Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Review: Strong Connectivity, Weak Audio
▼ Summary
– The BlackShark V3 Pro offers simultaneous 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity with active noise cancellation and 70-hour battery life.
– It features multiple connectivity options and swiveling earcups but has a heavier design and isn’t travel-friendly due to non-flat swiveling.
– Audio performance includes excellent directional sound for gaming but suffers from distortion in high frequencies, making it poor for music.
– The microphone delivers muffled and fuzzy voice quality despite being a full-band model, performing worse than its predecessor.
– Priced at $250, it adds premium features but may not justify the cost over the better-sounding and cheaper BlackShark V2 Pro.
Packed with premium features like simultaneous 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro aims squarely at serious gamers. This high-end headset also introduces active noise cancellation while promising up to 70 hours of battery life. However, its performance in critical areas like audio reproduction and microphone quality leaves room for improvement, making it a solid but not flawless choice for your gaming setup.
Many considered the previous model, the BlackShark V2 Pro, a favorite for its comfort and excellent sound. The new V3 Pro builds on that foundation by adding the much-requested ability to connect to a PC via a wireless dongle and a phone via Bluetooth at the same time. This means you can take a call or listen to a podcast without pausing your game. Razer has managed this while still claiming an impressive 70-hour battery, addressing earlier concerns about power drain.
The headset sports a design that is unmistakably for gaming. It features a sleek, all-black color scheme with plastic earcups, thin steel yokes, and a comfortable leatherette headband. At 12.96 ounces (367g), it’s noticeably heavier than its predecessor, but it remains comfortable for long sessions. The earcups swivel and tilt for a better fit, though they don’t fold flat, which limits its portability. A unique design element is the magnetic speaker plates, which are customizable. While Razer provided some custom plates for review, they are not yet available for separate purchase.
Controls are plentiful, reflecting the headset’s extensive features. The left earcup houses a prominent, high-quality volume dial, a 3.5mm microphone jack, a USB-C charging port, a power button, and a physical mic mute switch. The location of the mute switch is practical, but its design can be confusing, as the pressed-in position indicates the microphone is muted. The right earcup contains a button for ANC, a configurable roller for balancing audio between two connected devices, and a multi-function button for switching EQ presets and Bluetooth pairing.
When it comes to sound, the BlackShark V3 Pro delivers a mixed performance. It uses 50mm Triforce Bio-Cellulose drivers with a wide frequency response. For music listening, the lows are punchy and mids are clear, but the high end can suffer from noticeable distortion, making it less than ideal for critical music enjoyment. Where it shines is in gaming. The directional audio is excellent, allowing you to pinpoint footsteps and gunshots with precision in competitive titles like Counter-Strike 2. The built-in THX Spatial Audio provides useful presets for different game genres. The active noise cancellation is a welcome addition, though the headset’s passive seal is already quite effective at blocking out ambient noise.
A significant letdown is the microphone. Despite being a larger, “HyperClear” 12mm full-band mic, it fails to impress. Voice quality comes across as muffled and slightly fuzzy on communication platforms like Discord, even with all software enhancements disabled. A firmware update aimed at improving the mic did little to resolve the core issue with clarity.
Razer’s Synapse software offers deep customization. You can adjust a 10-band equalizer, create game-specific audio profiles, and manage the dual connectivity features. The headset stores up to nine EQ presets onboard for quick switching. You can also tweak microphone settings, but the options available did not significantly improve the subpar out-of-the-box mic quality. Mic monitoring is included, but it can sound distorted and distracting.
Battery life is rated at a solid 70 hours on a single charge with the 2.4GHz wireless connection, matching the previous model but not exceeding it.
Ultimately, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro presents a trade-off. It successfully delivers on its promise of versatile, multi-device connectivity and effective gaming audio. However, its inconsistent audio quality and disappointing microphone performance, combined with a $250 price tag, make it a difficult headset to recommend without reservation. For many gamers, the older BlackShark V2 Pro, which often sells for less, might be the better value, offering superior sound and a much clearer microphone.
(Source: Tom’s Hardware)
