Razer Barracuda V2 Pro headset review

Yeah, I definitely hummed the titular Heart song when I saw the box, just like you would have. I’m not familiar with the Barracuda line, but through my time covering Razer peripherals, a model hasn’t arrived. That changed, as the new V2 Pro is in my hands and ready to roll. The question is: where does this headset land when the BlackShark and Kraken cover most of my bases?

To start, let's look inside the box. Included in the green and black box are the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro headset, the detachable microphone, a small HyperSpeed USB-C dongle with a USB-C to A adapter, and a USB-C to A cable for charging and updating. The best thing about the dongle is that it can be popped inside one of the earcups – the covers on both are magnetic, and there's a spot built for it in the left one.

The Barracuda V2 Pro is an unassuming headset. All black and pretty standard in design, with a thin headband bearing the oval, leatherette earcups. These are quite comfortable, with just enough pressure to ensure a good fit while not pressing too hard against the sides of your head. I really like the way they can fold down, which makes it easy to travel. The way they pivot, however, makes them rest with the inside of the earcups outward when on your neck, which is an odd decision. At any rate, you wouldn't be in the wrong to expect less from something with so little flash. After all, Razer usually goes for sizzle with the steak. 

Even so, the steak is immaculate. This headset is packed with features and connectivity, something I didn't expect at first glance. On the headset itself, you have mute, power, volume, mode, and ANC/multi-function buttons. These, along with a USB-C port and 3.5mm jack for the mic, offer a lot more versatility than most headsets in this price range and profile.

Connectivity is one of my favorite things about the Barracuda V2 Pro. Quickly grabbing the dongle from its hidey-hole in the earcup, you can plug it into a PC, PS5, Switch or Switch 2, and a phone to use it. If you want to use Bluetooth, that’s also an option, with a fully-fledged offering built in. When I say fully-fledged, I mean it acts simultaneously alongside your 2.4GHz dongle connection – you can be playing a game on your PS5 while also listening to a podcast from your phone or answering a call. Simultaneous connectivity is the best, and the Barracuda V2 Pro provides it.

Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is also up there in the best features to have available. Whatever Razer did when making the Barracuda V2 Pro, it was ridiculously effective. I recently used it on a plane, and the roar of the engines sounded more like an HVAC vent after I turned the ANC on. It’s so well sealed by the earcups that it can cause some discomfort depending on the air pressure, so keep that in mind. Other than that, it’s hard to rate the ANC as anything short of outstanding; you will be distracted by little with these on and your sound going. If you want to hear what’s around you, the ambient mode is also just as amazing.

Razer’s TriForce Bio-Cellulose 40mm drivers power the whole experience. The THX engine beneath them, delivering superb spatial audio, gives the Barracuda V2 Pro an extra boost. As this is such an on-the-go headset, I can confirm they’re great for both music and video. Watching TV shows on a long flight, or just chilling out with some classical music made for comfortable flying during my airplane ride. The mix is great, with decently punchy bass complemented by the highs and mids.

Gaming with these is an intriguing experiment, especially as it mimics previous Razer headsets. You should absolutely use these for Counter-Strike 2. Razer has somehow found the best possible sound settings to make the game sing on their headsets. I feel like I know exactly where someone is moving on a map with the way the sound cues come through; it’s really impressive. While the headset performs well on other games, I still think it can be better optimized in the future. In something like Call of Duty, I hear a lot of what I’m listening for, but the more subtle cues don’t always come through cleanly. This is still going to be a great gaming headset for most, but for the ultra-competitive, you may want to spend extra.

I’m shocked at the quality of the microphones for the Barracuda V2 Pro. That’s right, microphoneS. The Barracuda V2 Pro comes equipped with the aforementioned detachable mic that will get you the most crisp capture of your voice, with a surprisingly buzz-free output. If you lose it, however, or just don’t have it around, there are internal beamforming mics. Although they may not be the best for hectic in-game communication, they do in a pinch for a phone call, and keep you looking sharp if you’re using them while out and about.

Similarly, the battery is an overachiever. Rated at up to 70 hours of life, I’ve felt every bit of that. I’ve charged them all of once over my time using them, and I’ve been on two multi-day trips since I’ve had the Barracuda V2 Pro. Considering I’ve still got 70%+ of a charge, this makes this headset a perfect recommendation for adventurous gamers or audio/music enthusiasts who find themselves making many journeys.

Another returning component of the Razer audio experience is the Razer Audio App. The suite you’ll find has an admirable amount of settings, letting you manipulate EQ sliders, change your ANC profile, activate mic monitoring, and more. There’s even an Auracast option, letting you listen in on live broadcasts through the network. The key item here is that what you need is at hand – not too much fluff, and plenty of useful stuff.