profile, more consistent audio delivery, a much better-performing microphone, and slightly better companion software. On the other hand, the Corsair have better noise isolation thanks to their closed-back design, as opposed to the open-back style of the Astro.
The SteelSeries Arctis 1 are slightly better wired gaming headphones than the Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND. The SteelSeries have a better-balanced sound profile, a much better-performing microphone, and leak less audio. On the other hand, the Corsair look and feel significantly more durable, and are much more comfortable and stable. Also, unlike the SteelSeries, the Corsair have companion software that gives you access to a graphic EQ as well as presets.
Test Results
The Corsair HS60 PRO look almost identical to the original Corsair HS60. The only noticeable difference is the slightly thicker padding on the ear cups, and the white stitching on the headband, as opposed to the black stitching with the previous model. They're also available in a yellow variant, which has yellow stitching and a yellow ring around the ear cups. If you're looking for something a little flashier, the Corsair VOID RGB Elite are futuristic-looking wired gaming headphones with a customizable RGB lighting scheme.
The Corsair HS60 PRO feel as comfortable as the Corsair HS60. The padding on the ear cups is thicker, which is slightly more comfortable but causes the headphones to feel slightly tighter on the head. Overall, it's not too bad and the headphones are still comfortable.
The control scheme of the Corsair HS60 PRO is the same as the previous version and is sub-par overall. There's a scroll wheel for volume, and a clicky button to turn your mic on/off. The wheel stops at min/max, making it easier to know what volume you're at, which is good.
The Corsair HS60 PRO aren't very portable headphones. Like with most gaming headphones, they're quite bulky and don't fold into a more compact format.
The Corsair HS60 PRO don't come with a carrying case.
The Corsair HS60 PRO look and feel very well-built and durable. They're identical to the previous version and have a sturdy metal build with very well-padded ear cups and headband. Unfortunately, they don't have a detachable cable, which means you'll need to replace the headphones if it gets damaged. Like the first generation, their hinges don't have a very wide range of motion and feel like the most fragile point of the design.
The Corsair HS60 PRO feel stable enough on the head for gaming on the couch or at a desk, but they slide around from moderate head movements. They're tight enough that they should stay on during light jogs, but aren't the best choice for taking with you to the gym or on a more intense run. Their wired connection also means that they may easily get snagged on something and get pulled off your head.
- Corsair HS60 PRO headphones
- Manual
- 7.1 surround sound USB adapter
- Detachable boom microphone
- Boom microphone windscreen
- 2x mic plug covers
The sound profile of the Corsair HS60 PRO is bass-heavy and somewhat excited. It's worth noting that like with most bulky over-ear gaming headphones, they aren't the most consistent among various users. Therefore, our results are an average, and you may experience sound reproduction differently, especially in the bass range. That being said, they provide much more bass than the previous model, which helps bring out explosions and gunshots in video games, though it isn't too overpowering and shouldn't drown out dialogue and vocals. This is likely due to the thicker padding that creates a tighter fit and seal. Overall, they're best suited for bass-heavy music like EDM or hip-hop, though they're versatile enough for most genres.
Like with most bulky over-ear gaming headphones, the Corsair HS60 PRO aren't very consistent among various users. Depending on the quality of fit and seal you're able to achieve, you may experience their bass response differently. You'll also likely have to adjust them slightly to get the same treble reproduction every time you wear the headphones.
The bass accuracy of these headphones is poor. The entire range is over-emphasized, resulting in very thumpy and boomy bass.
The mid accuracy of these headphones is decent. Low-mid is overemphasized, which prevents some instruments and vocals from getting drowned out by the very over-emphasized bass, though it's not enough to prevent your audio from sounding cluttered and muddy. The rest of the mid-range is fairly well-balanced and accurate, though high-mid is slightly recessed, causing some sounds to be weak and distant.
The treble accuracy of these headphones is decent. Most of low-treble and mid-treble are fairly close to the target curve, resulting in vocals and higher-pitched instruments to be present without being too dull or lispy. Unfortunately, some of the mid-treble range is quite over-emphasized, which may cause some frequencies to be slightly piercing or harsh. Very high-pitched sounds are very underemphasized, though this is at a high enough frequency that it shouldn't be noticeable to most people.
The peaks and dips performance is only okay. Due to the many ups and downs throughout all ranges, the sound profile isn't very even and flat. The large peak in high-bass causes sounds to be quite boomy, and the dip in the mid-range may cause some music to sound muddy or muffled. The large peak in mid-treble with the dip before it may cause some frequencies to sound piercing and harsh.
The imaging of these headphones is great. Weighted group delay is all within good limits, resulting in a tight bass and transparent audio reproduction. The L/R drivers of our test unit are also quite well-matched, ensuring accurate placement and localization of objects like voices, instruments, and video game effects. However, these results are only valid for our unit, and they may not be the same for every pair.
The passive soundstage of the Corsair HS60 PRO is alright. It follows the target curve very closely, resulting in a soundstage that sounds large and fairly natural. However, due to their closed-back design, they aren't very open-sounding.
The Corsair HS60 PRO have a 7.1 virtual surround sound feature when used with the included USB adapter.
The weighted harmonic distortion of these headphones is only okay. There may be some audible distortion in higher frequencies, though it may not be noticeable to everyone.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when these headphones are used at these settings.
The noise isolation performance of the Corsair HS60 PRO is poor. Like with many over-ear gaming headphones, they block out almost no noise, especially in the bass range, where the low rumble of bus and train engines sits. On the bright side, they do a good job at blocking out the high-pitched sounds from fans and AC units.
The leakage performance is only mediocre. At higher volumes, the amount of audio leaked from the headphones reaches the noise floor of an average office, so nearby coworkers may be able to hear what you're listening to.
These headphones have a detachable boom microphone.
The recording quality of the microphone is only okay. As heard in the audio clip, voices sound fairly natural and clear, but are slightly thin. Unfortunately, your voice won't sound as full as with the microphone from the original Corsair HS60 or the newer Corsair HS60 HAPTIC.
The noise handling of the microphone is good. Even in very noisy environments, the person on the other end of the line should be able to hear you.
The Corsair HS60 PRO are wired-only headphones with no battery.
The companion software for these headphones is decent. While it doesn't offer too many customization options, it does give you access to a graphic EQ as well as presets, and lets you turn the virtual surround sound feature on/off.
These are wired-only headphones without Bluetooth.
These headphones are wired-only.
Update 12/04/2020: We've updated the USB Audio results from 'Analog to USB Adapter' to 'USB Type-A' to improve clarity. These headphones can receive audio when connected to a PC or PS4 with a USB Type-A port. The scoring of this test hasn't changed.
The Corsair HS60 PRO come with a USB adapter that gives you access to a virtual 7.1 surround sound feature. Unfortunately, they have a fair amount of lag when used with the included USB adapter, though it should still be low enough for most people. It's worth noting that we only test latency with the USB adapter, though we'd expect their latency to be 0ms when used without the adapter.
The Corsair HS60 PRO are fully compatible with both PC and PS4 with either the standard 1/8" TRRS connection or by using the USB adapter.