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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Corsair HS80 biggest strength: Dolby Audio 7.1 surround sound from custom-tuned 50mm neodymium drivers with a 20Hz–40,000Hz range, plus a broadcast-grade omni-directional mic with flip-up mute.
• Corsair HS80 biggest trade-off: It's a wired USB headset with memory foam earpads that fully seal over your ears — great for immersion, less ideal if you want to stay aware of your surroundings or move around untethered.
• LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones biggest strength: An open-back, over-ear design that doesn't block your ear canal, a detachable 360° rotating mic, Bluetooth 6.0, and roughly 30 hours of battery life at about 180 grams.
• LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones biggest trade-off: No active noise control and no wired-only option for pure fidelity — it's built around wireless convenience and comfort rather than sealed, cinematic sound.
• Who each pick is for: Corsair HS80 suits the desk-bound competitive or story-driven PC gamer who wants surround sound and clear comms. LOBKIN suits the all-day wearer — work-from-home calls, casual gaming, and anyone who wants music and chat without plugging their ears.
The HS80 is a dedicated gaming headset, and it reads that way from the spec sheet. The headline feature is Dolby Audio 7.1 surround sound, which is the kind of processing that turns a stereo mix into something with direction — footsteps off to your left, a shot behind you. That's the whole point of a gaming over-ear headset, and Corsair leans into it hard here.
The drivers back it up. They're 50mm high-density neodymium units with a frequency range of 20Hz to 40,000Hz and 116 dB sensitivity. In plain terms: a big driver with a wide range usually means strong low-end for explosions and enough upper detail to pick out subtle cues. That range extends well past what most people can hear, which is more about headroom than anything you'll consciously notice — but it signals this is tuned for detail, not just loudness. The USB wired connection also carries 24-bit/96kHz audio, which matters if you care about clean, uncompressed playback rather than a Bluetooth stream.
The microphone is the other half of the pitch. It's omni-directional and described as broadcast-grade, with a flip-up mute and a built-in LED that tells you when you're muted — a genuinely useful detail when you're mid-match and can't remember if you're live. Around it all sits a floating headband and memory foam earpads with a breathable microfiber exterior, plus aluminum-reinforced construction and a 2-year warranty.
Skip it if: you need to hear your surroundings, you want to walk around while listening, or you dislike the sealed feeling of earpads pressing over your ears.
LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones: Who It's For
The LOBKIN is a different animal entirely. The core idea is the open-back, hollow design: it sits over your ear without sealing it, so your ear canal stays unblocked and doesn't heat up. If you've ever finished a long call and felt like your ears needed to breathe, that's the problem this solves.
It's genuinely light, too — around 180 grams. For context, that's the kind of weight you forget about after a while, and it's a big part of why this headset is aimed at long sessions: work, study, casual gaming, all-day wear. The frame folds and the body is ABS with metal, and it runs on Bluetooth 6.0 with a stated range of up to 15 meters and "almost zero delay" — a claim that matters most for gaming, where audio lag is the thing that ruins the experience.
Audio comes from 40mm dynamic drivers with 32 ohm impedance, 110 dB sensitivity, and a 20KHz frequency response. Expect punchy bass and clear stereo, but understand the trade-off of an open design: you're not getting isolation. There's no noise control at all here, which is the price of staying aware of your environment.
The mic is detachable and rotates a full 360°, so you can position it close in noisy rooms — or pull it off entirely when you're just listening. Charging is quick: five minutes gets you about an hour of play, and a full charge takes two hours for around 30 hours of average battery life. It also ships with a cable so you can run it over USB audio when you want a lossless connection instead of Bluetooth. Controls are simple push buttons, and there's adjustable RGB lighting if you like the look.
Buy it if: you wear headphones for hours, make calls all day, want to keep an ear on your surroundings, or want a wireless headset that doubles as a music and work companion.
Skip it if: you want deep isolation, wired-only fidelity, or the directional surround processing of a dedicated gaming headset.
• Best for competitive gaming audio → Corsair HS80. Dolby Audio 7.1 surround and 50mm drivers are built for positional awareness.
• Best for all-day comfort → LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones. Around 180 grams with an open design that doesn't block or heat your ear canal.
• Best for voice chat clarity → Corsair HS80. A broadcast-grade omni-directional mic with flip-up mute and an LED indicator.
• Best for battery life and freedom → LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones. Roughly 30 hours per charge, Bluetooth 6.0, up to 15 meters of range.
• Best for hearing your surroundings → LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones. The open-back design lets ambient sound in; the HS80's sealed earpads are built to keep it out.
• Best for quick top-ups → LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones. Five minutes of charging buys about an hour of use.
• Best for a wired, latency-free connection → Corsair HS80. USB wired with 24-bit/96kHz audio; the LOBKIN leans on Bluetooth first.
• Best for travel and lifestyle use → LOBKIN Open Ear Headphones. Folding frame, detachable mic, and a wireless-first build.
In my opinion, if your priority is gaming — real surround sound, a mic that makes you sound good, and no connection worries — I'd buy the Corsair HS80. The 7.1 processing, 50mm drivers, and broadcast-grade mic are exactly what a gaming over-ear headset should be, and the wired USB link removes lag and battery anxiety from the equation.
I'd pick the LOBKIN instead if your headphones live on your head all day: work calls, music, casual gaming, and you want to stay aware of the room. It's lighter, wireless, and far more flexible. Two good headsets, two very different jobs — pick the one that matches how you actually use them, then check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
FAQ
are in ear headphones good for gaming
do over ear headphones damage hearing
Volume and listening time are what matter, not the form factor. That said, the LOBKIN's open design leaves your ear canal unblocked, so you may naturally listen at lower levels — while the HS80's sealed memory foam earpads can encourage turning things up.
how do over ear headphones work
They house dynamic drivers inside cups that sit over your ears. The HS80 seals around your ear with memory foam and feeds audio over USB with 7.1 surround processing, while the LOBKIN rests over the ear without sealing and streams over Bluetooth 6.0.
is gaming headphones good for music
Absolutely — the Corsair HS80's 20Hz–40,000Hz range covers plenty for music, and the LOBKIN's 40mm dynamic drivers deliver punchy bass and stereo sound. Just note the LOBKIN has no noise isolation, so it's better for quiet rooms.
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See also: TuneFlux Headphones Over Ear vs Valorise Gaming Headset, Spartifexon Clip-On Earbuds Open-Ear vs Wisoqu Over Ear Headphones, Fulext Sleep Headphones vs TANFESO Open Ear Earbuds