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Razer Black Shark V2 Pro Review

If you are looking to cut the cord when it comes to your headset, this is a good bet
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Razer Black Shark V2 Pro Review
Price:  $199 List
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Manufacturer:   Razer
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Aug 25, 2022
72
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#8 of 16
  • Comfort - 40% 8.0
  • Audio - 30% 6.9
  • Microphone - 20% 6.8
  • Ease of Use - 10% 5.8

Our Verdict

While we usually find the corded gaming headsets to be superior to the cordless model, the Razer Black Shark V2 Pro does well to contradict that assumption. This headset is one of our favorite wireless models, offering solid audio and microphone quality while being one of the most comfortable to wear.
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Wireless
Good sound quality
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Gaming Headset
Top Pick Award
Best Open Back Gaming Headset
Editors' Choice Award
Best Wireless Gaming Headset
Best Buy Award
Best on a Tight Budget
Price $199 List
$179.99 at Amazon
$130 List
$74.99 at Amazon
$179 List
$110.38 at Amazon
$150 List
$99.99 at Amazon
$50 List
$29.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line If you are ready to make the switch to a wireless headset, then this is a good all-around cord-free modelThis headset offers great audio, superior comfort, and a fantastic microphone –- the only knock against it is that it is cordedThis is a fantastic gaming headset, but its open back design does not block external noises, making it ideal for quiet spaces and in-person gameplayAn across the board good performing wireless headset that gets the job done at a price that is below average for the classThis headset is a great bargain option, holding its own with the top models while costing considerably less
Rating Categories Razer Black Shark V... Kraken V3 HyperSense EPOS H6 Pro Corsair HS80 RGB Wi... Kingston HyperX Clo...
Comfort (40%)
8.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
Audio (30%)
6.9
8.6
8.2
7.1
6.9
Microphone (20%)
6.8
8.3
8.0
7.4
7.7
Ease of Use (10%)
5.8
4.9
6.2
6.5
7.1
Specs Razer Black Shark V... Kraken V3 HyperSense EPOS H6 Pro Corsair HS80 RGB Wi... Kingston HyperX Clo...
Connection Type USB or Bluetooth 5.2 USB 3.5mm USB 3.5mm
Measure Max Cordlength Charging cable: 5 ft 6.4 ft PC: 8 ft
Console: 4.4 ft
Charging cable: 6ft 10.5 ft
Wireless or Wired Wireless Wired Wired Wireless Wired
How to Mute Button Button Lift mic Lift Lift mic
Detachable Microphone Yes Yes Yes No No
Mute and Volume Control Location Headphone Headphone Headphone Headphone Headphone
Measured weight (cable hanging) 11.4 oz 13 oz 11.4 oz 12.8 oz 9.5 oz
Measured Inner Ear Cup Opening 1-3/4" X 2-1/2" 1-1/2" X 2-1/2" 1-1/2" X 2-3/4" 1-1/2" X 2-1/4" 1-5/8" X 2-9/16"
Ear Cup Shape Oval Oval Asymmetric oval Asymmetric oval Oval
Ear Cup Fabric Type Flowknit similar to microfiber mesh Memory foam, leatherette, cooling mesh Microfiber fabric Microfiber fabric Leatherette
Downloadable Software Yes Yes No Yes No
Surround/Spacial Audio Yes Yes No Yes No
Manufacturer Stated Platform Compatibility PC, PLayStation, Mobile, Android, iOS PC, PlayStation, Switch (docked mode) PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch, Tablet PC. Mac, PS4, PS5 PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One (older version controllers may require an adapter)

Our Analysis and Test Results

Like most of the wireless headsets out there, the Black Shark V2 Pro is a bit more expensive than wired models, retailing for a bit more than some of the top-tier wired models we have tested.

Performance Comparison


razer black shark v2 pro - if you are looking for a wireless headset, we think it's hard to go...
If you are looking for a wireless headset, we think it's hard to go wrong with this one.
Credit: Laura Casner

Comfort


We started off our review by rating and scoring how comfortable each of these gaming headsets are to wear, looking at the hours our judges were content to wear each product, the headband, and the earcups to determine scores. The Black Shark V2 Pro did very well, meriting one of the better scores we have seen out of any of the headsets that we have tested.

Just about all of our judges were more than happy to wear the Black Shark V2 Pro for a full workday — or even longer. It's a great choice for marathon gaming sessions and definitely one of our favorites overall in this metric.

razer black shark v2 pro - we found the ear cups to have ample room for most people.
We found the ear cups to have ample room for most people.
Credit: Laura Casner

The headband on this headset is made from “Flowknit” — a material akin to a microfiber mesh in our minds. It's super soft and feels great, making the headband comfortable enough to easily forget about it over longer gaming sessions. The ear cups are nice and roomy — approximately 1.75" x 2.5" — and have soft foam padding. They are covered with the same “Flowknit” material but the opening size for the ear cups is a bit small, usually contacting your ears more than other models when putting them on or taking them off. However, they have ample space for most people once you have them on.

razer black shark v2 pro - while it didn't quite claim the top spot, this headset is one of our...
While it didn't quite claim the top spot, this headset is one of our favorites when it comes to sound quality.
Credit: Laura Casner

Audio


Our next set of assessments focused on the quality of the sound coming through the speakers on each headset, focusing on how other players' voices, in-game sound effects, and music sounded. The Black Shark V2 Pro didn't quite compare to the top-tier models but held its own, earning one of the better scores of the group.

Other players' voices are very clear and easy to understand, with considerably more depth to them and an in-person feel than many of the other models we have tested. This headset has a closed-back design, which does an alright job of muffling background noises, doing a bit better with constant noises like a fan than music or TV.

razer black shark v2 pro - the razer black shark v2 pro offers excellent comfort, aided by the...
The Razer Black Shark V2 Pro offers excellent comfort, aided by the microfiber mesh ear cup covers and wireless design.
Credit: Laura Casner

This headset also did fairly well in our trio of audio benchmarking tests: bass quality, parasitic buzz, and driver matching. We only found a minuscule amount of driver deviation towards the end of the test and we found it very easy to discern the location of sounds in the binaural test. This also held true during real-world play, with our testers able to zero in on the location of in-game sounds with almost perfect accuracy. We did notice a tiny bit more buzz in the mid frequencies than some other models but it was minimal at most.

However, we did find that soundtracks or music didn't sound the best on this headset — at least when using the THX Spatial Audio setting. The bass felt a little weak and the mid ranges can get washed out. Fortunately, we found the music sounded quite a bit better when we played with the equalizer settings and switched it to Stereo mode.

razer black shark v2 pro - a pop filter on the mic can help with communication clarity.
A pop filter on the mic can help with communication clarity.
Credit: Laura Casner

Microphone


Our next round of tests looked at how well the Black Shark V2 Pro did at picking up our voices. We looked at the quality of our conversations as rated by other players, as well as how well the microphone did at filtering out external background noises. The Black Shark V2 Pro again did very well, similar to its performance in sound quality.

Overall, we found that this headset tends to highlight the bass tones in your voice which makes it actually sound more full, albeit a bit deeper than in real-life. It wasn't overly sibilant and doesn't make hard consonants, like in “ten” or “test” sound overly harsh.

razer black shark v2 pro - the microphone does a good job of filtering out background...
The microphone does a good job of filtering out background conversations if they aren't happening right next to you.
Credit: Laura Casner

We also like that this headset does a good job of cutting down side conversations, essentially filtering them out entirely if the speaker is more than 10' away from you. However, it does tend to pick up background noises that are close to you, like if you are eating or typing on a loud mechanical keyboard. It also can make a somewhat starting sound when unmuting if you have been muted for a while.

razer black shark v2 pro - the razer black shark doesn't disappoint in providing solid audio...
The Razer Black Shark doesn't disappoint in providing solid audio playback, though it isn't the top model in this metric.
Credit: Laura Casner

Ease of Use


Our last set of tests looked at how easy and convenient to operate this headset is. Overall, we felt it did alright, earning it a score just above average.

We like that there is no set necessary for this headset — it is essentially plug-and-play. It has onboard controls to mute the mic and adjust the volume, as well as a power switch. The volume knob does stick out a little bit but not enough to be inconvenient in our opinion.

razer black shark v2 pro - the volume control knob does stick out a decent amount.
The volume control knob does stick out a decent amount.
Credit: Laura Casner

You press a button on the left ear cup to mute the mic, which is also detachable. You also can enable a mic sidetone and adjust the amount. However, we did find the included charging cable to be a little on the short side at 5'.

Value


Unfortunately, we don't think the Black Shark V2 Pro is a good bargain option. Wireless headsets usually cost considerably more than their wired counterparts, so if you are shopping with the best bang for your buck in mind, then we would suggest sticking with a corded model.

Conclusion


The Black Shark V2 Pro one of our all-around favorite wireless headset and we think its worth considering it your looking to cut the cord. It has solid sound and microphone quality and is one of the more comfortable models we have tested, all with the added convenience of being cordless.

David Wise and Austin Palmer