Unlike other Razer headsets that can be too big, complicated, or pricey, the Blackshark V2 is sleek, comfy, and costs around AED 380:00 in the UAE. That might sound like a lot, but considering how great it sounds, it's actually a good deal.
The Blackshark V2 gets almost everything right. It's comfy to wear for a long time and sounds awesome for both games and music. Plus, for certain games, it has special THX sound settings that make the sound even more immersive.
Like other Razer stuff, the software can be a bit tricky to figure out, and it's not always easy to get the headset to fit just right. But those are small complaints compared to how good this headset is overall.
Razer Blackshark V2: Design
The Razer Blackshark V2 is different from other Razer headsets like the Razer Kraken Ultimate because it's not big and heavy. Instead, it's lightweight at just 9.2 ounces, small, and tough enough to carry around in a backpack. Razer made it this way because they want gamers to use it for esports, where they might need to travel a lot. The only downside is that the earcups don't bend, so it doesn't fold flat for packing.
On one side of the headset, there's a detachable microphone that you can move around, and it has a big foam cover. There's also a volume knob that's easy to find and has a click when it's halfway, so you know how loud your game will be. There's a button to turn off the microphone on the back. The other side of the headset doesn't have any extra buttons.
The Blackshark V2 looks cool with its black plastic and green Razer logos. Even though it's made for gaming, you could wear it outside without getting too much attention. The only problem is that the earcups are held by metal bars that look nice but aren't very practical.
Razer Blackshark V2: Comfort
The Razer Blackshark V2 is mostly very comfy to wear. The soft ear cushions block out some noise and keep your ears cool with special foam. The headband has a lot of padding too, so your whole head feels nice and comfy.
But there's a big problem with getting the right fit. Instead of having an adjustable band, the ear cups move up and down on metal rods. It's hard to adjust them when you're not wearing the headset, and even when you are, you can't see if they're straight. You'll spend a lot of time trying to balance them or asking someone else to help. Once you finally get it right, it feels good, but if you need to fix it later, you'll have to go through the whole process again.
Razer Blackshark V2: Performance
When it comes to gaming and listening to music, the Blackshark V2 sounds really good. Part of this is because it uses THX spatial audio, which is a technology known for making movie sound effects really awesome. But it's not just for movies; it works for music and games too. By default, the Blackshark V2 uses THX Spatial Audio and can switch between Game, Movie, or Music mode depending on what you're doing. I found that turning on THX made everything sound better.
For gaming, the Blackshark V2 is great no matter what game you're playing. Games like Doom Eternal, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, and World of Warcraft sound amazing, with all the different sounds blending together perfectly. Even listening to the music in the games is immersive.
The company will add specific sound profiles for different games over time, like Apex Legends and Call of Duty: Warzone. They'll even have profiles for single-player games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Half-Life: Alyx. This means the sound will be customized for each game to make it even better.
When it comes to music, gaming headsets usually don't do music justice, but this one does. Both the Razer software and THX make music sound richer and more balanced. Different genres like folk, rock, and classical, they all sounded vibrant and detailed. It's not as good as dedicated music headphones, but for a gaming headset that costs around AED 380:00, it's really impressive.
Razer Blackshark V2: Features
The standout feature of the Razer Blackshark V2 is its THX profiles. But besides that, there are some other good things about this headset. The microphone is really good at picking up your voice clearly and blocking out annoying background noises. Just keep in mind that the microphone might be a bit quiet at first, so you'll need to adjust it in the Razer Synapse software.
Speaking of the Synapse software, this is where you can tweak a lot of settings for the headset, like the sound levels and microphone volume. Software is both helpful and a bit complicated. Sometimes the settings you're looking for are hidden in layers of menus. Specifically for the Blackshark V2, it is bit annoying that you can only pick one THX profile for each app. This can be a problem if you use apps like Chrome or VLC for both music and videos. It's not a big deal, but there could be a better solution.
Also, the Blackshark V2 connects to your computer using a USB dongle, but it also has a 3.5 mm audio cable. This means you can use it with game consoles and tablets too. While it's not mainly made for them, you can still get pretty good sound from a PS4 or Xbox One if you don't want to buy separate gaming headsets.
Razer Blackshark V2: Verdict
The Blackshark V2 is the best headset Razer has ever made, and it competes well with similar models from Logitech and SteelSeries. While the SteelSeries Arctis 5 and Logitech Pro X are also great choices in the same price range, the Blackshark V2 is one of the top wired gaming headsets you can get. It might be a bit harder to find now, but you can still get it from some stores if you look carefully, making it a great choice for gaming sound.