The sub-$100 range for gaming headsets is pretty much the most competitive part of the whole market. There’s also a … Go for the Blackshark V2 for the full experience, or there’s the Blackshark V2 X for the price conscious gamer. As such, Razer has taken feedback from the previous headsets and vastly improved the microphone quality here. Razer Opus. The wireframe hinges don’t feel terribly sturdy, but I never ran into any issues over the course of reviewing the headset. Now, Razer’s newest gaming headset is setting itself apart by jettisoning almost all of that. The HyperX Cloud Alpha S struggles with isolation in comparison, largely because of its adjustable bass vents, which let you adjust the bass volume by opening ports in the headphones to varying degrees. If your phone has a headphone jack, it's fine. If cords are a problem for you, a gaming headset like the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless brings best in class battery life and multiplatform wireless audio. Playing games with the Razer BlackShark V2 is easy to do for long periods of time. I have a bold claim to make, I have never liked a Razer gaming audio product until now. The Razer Blackshark V2 is an excellent wired gaming headset with a reasonable price. Razer Blackshark V2 review specs: Connection: USB, 3.5mm. Drivers: Razer TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers. Also, If you’re only interested in something for consoles, you don’t need to spring for something with as many PC-centric features—headsets like the Fnatic React or Sennheiser GSP 300 would suit you fine. The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro features significant improvements over the standard BlackShark V2, including wireless connectivity and a significantly improved microphone. Here are the settings I have opted to go with. I find 80-90 to be the ideal range. Everything was easy for me to pick out, even when voiceover, backing music, and combat sound effects were layered over one another. Less gaudy than many gaming headsets, Average microphone Razer BlackShark V2 X. Razer BlackShark V2. Razer was clever with the helicopter design to help keep the cost down of the BlackShark V2. I’ve found auto does a pretty good job. The sound of in-game explosions shouldn't impact your ability to hear your teammates' voices. Frequency response like this is also well tailored to just about any kind of game you’re into. The Razer BlackShark V2 is the first headset to feature the new Razer Triforce Titanium 50mm drivers. These features are nice to have, but you won’t miss much if you skip Synapse, especially if you’re not interested in games that use surround sound. San Francisco, California, August 11, 2020 — THX Ltd., world-class audio and video certification and technology company, today announced the addition of its THX ® Spatial Audio Game Profiles to the Razer THX Spatial Audio App, and to the lineup of Razer gaming headsets. Thanks to the outer mesh layer, the ear pads manage heat very well. However, the wireless Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is a bit of a puzzle. This patented design basically splits a single … There is also a BlackShark V2 X that has some lesser options for … The Razer BlackShark V2 is undoubtedly one of the best gaming headsets of 2020. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro. strange design flourishes or colored LEDs, https://www.soundguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Blackshark-V2-mic-sample.mp3, Razer BlackShark V2 vs. HyperX Cloud Alpha. Start Razer Synapse 3.0. Upon launching and signing in, you should be at the dashboard screen where you see a grid of active Razer products. Synapse works well enough—the latest iteration of the app is better laid out than most gaming headset apps, but it’s still a little clunky, similar to pretty much every other app like it. Whether it’s knowing the precise location of enemy gunfire or embracing the moment as you stand in the center of an arena, the THX Spatial Audio App delivers … The added emphasis to bass and highs is great for instrumental music that relies on bass guitar and drums, as well as subtler high range sounds like strings and hi hats. If so you can check out their manual to see if it has what you’re looking for. You can make adjustments with profiles or leave it set to auto. Given all that, it’s pretty uncommon to feel comfortable unreservedly recommending a headset at around this price, unless we’re talking about the HyperX Cloud Alpha—frankly, this headset gives the Cloud Alpha a run for its money. Audio The big bulky headphones, LED-riddled chassis, and jet black exterior of most of the company’s products basically codified the product category. Virtually none offer comparable isolation. On PlayStation 4, Persona 5 Royal’s particular blend of music and game sounds come through very well, too. Does the surround sound work with mobile? 100 is just too loud, and you will most likely bleed from the ears upon opening up new games. Download and Install Razer Synapse 3.0 if needed. No, but the USB adapter is, so you can still use the headset via 3.5mm. There's also the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro, which is the comfiest headset of the lot. Considerations include outdoor or indoor spaces, size of spaces, structure volume, and materials. Editor’s note: this Razer BlackShark V2 review was updated April 12, 2021 to include a microphone score based on our reader feedback poll. Recently launched with the new esports headset, Razer BlackShark V2, the THX Spatial Audio Game Profiles … Of course, with these improvements comes a premium price tag, with the BlackShark V2 Pro available for around $179. The software lets you customize your EQ and mic settings, and soon after launch it will include a suite of THX-tuned game profiles, to tailor your sound to games like Apex Legends, Valorant, and more. The Razer BlackShark V2 is a primarily metal construction, with a headband covered in a soft foam cushion wrapped in a mesh fabric. There’s very little in the way of onboard controls, with just a volume dial and a mic mute button on the left headphone. This is largely a plug-and-play device. What separates good sound from phenomenal audio is the ability to transport you right into the action. Expect people with deep voices to sound a little hollow with this mic. Otherwise, if you want something more versatile for less, stick with the BlackShark V2. The Razer BlackShark V2 is among the best gaming headsets on the market, in its price range or not. ... THX Game Profiles are easily the best feature of the BlackShark V2, allowing you to tweak the EQ settings … Unlike the Razer BlackShark V2, the Razer Kaira Pro is specifically oriented toward Xbox consoles, specifically the Xbox Series X. In all of these games, picking out directional audio cues like footsteps and gunshots was easy, and I never felt like I didn’t have at least a rough sense of where a sound was coming from. Home / How-To: Set Up Razer Blackshark Pro v2 with Synapse 3.0, Press and hold the power button until the status indicator is lit, or until you hear a tone.Blinking Blue : pairingSolid Blue : Connected. Additionally, the Razer USB soundcard is responsible for some audio processing, but not so much that you or your game will sound notably worse. It is a great feature that really enhances all audio that comes through the headset. This is a cardioid microphone, which means points at your mouth and doesn’t pick up sound much outside that area. With the sound card connected, you can use Razer Synapse to adjust the Blackshark V2’s various audio settings and enable THX Spatial Audio simulated surround sound. If having more physical control, granular though it may be, over your sound output is more important, get the Cloud Alpha S. COPYRIGHT © 2021 SoundGuys, All Rights Reserved. When you use the BlackShark V2 with an Xbox console, you must plug the headset in via 3.5mm cable, but the Kaira Pro supports Xbox Wireless dongle-free audio. Fewer still are as comfortable. When you use the BlackShark V2 with an Xbox console, you must plug the headset in via 3.5mm cable, but the Kaira Pro supports Xbox Wireless dongle-free audio. The headset’s more granular controls and additional features, like surround sound, are handled by Razer Synapse 3, the company’s universal (sort of) companion app. The headset design is tight and compact. Just before we get into the meat and potatoes of the BlackShark V2 review, it's worth mentioning that Razer recently released a wireless version in the form of the BlackShark V2 Pro. On the review table today we have two new gaming headsets, the Razer BlackShark V2 and BlackShark V2 X, which is the cheaper alternative coming in at $59 USD compared to $99 USD for the higher-end version. Even if your budget stretches far higher that $99, you’d be hard pressed to find something better. While surround sound isn’t the kind of thing to really make you better at any game, it works pretty well here. Virtual surround sound standards often depend as much on the game as the headphones, but multiplayer games like Valorant, Overwatch, and the recently remastered Halo 3 all sound great with the BlackShark V2. Features: THX 7.1 spatial audio, USB sound card, volume wheel, click-to-mute button, passive noise cancellation. How-To: Set Up Razer Blackshark Pro v2 with Synapse 3.0, How-To: Enable Mic Monitoring on the Razer Blacksh…. Have a listen and take a look at the Razer™ HyperClear Mic—our most advanced microphone technology that brings out the best of your voice. It's been quite a while since the Razer Blackshark … The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is essentially the same headset as its predecessor, only now it uses wireless audio to connect to your gaming platform of choice. If you're looking for something that's more reliable for blocking outside noise, get the BlackShark V2. The Razer BlackShark V2 … The Razer BlackShark V2 get it's surround sound via the included USB soundcard, paired with Razer Synapse. The Razer BlackShark V2 are adequate for phone calls. The mic equalizer in the Synapse software, however, is able to make all the difference if you want to get a bit of your smooth, deep vocal tonality back. On PC, the Razer BlackShark V2 gains access to THX Spatial Audio through Razer Synapse. That’s not to say this is absolutely the right choice for everyone. The system makes tracking enemies and managing chaotic firefights a lot easier.” — Erik Kraber, Senior Audio Director Unfortunately, we cannot list Amazon prices on the site, as they vary greatly by currency. The new Blackshark now features THX Spatial Audio with brand new Game Profiles. The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is designed for users who prefer an untethered gaming experience. Unlike the Razer BlackShark V2, the Razer Kaira Pro is specifically oriented toward Xbox consoles, specifically the Xbox Series X. The Razer BlackShark V2 is a massive upgrade in terms of sound quality compared to the Kraken X, and the implementation of the THX Audio gives … All prices listed in USD unless otherwise specified. Does the 7.1 surround sound work on Xbox One? With the Razer BlackShark V2 designed as the ultimate Esports gaming headset, communication is a key area of focus. Razer’s new BlackShark V2 gaming headset costs $99.99 and ships with support for THX spatial audio enabled by its included USB sound card. The Razer BlackShark V2 outputs very accurate sound for a gaming headset. There aren’t any random grilles or light-up logos here. If you choose to connect to a gaming platform via 3.5mm, like through a console controller, you lose out all Razer Synapse support, which includes virtual surround sound, headphone EQ settings, and microphone customization settings. A very nice feature of the BlackShark V2: on the left earphone, there is an easily accessible volume control. Isolation Their detachable boom microphone can make your voice sound clear and understandable, even in noisier environments, though your voice may sound a bit thin. The volume dial sticks out rather prominently from the side of the headphone, but there’s enough resistance that an accidental bump won’t change anything, and it actually feels pretty satisfying to turn—it has a built-in catch at the mid point of the knob for some reason. CARDIOID VERSION The pickup pattern of the Razer™ HyperClear Cardioid Mic offers great voice isolation as it is sensitive to your voice, yet able to suppress noise coming from the rear and sides. The headphones have a pretty large tilt range, so people with wider heads shouldn’t have to worry about finding a comfortable fit. However, few headsets sound as accurate as Razer BlackShark V2. The new Razer Blackshark V2 is here. Regardless, if you’re looking for a good headset for keeping the noises of your household at bay, you could do a whole lot worse than this. Price: £99 / $99. Even the Razer logo is rather small compared to other headsets. The software offers access to a 10-band EQ with plenty of presets, along with Bass Boost, Sound Normalization, and Voice Clarity features that can be toggled and adjusted. In The Seatbelts’ anime-jazz classic Tank!, the opening rhythmic bass guitar line sets the pace of the song and it never gets overshadowed by the brass or drums that take over later on with the Razer BlackShark V2. Case in point: while recording this sample, Slack notifications pinged over my speakers multiple times. When you imagine a gaming headset, it’s hard not to think of something from Razer. How does the Razer BlackShark V2 work with Xbox One? Razer Hammerhead True Wireless. Sound. This headset isolates sound better even than some noise cancelling headphones. On consoles you need to do even less (just plug it into the 3.5mm headphone jack of the controller). Weight: 262g. As someone who doesn’t utilize profiles as much as I should, I found these settings to be ideal: With a built-in voice gate, it makes for blocking unwanted noises very easy and all your friends will thank you. (apart from being wireless). Select Razer Blackshark v2 Pro. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got $500 budget or a $50 one, the Razer BlackShark V2 is worth considering. You can change your bass boast all the way to voice clarity. Once the USB soundcard installs its driver, you don’t really need to do anything to get it to work on PC. Actually using the headset is pretty straightforward. It’s a space littered with very good and great options that pair accurate audio with lots of great features. The Razer BlackShark V2 could be one of the best gaming headsets under $100 to hit the market in years. If something wireless is more your speed, the Razer Kaira line is built for wireless audio on any Xbox from the Xbox One onward. From the outset, it’s obvious the Razer BlackShark V2 is a gaming headset; from its boom mic, to the extra prominent volume dial, to the neon green accents. While its isolation and sound quality may not be as good as its non-pro counterpart, the BlackShark V2 Pro is still a great wireless headset—especially if you’re already invested in Razer’s accessory ecosystem. There’s two Blacksharks for you to choose from. The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro are similar to the Razer BlackShark V2, but they can also be used wirelessly with PCs, PS4, and PS5 consoles.These gaming-oriented headphones come with lots of customization features, including a USB dongle and access to Razer Synapse software, which lets you adjust their microphone and their sound profile. You can further adjust the microphone settings using the Synapse 3 software; however, we don't test for this. There’s no active noise cancelling here, but some this headset still blocks out more sound than quite a few noise cancelling headphones including Razer’s own Opus. I find 80-90 to be the ideal range. It's got better isolation than some noise cancelling headphones, more accurate sound most gaming headsets, and it's comfortable enough to wear for hours without overheating—what more could you want? Synapse still a clunky. It'll function like any other pair of headphones with a mic. It’s not the most expensive gaming headset on the block, but it may leave a dent in some people’s bank accounts. The mic is detachable, if you’re playing something single player, or just don’t feel like talking. Must read: Razer BlackShark V2 vs. HyperX Cloud Alpha. THX SPATIAL AUDIO ADVANCED 7.1 SURROUND SOUND WITH SUPERIOR POSITIONAL ACCURACY, FOR ALL YOUR GAMES. Should I get the Razer Blackshark V2 or the HyperX Cloud Alpha S? Razer on Thursday announced the next version of its venerable BlackShark gaming headset, the BlackShark V2, leveraging a partnership with THX to … Razer BlackShark V2 Pro: Razer BlackShark V2 X : Razer Carcharias: Razer Carcharias for XBOX360/PC : Razer Chimaera: Razer Chimaera 5.1 : Razer Electra: Razer Electra V2 : Razer Electra V2 USB: Razer Ferox : Razer Hammerhead: Razer Hammerhead BT : Razer Hammerhead Duo: Razer Hammerhead Duo - Compatible with Nintendo Switch : This means sibilant sounds (F,S, and SH sounds) will come through more clearly, but people with deeper voices will sound a little distorted. If you use other settings and would like to share them please comment below and let us know! That may sound extreme, but but remember: isolation is more important for blocking out incidental sounds (the clattering of dishes or a baby crying)—ANC is only effective at getting rid of droning sounds (the whirring of a fridge, or low rumble of an engine). There are no lights, bulky headphones, or any other aesthetic flourishes at all really. The slight de-emphasis in the mids might make the sounds of footsteps in games like Valorant or Fortnite a little quieter, but not so much that they’d be hard to hear. It unifies the player with the game, which is certainly a big advantage, though it may not be as pleasant as the wired version during long game sessions. See if you can hear it: The Razer BlackShark V2 absolutely nails the balance between comfort, audio quality, and features that headsets around its price aim for. What features do I lose if I connect via 3.5mm without the USB soundcard? Just plug it into the headphone jack on your controller and you're good to go. Is the BlackShark V2 good for mobile FPS games like PUBG Mobile? Frequency response: 12Hz - 28kHz. Download the application below and register with your activation code to gain a competitive gaming advantage. Enable THX Spatial Audio. How does it differ from the BlackShark V2 Pro? “The surround mix delivered by THX Spatial Audio and the Razer BlackShark V2 headset works really well with our game engine to place sounds exactly where we expect to hear them. The included USB soundcard is what lets you connect to Razer Synapse and access all the additional features. Razer Kraken X USB. Razer Kraken Ultimate. Redesigned from the original Blackshark back in 2012. While its audio is pretty well in line with the more accurate side of the gaming headset market, the Razer BlackShark V2 has arguably the best isolation of any gaming headset we’ve tested. The Razer BlackShark V2 features a paired-back, simple look. However, there’s a degree of aesthetic restraint here that other Razer gaming headsets lack. Thanks for voting! Console players will find such a headset hand as without even looking at the software it is already sonically inspiring, proving that Razer have succeeded with their factory settings. Did I miss something? Razer BlackShark V2 Review – Mic test on Razer USB Sound Card. Prices may change over time, and vary by region. Upon launching and signing in, you should be at the dashboard screen where you see a grid of active Razer products. If wireless audio is a must-have, and you want to give Windows Sonic surround sound a try, the Kaira Pro may be a justifiable purchase. Stripped of so much flash, does the BlackShark V2 have the substance to back it up? Like most gaming headset microphones, there’s a steep de-emphasis in the bass and mid range here, as well as a slight over-emphasis in the high range. Comfortable The ear pads are made of memory foam covered in layers of leatherette and mesh fabric—they’re very soft, and achieving a decent seal is extremely easy. On a basic level, the Razer BlackShark V2 is a 3.5mm wired gaming headset, so it works just fine with the Xbox One (and Xbox Series X/S, for that matter). This is a very light and comfortable gaming headset, and paired with the mesh ear pads: I never ran into any strain or heat issues—even after hours of use. Does it sink or swim? Just a few short months ago, Razer released the BlackShark V2, one of the best gaming headsets of the year, and among the best you can get for $99.Now the company is back with a wireless update. We noted a slight difference in isolation performance, but otherwise, it's really just the wireless functionality. Basically, it looks more like a regular pair of headphones than most Razer headsets. However, unlike many gaming headsets, including a large portion of Razer’s own catalog, the effect is pretty slight here. The beginnings of the usual audio hallmarks are there, like over-emphasized bass and a slight de-emphasis in the 3-6KHz range. The 7.1 virtual surround sound offered with Razer Synapse won't work with Xbox One, but plugging the headset into the console and turning on Windows Sonic spatial audio in the console's settings should work just fine. The purchase of your Razer headset comes with 7.1 surround sound software* for superior positional audio and a lifelike gaming experience. Microphone: Removable, unidirectional cardioid mic. No. Razer BlackShark V2 X – Hardware Review ... wall materials, room size, and reverberation settings are selected to accurately reproduce the specific environment of the game. The headphones are smooth and not as bulky as something like, say, the Razer Kraken or Thresher—there aren’t any strange design flourishes or colored LEDs. The headset’s compatible in one way or another with basically every gaming platform; just ditch the USB sound card and plug into your PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox One via 3.5mm. The Razer BlackShark V2 has great sound for a moderately priced gaming headset. Download and Install Razer Synapse 3.0 if needed. The Razer BlackShark V2 offers a more comprehensive software experience, and far better isolation. This is where the headset really excels. Unfortunately, the Razer BlackShark V2’s microphone can’t match its fantastic audio output and isolation.