Razer Blackshark V2 Pro (2023) Review

The Razer Blackshark V2 ($99.99) has been one of our favorite wired gaming headsets for a few years, but the wireless Blackshark V2 Pro ($179.99) released in 2020 didn’t appeal as much due to its much higher price. The 2023 iteration of the Blackshark V2 Pro costs even more at $199.99, but it adds Bluetooth connectivity, triple the battery life, and a more refined and detailed sound signature. Although Razer initially released it as a PC-only headset, it now has PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions (these models have wireless USB-C adapters designed to work specifically with their respective consoles). In all, the Blackshark V2 Pro is much better than its predecessor and earns our Editors’ Choice award for midrange wireless gaming headsets.

(Credit: Will Greenwald)

Design: Light and Comfortable

This headset is physically identical to the previous version, but now it’s available in either black or white. The Blackshark V2 Pro is quite light at 11.3 ounces, and its earpads use a soft memory foam material with breathable cloth covers. The headband’s underside has ample padding, while the top sports a faux leather cover. You shouldn’t experience any comfort issues during long gaming sessions.

The Blackshark V2 Pro has large, oblong earcups with matte plastic shells that connect to the headband via Y-shaped wire struts and short, fabric-wrapped wires. The thin struts in the Blackshark line distinguish them from those in the Kraken and Barracuda series. The Kraken models (such as the Kraken V3 Pro) use more circular earcups, while the Barracuda headsets (like Editors’ Choice winner Barracuda X) have a more subdued look.

The left earcup features most of the headset’s controls and connections, including a volume knob that works in conjunction with your connected device, a power button, a mic mute button, a USB-C port, and a port for the detachable boom mic. The right earcup has only a pairing button.

Wireless-Only Operation

The Blackshark V2 Pro works wirelessly with the included 2.4GHz USB transmitter and over Bluetooth 5.2 (with support for the AAC and SBC codecs). It lacks a 3.5mm wired port, so you can’t plug it into your PlayStation or Xbox controller.

According to Razer, the Blackshark V2 Pro can last up to 70 hours on battery, and charging it for 15 minutes should get you up to six hours of runtime. That’s a significant improvement over the previous version’s battery life of just 24 hours.

Razer includes the THX Spatial Audio simulated surround sound feature with the Blackshark V2 Pro, which you can access via the Razer Synapse app for Windows. The app also provides 10-band EQs for the headphones and microphone; adjustable Bass Boost, Sound Normalization, and Voice Clarity settings; and a Do Not Disturb mode that blocks calls from your phone if the 2.4GHz connection is active.

(Credit: Razer)

Another Excellent Razer Mic

With the Blackshark V2 Pro, Razer continues its run of headsets with fantastic mics. Test recordings sounded extremely clear, capturing my voice without laptop fan interference. The mic should work well for voice chats, recording, and streaming. That said, we recommend buying a dedicated USB mic if you’re serious about content creation because it offers even better dynamic range and signal quality.

Crisp, Clear Spatial Audio

The THX Spatial Audio on the Blackshark V2 Pro works well and produces accurate imaging. While playing Fortnite, I could easily pick out the location of distant gunfire, nearby footsteps in front of me, and flanking opponents. Previously, I wasn’t convinced by the promise of simulated surround sound for gaming headsets, but this implementation provides a strong sense of directionality. Action sounds, such as gunshots, also came through loud and clear, though there’s a focus on precision rather than low-end force.

Ultrakill’s audio also sounded full in our tests, though the balance leaned toward the high frequencies. Gunshots were punchy, but didn’t reach deep into the sub-bass levels. The game’s audio didn’t focus on directionality like Fortnite’s, so the stereo panning wasn’t as useful.

The emphasis on clarity doesn’t mean the bass was completely absent, though. On our bass test track, The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the synth notes and kick drums sounded well-rounded and forceful at high volume levels. I didn’t notice any distortion at maximum volume levels, either. No, you won’t feel as if there’s a subwoofer strapped to your head, but you’ll hear a decent amount of low-end power.

The opening acoustic guitar plucks in Yes’ “Roundabout” carried an appreciable amount of low-mid resonance, while a clean treble response let the string texture come through. When the track properly kicked in, the bassline sounded punchy and the vocals took a prominent place in the mix. The guitar strums and high-hat sat slightly back, but they were still present.

(Credit: Will Greenwald)

Verdict: A Powerful Midrange Headset

If you’re a PC or console gamer with a budget of around $200, the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro is a top choice thanks to its excellent sound quality, clear mics, and comfortable design, easily earning our Editors’ Choice award. But other options are also worth considering. At the higher end, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless ($329.99) offers active noise cancellation, more powerful bass, and dual swappable batteries for no downtime while charging. On the cheaper end, the Razer Barracuda X ($99.99) remains a fantastic value at half the price, despite lacking accurate spatial audio.