Razer Blackshark V2 evaluation

It’s been fairly some time for the reason that Razer Blackshark final surfaced on store cabinets, however in the present day marks the return of this wired gaming headset within the type of the delightfully low-key Blackshark V2. Gamers of a sure age could bear in mind the primary Razer Blackshark had a quite natty aviator look with its wiggly inexperienced mic cable and hardback ear cups, however this new V2 mannequin is an entire revamp of that unique headset because of a brand new pair of 50mm audio drivers not seen on some other Razer headset earlier than, a cardioid mic with USB sound card, and tremendous mushy reminiscence foam ear cushions to call only a few of its new options. It is, in brief, a really completely different headset to its helicopter-inspired predecessor, however judging by my time with the Blackshark V2, it’s all the higher for it.

For starters, its mushy reminiscence foam ear cushions, oval ear cups and metal body are immensely snug to put on for lengthy intervals of time, which hasn’t at all times been the case with different Razer headsets I’ve examined up to now. As a infamous headpinch sufferer, discovering a headset I can put on for greater than 30 minutes at a time with out feeling like I would like to tear it off and take a break is a reasonably uncommon prevalence lately, however the Blackshark V2 fortunately falls into that small and choose variety of headsets I can put on for hours on finish.

Its enclosed ear cups additionally supply glorious passive noise cancellation, a lot in order that I used to be blissfully unaware of my cats meowing for his or her dinner final evening till certainly one of them jumped up on my lap to demand I pay them some consideration. It additionally fully masked the sound of my clacking mechanical keyboard, too, that means I wasn’t being continually distracted by my fast tapping of the WASD keys, or the frantic clicking of my mouse. Instead, I used to be capable of fully deal with the duty at hand, a lot to the dismay of my hungry cats.

It’s Razer’s new 50mm drivers inside these ear cups which might be the actual stars of the present within the Blackshark V2, although, as these ship a splendidly clear, wealthy and balanced sound that works brilliantly for games and common music listening alike. This isn’t the primary time Razer’s used drivers of this measurement of their gaming headsets, after all, however the Blackshark V2 units itself aside because of the three distinct audio chambers and devoted tuning ports that lie inside every driver, permitting you to control the highs, mids and lows with its bundled USB sound card rather more successfully with out all the pieces changing into a muffled, muddy mess.

You’ll must obtain Razer’s Synapse Three software program to take advantage of the USB sound card (which is simply appropriate with Windows 10 PCs, I would add, regardless of being a multi-platform gaming headset), however it’s nicely value doing, because it’s right here you’ll have the ability to tinker with (that’s, flip off) its THX 7.1 Spatial Audio settings, allow sidetone so that you don’t really feel such as you’re underwater whenever you’re speaking into the mic, fiddle with its audio and mic equalizer presets and rather more moreover. The headset may even be getting particular THX Game Profiles for 18 of in the present day’s hottest multiplayer and aggressive games reminiscent of Apex Legends, CS:GO and Valorant, based on Razer, however these gained’t be out there in Synapse Three till August sixth so I wasn’t capable of take a look at them.

Still, I discovered the Blackshark V2’s common audio equalizer settings had been greater than as much as the duty of manufacturing brilliant-sounding audio in all kinds of games, though I’d advocate switching over to its Game equalizer preset quite than sticking with its Default one. Indeed, I discovered the latter was a bit flat once I booted up Doom (2016), particularly once I had the THX Spatial Audio setting turned on as nicely.

In reality, I’ve by no means discovered a headset whose digital 7.1 encompass sound software program really enhances a game’s audio, and I didn’t get a lot profit from any of Razer’s THX stuff on the Blackshark V2 both. However, as soon as I’d switched off its THX settings and converted to the Blackshark V2’s Game preset, it was correctly transformative, turning insipid, uninteresting gun photographs into roaring blasts of energy. The Game preset additionally enhanced the scrumptious splatter and spit of disintegrating demon limbs, and the mechanical growls of the UAC’s Mars equipment has by no means felt extra ominous and foreboding. I used to be additionally capable of precisely select all of the wayward stragglers in want of a very good Super Shotgun introduction, too, and the sound of impish fireballs whisking previous my left ear actually made me really feel immersed within the busy battlefield.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice sounded good, too. Again, the THX Spatial Audio fully destroyed its evocative binaural soundtrack, however protecting it switched off with the Game preset enabled despatched tiny little shivers down my backbone. The voices inside Senua’s head had an exquisite, pure readability to them, and the spacious soundstage left loads of room for the opening cutscene’s delicate water splashes and rumbling thunder to come back by way of in opposition to the torrent of snickering whispers.

The Blackshark V2 additionally proved an in a position companion for the nice and cozy orchestral music of Final Fantasy XV, delivering a wealthy, detailed soundscape that felt expertly balanced in opposition to the game’s varied environmental results. From the sunshine flutes and guitar strums of the chocobo theme dancing merrily on high of the deep groans coming from the monsters bathing in Duscae’s huge lake to the zip of Noctis’ magical swords slicing by way of its hovering battle themes, the Blackshark V2 by no means missed a beat.

The BlackShark V2’s USB sound card actually makes a distinction to the headset’s audio high quality.

You nonetheless get a reasonably first rate audio expertise with out the USB sound card if you wish to use the Blackshark V2 with different units with a 3.5mm audio jack, however one thing is certainly misplaced within the course of. When I re-tested the headset to see the way it held up on its regular 3.5mm connection, for instance, Doom’s demon squelching wasn’t practically as impactful, Final Fantasy XV didn’t really feel as heat or detailed and Hellblade’s flurry of voices sounded noticeably extra muffled than earlier than.

Ditching the sound card additionally means you may’t make use of its cardioid microphone on PC, because the Blackshark V2 solely has a mixed 3.5mm jack and doesn’t include an splitter adapter within the field. And that will be a really foolish factor certainly, as a result of this mic is actually incredible. When I recorded myself speaking in Audacity, there wasn’t a single hint of any hiss or background fizz getting in the way in which of my speech, and plosive elements of my chats didn’t descend into breathy blow-outs, both.

The default mic expertise was so good, in truth, that I felt little must tinker about with its varied settings in Razer’s Synapse Three software program. The mic’s ambient noise discount function did nothing to erase my clacking keyboard sounds, for instance (though it did make my voice louder to try to compensate), and I wouldn’t advise turning up the Vocal Clarity choice too excessive, both, as this made my voice sound fairly skinny and tinny.

Love a very good chunky quantity wheel.

Likewise, the Mic Boost and Conference equalizer presets made me sound very nasal, like I had some kind of chilly, and its Broadcast preset had nothing on the sleek, radio-style tones you get with the Blue Voice software program that comes with Logitech’s G Pro X headset. All you actually need is from Synapse concerning the microphone is that candy, candy sidetone setting. Still, regardless of having a plethora of barely ineffective microphone choices, this doesn’t detract from the truth that that is nonetheless top-of-the-line and clearest headset mics I’ve ever examined. Plus, to make it even higher, it has a small but tactile mute button on the again of the left ear cup that’s each simple to search out and press out and in. A small beep for that little bit of additional affirmation would have been good, however it’s a small criticism within the grand scheme of issues.

Topping all of it off is a pleasant huge quantity wheel on the facet of the left ear cup, which is at all times helpful whenever you’re in-game and rapidly want to show down the sound to listen to the crying pleas of a hungry cat (or a hungry husband) with out having to Alt-Tab out to search out the grasp quantity management. It’s fairly sizeable, too, not a lot that it appears misplaced on the headset, however nonetheless giant sufficient to comfortably wrap your fingers round and provides it a very good twist.

All in all, the Razer Blackshark V2 is a superb return to kind for this long-lost gaming headset, and a really worthy various to the dearer £110 / $130 Logitech G Pro X that at the moment sits proper on the high of my listing of the best gaming headsets you should buy in the present day. Personally, I’d say the Logitech is arguably much more cozy than the Blackshark V2, to not point out that you just additionally get its glorious Blue Voice software program for that additional contact of readability and jazzy radio vibes in your microphone, however in case you’d quite not spend over £100 / $100 on a gaming headset, the Razer Blackshark V2 is nearly definitely going to be the subsequent smartest thing. Its audio high quality is excellent, its microphone is likely one of the finest within the biz, and it doesn’t pinch your head as quickly as you stick in your face. What extra may you presumably need?