Corsair started their Vengeance series to allow them to create specific products designed for PC gaming. This currently includes memory kits, gaming mice, mechanical keyboards, and gaming headsets. Today I will be taking a close look at the Corsair Vengeance 1500 Gaming Headset which is the middle child in the company’s headset line.  Those of you who have read my previous articles know that I live for the bang-for-your-buck items. So let’s just see what kind of “bang” one gets out of their “buck” with a Corsair Vengeance headset.
Features and Specifications
The Vengeance 1500 Gaming Headset has the unfortunate position of being the middle child of the product line, wedged in between a less expensive 1300 model and the top end 2000 model (previously reviewed by Eric) which is wireless. This means the 1500 will need to standout even more in three areas that I will heavily judge it on: Quality, comfort, and audio performance. Touching on audio performance first, the Vengeance 1500 includes both the speaker output and the microphone input.
The Vengeance 1500 are a 5.1 surround sound headset but do support 7.1 output via software control provided by Dolby. The audio is project through two 50 mm drivers in a recessed oval baffle, which is fitted into a circumaural ear cup. This produces has the potential to produce the most accurate audio possible from the 32 Ohm impedance speakers. The 20 Hz to 20 kHz audio features Dolby Prologic II and is driven by the CM6302 codec from C-Media Electronics.
The microphone is unidirectional and responds from 100 Hz to 10 kHz with about a 2.2K Ohm impedance. This provides some level of noise-cancellation as background noise is largely missed or not close enough to register as an input. This is adjustable via software to match an individual’s vocal register and/or the environment.
It’s not enough to just provide HD quality audio like a set of speakers. Headsets need to do the same while being also being comfortable to wear. The Vengeance 1500’s circumaural ear cups have replaceable memory foam padding covered in cloth which has the ability to absorb perspiration and appear to be removable if needed to facilitate washing.
The ear cups are attached to swivel joints that conform to the shape of the user’s head as well. This provides both an optimal baffle location and improved comfort. The top of the headset is also wrapped in the same memory foam, but in a ventilated faux leather cover.
The Vengeance 1500 is made up of a variety of plastics, layered together to provide both a pleasing aesthetic appearance and strong construction, yet is also lightweight. The primary band does not flex back and forth, thanks to the two meaty re-enforcement tips at the height adjustment slides. The USB cable is an extremely flexible, and is wrapped in a soft mesh. A large 3 button volume controller is attached inline to the 9.8 feet (2.98 meters) long cable.
At a first glance, it’s a very nice package at the MSRP of $99.99US which can be found on sale as low as $81.99US if you look around.
What’s in the Box?
The box for the Vengeance 1500 is, in my opinion, loud. But that’s important when trying to stand out on the shelf. Â It demands attention and then teases you with a nice side view of the headset itself. Once opened however, there is not much to find beyond the headset itself sitting in a molded cardboard frame. If you look behind this you will find a stack of colored papers being the only other thing in the box.
The first page is a bright red paper that simply states to contact Corsair directly for technical support or an RMA. The yellow sheet takes the place of the driver CD by providing instructions on where to go to download and install audio drivers. Finally, the white booklet is the Vengeance 1500 user’s guide. Since these small pieces of paper replace the important manual, why was it so hard to find? I will come back to why after well get a good look at the headset.