Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless 7.1 Gaming Headset ERP: $149.99 | Website: http://www.corsair.com
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he first thing you’ll notice about Corsair’s Vengeance 2000 wireless headset is its excellent build quality. There’s a lot to like about these particular wireless noisebringers, but their robust design is the most immediately remarkable. If you’re the type of gamer who likes to drag your PC off to LANs, their sturdy quality will ensure they survive the adventure. They look good as well, with sophisticated, minimalistic styling. Comfort has obviously been at the forefront of its design document as well. Microfiber covers both its padded headband and the large ear cups, and both are lined with pleasantly spongy memory foam. The ear cups (the left of which is where you’ll find the volume dial and power button) swivel to match the shape of your head, and the headband is also adjustable. Given that they’re wireless (they’ve a wireless range of up to 12 metres, or 40 feet), we expected the 2000s to be quite heavy, as that’s normally the case. We were pleasantly surprised to find that they’re actually quite light as far as wireless headsets go. Using them is as easy as connecting the USB transceiver and hitting the power button. When the battery runs out of juice, there’s a bundled USB cable with which to charge the set, and you can still use them while they’re charging. There’s also the noise-cancelling microphone, which can be tucked away when not in use and is on a boom that’s adjustable to your liking. It works as expected, allowing you to communicate with friends during intense teamwork-centric gaming sessions (also: smacktalk) while simultaneously drowning out any rude background noise. Hit the power button and you’re
sure to be more than happy with the set’s sonic qualities – especially when playing games. They’re not the best all-round set we’ve ever tested, but it’s perfectly tuned for gaming, and the surround sound does an excellent job of helping to pinpoint the action in games. For movies, they’re also pleasingly crisp and clear. Listening to music, however, highlights a few niggles: at higher volumes, for example, the set suffers from some distortion; particularly the lower frequencies, resulting in bass that will eventually become annoying, especially in music tracks that really push the low end. It’s odd, because the bass in games and movies is satisfyingly potent and clear, never skipping a beat. Meanwhile, in terms of volume, there’s more than enough of it here so that you’ll never struggle to hear the lines of actors in your games or movies, or to drown out the sound of your dad mowing the lawn outside or your mom vacuuming the
passageway. This is an excellent headset, one of the best we’ve ever tested, across both wired and wireless offerings. The only real consideration then is the price – which at $149.99 is difficult to stomach, its price rivalling that of some of the best wired gaming headsets out there. But you’re getting what you pay for: superior build quality, pleasant comfort and outstanding audio performance. All of that, plus the awesome convenience of wireless, makes Corsair’s Vengeance 2000 a winner in our eyes. [ The Overclocker ]
The Score
8/10 Issue 20 | 2012 The OverClocker 46