Brand: Razer
Connectivity: Wired
Price: $149 - Mightyape
Has the Razer Blackshark got what it takes to swim with the big fish?
Razer is well known in the gaming industry, and rightly so. Of the Razer products I've tried so far, I've been very surprised with the build quality and performance of the whole lot. The Razer Blackshark V2 is no exception to this. In fact, I was shocked at just how well built and just how well it performed, given the rather budget price tag. At just $149 (at time of writing review) the Blackshark V2 is one of the cheapest headsets we've tested, yet surprisingly it's also one of the best!
Design
The Razer Blackshark V2 is one of the most understated looking headsets we have tried. A sturdy metal frame, comfortable and less bulky ear cups, as well as a sleek looking matte black finish is what makes this a great looking headset. This combined with the removable microphone, make it a headset that you would happily wear in public; something you can't usually say for other Razer headsets. The volume control knob, while being quite big, is actually perfect; no more fumbling around in the dark looking for buttons and pressing the wrong one. The dial is easy to locate, has a solid feeling of resistance and midway marker notches that you can feel when turning. The mute button is the only other button you’ll find and this is located perfectly at the back of the left ear cup. One thing I would have liked, and a feature I feel that most headsets need, is a Chat/Game mixer, but this not being included is in no way a deal breaker.
Another thing I really liked about the design is just how nice the adjustable ear cups felt when actually adjusting. With a lot of headsets, I feel like I'm going to break them or that the clicking mechanism is going to wear out over time, whereas the Blackshark V2 feels solid, smooth and adds a level of quality to the headset.
Comfort
WOW! The Blackshark V2 is one of the most comfortable headsets we have ever tested. The perfectly shaped ear cups (featuring memory foam, layered with leatherette and a breathable mesh fabric) provide a perfect fit around your ears and allow for all day gameplay. Gone is the heaviness and pressure on your ears that a lot of headsets cause, specifically headsets in a similar price range and up.
The headband is padded with a generous amount of memory foam and layered with the same leatherette and breathable mesh fabric that the ear cups are. The combination of this, the pressureless ear cups and overall lightweight nature of the headset, really do make it one you could wear all day. Benefits that are definitely worth the less than $150 investment.
Audio Quality
The audio quality of the Blackshark V2 was where I was most surprised. We have tested other headsets in the past that claim to be ‘budget’, and well, they look and feel just that. The Blackshark not only feels like a $250+ headset, but it sounds like one too. When using a 3.5mm aux cord they are good, but when plugged into the USB soundcard you are able to adjust just about everything; even toggle on THX Spatial audio, which takes it from a 6 to a 8 in terms of audio quality. Without the ability to do any fancy frequency response tests etc the Blackshark V2 seems to be one of the most accurate sounding headsets we have tested. There isn’t any over the top bass boost, it's just simple and accurate sounding audio, whatever you're listening to.
Features
While the Blackshark V2 doesn't feature any actual ANC or any of that, the level of isolation this headset provides, thanks to those ear cups, is fantastic. They were able to completely block out all the environmental noise I had going on around me, including things like ceiling fans. They even did a really good job of blocking out the sound of people talking around me.
Microphone
The microphone on the Blackshark V2 is probably the only part of the headset that actually performs like its $149 price tag suggests it should. While it's clear, it lacks any bass or depth to the sound at all. When compared to headsets like the GSP670, which won our best headset microphone award for 2021, the V2 is not even in the same ballpark. It's like comparing apples and oranges though, and based on the price, that's the way it's supposed to be.
With the help of the Razer Synapse software for PC, it is possible to adjust the microphone a bit. This can make for slightly richer audio and a much more balanced noise gate etc. However, this software is only available on PC and has no impact on the majority of devices people will use it on, so it can’t be taken into account for our overall score.
Pros
Simple yet classy design
All day comfort
Isolation
Removable mic
3.5mm aux connectivity
USB sound card
Sound Quality
Price
2 year warranty
Cons
No wireless connectivity
Lack of chat/game mixing
Microphone quality
Overall, the Razer Blackshark V2 is a classy headset that, despite its price, actually gives some of the best headsets on the market a run for their money. In terms of value, design, comfort, and audio performance, the Blackshark V2 is one of the best headsets we have tested; let down only by poor microphone and a lack of wireless connectivity for those looking for such.
Whether you're a PC gamer, a console gamer or even looking for a super comfortable headset to play mobile games with or listen to music, the Razer Blackshark V2 wont let you down.
*This headset was provided to us by Razer for the purpose of a review. This review may contain affiliate links that help support Gaming Australia and allow us to keep growing our wonderful community.*
