When it comes to peripherals for esports, Razer has certainly made a name for themselves. Now, they’re looking to extend their domain by officially bringing the popular BlackShark V2 Pro wireless headset to console players, and competitors may want to sit up and take notice.
Available today, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Console offers PlayStation and Xbox players a version of their popular headset tailor-made for the home console experience, yet also portable for transportation to tournaments and other esports events. I had the chance to check out the PlayStation model ahead of its official release and was pleasantly surprised by Razer’s showing.
The most immediately impressive feature of the BlackShark V2 Pro for Console is its comfort. Like its progenitor, it’s an ultra-light wireless headset (weighing in at 320g), favoring memory foam earcups instead of leatherette for improved sound isolation and steel sliders for easy adjustments. I often lament the difficulties of buying headsets for a large skull in my reviews, but once again, I’ve found my high expectations met. The sliders move effortlessly, but not to the point of slipping unintentionally, and at max extension, they fit with a comfortable bit of wiggle room for my tastes.
For a while now, my weapon of choice for gaming headsets has been either SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova 7 or Pro Wireless; I’ve worn both for long sessions and never had any complaints about their steel headbands. However, I have to admit that the BlackShark V2 Pro might just be better in the comfort department. Overall, it only weighs a few grams less, but its headband cushion helps relieve the pressure on your scalp better. This helps it feel like one of the lightest headsets I’ve used in practice, nearly on par to the high (low?) bar set by Audio Technica’s ATH-GDL3 (which weighs in at 220g).
“However, even with the console’s spatial sound turned off, the BlackShark V2 Pro makes it easy to locate the footsteps of your enemies or the source of that unexpected explosion in the periphery.”
When it comes to onboard controls, the Razer BlackShark V2 for Console ticks all the right boxes, with power and mute buttons and volume control on the left cup and a multi-function hotkey on the right. The detachable microphone and USB-C port are also located on the left cup.
These features are designed to be easy to find in a heated match, although there are a few small caveats. The volume control is almost too easy to find, as it sticks out from the otherwise sleek and unfussy design. The quick select button also does a lot of heavy lifting—switching between connection modes or equalizer presets, depending on how you click it—and you’d be wise to familiarise yourself with the different shortcuts before getting into a game.
By the same token, the foam head on the Hyperclear Super Wideband Mic could stand to be more subtle. Other options on the market have shifted to discrete, retractable microphone designs and still achieve comparable sound. Nonetheless, the BlackShark V2 Pro’s mic is solid enough to coordinate with your allies as you spread democracy or even to take a conference call for work.
Comfort and ease of use take precedence over sound in esports gaming headsets, but the BlackShark V2 Pro for Console impressed me with its Titanium 50mm drivers. There are four ‘standard’ equalizer presets (Game, Music, Movie, and Custom) and three game-specific presets for popular console esports games (Apex Legends, Call of Duty, and Fortnite), developed in conjunction with Razer’s affiliated pros. Although Razer could have gone a little more utilitarian in this department, the BlackShark has a robust, high-quality sound that is suitable for general everyday use.
These 50mm drivers help convey spatial distance—but in the case of the PlayStation 5, they don’t work with the system’s native 3D audio features, and the system’s options should ideally be turned off. This means sacrificing the personalized sound profile that PS5 owners can set up, which is a rather odd design choice. However, even with the console’s spatial sound turned off, the BlackShark V2 Pro makes it easy to locate the footsteps of your enemies or the source of that unexpected explosion in the periphery.
PlayStation users will also want to download the Razer Audio App on their smartphone if they want to utilize the Custom EQ setting. This will be helpful in adapting the sound to games other than the three included presets.
Of course, the BlackShark V2 Pro for Consoles can be used with other systems besides the primary one listed on its box. Plug its USB-C dongle right into your Switch in handheld mode, and take the headset’s high-class audio on the go easily. I also had great results using it with my PlayStation Portal—on home WiFi, with the dongle plugged directly into the console’s front port instead of the handheld’s port.
At the end of the day, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Console is a great option for its price bracket. There may be a couple of small design foibles, depending on your personal preferences, but it packs in all the utility and more sound quality than I expected of an esports-focused product. The $199 USD price tag is certainly justified.
However, if you’re the sort who values extra audio control, this shark isn’t exactly the most dangerous creature in the ocean; the potential is here, but Razer’s software suite isn’t quite up to snuff to customize or enhance the experience. If the PlayStation iteration supported and enhanced the console’s personalized 3D Audio profiles, this might just have taken the crown for a complete package.
