Razer is understood for somewhat flashy and overblown hardware styles. Even the business’s PC headsets are decorated with RGB lights, most likely for the benefit of your Twitch stream. The BlackShark line is essentially the antithesis of this idea: laser-focused on e-sports efficiency, packed with high-end hardware, and shod of all unnecessary adornments. No sound cancellation, no haptics, and undoubtedly, no RGB lights. It is with the brand-new BlackShark V2 Pro, the most capable (and most pricey) headset in Razer’s extensive PC video gaming headset line.
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro goes for function over form in practically every capacity, from its gaming-focused noise profiles to its brand-new premium microphone to its lightweight yet lasting style. The headset likewise includes some animal conveniences in the type of a Bluetooth connection, which makes it compatible with whatever from the PlayStation 5 to a 10-year-old iPhone. It’s an outstanding upgrade to an already-good style, and though it’s by no means inexpensive, it’s a strong worth compared to similar models from the competition.
What’s brand-new in the Pro V2 2023?
If you’re doing some contrast shopping, you might see that Razer currently has a headset called the BlackShark V2 Pro. This is the BlackShark V2 Pro (2023 ).
Why isn’t this updated design called the BlackShark V3 Pro? Truthfully, I have no idea. My acknowledgements to the store clerks who will need to handle both designs on the shelf for at least a bit.
For the sake of comparison, here are the highlights of the headset’s specifications, with the modifications made from the 2020 model in strong:
50mm titanium chauffeurs
Memory foam earcups
THX Spatial virtual surround sound
2.4 GHz Razer Hyperspeed wireless + Bluetooth 5.2
Removable microphone
HyperClear Wideband Microphone with 32kHz tasting rate
USB Type-C charging
70 hours of battery life (15 minutes of charging for 6 hours).
On-headset pro-tuned FPS profiles.
Razer agents were likewise quick to highlight reinforced steel headband sliders, though I’ll have to take their word for it, as I have not utilized the original model.
How does the BlackShark V2 Pro feel to use?
Matching and using the BlackShark V2 Pro for the very first time, I was amazed at how comfy the earcups are. The foam cups are outfitted in cloth instead of leather, evoking cheaper styles like the Logitech G435. The cups are both super-comfy and breathable, for when online competitors gets particularly heated up. And when that happens, the detachable mic boom sits tight and out of the method.
The volume wheel seems a bit troublesome at first, but it’s extended out from the body so your fingers can find it immediately. I believed this gaming-focused design did not have media controls, however in fact, you can rapidly tap the power button for play/pause– exceptionally handy when I get up from my desk to cook supper and want to keep my podcast going.
The abovementioned volume and power controls (which also functions as the pair button) are on the left cup, joined by a manual mute toggle for the microphone, if you do not feel like physically eliminating the boom. On the ideal side is a single button for switching in between pre-defined equalizer profiles (more on those later on in the evaluation), and a double-tap will rapidly switch in between your Hyperspeed USB dongle and any Bluetooth devices you have combined. These combinations are a bit overwhelming initially, especially if you’re frequently adjusting the EQ, however I got the hang of them in a few days.
I found the headset comfortable and simple to use, even on my extra-large head, though it’s about middle of the pack in regards to weight. I’ll trade that weight for durability, which the V2 Pro has in spades. Razer estimates 90 hours in Bluetooth mode and 70 hours in Hyperspeed mode, and considering that I was only able to drain pipes the headset once in my screening, I believe it. It’s not rather as jaw-dropping as the 300 hours of the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, however that headset also does not have a great deal of the more excellent bells and whistles of the Razer option. You’ll get at least a week’s worth of usage out of the V2 Pro.
I did find one irritating little quirk: The V2 Pro will shut itself off after 10 minutes of lack of exercise. I presume this is an aggressive battery-saving meter, but I’ll typically pause videos or music for that long during a workday, and needing to turn the headset back on multiple times a day got irritating. Unfortunately there does not appear to be a software application alternative to adjust the timeout period.
How is the audio quality on the BlackShark V2 Pro?
Sound quality is constantly subjective, and I don’t consider myself an audiophile. With that qualifier out of the method, I discovered the V2 Pro tuned a little greatly in favor of mids and highs, which sounds odd coming from the big 50mm chauffeurs. No doubt that’s the “e-sports” focus of this set, the much better to identify your teammates’ comms online.
No matter. A few taps of the EQ button can rapidly adjust to a more mellow, full-ranged sound, better matched for movies or music. Because mode I found the V2 Pro more than capable, and if you’re the sort of listener who desires the bass to beat your ears like a fighter, then this headset is certainly efficient in doing so. The lack of active noise cancellation suggests that it’s less matched for, state, a long bus flight than a more well-rounded, Bluetooth-only set of headphones, but that’s not a point against this design. It’s focused on PC video gaming, after all.
Speaking of which, the equalizer can be custom-tuned in Razer Synapse, of course. And you can set specific profiles to release with specific programs or video games, with or without virtual surround sound made it possible for. There’s a more intriguing function to play with: pre-programmed settings for popular shooters, produced in combination with huge names in e-sports. These profiles are pre-loaded into the firmware of the headset itself– no requirement to dive into Synapse.
Hold down the EQ button for 3 seconds and you can change to these hardcoded profiles, then tap once to change in between Valorant, Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: GO, and Fortnite. These can be more customized in Synapse, but given that you’re paying a premium for profiles pre-set by “pros,” you may also attempt them out first.
And while the pre-made EQ setting was a little high on treble for my tastes, it did let me hear and zero-in on opponent footsteps and weapon-swapping noises, notably faster than with my own HyperX headset. Call that a win, and ask somebody who knows how to count i-frames if you want a more technical breakdown of the headset’s video gaming benefits.
“Serious” gamers will utilize a dedicated USB mic for interaction, however Razer desires to make a case for its headset mic rather. If you’re not familiar with audiophile specifications, that’s double the typical rate of less pricey microphones and headsets, but still less than the 48KHz of full-sized “pro” committed mics.
It works. Listeners on the other end of my meetings and audio calls said that my voice was clearer and crisper than with my typical headset, and due to a fixed distance to my mouth, at least as intelligible as when I utilize my Blue Yeti. (Plugging in the mic boom is also a lot less of a hassle than dealing with the latter, which is still using an ancient mini-USB cable television.) So yes, the BlackShark V2 Pro (2023– ugh, what a mouthful) is definitely serviceable for both video gaming and conferences.
Should you buy the BlackShark V2 Pro (2023 )?
Razer’s asking a hefty 200 dollars for the V2 Pro. That’s barely uncommon for Razer hardware, however it’s still the most expensive PC gaming headset the company offers, connected with the Kraken V3 Pro and its probably beneficial head-shaking haptics. However looking around at likewise geared up headsets from the competitors, and you may be stunned to find that Razer is beating them on rate. Comparable 2.4 GHz + Bluetooth setups from competitors like Logitech, Corsair, and HyperX are in the $230 to $270 range.
Razer discovers itself in the unusual position of being a value proposal, if not precisely an inexpensive one.
The closest match in regards to hardware and price is the SteelSeries Arctis 9, which features much of the very same specifications plus an appealing collapsible boom mic for $200 (around $180 on sale, at the time of writing). Razer has this model beat with more than triple the battery life, and I ‘d also provide it the edge for more finger-friendly volume controls, larger chauffeurs, a slightly lighter construct, and USB-C charging versus MicroUSB.
Yes, Razer finds itself in the uncommon position of being a value proposal, if not exactly an economical one. That takes this product from a tentative suggestion to a definite one. If you’re trying to find a PC gaming headset that’s great for immersion out of the box (particularly for online shooters) and can manage some light Bluetooth duty for other devices, the BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) ought to be at the top of your list.
Even though it truly must be called the V3. Really.
