Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review: One of the best gaming headsets gets even better

Razer is thought for considerably flashy and bombastic {hardware} designs. Even the corporate’s PC headsets are adorned with RGB lights, presumably for the advantage of your Twitch stream. The BlackShark line is mainly the antithesis of this concept: laser-focused on e-sports efficiency, filled with high-end {hardware}, and shod of all pointless adornments. No noise cancellation, no haptics, and certainly, no RGB lights. So it’s with the brand new BlackShark V2 Pro, probably the most succesful (and costliest) headset in Razer’s expansive PC gaming headset line.

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro goals for operate over kind in virtually each capability, from its gaming-focused sound profiles to its new high-quality microphone to its light-weight but long-lasting design. But the headset additionally provides some creature comforts within the type of a Bluetooth connection, which makes it appropriate with all the things from the PlayStation 5 to a 10-year-old iPhone. It’s a powerful replace to an already-good design, and although it’s in no way low-cost, it’s a stable worth in comparison with related fashions from the competitors.

Further studying: See our roundups of the best gaming headsets and best wireless gaming headsets to find out about competing merchandise.

Price When Reviewed

$199.99

Best Prices Today: Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) headset

What’s new within the Pro V2 2023?

Before we go any additional, let’s deal with the title of this gadget. If you’re doing a little comparability buying, you would possibly discover that Razer already has a headset named the BlackShark V2 Pro. That’s the earlier mannequin, which got here out in 2020. This is the BlackShark V2 Pro (2023). Despite trying virtually similar, the most important technical improve is the addition of Bluetooth functionality, and it’s $20 dearer with a urged retail value of $200.

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Why isn’t this upgraded mannequin known as the BlackShark V3 Pro? Honestly, I do not know. My condolences to the shop clerks who must take care of each fashions on the shelf for no less than a short time.

For the sake of comparability, listed here are the highlights of the headset’s specs, with the adjustments constituted of the 2020 mannequin in daring:

Razer representatives have been additionally fast to spotlight strengthened metal headband sliders, although I’ll need to take their phrase for it, as I haven’t used the unique mannequin. 

How does the BlackShark V2 Pro really feel to make use of? 

Pairing and utilizing the BlackShark V2 Pro for the primary time, I used to be stunned at how cozy the earcups are. The foam cups are clad in material as a substitute of leather-based, bringing to thoughts cheaper designs just like the Logitech G435. But the cups are each super-comfy and breathable, for when on-line competitors will get particularly heated. And when that occurs, the detachable mic growth stays put and out of the best way. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Other bodily controls are equally misleading—and I imply that in a great way. The quantity wheel appears a bit cumbersome at first, nevertheless it’s prolonged out from the physique so your fingers can discover it instantly. (Though I’d have appreciated some notches for a greater grip.) I believed this gaming-focused design lacked media controls, however actually, you’ll be able to shortly faucet the facility button for play/pause—extraordinarily useful once I stand up from my desk to cook dinner dinner and wish to hold my podcast going. 

The aforementioned quantity and energy controls (which additionally doubles because the pair button) are on the left cup, joined by a handbook mute toggle for the microphone, in case you don’t really feel like bodily eradicating the growth. On the correct aspect is a single button for switching between pre-defined equalizer profiles (extra on these later within the evaluate), and a double-tap will shortly change between your Hyperspeed USB dongle and any Bluetooth gadgets you may have paired. These combos are a bit daunting at first, particularly in case you’re ceaselessly adjusting the EQ, however I bought the grasp of them in a number of days.

Michael Crider/Foundry

I discovered the headset cozy and straightforward to put on, even on my extra-large head, although it’s about center of the pack when it comes to weight. I’ll commerce that weight for longevity, which the V2 Pro has in spades. Razer quotes 90 hours in Bluetooth mode and 70 hours in Hyperspeed mode, and since I used to be solely in a position to drain the headset as soon as in my testing, I imagine it. It’s not fairly as jaw-dropping because the 300 hours of the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, however that headset additionally lacks a whole lot of the extra spectacular bells and whistles of the Razer different. You’ll get no less than every week’s price of use out of the V2 Pro. 

I did discover one annoying little quirk: The V2 Pro will shut itself off after 10 minutes of inactivity. I assume that is an aggressive battery-saving meter, however I’ll typically pause movies or music for that lengthy throughout a workday, and having to show the headset again on a number of occasions a day bought annoying. Sadly there doesn’t look like a software program possibility to regulate the timeout interval.

How is the audio high quality on the BlackShark V2 Pro?

Sound high quality is at all times subjective, and I don’t take into account myself an audiophile. But with that qualifier out of the best way, I discovered the V2 Pro tuned a little bit closely in favor of mids and highs, which sounds odd coming from the massive 50mm drivers. No doubt that’s the “e-sports” focus of this set, the higher to tell apart your teammates’ comms over the web. 

No matter. Just a few faucets of the EQ button can shortly modify to a extra mellow, full-ranged sound, higher suited to films or music. In that mode I discovered the V2 Pro greater than succesful, and in case you’re the form of listener who needs the bass to beat your ears like a boxer, then this headset is definitely able to doing so. The lack of lively noise cancellation implies that it’s much less suited to, say, a protracted bus journey than a extra well-rounded, Bluetooth-only set of headphones, however that’s not some extent in opposition to this design. It’s centered on PC gaming, in any case. 

Razer

Speaking of which, the equalizer will be custom-tuned in Razer Synapse, after all. And you’ll be able to set particular profiles to launch with particular applications or video games, with or with out digital encompass sound enabled. But there’s a extra fascinating operate to play with: pre-programmed settings for well-liked shooters, created along with large names in e-sports. These profiles are pre-loaded into the firmware of the headset itself—no have to dive into Synapse. 

Hold down the EQ button for 3 seconds and you’ll change to those hardcoded profiles, then faucet as soon as to change between Valorant, Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: GO, and Fortnite. These will be additional personalized in Synapse, however because you’re paying a premium for profiles pre-set by “pros,” you would possibly as properly strive them out first. 

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I did. I’m no professional gamer, however I’ve played enough Fortnite (in no construct mode, as a result of I’m a few many years older than the typical participant) to get a number of victories in each season. And whereas the pre-made EQ setting was a little bit excessive on treble for my tastes, it did let me hear and zero-in on enemy footsteps and weapon-swapping noises, notably quicker than with my very own HyperX headset. So name {that a} win, and ask somebody who is aware of the best way to rely i-frames if you need a extra technical breakdown of the headset’s gaming deserves. 

The different main enchancment to the {hardware} is the microphone. “Serious” players will use a devoted USB mic for communication, however Razer needs to make a case for its headset mic as a substitute. To that finish it’s powered up with a 32KHz sampling price. If you’re not accustomed to audiophile specs, that’s double the standard price of cheaper microphones and headsets, however nonetheless lower than the 48KHz of full-sized “pro” devoted mics. Razer additionally added a further “hard” pop filter beneath the froth protecting filter that comes pre-installed.

Michael Crider/Foundry

It works. Listeners on the opposite finish of my conferences and audio calls mentioned that my voice was clearer and crisper than with my standard headset, and attributable to a set proximity to my mouth, no less than as intelligible as once I use my Blue Yeti. (Plugging within the mic growth can also be loads much less of a problem than coping with the latter, which remains to be utilizing an historical mini-USB cable.) So sure, the BlackShark V2 Pro (2023—ugh, what a mouthful) is definitely serviceable for each gaming and conferences. 

Should you purchase the BlackShark V2 Pro (2023)?

Razer’s asking a hefty 200 bucks for the V2 Pro. That’s hardly uncommon for Razer {hardware}, nevertheless it’s nonetheless the most costly PC gaming headset the corporate sells, tied with the Kraken V3 Pro and its arguably helpful head-shaking haptics. But trying round at equally outfitted headsets from the competitors, and also you is perhaps shocked to search out that Razer is thrashing them on value. Similar 2.4GHz + Bluetooth setups from rivals like Logitech, Corsair, and HyperX are within the $230 to $270 vary. 

The closest match when it comes to {hardware} and value is the SteelSeries Arctis 9, which options a lot of the identical specs plus a gorgeous collapsible growth mic for $200 (round $180 on sale, on the time of writing). But Razer has this mannequin beat with greater than triple the battery life, and I’d additionally give it the sting for extra finger-friendly quantity controls, larger drivers, a barely lighter construct, and USB-C charging versus MicroUSB. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

So sure, Razer finds itself within the uncommon place of being a price proposition, if not precisely an affordable one. That takes this product from a tentative suggestion to a particular one. If you’re in search of a PC gaming headset that’s nice for immersion out of the field (particularly for on-line shooters) and might deal with some gentle Bluetooth responsibility for different gadgets, the BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) needs to be on the prime of your record. 

Even although it actually needs to be known as the V3. Really.