88 PCWorld DECEMBER 2020REVIEWS CORSAIR HS60 HAPTIC
option with nicer build materials.
I didn’t expect to enjoy a vibrating pair of
headphones as much as I did, and while
haptics don't really add much to story-based
RPGs or tactics games, it adds a lot to the
experience when you're playing more
visceral titles, such as first-person shooters.
Unfortunately the camo aesthetics aren’t my
jam, so the Corsair HS60 won't become my
personal daily driver, but they're worth
considering if you're interested in literally
feeling the groove in your games.Corsair’s $130 HS60 Haptic headphones
(go.pcworld.com/hs60) have rumble
motors—like the ones found in gaming
controllers—built into each earcup. They
read the low frequencies coming through
the USB connection to your PC and use that
to trigger vibrations so you can feel the
sound as well as hear it. The adjustable
wheel on the right ear cup adjusts how hard
the rumble pushes (and boy, can it crank) but
it’s dependent on the overall volume output.
Less low end frequencies present in the
signal means less vibration intensity, and
vice versa.
The detachable microphone quality
doesn't quite meet my needs, as explained
in the video above, but it gets the job done
for basic voice chat. Corsair’s iCue
software lets you tweak the EQ
to your liking, but for the most
part I kept it flat during my time
testing. The sound characteristics coming
out of the HS60 Haptic focus on bright,
crisp highs and punchy lows—even with the
rumble motors turned all the way down.
At $130 on Amazon (go.pcworld.com/
hs60), the Corsair HS60 Haptic headphones
offer a camo aesthetic and a mixture of
plastic and aluminum materials that add up
to a comfortable pair of headphones with a
punchy sound profile. For almost twice the
price, the Razer Nari Ultimate (go.pcworld.
com/nari) we reviewed in 2018 offer an
upgraded experience if you prefer a wireless