When it comes to gaming headsets, Razer has long been a household name. The Razer BlackShark V2 X is one of the brand’s more budget-conscious offerings, promising esports-grade performance without the premium price tag. But does it deliver? Let’s dive into the details.

Design & Comfort

Inspired by aviation headsets, the BlackShark V2 X sports a sleek, minimalist design with large oval earcups and a flexible boom mic. The build is primarily plastic, which keeps the weight down to a featherlight 240 grams.

The foam cushions wrapped in comfortable fabric feel good when initially wearing them, but after a few hours of work or gaming I do start to feel a little stress on my head. The wire to adjust head size is fine but the clamping is a little more forceful than other headsets I have used and puts a bit more strain on me, though this only seems to hit me after 5ish hours.

Audio Quality

The BlackShark features Razer’s custom-tuned 50mm TriForce drivers, which aim to separate bass, mids, and treble for clearer sound. For a headset in the sub-$60 range, the audio quality is commendable:

  • In games, directional audio is accurate and sounds good. The 7.1 surround sound is easily heard and immersive.
  • Music playback is decent, but this is where I noticed the biggest missed opportunities. The baselines were missing and overall music felt like I was missing out.
  • The cardioid mic performs fine. Some background noise rejection, but it does still pick up more than I would expect. The best part was how clear my audio came in to others. The recording of my audio while in multiple applications came through crystal clear and background noise seemed to go away. My word of caution here is to push-to-talk for best results.

When stacked against other headsets, the BlackShark V2 X doesn’t quite hit the same audio fidelity baseline. The mids can feel slightly recessed, and the highs occasionally lack sparkle, especially in complex soundscapes. It’s not a dealbreaker, but audiophiles or competitive gamers might notice the difference.

Features & Compatibility

This is a wired headset with a 3.5mm jack, making it compatible with virtually every platform—PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. There’s no RGB, no wireless option, and no software customization. That doesn’t mean that I am missing out. The only reason I left on the lights on another headset we tested; was to see if it was turned on since it was a Bluetooth headset and battery life needed to be considered. Since this doesn’t require additional power, there is no reason for this to have pretty lights I can’t see while using it.

With this using 3.5mm, there is no software customization but it works well enough to not need it.

Verdict: A Strong Contender for Budget-Conscious Gamers

The Razer BlackShark V2 X is a solid entry-level headset that delivers good audio performance for games, moderate comfort, and wide compatibility at an affordable price. While it doesn’t quite match the sonic precision of some other headsets, it’s a dependable choice for gamers who want reliable performance without breaking the bank.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and comfortable for 5 hours or less
  • Clear mic
  • Accurate positional audio in games
  • Broad platform compatibility

Cons:

  • Music base and lows lack refinement
  • No software EQ or customization
  • More background noise than I expected while I’m not talking

If you’re looking for a no-nonsense headset that gets the job done and leaves room in your budget for other gear, the BlackShark V2 X is worth a look. Just don’t expect it to outperform headsets twice its price—and you won’t be disappointed.