What Is the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro?
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro gaming headset is the wireless version of Razer’s BlackShark V2. Like the BlackShark V2, it has most of the same features like lossless audio and THX digital surround sound. However, the V2 Pro improves on the previous iteration by cutting the cord. This offers a bit more freedom to gamers who like moving around different areas as they play. It also has a better microphone and sports the BlackShark V2’s beautiful design and build. However, being a wireless version also means it’s more expensive. The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro price is $179.99 – a whole $80 more than the BlackShark V2.
The Razer BlackShark Line Target Market
The Razer BlackShark product line provides more than one product. There are the V2, V2 X, and V2 Pro. The V2 X is the budget option while the regular, wired V2 is more for the average gamer. This leaves the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro in the luxury category – and its price certainly attests to that. That’s because this pro gaming headset is priced at $179.99 in Razer’s store. It costs much more than the regular V2 and V2 X. Moreover, it offers many more premium features compared to the other two. For example, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is the only wireless product in the line. It also improves on the other products’ features, software, sound quality, and design.
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Specs
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Review
Among the other headsets in the BlackShark line or all other headsets from Razer, is Razer BlackShark V2 Pro worth buying? In this section, we review every aspect of the wireless gaming headset.
Design
If you’ve seen Razer’s other BlackShark products before, then you might be familiar with the V2 Pro’s design. That’s because the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro wireless looks nearly identical to the V2 and V2 X. They’re all similarly designed and sport an industrial look. However, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is unique in that it gets rid of the V2’s signature green highlights. Instead, the new Pro version is all black – the only green thing being the mute button. Apart from this, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is pretty decently designed to withstand long gaming sessions. Its headband and ear cups use the FlowKnit fabric Razer touts as sweat-friendly. Overall, it’s supposed to keep sweat to a minimum, making it cooler than regular headsets. Thankfully, this claim seems to be on par with the performance of the headset. It’s light overall and even has an airy feel to it. Moreover, the headset’s ear cups don’t feel too tight when you’re wearing them – perfect for extended gaming hours. Unfortunately, however, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro isn’t completely perfect. For example, it has these metal attachments dangling along the sides that attach the ear cups to the headband. These extensions, while serving a purpose, feel like they can snag onto something if you’re not careful. This makes the headset slightly less durable and more prone to breaking. In addition, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro doesn’t look very premium despite its higher price. Nonetheless, they do feel great while you’re wearing them, especially because they have softer memory foam than the BlackShark V2.
Noise Cancellation
Now, let’s talk about the features of this wireless gaming headset. The first question you might be asking is this: does Razer BlackShark V2 Pro have noise cancellation? Unfortunately, the headset itself doesn’t provide active noise cancellation like other headphones. However, it does feature some pretty decent passive noise cancellation because of the well-built ear cups. Although we will say that this passive noise cancellation isn’t as good as it was on the V2.
Software
One of the most important parts of the headset is the software. You can’t truly learn how to set up Razer BlackShark V2 Pro if you don’t use the software. That’s because you can only unlock much of the headset’s functionality through Synapse 3. Otherwise, you’ll get a pretty subpar gaming experience, sound quality, and mic quality overall. What’s in the software that’s so great? Firstly, Synapse 3 provides tons of options and settings you can tinker with. One of these is the many 10-band equalizers you can play with to adjust both playback and recording quality. You can even choose from various presets in this section if you’re not up to tweaking every setting manually. However, if you’re the type who likes to control and fine-tune every detail, Synapse 3 also provides tons of options. For example, the software provides sliders and switches for boosting bass, sound normalization, vocal clarity, ambient noise adjustments, and more. It can also help you adjust the power saving settings in case your biggest priority is conserving the battery. Apart from these, hard-core gamers will certainly want to mess with the THX settings. This is the feature that allows for immersive surround sound. You can adjust it and apply presets, profiles, or adjust its settings on a per-game or per-app basis. Moreover, you can tweak each profile and how they work, manipulate the spatial speakers and their distance, etc.
Battery Life
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro battery life is fair. It lasts about 24 hours on a single charge – not bad for a wireless headset. If you lower the volume, you can even extend the battery life a bit. In addition, what’s great about the battery here is that the headset doesn’t lower performance when it’s near zero. You’ll retain the same quality throughout until the battery finally dies. When it’s not in use, you can put it to sleep through a nifty switch. Can you use the BlackShark V2 Pro while charging? Yes, although some functions might not work while you’re doing so. It also has more frequent disconnections when it’s plugged in so it’s not the ideal way to use the headset. Unfortunately, the BlackShark V2 Pro does have its pitfalls when it comes to the battery. For example, the software doesn’t plainly show you the device’s battery percentage. Hence, you won’t know how long it’ll last at any given time, which makes the device confusing to use at times. In addition, you can only charge the headset using a micro-USB cable. This decision makes the headset feel outdated and inconvenient, especially since most of the devices people own now use USB-C.
Durability
Unfortunately, while the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro has a premium price tag, we can’t say the same for the build. That’s because it’s built with plastic instead of metal and has a weird design. The instruments that connect the cups and the headband stick out, making it unstable and prone to accidents. We wouldn’t be surprised if you snapped these handles just because it accidentally caught onto something.
Connectivity
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is pretty decent when it comes to connectivity. That’s because it provides multiple connection options for the user. The first one is a wireless connection via the included Razer BlackShark V2 Pro dongle. Through this, you can connect to your device using Razer’s signature HyperSpeed 2.4 GHz wireless technology. On the other hand, the second connection is through a cable via the headset’s 3.5mm jack. Let’s begin with wireless connectivity. For this one, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro works pretty impressively. The connection rarely breaks even if the headset is quite far from the receiver. Of course, it does disconnect sometimes, but that’s usually because there’s some interference with other USB 3.0 devices. Nonetheless, it works well overall and should be great for your use cases. Now, does the Razer BlackShark V2 work with PS5? What if you want it wired? Thankfully, the Razer BlackShark V2 does provide a 3.5mm jack to which you can connect a wire. This allows you to have a Razer BlackShark V2 Pro PS5 connection. Moreover, it even opens the possibility for gamers to connect the headset to their smartphone. Of course, this does come with a few caveats. That’s because using a wired connection forfeits the surround sound feature the headset is known for. In addition, the quality of the experience just diminishes when you’re using it with a console or phone. As a result, we only recommend using it with a PC as it performs disappointingly with consoles.
Sound Quality
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro drivers are the same ones you find on the other products within this line. This means it still sports the same Triforce Titanium 50mm drivers you can find on the V2 and V2 X. However, what makes the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro different is that the company added a speaker chamber in the design. According to Razer’s marketing, this is supposed to make it sound more balanced, colorful, and fine-tunable. Unfortunately, the headset sounds a little disappointing out of the box. The default settings – for both the sound and microphone – are lackluster. Sure, they get a pass if you’re just watching videos or casually listening to music. However, they’re not nearly great and can even sound tinny when it comes to games. Thankfully, the sounds do get significantly better after doing a bit of tweaking in Razer’s Synapse software. The THX Game Profile surround sound is also spectacular – provided you own a game that supports it. If you do, you’ll notice that environmental and directional sounds get clearer and more defined. On the other hand, the headset still provides great sound even without a game that supports THX. You can still hear the soundscape of regular games clearly and the whole experience remains immersive. Apart from games, listening to music is also very pleasurable when using the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro. The bass, vocals, mids, and highs all have great separation. It’s clean, clear, and can even distinguish heavy bass and various instruments.
Microphone Quality
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro microphone is a bit better than the regular BlackShark V2. However, to fully utilize the product’s upgraded mic, you’ll need to tweak some settings in the Synapse software. Once you do, however, you should be able to find a sound profile that’s satisfying. Apart from this, the mic itself performs well when it comes to isolating your voice. You won’t hear much background noise while you’re recording – whether it’s a podcast or a song cover. However, it does sound a bit empty and cold compared to mics from other gaming headsets. It’s certainly great for hobbyists and gamers but it’s not recommended for professional use.
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro vs Competitors
How does this wireless gaming headset compare to other similar products? Let’s find out.
Logitech G733
If the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro isn’t for you, then we recommend trying the Logitech G733. It is cheaper, has a five-hour longer battery, and sports RGB lighting. Moreover, it’s even lighter and has a convenient neodymium magnet, providing more bass and clearer high notes. Of course, it does have its downsides compared to the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro. For example, its frequencies and drivers are less impressive and the microphone isn’t noise-canceling. Nonetheless, it’s a decent alternative if you want something more affordable than the V2 Pro.
Razer Barracuda X
Of course, this comparison wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t include some of Razer’s other headsets. In this case, we’re comparing the Razer Barracuda X and the BlackShark V2 Pro. Firstly, the Razer Barracuda X has several advantages over the V2 Pro. For example, it has a neodymium magnet, has 32 Ohms lower impedance, and has better microphone wind noise reduction. It’s also USB-C compatible, lighter, and has a coiled cable for greater flexibility. However, where the V2 Pro wins is in its 8000Hz higher high-frequency, 8Hz lower low-frequency, and 10mm bigger driver. Its microphone also has a 9990Hz higher frequency and the overall unit has longer battery life. With that said, it all comes down to preference and what you’re looking for in a headset. Overall, however, you can’t go wrong with either one and both will provide a satisfactory wireless experience.
Razer Nari Ultimate
Which product would win in a fight between the Razer BlackShark vs Nari Ultimate? Well, it depends on the kind of person you are and what features you prioritize. That’s because these two products provide different strengths and are targeted toward different people. The Nari Ultimate provides better recording quality and has an overall better build. If podcasts and video conferencing are more high-priority then it’s certainly the better option. However, the BlackShark V2 Pro does have its advantages over the Nari Ultimate. For one thing, its audio delivery is much more consistent overall regardless of the remaining battery. In addition, the microphone it sports, while weaker than the Nari Ultimate, provides better noise reduction. It also has a longer-lasting battery so it’s better for longer gaming sessions and those who want more consistent sound.
SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless might be priced the same as the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro. However, the one advantage it has over the V2 Pro is that it has active noise cancellation. Thus, if you tend to game in larger households with more family members or noisier environments, it’s the ideal alternative. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless is better than the V2 Pro in every way. It’s quite a bit weaker in terms of frequencies, drivers, and battery life. Moreover, it doesn’t have a removable microphone like the V2 Pro. Regardless, if noise cancellation takes priority then it’s certainly a good option.
Is the BlackShark V2 Pro the Best Gaming Headset Today?
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is a great choice for PC gamers who want a high-quality wireless headset. Apart from its flexibility, the headset performs well and provides great sound and microphone quality if you adjust the settings. Overall, the headset performs like a premium device so it’s highly recommended for PC gamers. However, there are a few caveats to this headset – the first one being console connectivity. Sure, the headset is compatible with the PS5 because Razer was thoughtful enough to incorporate it. Nonetheless, the console performance on the V2 Pro is subpar and is not recommended for the most part.
