The Black Shark gaming device brand was buried last year after no more new devices were offered to the market. Although this phone is dead, the Blackshark name is now being used in the gaming arena through the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro 2023 Edition which is an update model to the original V2 Pro that was launched two years ago.
For those who want to buy it, the main attraction is support for gaming and finally tethering via bluetooth. Does this make it worth it? Here's our full review for the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro 2023 Edition.
SPECIFICATIONS
Razer Blackshark V2 Pro 2023
Type Closed back earphones
Razer TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers
Microphone 1 detachable boom microphone
70 Hour Battery
USB-C charging port
Wireless charging None
2.4GHz Hyperspeed connection
Bluetooth 5.2
PC supported operating system
March
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Android
iOS
Virtual assistant support None
Physical control buttons
Waterproof ability None
Sale Price RM 1029
DESIGN AND USE
In terms of design it is the same as the previous Blackshark V2 Pro. This is not a negative thing because the design of the previous model won several awards in terms of comfort, finish and ease of use. The first thing we like about the V2 Pro 2023 is that it looks like a headset worn by pilots. Two plastic cups cover the entire ear comfortably. The finish is not shiny so it is not very smooth
On the left cup there is a large audio control knob, power button, microphone mute button, USB-C charging port and 3.5mm jack for microphone. The microphone on the V2 Pro is of the "boom" type which is easy to bend. When not in use, the owner can easily remove it. The power button has a secondary function as a music control button. Press once to play/pause music, twice to fast forward and triple to rewind.
Meanwhile on the right cup there is an audio preset button and when pressed for a long time will start the bluetooth tethering process. This is the most significant change on the V2 Pro 2023 as it finally supports bluetooth. Previously it only supported additional 2.4GHz radios.
A thick and comfortable sponge is used on the ear cups. It feels like a soft pillow with the ears not pinched. The sponge used is also soft, making the crown of the head not feel pressed. The connection to the ear is tight but not good enough to block out the voices of chattering co-workers.
At the top is a loop that connects the two ear cups made of metal. We were initially a little concerned with the head loop size adjustment mechanism but after over a month of use we didn't have any issues. It's stiff enough to hold the loop size but flexible enough not to make the loop grip the head tightly like a vise.
The V2 Pro is a pair of headphones that are quite comfortable to wear. No issues wearing it all day. This is something we rarely enjoy on over-ear headphones because the ears tend to sweat. It is more important that the head does not feel pinched until it hurts.
The tethering process using bluetooth and Razer Lighspeed 2.4 GHz is quite simple. Connect, press and wait for the "connected" notification to be whispered by the V2 Pro into the ear. The issue here is that the included 2.4Ghz Hyperspeed dongle only supports USB-A connections. So the connection to PC and PlayStation 4/5 is easy but if you don't have a USB-A port this dongle cannot be used.
Speaking of connectivity, the V2 Pro only officially supports Android, iOS, PC, PS4 and PS5 at this time. There is no support for Xbox which we feel is a bit strange as it is one of the world's leading consoles.
Another thing that we feel is a bit of a disadvantage is that the V2 Pro 2023 no longer supports wired connection using a 3.5mm cable. If you're on a plane, there's no way to use the V2 Pro 2023 with the in-cabin entertainment system.
AUDIO QUALITY
The audio quality is very satisfactory for video game sessions, watching movies, listening to songs, streaming podcasts or making voice calls. The V2 Pro is extremely flexible as there are built-in preset modes that the wearer can change themselves by pressing a physical button on the right ear cup. The presets given are Music, Game, Movie and Custom.
Because the V2 Pro is marketed to gamers, we first review its performance for video games. The short answer is brilliant. In FPS games like CS GO and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War the sound of enemy footsteps in the map can be clearly heard. The boom of bombs being dropped and guns firing are well separated from the voices of team members giving orders.
It is not only compatible to use for FPS games but also Platformers and Open World. In the GTA V game for example we like the ambient sounds of the environment and people talking sound realistic. Can hear where the sound is coming from and it fades away.
When there's a cinematic scene, it feels like watching a movie because the audio quality from the 50mm Razer TriForce Titanium audio driver on the V2 Pro doesn't disappoint. So it's no surprise that watching or streaming audio videos is satisfying.
The weakness may only lie when listening to music alone. Even in Music mode the audio doesn't really stand out. For those who do bluetooth tethering we feel the music quality is also not as good as the bluetooth headphones we reviewed before. Probably because there is no LDAC support. What codecs are supported is also a mystery as it is not listed by Razer on the official site. We don't blame Razer here because the V2 Pro 2023 is not marketed as a headphone for audiophiles.
MICROPHONE
The microphone used is very good because of the quality of the conversation that can be heard clearly by teammates when we are in MP sessions in online games. Often the sound of our voices is not clear. With the V2 Pro coming with a high-quality and adjustable microphone directly in front of the mouth, the issue of voice not being loud enough or clear doesn't happen.
Razer Synapse software can be used to further fine-tune the microphone's sensitivity. Want to set an audio limit? Want to focus on voice information when speaking? Want to change the captured frequency? All of these can be changed granularly by V2 Pro 2023 owners.
SOFTWARE
The Razer Synapse software will be installed automatically right after the Hyperspeed dongle is installed on the PC. The installation process is quite long and takes around 15 minutes depending on the user's internet speed. After installation various additional features can be activated.
We like the mode to save equalizer settings for Game, Movie, Music and Custom modes. When set, the profile will be saved on the V2 Pro. So if the setting is done on PC it is also. can be used on Mac, Android, iOS and PS5. This is important because the Synapse software is only supported on PCs.
On this software there is also a mode for sports and access to several presets for popular games such as CS:Go, Call of Duty, Apex Legend and Fortnite. So for those who don't like to hack the equalizer settings for the game it is already available.
There is also a demo for THX but we feel it is not very noticeable in daily use. We're just hoping there will be a Synapse app for smart devices because the current Razer Audio app doesn't support the V2 Pro 2023 even though it's been on sale for over three months.
BATTERY
Over the course of about a week we only charged once as the V2 Pro 2023's battery is advertised to last up to 70 hours. This is if the music is set to a fairly high level and uses bluetooth all the time. This is a much better usage life than the V2 Pro which can only last up to 24 hours.
This allows the V2 Pro 2023 to be used also for long trips without having to worry about running out of battery. Recharging is via the USB-C port which is an upgrade from the micro USB on the V2 Pro. But the charging time is very slow as it is more than three hours. When the battery runs out the V2 Pro cannot be used at all because it does not support a 3.5mm wired connection.
IN THE BOX
Here's what you get with every purchase in Malaysia.
1x Razer Blackshark V2 Pro 2023
1x USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
1x USB-A to USB-A extension cable
1x Boom type microphone.
1x Razer Hyperspeed Dongle.
CONCLUSION
The Razer Blackshark V2 Pro 2023 has style. It looks like military equipment and not just a pair of headphones. This is probably why it is the choice of some professional sports teams. When worn, the athlete looks like a member of the military's special forces hunting the enemy.
It has quality because of its premium construction, and is comfortable. Despite wearing it for hours we didn't feel like the head was being pinched which is a common issue with gaming headphones. The sponge on the ear cup feels soft and still allows the ear to "breathe" which avoids the problem of sweaty ears.
Finally, it also has advantages from an audio point of view. Capable of providing an experience like being in the world of a video game or movie being watched. There are various modes that allow the audio to be changed according to the content being enjoyed. The Razer Synapse software also allows for personalized settings while the microphone is the clearest we've ever used on a gaming headset.
At the price of RM1029 a pair it is quite expensive. But we think it's worth buying for those looking for gaming headphones that are comfortable, last a long time and offer a very satisfying audio experience.
Pro
Feels light and very comfortable on the head.
Very satisfactory audio quality.
The microphone is clear and can be tuned as needed.
A very long 70 hour battery life.
Support 2.4GHz tethering and bluetooth.
Supported PC, Mac, iOS, Android and PlayStation.
Cons
No wired connection support.
Does not support Xbox Series X.
Storage space is not provided.
Charging takes almost 4 hours.