we test the new Razer BlackShark V2 Pro

The competition in the gaming headset industry is absurd; It is very easy to get lost among the large number of options available on the market, which leads most manufacturers to try to attract attention with extravagant designs and functions of questionable quality; THE Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, priced at 229.99 dollarsthey go in the opposite direction.

These are words I would never expect to say about a Razer product, but just one look at these headphones shows that on this occasion, the company the nonsense has stopped and simply created a good product, without any more bells and whistles or unnecessary distractions.

Because they don’t have it, the BlackShark V2 Pro doesn’t even have RGB lighting; I know, this seems like the biggest heresy for a company that based its aesthetic on black color with green lights, but it makes sense in a product that can only be used wirelessly. Real gamers won’t mind losing a light if they can play for a few more hours, and that translates into incredible battery life; Razer boasts of up to 70 hoursand in my tests I managed to get closer to conventional use, although everything will depend on the volume you like.

A mature design

Ironically, the design is the part I liked the most about the BlackShark V2 Pro. Razer has matured as a company, and which is ready to please different types of users. There will be those who prefer to have a cyborg attached to their ears, but this design inspired by the helmets used by pilots of old is my personal preference; It’s a matter of taste, and the good news is that, if you want something more striking, Razer itself offers it with other ranges like the Kraken.

But it’s not just a question of taste. What is undeniable is that these helmets They are lighter and more comfortable than most of the gaming models I tested; In fact, I’d go so far as to say they’re the most comfortable, period. This is something those who spend all day in front of the computer will notice, whether they’re gaming, working, or both; I had no problem wearing these headphones throughout the work day and then starting gaming without taking them off.

There are two reasons behind this convenience. To begin with, the weight of only 320 grams is not only lower than other similar products, it is also better distributed and it is very easy to find the exact location of our head; and the build quality is beyond doubt, with no strange noises when moving despite the fact that it is made of plastic.

The second element that contributes to comfort lies in the memory foam pads (material which is also used in the headband), which take the shape of our ears and our head; Plus, they’re breathable, which will be appreciated when summer arrives. However, I wish the manufacturer had included leather earpads (even synthetic ones) and the option to swap them out, for those of us who prefer that feel during the cold seasons.

Sound for everyone

I have to admit that at first I didn’t like the sound of the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro at all; but I completely changed my mind as soon as I did a little research and clicked the button on the right earbud. Suddenly the experience completely changed. Unlike other headphones, the BlackShark V2 has four pre-installed EQ settings, and it is not necessary to use a program to switch from one to the other; By simply pressing the aforementioned button twice we can switch from one to the other.

My problem was that, by default, the headset was in ‘gaming’ mode, with equalization clearly designed for highlight the voices of our teammates in online games, masking most other sounds. It’s a very useful mode in this type of game, but, as the reader will understand, for the rest of the content it’s horrible.

The good news is that the rest of the modes cover all niches: we have “Movies” (movies), “Music” (music) and “Custom” (custom); The latter is completely neutral by default, and ironically, it is the one that I liked the most because it is the one that best takes advantage of the range of the 50 mm diaphragms used by the BlackShark V2 Pro. When they are well equalized for the content we want, These headphones have little to envy of the alternatives which are not “gaming”, with clear sound and impressive bass. These are not “study” or “pro” headphones, but they are very versatile and suitable for all types of content and games.

Razer’s ace in the hole is in the THX sound, which offers an approximation of surround sound using only the two speakers using advanced algorithms. It’s one of those things you either love or hate, and there’s usually no middle ground; although in my experience it largely depends on the type of content you prefer.

In my case, I preferred to deactivate it while listening to music because it affected the balance between the instruments; On the other hand, I discovered that it works very well when watching films, because it is able to move ambient noise and bass “back” and put the voices front and center so they can be heard better, if that makes sense. It’s just a trick of the algorithms, but in this case it managed to convince me. In games, the experience has the same ups and downs, and in some games it helps “get into” the story, while in others it’s a nuisance; It’s about trying.

Very versatile

The more I use the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, the more I am convinced that its strong point is versatility: They are used for all types of situations and content, without having to do anything strange. The button to change the equalization directly on the right earpiece is a nice detail from Razer, although of course you can always install the Razer Synapse program to configure it in more detail; for example, to configure the ‘Custom’ equalization to our liking.

From this program we can also create unique sound profiles for each game separately, in addition to activating a Do not disturb mode if they call us on our cell phone while we have the headphones connected to the computer and on the cell phone at the same time. And speaking of calls, from Synapse we can configure improvements such as voice clarity.

This way I didn’t need to remove the headphones at all; not even to change devices. The BlackShark V2 Pro has two wireless connections, one at 2.4 GHz which reduces latency but requires the use of a USB adapter for the computer; And They also have Bluetooth 5.2 to connect them to our cell phone or tablet, and there we have access to the same advantages. One can switch between modes simply by changing a button, confirming that ease of use has been a priority for Razer.

The only thing I can criticize is that we cannot connect them to the computer by cable, although for some strange reason this is possible in the cheapest version of these headsets; The cable included in this model is only for recharging the battery. Another important detail is that these headphones do not have active noise cancellation, although they have “noise reduction”, so although technically you can take them on the street connected to your mobile, in practice they do not insulate enough to enjoy your music. . At least it is possible to activate sound normalization, which amplifies external noises (such as footsteps or conversations) if we do not want to isolate them from our environment.

There aren’t many accessories included in the box either, aside from the aforementioned cable, 2.4GHz adapter, and an extension cord. And, of course, the microphone, which can be left connected to the headset or removed if we are not going to use it. It can be presented exactly how we want it, and the sound pleasantly surprised mebeing sharper and more precise than I’m used to in many gaming headsets.

The safe choice

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro aren’t the most amazing or advanced wireless earbuds I’ve tried, but they are. one of the most reliable and versatile. At no point did I “fight” with them, and I was able to use them daily for all types of content and tasks without problem; Whether it was making a video call at work, listening to the latest album from my favorite band, or playing an online game, they rose to the challenge and I didn’t need to change them for others.

For 229.99 dollars, The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro are a safe choice, the kind that won’t make you lose sleep; but if you like risk, there are alternatives. For example, the Corsair HS80 Max are more striking both in their aesthetics and in their functionality, although this means that they are not suitable for everyone. Razer itself also offers the Kraken as a more “gaming” option, but, ironically, I think if you like the aesthetics and functions of these BlackShark V2 Pros, I think you should look at the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed, which for only 149.99 dollars share many features.

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