Razer is stepping out of the world of gaming with the discharge of Opus, a pair of over-the-ear energetic noise cancelling (ANC) headphones priced at $200. Opus is THX licensed, has a really muted design (particularly for Razer), and a reasonably restricted characteristic set. The sound is comparatively clear and highly effective and favors a vivid sound stage, however the noise cancelling is missing towards a few of the high ANC headphones just like the Sony WH-1000XM3 regardless of it’s superior design. It’s obtainable now on Amazon and Razer.com in Midnight Blue, with a Black choice coming at a later date.
The Razer Opus blends into most outfits.
Specs and options
The Razer Opus options 40mm drivers inside a light-weight headset with plush leatherette reminiscence foam ear cushions, weighing in at 265g. It connects by a 3.5mm analog cable (included) or Bluetooth to your telephone or PC by way of AAC, and there is aptX help. Inside the carrying case is the talked about 1.5m 3.5mm analog cable, a 30cm USB-C cable for charging, a USB-A to USB-C adapter, in addition to the usual airplane analog adapter. Both the 3.5mm and USB-C ports are situated on the left can and are simply accessible.
This evaluate is a part of TechHive’s protection of the best headphones, the place you may discover critiques of competing merchandise, plus a purchaser’s information to the options it’s best to contemplate when procuring.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGInside the Razer Opus case.
Opus can be outfitted with 4 microphones (two exterior and 4 exterior) used for a mix of calls and for ANC—extra on that later. The microphone name high quality may be very common, which is to be anticipated given the over-the-ear design—there’s simply solely a lot tuning that may be completed to battle the physics of the microphones being thus far out of your mouth. I didn’t run into any evident issues throughout calls, and neither did the recipients.
The battery is said to final for 25 hours with ANC enabled and round 32 hours with it disabled, however in my testing it fell a bit wanting these numbers below fixed listening. The said charging time from a depleted battery is 4 hours was very correct—there is not any fast charging for a fast flip round like Sony’s.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGControl buttons on proper ear cup.
The headset consists of easy-to-find and satisfyingly clicky buttons alongside the decrease components of the headphones. On the left aspect is an influence button that triggers a delightful powering up sound impact when turning on and a small standing indicator LED subsequent to it signaling the assorted energy states. Above that’s the NC/Ambient change that toggles between energetic noise cancelling on and off. Press and maintain that very same button to have interaction a Quick Attention mode that passes the sign from the outer microphones into the combo and permits you to tackle somebody chatting with you or to spice up your consciousness of your environment.
Unfortunately this characteristic can’t be enabled as a full time mode–again, like on the WH-1000XM3–as I generally like the choice to be on for longer than I’m prepared to carry the button down for. Hopefully this may be applied by way of a software program replace as it’s the characteristic I missed probably the most from Sony’s product.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGLeft ear cup on high.
One characteristic that’s appreciated is the auto play/pause that’s engaged when placing the headphones on and taking them off. Even most high-end ANC headphones lack that characteristic, and albeit, it was simpler and quicker to take the headphones off and pause my music to talk with somebody than it was to seek out and maintain down the NC/Ambient button.
On the fitting can is the place the quantity up and down buttons are, with a recessed multi-function button positioned in between. The center multi-function button is used for issues like play/pause and interesting a telephone’s private assistant. I had no drawback discovering and interesting these buttons, that are massive sufficient and positioned evenly throughout the again aspect. The management setup on the Opus is easier and simpler to make use of than the swipe controls on the WH-1000XM3—a welcome benefit.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGTake your finest guess on the battery degree of the Opus.
The final characteristic to notice is the companion Opus app obtainable on iOS and Android (I examined the Android model), which is sadly fairly skinny. In it’s an icon displaying battery level–without an vital proportion indicator–a few settings and hyperlinks, and EQ presets. By default the headphones are loaded with the THX-certified combine, however there are additionally Amplified, Vocal, Enhanced Bass, and Enhanced Clarity presets which can be fairly self explanatory. The app may be very easy and lacks most of the primary and superior options current in dearer headphones from Sony and Bose.
The THX sound distinction
As with previous audio merchandise, just like the Nommo Pro, Razer labored with THX each step of the best way in designing, testing, and optimizing the Opus. In sensible phrases because of this THX examined audio high quality and suggested within the materials selections from the early prototype phases by means of remaining manufacturing. THX instructed me in a briefing that there have been a number of go/fail assessments in the course of the manufacturing phases that checked out frequency copy, stability, distortion ranges, and preserving the noise ground to a minimal. This high quality assurance testing theoretically helped Razer produce the very best sound expertise for the value level they had been focusing on.
So did it assist? Well, sure and no. The THX preset tuning is definitely crisp and clear within the excessive ends and punchy within the decrease finish the place you would want it for a bass or kick drum. It’s a conventional ‘scooped’ strategy that leaves out muddy mids and provides the sense of a vivid and highly effective sound—one thing Bose has all the time centered on as nicely.
It is a clear and clear sound, good for genres that make the most of that scooped strategy, like pop and metallic. And there’s little or no distortion as the quantity will increase—which it may possibly enhance to a stunning quantity with out incurring an overdrive kind of impact. It’s quietest sign setting wasn’t very mushy and delicate sadly, and quite a lot of the punch was misplaced. So quiet and delicate listening experiences like jazz and classical wasn’t an ideal match on the Opus.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGA reasonably clear and crispy sound comes out of the Razer Opus.
But THX remains to be solely working with a $200 headset to make the very best expertise out the parts which can be used to hit that value level. The Opus does sound good–I don’t imply that be a slight on the product–it simply signifies that being THX licensed doesn’t imply that Razer was in a position to make a $200 headphone sound just like the $350 competitors from Sony or Bose.
At the top of the day I do imagine the THX certification helped make a good-sounding pair of headphones for the value. It does swimsuit soundscapes that profit from shiny highs and thick lows finest, like rap, up to date rock, pop, and metallic. Opus strugges a bit with extra delicate mid-range tones that have a tendency to wish a extra refined system to actually excel—this consists of genres like classical, jazz, and basic rock.
Advanced ANC
The Opus contains a hybrid energetic noise cancelling setup, which on paper is spectacular. Sporting 4 microphones in complete, two inner and two exterior, this enables the Opus to characteristic each a feedforward and suggestions design. Without going too deep into the small print, feedforward energetic noise cancellation excels at addressing noise earlier than it hits the person with the exterior microphones. And the suggestions energetic noise cancellation system makes use of the interior microphones that hear what the person hears in an effort to cancel undesirable noise. Both methods have strengths and weaknesses on their very own, however in tandem, hybrid energetic noise cancellation is theoretically the perfect of each worlds.
Razer Razer offered a chart of energetic noise cancelling varieties.
The draw back to a hybrid strategy like that is the value and complexity of the setup. Most ANC headphones make use of one system or the opposite to maintain value down, so the truth that Razer determined to go together with the most costly choice whereas attempting to focus on a mid-tier market is stunning. This signifies that corners needed to be minimize someplace, both within the microphones themselves or within the sign chain and processing.
Unfortunately, the primary evaluate unit that Razer despatched me exhibited a couple of issues, primarily within the ANC processing which resulted in undesirable noise, frequency cancellation, and a ‘swimming’ impact within the left ear. Razer was very fast and useful in getting me a alternative unit, which I’ve been in a position to make use of for per week now on the time of this evaluate.
The second unit didn’t exhibit the identical noise-cancelling drawback like the primary unit, however it nonetheless maintained some undesirable electrical noise when ANC was energetic. There are many instances the place I take advantage of ANC headphones in an atmosphere just like the workplace to assist me focus with out listening to music and the slight hiss was very noticeable to me. To be honest I’ve extra delicate and educated ears than the typical person, and it is rather, very quiet–I didn’t discover something throughout energetic listening. But for these instances the place I used to be simply utilizing the headphones with out music enjoying, it was distracting. Luckily it’s not noticeable the remainder of the time and shouldn’t impact most customers.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGTesting the Razer Opus exterior.
Despite that drawback I did discover the headphones to be higher than common in cancelling out low-end noise, and it did a good job at cancelling higher-end frequencies as nicely. I did quite a lot of actions that had been obtainable to me throughout this time of quarantine akin to strolling down a (considerably) busy avenue, cranking up the followers on my gaming PC, operating a fan-based white noise machine and extra. Airline flight and public transit commuting are typical exams I like to incorporate for ANC methods however it wasn’t an choice at this level.
So low-end rumble, AC models, fridge hums, and different issues that occupy the decrease finish of the frequency spectrum the place precisely cancelled out to a big extent and weren’t an issue for the Opus. Mid-range sources like human speech, neighborhood noise, and small-engine autos had been a bit extra depending on the transients–meaning it wasn’t tremendous delicate to quick bursts of quantity. But if it was sustained for greater than a half-second the system would clamp down more durable and cancel out the sign decently.
But each good energetic noise cancelling system additionally must be paired with passive noise cancelling to attain the total impact. Taking consolation out of the equation for a second, I discovered the plush earcups to be a bit missing in isolating the upper frequencies. This resulted in some bleed in (and out) of the headphones for sure high-frequency sources. If you are nervous about your coworkers listening to the music you are enjoying, then these won’t be the fitting headphones for you.
Simple consolation and design
With it’s minimal weight and mushy supplies, the Opus is surprisingly mild and simple to put on. The high of the headscarf has loads of cushion and I didn’t undergo any weight fatigue when sporting them for hours on finish. I used to be shocked to seek out out that the Opus is definitely a bit heavier in comparison with the WH-1000XM3 (265g vs 254g), as a result of they felt simply as snug.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGSony WH-1000XM3 (left) vs Razer Opus (proper).
The Opus additionally has a bit extra of a snugger match and applies extra stress on the perimeters of my head. Some of this comes right down to the ear-cup measurement distinction between these and Sony’s, and a few of it’s due to the extra basic design of the Opus in comparison with the slimmer design of the WH-1000XM3—illustrated within the pictures under.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGSony WH-1000XM3 (left) vs Razer Opus (proper).
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGThe Razer Opus (proper) has extra space between the band and the perimeters of my head than the Sony WH-1000XM3.
The ear cup measurement is smaller than most, sadly, and perhaps I’ve massive ears. I discovered myself needing to wiggle them into the cup a bit so then don’t sit on my ear. This did add some discomfort to my ears over time, and that grew to become an issue before the load of the headphones.
The really feel and high quality of the plastics and plush leatherette may be very good and the design doesn’t scream “gamer” in any respect. From the field, to the carrying case, to the Razer emblem on the aspect, there is no such thing as a indication to somebody who isn’t accustomed to this gaming model that almost all of their merchandise are angular and glow inexperienced. It has a really delicate and spinoff look within the ANC headphone area—however that’s precisely what Razer wanted to do slightly than stand out.
Adam Patrick Murray/IDGSony WH-1000XM3 (left) has bigger ear cups than the Razer Opus (proper).
For the value, I do really feel just like the Opus may be very snug and nicely designed, regardless of the smaller ear cups and cushty match. Audio and ANC high quality is clearly crucial within the grand scheme of issues, but when headphones aren’t snug to put on for lengthy intervals, then it doesn’t matter. Luckily this can be a place the place Razer received it proper.
Conclusion
For the value level the Razer Opus is above common relating to audio high quality and luxury, however is under common when it comes to energetic noise cancelling and total options. Aiming for $200 value is a superb transfer from Razer for a primary try into the life-style product and is extra aggressive than most of their gaming choices. It get’s you near the standard of upper priced flagship choices from Sony and Bose, however at a steep low cost.
With the Sony WH-1000XM3 repeatedly being discounted under $300, and at the same time as low $250, it turns into a harder proposition—and the reductions will solely get steeper and extra frequent because the WH-1000XM4 attracts close to. But because of the THX tuning, snug design, and simple to make use of controls the Razer Opus remains to be value a glance.