Razer BlackShark V2 Pro headset for console review — A sharp edge

I’ve always been a fan of Razer, owning both cell phones and getting my first official RGB gaming keyboard from them. Being exposed to the overwhelming amount of PC gear we review here has admittedly left me with no shortage of options, and I’ve moved to other brands as different possibilities have come through. That said, Razer always holds a special place in my heart, and now that they’re bringing one of their best headsets to console, I had to give it a try.

Inside the box you’ll find the BlackShark V2 Pro, a USB-C wireless dongle, a USB-C charge cable, and the paperwork. Really, that’s it. Something that seems strangely missing here: a USB-A to C adapter for the dongle. The PS5 does have a USB-C slot, and a lot of PCs do, but those are more limited than USB-A. It is useful if you want to run your BlackShark V2 Pro on a phone, but otherwise I’d have liked to see an adapter.

The Blackshark V2 Pro is stunning from the moment you pull it from the box. I like this white variant they have available, with some really smooth leather adorned with the sexy Razer moniker, along with clean plastic ear cups with memory foam muffs. A comparison has been made to these looking like military helicopter headphones, and it’s an apt one; these look awesome and have the professional, quality appearance you want in a headset.

On the headset, the BlackShark V2 Pro sports a volume knob on the left ear cup along with power button, mic mute button, and USB-C charge port. You’ll find the mic port here as well, with the mic being detachable if you want to use these as just headphones. The right ear cup only has a single button, which is for the onboard EQ profiles. Overall, it’s a bit bare, with no 3.5mm jack for wired use, no control for game vs chat audio, and the power button doubling as the Bluetooth button.

Speaking of Bluetooth, I’m happy it’s available for the headset, but it’s a bit odd in operation. I already mentioned the power button doubling in for the Bluetooth, but it’s hard to know if your Bluetooth is active without constantly pairing it. This may have been worth the separate button and indicator light. It also does not support simultaneous Bluetooth, so you’re going to have to choose the dongle connection or Bluetooth when you use it.

Even though I’m saddened by the missing wired option, it’s tough to fault Razer when you build a battery this amazing. Razer advertises up to 48-70 hours for it, and considering I have yet to charge it and have used it exclusively with my Call of Duty play over the last week and a half, I believe them. The split in the battery life lies in console vs PC use as your PC can conserve certain functions easier and lengthen your battery life. That said, it’s no slouch on console either, and one of the best batteries in a headset I’ve ever used.

When you put the headset on, you immediately notice how light it is. I was a little concerned about comfort, especially given most 50mm driver headsets tend to be on the bigger side, but this is even lighter than some of the 40mm driver headsets I’ve used. It fits on your head very comfortably, with a foam headband that rests gently on your head, along with foam ear cups that sit similarly, no pinching. The headset can occasionally feel hot, but that largely dissipates during your sessions.

Razer has certainly made a fan out of me with their 50mm drivers. As mentioned before, I had no idea they could be so light. If you’re going to go that direction, I would usually worry about lacking sound. That is not the case here, with the BlackShark V2 Pro delivering a wonderful set of highs, lows, and mids. The bass is tangible, and while not head-rattling, is heard clearly while listening to music, movies, and of course, video games.

When playing something like Call of Duty and Fortnite, I’ve been very happy with the spatial audio. Being able to identify your enemy via sound cues is important, and the BlackShark V2 Pro can point you in the right direction. I could hear footstep audio very well, and the sounds happening around the map were pinpoint. Knowing where your foe may come from can influence the outcome of the battle, and the BlackShark V2 Pro does that.

Razer has introduced a new way to get the most out of the BlackShark V2 Pro with special EQ presets that are built into the experience. These don’t require a PC or special app (though the BlackShark V2 Pro has one), but are available at the press of the button on your right ear cup. There are a few standard ones, like Game, Movie, and Music, but if you hold the button down it will toggle eSports EQ.

These presets have been formulated by pros associated with the brand. Players like Shotzzy from Call of Duty’s Optic Texas have worked hand in hand with Razer, sharing their settings to give you an edge when you play. These settings have been really good for the games they’re associated with, like the precision of sound cues in Call of Duty. I dropped a 39 kill and only 12 deaths game in a ranked match on Modern Warfare III, my personal best, so there’s something to the advantages the BlackShark V2 Pro provides.

I just wish there were more EQ presets to choose from. You are limited to only Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and Fortnite, so your pickings are slim. Maybe an update will arrive to add some later, but I’m really surprised given the connection that Optic Halo isn’t a setting.

On the subject of settings, the Razer Audio app is available on the Xbox itself and PlayStation via your phone. There are only a few settings, but the options of setting EQ yourself with a custom setting or adjusting mic monitoring is nice. It has been a bit fickle on the PlayStation side; when I connect via Bluetooth, it takes away my ability to use it with the dongle. Not sure what the holdup is, but hopefully it gets resolved soon.

Talking to your friends is the second half to a good headset, and Razer has made that a focus for the BlackShark V2 Pro. This isn’t your normal headset mic, with their Hyperclear Super Wideband Mic installed. Most of us know how buzzy and muddy most headset mics are, and the Hyperclear does a really good job of capturing all of your audio. I had friends send me sample recordings of my mic from their end, and they were extremely crisp and clear, along with great noise isolation that didn’t pick up anything in my background. It’s a little bassy at points (mostly when I’m yelling), but still a step up from your normal headset mic. You’ve got a believer in your new mic right here, Razer.

You can grab your Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for PS5 here, and Xbox here.

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