Leviathan, Kraken, Black Shark… With these names referring to the maritime universe and mythological creatures, you will have understood, welcome to Razer. This BlackShark V2 Pro is a model already well known to gamers, a first version had appeared in 2020, before an update in 2023. Today we have a variation for the console universe with a version for Microsoft machines and one for the Sony universe, so no losers?
Sobriety and elegance
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He's there ! The “designed for Xbox” badge validating compatibility with the Microsoft console is proudly displayed on the packaging. You will have to make no mistake, because this version, the most complete to date, is not only compatible with the Xbox Series, but also with all your other consoles, including the PlayStation and the Switch. Upon unboxing, a certain sobriety emerges, rhyming here with elegance, and the eye is directly drawn to the headset which has its little effect.
The accessories are discovered later. There are few of them, which avoids one of the drawbacks of high-end peripherals which is to accompany them with a whole bunch of frills.
On the menu, a removable microphone, a USB-A format dongle equipped with Razer's proprietary HyperSpeed technology, a USB-A to USB-C cable necessary in the case of the Xbox Series (because you cannot directly plug the dongle into our consoles without it) and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable. And that's all.
There are two ways to connect. The main one is done with the dedicated 2.4 GHz dongle which plugs into the console via the USB-C to USB-A adapter. This method is clearly recommended, as this connection allows an extremely low level of latency. The second is the Bluetooth connection. It should be noted that the absence of a jack port may raise eyebrows for some people.
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The device is available in two colors, black or white. It is this second variation that was provided to us. A circumaural type headset (that is to say it encompasses both the ears and the skull of the user), it adopts an aesthetic close to that of helicopter pilots, with its very pronounced aviator side in the shape of the earpieces. The brand is reminded to the player discreetly via the Razer logo on the side of the speakers as well as on the top of the headband. Don't look for RGB on this product, there simply isn't one. The Razer Chroma application is therefore of no use here, no offense to the most technophiles.
The whole is refined and of quality. The headband is covered with imitation leather fabric on top and memory foam on the bottom. The structure is matte plastic, except for the metal rods connecting the headband to the earcups. The speakers are made of 50mm Razer Triforce titanium and are also covered in memory foam. The materials are quality and everything is extremely well finished. There are, in fact, no screws, no welds or no visible injection points, the covering is impeccable.
The only downside is that the metal rods holding the speakers suggest a certain fragility. Only a long-term test would make it possible to decide on this point, but immediately our impression for the short and medium term is very good.
Order me if you can
The BlackShark V2 Pro doesn't flaunt a plethora of controls and that's a good thing. The left side of the device has only two buttons, one for activating or muting the microphone, the other for turning the device on/off. A potentiometer for the audio volume is also positioned at the speaker level. As for the right side, it has a single button allowing you to switch between the Bluetooth connection and Hyperspeed mode or to switch to profiles pre-recorded by or for e-sports players.
Holding or pressing these buttons more or less repeatedly provides access to different commands. For example, repeatedly pressing the power button switches the device to “game or chat” mode, which increases the sound of the conversation instead of the game, and vice versa. It may seem complicated, but in practice it remains simple and you quickly get the hang of it.
As for e-sport profiles, they are recommended for FPS with well-known licenses such as Apex Legends, Fortnite or even Call of Duty. These profiles are highlighted thanks to teams sponsored by Razer that you may know if you are fans of the genre: Mandatory, Gentle Mates, Mouz… In fact, this allows you to benefit from preconfigured profiles which will highlight ambient noises, particular actions, sound effects… It's welcome, everyone can judge the competitive advantage that this will give them. A slight downside, however, is that this version sees the disappearance of two profiles from the 2023 version for PC, those of CS:GO and Valorant. So of course, we could say that these games are “only” available on PC but the headset also works under Windows…
In addition, the device comes with an application called “Razer Audio Setup for Xbox” which offers some customization options. It is thus possible to modify the available audio equalizers, adjust the microphone and standby or block calls and notifications using a “do not disturb” mode. Note that this application is also recommended on PC where it works perfectly. We were not able to use the Razer Synapse software which unifies the manufacturer's hardware and which seems more complete in the choice of options offered. Indeed, despite our efforts, it was never able to detect the BlackShark.
Like slippers
What strikes you at first glance is the ease of use of the product. As already mentioned, it comes with few accessories and becomes more intuitive to use. After connecting the wireless adapter to the console, the headset is immediately recognized. The comfort felt is immediate as it is light (around 320 g). It follows the shape of the skull and adapts to different body types. The ears are well covered by the speakers, which provide passive isolation and sound quality. The transcribed sound spectrum is rich. Better still, you can easily get your bearings with the different controls, it's intuitive and practical thanks to the few buttons present. Over short sessions, it is this ease of access, this comfort and this mobility allowing you to switch from one machine to another which makes it a device of choice. Over longer gaming sessions, comfort remains essential, the product remains in place, it does not strain the skull too much and the feeling of heating in the ears remains limited. The fabric covering the ears and head does its job by being pleasant and airy, which prevents perspiration.
In terms of autonomy, the device displays a more than impressive duration, without achieving the record performances of certain competitors. It will take around forty hours of play before needing to recharge, and a little more on PC where Razer promises us up to 70 hours of battery life. Fast charging is also included, around fifteen minutes allowing you to play for 6 hours, while a full charge will be reached after around 3 hours. Finally, the headset remains functional during charging.
The microphone is clearly and rightly one of the points highlighted by Razer. It covers a wide range of sound frequencies and produces sound almost as good as a dedicated microphone. Equipped with a windshield which limits the capture of parasitic noise, it is removable and adjustable in its positioning. The sound is clear and impresses with its quality and the details transmitted. It does not replace a dedicated device for podcasting, but it comes very close.
Tested on Xbox Series