Razer stands as one of the best gaming peripheral manufacturers and isbest known for its gaming mice, a range of gaming keyboards, and headsets at most price brackets. All three of these peripherals are equally important, and there can be no compromises when it comes to game audio.Gaming headsetsimmerse you in the game world and give you a competitive advantage in shooters and other games that rely on being aware of your enemy’s position. For this, Razer has gamers covered.
The company has existed since the late ’90s but became known as Razer in 2005. Since then, it has established itself as one of the premium brands forgaming laptopsand peripherals, but that’s not all it offers. There are plenty of budget-friendly offerings as well, covering both ends of the spectrum. As for gaming headsets, Razer uses names of marine creatures, such as the BlackShark, Barracuda, and Kraken series.
Razer Kaira HyperSpeed
Razer Opus Wireless
This plethora of choices has made it a bit challenging to find the right Razer headset for gaming, so here’s a handy guide to help make the decision easier.
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Razer Headsets for Gaming in 2024
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro 2023 Edition
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro offers the ultimate combination of comfort, sound quality, and reliable wireless connectivity. Razer’s 50mm TriForce drivers keep low, mid, and high tones separated for a more accurate soundscape. Gamers can wear the BlackShark V2 Pro for hours at a time, thanks to its combination of breathable memory foam ear cushions and a headband that adapts to any size of the head. In the 2023 edition of this headset, the detachable Razer Hyperclear cardioid mic now captures a wider range of human voice without background interference. Also, battery life has been improved substantially and now stands at 70 hours through Razer’s low-latency Hyperspeed Wireless USB adapter or Bluetooth.
While many Razer gaming headsets can take the “best overall” crown, the BlackShark V2 Pro offers the best value, even more so when discounted. Razer lists it as a $200 headset, but it can often be found in the sub-$150 range, making it a much better deal and the best Razer headset for gaming overall. It features the company’s signature 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers that have individual tunings for the highs, mids, and lows. Not only do you get THX spatial audio support, but there are also a few professionally tuned audio profiles for the optimum gaming experience.
In terms of build quality, Razer is second to none, and that shows with the BlackShark V2 Pro. This wireless headset has Flowknit memory foam cushions on the earcups and the headband. Razer has also paid attention to the clamping force to strike the perfect balance between noise isolation and comfort. The HyperClear Super Wideband microphone is removable and covers a wider frequency range of sound.
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro headset can be connected using the included 2.4GHz dongle or via Bluetooth 5.2. It can deliver up to 70 hours of battery life and charges via USB-C, which is plenty even for marathon gaming sessions. Furthermore, both PC and PlayStation gamers can use the BlackShark V2 Pro to its fullest potential.
Razer Barracuda Pro
The Razer Barracuda Pro is a versatile wireless headset perfect for gaming at home or on the road. The headset employs Razer’s unique Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation technology to drown out background noise in the most crowded locations. TriForce Bio-cellulose 50mm drivers deliver sound with ultimate clarity and pulsating bass tones.Offering the ability to easily switch between Bluetooth and RF connectivity using Razer Hyperspeed Wireless, the Barracuda Pro can connect to the PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.
The most premium offering in Razer’s arsenal is the Barracuda Prowireless gaming headset. What sets it apart from the rest of the company’s offerings is the more standard headphone-like design with the absence of a dedicated boom microphone. But the inside is where things get even more interesting. The Razer Barracuda Pro features hybrid ANC, THX AAA support, and integrated beamforming noise-cancelling microphones.
This headset is designed to be used for gaming as well as on the go. It comes with a low-latency Razer HyperSpeed 2.4GHz wireless dongle as well as Bluetooth connectivity. On top of that, it can seamlessly switch between the two wireless connections. The headset can last up to 40 hours, which isn’t the best among the competition, but it’s still very respectable. The hybrid noise cancelation comes in three modes: ANC, Ambient Noise, and Ambient Noise ON mode. Razer has a handy sample on its website for you to understand the difference between the three.
Coming to the microphones, while there isn’t one that extends right in front of your mouth, there are two hidden mics that also featurenoise suppression technology. So whether you are gaming or out on the go, people can hear you clearly.
Interestingly, the typical 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers have been switched out for TriForce Bio-cellulose drivers of the same size. This new implementation further reduces distortion, which in turn enhances bass reproduction. The Barracuda Pros carry the premium build quality and finish that Razer is known for – and they better, given their steep price.
Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset
Razer BlackShark V2 X is a high-end gaming headset with 7.1 surround sound support. The 50 mm drivers deliver a clear and dynamic sound. Thanks to the standard 3.5 mm connector, the BlackShark V2 X is compatible with most platforms, including PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S. The design features a strengthened headband and hinges and comfortable, glasses-friendly cushions. The headset is also officially licensed by Microsoft for Xbox.
Following the BlackShark design aesthetic, the Razer BlackShark V2 X is a wired gaming headset that won’t break the bank and makes the right compromises. Available in Black, Green, White, and Quartz colors, this headset features the company’s TriForce 50mm drivers and breathable memory foam cushions for the earcups. It is also fairly lightweight at just 240 grams, but that does not take away from its solid build quality.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X comes with a cardioid mic that can be adjusted around your mouth, but it cannot be flipped up to move it completely out of the way. There is a mic mute button, however, along with a dial to control the volume. They also support 7.1 surround sound but only on Windows, though it is compatible with all platforms.
For connectivity, the BlackShark V2 X uses a 3.5mm jack, which makes it easy to drive and simple to use on any platform. That being said, mobile devices these days omit the 3.5mm headphone jack, so that’s something to keep in mind if you are looking to use this headset with your smartphone as well. There is also a version of theBlackShark V2 X that uses a USB-A connection. The only difference between the two is that the 3.5mm version has a slightly better frequency response range and sensitivity.
Razer Kraken V3
The Razer Kraken V3 is a mid-range gaming headset that features the company’s 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers and support for THX 7.1 surround sound audio. There is RGB lighting on the earcups which are made from hybrid fabric and leatherette memory foam cushions. It comes with a detachable cardioid boom mic that has noise cancelation built-in.
If you are looking for a gaming headset with a simple design, excellent performance, comfort, and RGB lighting, check out the Razer Kraken V3. Even though it is a wired headset, the Kraken V3 is among the very few that have customizable RGB lighting. There is a Razer logo and a ring on each earcup that lights up with Razer Chroma RGB. You will find the 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers present here as well, along with support for THX 7.1 surround sound audio.
For comfort, Razer has decided to go with memory foam with a heat-transfer fabric and leatherette material. The headset has a detachable HyperClear cardioid mic that is unidirectional. You get volume controls and a mic mute button right on the earcup. Even though the face of the earcups has a mesh pattern, it is not an open-back headset.
The Razer Kraken V3 also has a version with haptic feedback called theKraken V3 Hypersense. It picks up audio cues and converts them into vibrations for a deeper level of immersion. It does come at an extra cost though, so if the haptic feedback is something you are interested in, be prepared to pay around $30 more.
Razer Kaira Pro HyperSpeed
Officially licensed for PlayStation, the Razer Kaira Pro brings the performance, style, and comfort the peripheral brand is known for to PlayStation gamers. Thanks to the Razer TriForce 50mm drivers, listeners feel powerful bass along with distinctive low, mid, and high tones. The headset is one of the most comfortable gaming headsets ever designed with memory foam ear cushions and a soft padded headband that makes users forget they are wearing any device. The Kaira Pro HyperSpeed will connect wirelessly to the PlayStation or most Bluetooth-compatible devices.
While Sony makes its own version of gaming headsets for the PS5, those who prefer the reliability, design, and features of Razer headsets will appreciate the Razer Kaira Pro HyperSpeed. It is an officially licensed PlayStation peripheral that has been designed with the PS5 aesthetic in mind, sporting a black-and-white color combo, but it still retains Razer’s premium build and sound quality. Of course, it works with PCs as well, so you’re able to use the Hypersense haptic feedback technology while playing PC games.
The Kaira Pro HyperSpeed features 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers and the earcups are made from fabric and plush leatherette. It uses Razer’s HyperSpeed 2.4GHz wireless connection via a USB Type-C dongle, and you may even use Bluetooth to connect with this headset. It also brings the company’s Hypersense haptic feedback technology which reads in-game audio cues and converts them into vibrations. For communication, there is a detachable Supercardioid mic as well as a built-in microphone.
In terms of battery life, the Kaira Pro HyperSpeed can last up to 30 hours with the lighting and haptics turned off. With these turned on, the battery life drops to about 11 hours, which is quite a significant hit. There are a bunch of on-ear controls that let you adjust the volume, mute the mic, switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz, and power on the headset.
Now, if the Sony design aesthetic is more up your alley, you won’t be disappointed with thePulse Elite headset. It costs about the same as the Kaira Pro HyperSpeed and has a similar battery life as well.
The Razer Kaira HyperSpeed is officially licensed for Xbox and comes with the HyperSpeed USB Type-C dongle that enables a low-latency gaming experience. The headset uses Razer’s TriForce 50mm drivers that are housed inside earcups made from heat-transfer fabric. The Razer Kaira HyperSpeed comes with a fixed but adjustable microphone for clear voice chats.
While Razer does not make an officially licensed version of the Kaira Pro HyperSpeed for the Xbox consoles, it does have the Kaira HyperSpeed that does pretty much the same, but without the Hypersense haptic feedback and a detachable mic. It comes in both black and white colors, so those with a white Xbox Series S can continue the theme onto the peripherals. However, the black onesfit the Xbox theme perfectly, especially considering the dominant Razer colors are black and green. Not only does it work seamlessly with Xbox consoles, but it is also compatible with PlayStation consoles and PC.
The Kaira HyperSpeed for Xbox uses the same 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers found on most of Razer’s headsets. There is a fixed unidirectional boom mic with a cardioid pickup pattern. The earcups are made from breathable soft foam present on the headband as well. You can connect to this headset via the USB-C low-latency dongle or Bluetooth, and you can expect up to 30 hours of battery life since there is no RGB lighting or Hypersense haptics to drain the battery.
At 283 grams, the Kaira HyperSpeed is not the lightest headset, but it is still very comfortable over longer gaming sessions. Lastly, all the controls are conveniently located on the earcups, which means there’s no need to go into any software.
The Razer Opus Wireless Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones are THX certified for high-fidelity balanced sound when gaming or watching movies. Four internal microphones monitor environments and adjust noise-cancellation levels accordingly. Listeners can quickly press and hold the ANC button to hear more ambient noise when necessary.The Razer Opus uses a Bluetooth connection to connect with smartphones and other mobile devices, and a 3.5 mm analog audio jack makes it compatible with most PCs and consoles.
The Razer Opus headset is a toned-down and better-value version of the premium Razer Barracuda Pro. It has a moretypical headphone-style designbut delivers impressive performance when gaming as well. It is THX-certified and also comes with Active Noise Cancelation (ANC), as well as a quick attention mode. While the ANC keeps you isolated from ambient noise, pressing and holding the ANC button lets you better hear what’s around you.
The headset uses plush leatherette memory foam ear cushions for maximum comfort, no matter where you are using it. It uses 40mm dynamic drivers and has built-in mics with an omnidirectional pickup pattern. Even though it is a wireless headset with ANC, it can also be used in wired mode with a 3.5mm cable. This makes it compatible with consoles and older smartphones.
As for battery life, the Razer Opus can last up to 32 hours with ANC on and up to 40 hours with it off. The design and build quality of the Razer Opus headset scream premium, but it is still cheaper than the Barracuda Pro, especially when on sale.
Things to Consider When Looking for a Razer Headset for Gaming
Driver Size and Type: The drivers are responsible for driving air which creates pressure waves and helps us perceive sound. Headphones and headsets typically come with dynamic drivers, planar magnetic, electrostatic, bone conduction, or hybrid drivers. The larger the driver, the better it will be at reproducing sound.
Comfort and Build Quality: Some headsets have better build quality than others, but they may not be the most comfortable. Finding a comfortable pair of headsets is balancing between build quality, material choices, and the weight of the headset. Heavier headsets tend to be more fatiguing over time.
Connectivity: In this day and age, going wired or wireless is a personal choice. There are typically no compromises in performance when going with wireless headsets over wired ones. The only drawback is the need to charge them often. If you are going the wireless route, it is ideal to get a pair with solid battery life.
Mic Quality and Features:Microphones are essential for gaming. If you gravitate towards using an external mic, then this isn’t a consideration for you, but for everyone else, having a good mic is a game changer. A lot of mics these days come with noise-canceling for a better voice chat experience, be it in-game or over a Discord call.
FAQ
Q: What is the best Razer gaming headset?
Razer has a lot of excellent gaming headsets, but the BlackShark V2 Pro offers great value and all of the essential features gamers look for.
Q: Is Razer a good brand for headphones?
Razer is arguably one of the best brands for gaming headsets. However, if you are looking specifically for headphones to listen to music, there are better options on the market.
Q: Is Razer Kraken over the ear?
Yes, the Kraken series of headsets from Razer are over-ear offerings.
