Not often are we graced with a gaming speaker system that not solely has a whole lot of energy and rumble, but in addition a ravishing, nearly audiophile-grade sound. The Razer Nommo Professional has all that, plus a powerful stereo soundstage, a refined gamer’s look, accessibility, customizability, and a line-up of connectivity choices within the combine.
This 2.1 sound system is so spectacular — surprisingly good for one that’s being offered as a gaming speaker — that we’ve forgotten the truth that it units you again $499 (£499, AU$849). That’s a excessive price ticket for a set of gaming audio system, sure. However these aren’t any unusual gaming audio system.
Design
It begins with its design. Each its two satellites and its subwoofer boast a matte black end and an general gamer’s look that’s refined whereas nonetheless making an announcement with RGB lighting that’s not too flashy and never too loud. . They’re additionally neither overly massive nor heavy; actually, it’s surprisingly gentle for a non-portable speaker system.
The area gun-looking satellites have Three-inch, Dupont Kevlar-coated paper drivers to supply a smoother sound, and separate silk-dome tweeters for hotter sound with a extra detailed high-end. Additionally they have a wider base for stability and guarantee sound integrity, lit with RGB lighting that’s extremely customizable utilizing each software program and app. Inside, Razer says that there’s additionally an enhanced rubber lining across the driver for a deeper mid to low sound vary.
The cylindrical sub has the Razer emblem embossed on the entrance and is downward-firing to generate extra rumble. It’s additionally designed with a tunnel within the center to encourage airflow, which is meant to cut back distortion.
There may be additionally an illuminated management pod for energy, inputs, and quantity. This management unit has a button to pick out your enter, and a dial for quantity.
The one factor to nitpick in regards to the design is that the ports connecting the satellites to the sub are just a little tight so make certain to plug within the ports all the best way. In any other case, whereas the sound may work, the RGB lighting received’t.
Options
The Razer Nommo Professional isn’t filled with all of the bells and whistles, however that’s the great thing about it – its finest options are in its efficiency, and the small variety of extras it does have tackle your precise wants.
One of many issues we respect about this speaker system is that it presents quite a lot of connectivity choices: analog, Bluetooth, USB, and optical, with the latter two yielding the very best sound high quality.
There’s additionally the Razer Synapse software program. Although you possibly can solely use it when related by USB and with a Home windows OS, it does provide a plethora of customizations. With this software program, you possibly can management the RGB lighting (just a few presets in addition to particular person controls for coloration, motion, and velocity are available), and the sound itself together with quantity, bass, presets (THX and Dolby for Recreation, Film and Music), and EQ. It additionally means that you can choose your enter supply and allow the digital encompass sound.
Nommo Professional’s finest characteristic is its app, additionally known as NommoPro, which is out there for each iOS and Android units. It doesn’t provide as many controls because the software program – the lighting management, for instance, shouldn’t be as particular and detailed, but it surely does a lot of the issues that the Razer Synapse can do. Plus, it has a quite simple UI and it allows you to management it while you’re throughout the room.
Setup
There’s not a lot to it; the setup is fairly easy. It’s a plug and play so moreover putting in the Synapse software program and downloading the app, you simply actually need to hyperlink the satellites with the sub, join your enter, plug it in, and switch it on.
Remember the fact that the USB and optical connections produce essentially the most detailed sound with essentially the most excessive finish, and you’ll solely management it utilizing the software program when related by USB. In order for you higher sound high quality, go along with both of those two. Bluetooth is quieter and has a rolled of excessive finish whereas the analog is much more muffled and compressed.
With the software program/app, we discovered that choosing a flat EQ produces the very best sound, so begin with that as a substitute of experimenting with the completely different presets first.
Efficiency
The Razer Nommo Professional boasts a whole lot of quantity (small dwelling theater-level, actually), a subwoofer that has a whole lot of rumble, a large soundstage, a superb EQ, and naturally, close to audiophile-level sound high quality. It’s quick changing into top-of-the-line gaming speaker programs, in our humble opinion.
Actually, the one factor that’s maintaining it from being an audiophile high quality speaker system is the truth that due to its heat, easy sound, they’re not essentially the most detailed-sounding audio system. It’s nice for gaming, watching films, and listening to music; nonetheless, it’s in all probability not the very best ones to make use of for enhancing and producing.
These audio system have a whole lot of energy and could be thundering, however they’re directional so that you flip up the amount in a single room and received’t have to fret about disturbing others within the subsequent room.
The sub may also be very loud, and it’s downward going through for extra rumble and shake, making it glorious for immersion. On the similar time, regardless of how loud it will get, it doesn’t appear to overwhelm or drown out the opposite sounds. The one factor not-so constructive factor about it’s that it has a mean response price in order that that bass shouldn’t be as punchy and tight as you’d prefer it to be.
Probably the greatest elements of the Nommo Professional’s sound efficiency is its glorious, broad soundstage. Whereas it boasts the Dolby Digital Encompass Sound expertise you could allow by the software program, the soundstage is already so good, you received’t want it. The left and proper positioning is extraordinarily correct and the soundstage can also be very broad, which is nice for gaming immersion.
Living proof: whereas taking part in Murderer’s Creed Unity, we actually bought the sense of the place the ambient noise and voices had been coming from when operating by crowds within the streets. Moreover, with Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice the place the primary character is off her rocker and listening to voices, we felt like we had been within the character’s head with these completely different voices had been coming from completely different instructions.
Lastly, there’s the superb EQ, with easy highs, heat mids, and a robust low finish. It’s not impartial or flat-sounding. The way in which these audio system had been tuned may be very pleasing, so that you just’re getting an ideal high quality sound alongside the rumble and energy.
In case you’re pondering that the $500 price ticket is a tad extravagant for a set of laptop audio system, hear us out. If you happen to’re audiophile programs, the price range choices for a set of nice high quality bookshelf audio system would begin round $200. And also you’d nonetheless want to purchase a subwoofer and a receiver, which can value you much more.
There’s a very small variety of cheaper options to the Razer Nommo Professional. For instance, the Audioengine A2+, which you’ll find at $200 and sometimes comes up in audiophile conversations. You received’t want a receiver for these as they’ve a built-in one. Nevertheless, you’d nonetheless must spend money on a subwoofer of the identical caliber, which suggests you’re not likely saving a complete lot of cash.
There are additionally just a few laptop audio system which can be extra inexpensive, however they don’t ship the identical audio high quality. If audiophile-grade sound isn’t as necessary to you, then speaker programs just like the Artistic Sound BlasterX Kratos S5 are undoubtedly greater than ok and can solely set you again round $150.
Nevertheless, for those who’re not on a decent price range, then the Razer Nommo Professional is certainly value its value after which some. So make investments!
Last verdict
We’re so impressed by the Razer Nommo Professional’s efficiency that we’d be keen to pay $499 (£499, AU$849) – what some would take into account a steep value for a set of gaming audio system. Not solely does it provide a whole lot of energy, it additionally produces a sound high quality and a soundstage that audiophiles will respect. And even when it’s not fairly in that degree, it’s fairly rattling near it. Then there’s the cellular app , which lets you customise plenty of settings utilizing your cellular system for comfort.
If you happen to’re a severe gamer that takes sound and gaming immersion severely, that is the two.1 speaker system you’ve been ready for.