Razer BlackShark V2 Professional (2023) Evaluation

Verdict

This up to date Razer BlackShark V2 Professional is likely one of the finest gaming headsets for eSports gamers, with an ultra-crisp microphone that outshines many rivals at this value, mixed with the superb audio high quality we’ve come to anticipate from Razer and a handful of quality-of-life enhancements, . However in the event you’re not fussed a few broadcast-worthy mic, you’re finest off saving some cash with an older mannequin

Introduction

After impressing us with the unique BlackShark V2 Professional (2020) just a few years in the past, Razer has rolled out this up to date mannequin of the gaming headset to enhance the few issues that had been left missing the primary go round.

Nonetheless tailor-made to eSports gamers, this newest version isn’t an enormous overhaul however makes sufficient substantial modifications to really feel worthwhile.

Coming in at £200/$200, the value has seen a hefty mark-up. For those who’re determined for Bluetooth connectivity or reckon the numerous enhancements to mic high quality are value forking out for, this up to date unit will see you proper. In any other case, it might be value choosing up an older BlackShark V2 Professional mannequin to save lots of your pennies.

Design and options

• Up to date with USB-C charging port
• Strengthened metal headband
• New Bluetooth connectivity

The Razer BlackShark V2 Professional (2023) may not mark a lot of a visible change from its predecessors however features a handful of helpful quality-of-life modifications. The microUSB charging port on the headset’s first mannequin (an oddly outdated design alternative even for 2020) has been changed with USB-C, the spindly stainless-steel sliders that join the ear cups to the principle headband have been bolstered, and further padding has been positioned round each.

There’s additionally a mute microphone button on the left ear cup and a chunky quantity knob above it. The quantity dial, particularly, is welcome. Though it was included on the older BlackShark V2 Professional fashions, it’s nonetheless absent from many top-price headsets and saves you the faff of getting to regulate quantity utilizing in-game sliders.

In addition to connecting by way of a USB receiver, new Bluetooth connectivity turns out to be useful when utilizing the headset with a cell phone or Nintendo Swap. However Razer’s choice to drop the three.5mm audio jack is irritating. Even in our present age of obsessive wirelessness, a wired connection is commonly helpful in a pinch, and its omission right here makes the headset unusable for Xbox gamers (Microsoft nonetheless makes use of a proprietary wi-fi connection system that doesn’t work with normal Bluetooth or a USB receiver).

Battery life, nevertheless, is way more spectacular. Razer claims it’ll final for 70 hours when linked by way of the two.4Ghz receiver, and as much as 90 hours on Bluetooth. From testing, that appears eminently affordable. After utilizing the headset for every week with the USB dongle, it drained lower than half of its battery capability. That is the form of gadget you possibly can fortunately use for weeks with out charging, earlier than juicing it up once more in only some hours.

A button on the precise ear cup now enables you to rotate between audio profiles, together with EQ set-ups for gaming, music and films, plus 5 presets tuned to supply optimum audio settings for Apex Legends, Fortnite, Name of Responsibility, CS:GO and Valorant. It’s hardly a game-changer, and does extra to emphasize that this headset is focused in direction of those that dig aggressive multiplayer video games. However for extra intricate, handbook EQ changes, you should use the accompanying Razer Synapse app. Synapse has by no means been notably intuitive – and continues to be slowed down by loads of bloat – however is way from the headache it was once. I used to be in a position to whip up a satisfactory audio profile in only some minutes.

It’s additionally value noting that that is one actually snug headset. The padding across the headband and ear cups is properly cushioned, and it sits snugly round my head with out pinching. The scarf extension can be moderately beneficiant, so I think about even these with the most important craniums will discover that it sits properly.

Audio and microphone

• Improved microphone
• Similar Razer Triforce drivers because the earlier fashions

The Razer BlackShark V2 Professional (2023)’s massive promote is its improved microphone. It’s a critical step above the earlier mannequin, in addition to loads of different top-tier headsets round this value. As a 9.9mm condenser mic working a 32kHz sampling charge, it sounds deep, heat and free from background noise. Though it’s an odd improve in some respects. Until you intend to do loads of streaming or use the headset for recording (which is certainly doable with this broadcast-worthy high quality), you gained’t hear the advantages of these enhancements your self.

The mic’s additionally obtained an in-built pop filter that works so properly the non-compulsory Beefeater mic hat is basically pointless. The arm attaching the mic to the left ear cup can be stiffer, stopping it from regularly drifting away out of your mouth, as some customers of final 12 months’s BlackShark V2 Professional discovered.

As for the cans themselves, they’re utilizing the identical Razer Triforce drivers because the earlier fashions, and sound as wonderful as ever. The mid-ranges sing, as you’d need from a gaming headset, and the audio comes by way of surprisingly large for closed-back ear cups. Among the bass is misplaced, however that’s no biggie, because you in all probability didn’t anticipate this to double as your go-to music headset anyway. 

Mess around with the Synapse EQ lengthy sufficient and you may get some actually immersive setups. Demonic growls really feel fittingly, properly, demonic in Doom Everlasting, and the eerie environmental results of Resident Evil 8 all of the extra scary. The preset audio profiles, in the meantime, are already adjusted to make each footstep in CS:GO or distant shot in Fortnite that rather more audible.

But it surely’s exhausting to disclaim that this isn’t an enormous change from the earlier Razer BlackShark V2 Professional mannequin. And with that older headset nonetheless available in shops (not less than, for now) at a considerably lower cost, this latest addition to the line-up isn’t a slam dunk. Until you need an important microphone – and it’s a very, excellent mic – it’s in all probability value saving some dosh by choosing up 2020’s BlackShark moderately than splashing on this latest mannequin. When these older fashions are all gone, although, this can be a actual winner.

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