The Razer BlackShark V2 X are the Razer BlackShark V2's pared-down, budget-friendly sibling. Even though they don't offer a lot of features such as companion software or a USB sound card, these wired headphones still deliver a decent audio experience for gaming. They're comfortable enough for multi-hour gaming sessions, they have full wired compatibility on most consoles, and their excellently-performing boom microphone is able to capture your voice clearly, even in loud environments. Although we don't currently test for it, these headphones also have a downloadable virtual soundstage feature. That being said, they're prone to inconsistent bass and treble delivery and some parts, like the metal hinges and audio cables on their ear cups, feel a bit fragile.
Our Verdict
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are passable for neutral sound. Depending on the headphones' fit, positioning, and placement on your head, you may experience inconsistent bass or treble delivery. That being said, they have a dark and bass-heavy sound profile. They don't have companion software to EQ them to your liking, either.
- Excellently-performing boom microphone.
- Downloadable virtual soundstage feature available.
- No companion software.
- Inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are poor for commute and travel. Although they're comfortable enough to wear for long bus rides, they have a gamer-centric design that stands out, especially as their boom microphone isn't detachable. They also don't really isolate almost any bass-range noise like bus or train engines, and they lack basic call/music management controls. On the upside, since they're wired, you don't have to worry about them running out of battery life before you reach your destination.
- Excellently-performing boom microphone.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Disappointing noise isolation.
- Sub-par controls.
- Gamer-centric design.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are disappointing for sports and fitness. While they have a stable and comfortable fit, they aren't the most portable. Since they're wired, their neon green audio cable can snag on something, which may pull them off your head. They also have pretty limited controls, and although you can adjust their volume, they don't have any other call/music management buttons.
- Excellently-performing boom microphone.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Sub-par controls.
- Gamer-centric design.
- Non-detachable audio cable.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are disappointing for office use. While they should be comfortable enough to last throughout your workday, they really struggle to isolate noise around you like office chatter. On the upside, if you want to listen to your music at a fairly loud level to compensate for their sub-par noise isolation, your coworkers shouldn't be able to hear your audio. That being said, they look like gaming headphones and you won't be able to remove their boom microphone to make them look more casual.
- Excellently-performing boom microphone.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Disappointing noise isolation.
- Gamer-centric design.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are wired-only gaming headphones and aren’t compatible with wireless connections.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are decent for wired gaming. These comfortable over-ears have full wired compatibility with PC, PS4, and Xbox One. While they have inconsistent bass and treble delivery, their average response is a bit bass-heavy and dark, which can be suited for action-packed games with a lot of explosions. Their boom microphone performs excellently, so your voice is heard clearly, even in loud environments.
- Excellently-performing boom microphone.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Downloadable virtual soundstage feature available.
- No companion software.
- Inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
- Sub-par controls.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are good for phone calls. They have an excellently-performing boom microphone that can capture your voice clearly, whether you're speaking at home or out and about in the city. However, these headphones have disappointing noise isolation, which means that you hear a lot of what's going on around you. They also don't have any call management controls.
- Excellently-performing boom microphone.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Disappointing noise isolation.
- Sub-par controls.
Changelog
- Updated Oct 18, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Aug 19, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Aug 14, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Aug 11, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are entry-level wired gaming headphones. Although they're less feature-heavy than their sibling headphones, the Razer BlackShark V2, they still have an excellently performing boom microphone and a comfortable fit. However, unlike the similarly performing Astro A10, they don't have any companion software to easily customize their sound and they don't feel as well-built as other budget headsets like the HyperX Cloud Stinger. If you're still looking around for gaming headsets, check out our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best PS4 gaming headsets, and the best Xbox One headsets.
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 are better gaming headphones than the Razer BlackShark V2 X. While the Razer have a more comfortable and stable fit, their sound profile is considerably less balanced than the Turtle Beach, with a very recessed treble range that makes lead instruments and speech sound dark and muted. However, the Razer have a better performing mic, that also does a better job of separating your voice from background noise.
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II are better gaming headphones than the Razer BlackShark V2 X. The HyperX are more comfortable, are better built, and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have a wired USB connection, and their boom mic offers a better noise-handling performance. However, the Razer's mic has a better recording quality.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are somewhat better gaming headphones than the Razer Kraken V3 X. The BlackShark V2 X are more comfortable and have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. Their boom mic also offers better overall performance, and they have a 1/8" TRRS cable, so you can use them on Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles. However, the V3 X have customizable RGB lighting.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha are better headphones for wired gaming than the Razer BlackShark V2 X. The HyperX have a much more comfortable fit and feel much more durable, and their boom mic is detachable for when you want a more casual look. Their sound profile is also more neutral, which some may prefer. However, the Razer's mic has a significantly better recording quality and does a much better job separating your voice from background noise.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 are both budget-friendly gaming headphones. Both have a comfortable fit and very good mic performances. However, the SteelSeries are better built and have a more neutral sound profile, although it's still warm overall, and their audio cable is detachable, so you can easily replace it if it gets damaged. On the flip side, the Razer leak less audio at high volume.
The Razer Kraken V3 are better wired gaming headphones than the Razer BlackShark V2 X. The Kraken V3 have a better build quality, a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets so you can customize their sound to your liking, and their boom mic offers a better noise handling performance. However, the BlackShark V2 X are more comfortable, and their mic has a better recording quality.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are somewhat better gaming headphones than the Razer Kraken X. The BlackShark V2 X are more comfortable, deliver bass and treble more consistently, and leak less sound. They also have a downloadable virtual soundstage feature, and they come with a soft pouch. However, the Kraken X's boom microphone is slightly better at noise handling.
The Razer BlackShark V2 are better gaming headphones than the Razer BlackShark V2 X. The V2 have a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and their boom mic is detachable. Also, the V2 come with a USB Soundcard and are compatible with companion software that allows you to customize the sound profile, access custom game modes, and adjust the microphone settings. That being said, the V2 X have a better microphone performance out of the box.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger are decent budget gaming headphones compared to the Razer BlackShark V2 X. Both headphones are similarly comfortable and have full wired compatibility with PC, PS4, and Xbox One. However, they also have similar inconsistent bass and treble delivery and lack companion software. That being said, the Razer have a slightly better-performing boom microphone, leak less sound, and have a virtual surround feature that you can download. However, the HyperX are better built.
The Logitech G335 are better than the Razer BlackShark V2 X. The Logitech are comfier, are better built, deliver audio more consistently, and have a less dark sound profile. Meanwhile, the Razer have a more stable fit, block out more ambient noise, offer superior overall mic performance, and are compatible with a virtual soundstage feature for 7.1 surround sound, though it should be noted that we don't currently test this function and that the software needed to enable it needs to be downloaded separately.
The Astro A10 are somewhat better wired gaming headphones than the Razer BlackShark V2 X. The Astro are better built, they have a significantly more consistent bass and treble delivery, and their passive soundstage is better. The Razer, on the other hand, have a downloadable virtual soundstage feature and are more stable and comfortable on the head. However, both headphones have boom microphones with excellent performance.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are better wired gaming headphones than the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition. The V2 X are more comfortable, have a better-balanced sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their boom mic does a significantly better job of recording your voice. However, the Kraken are better built.
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2020 are better gaming headphones than the Razer BlackShark V2 X. The Pro can be used wirelessly, and they come with a wireless USB dongle that's compatible with Razer Synapse software so you can customize them. However, the V2 X have a better microphone recording quality out-of-the-box.
The Logitech G433 are better wired gaming headphones than the Razer BlackShark V2 X. While both headphones are similarly comfortable, the Logitech are better-built, and their boom microphone is even more easily able to separate voice from noisy environments. They also have companion software so you can customize their sound, they come with a lot of cables including a USB headset adapter, and they have a better passive soundstage. However, the Razer leak less sound and are significantly more stable on your head.
The Beats Solo Pro and the Razer BlackShark V2 X have different strengths, and you may prefer either one, depending on your needs. The Razer are wired gaming headphones. They're much more comfortable, and their boom mic has a significantly better overall performance. On the other hand, the Beats are more versatile truly wireless headphones. They have a better build quality and an ANC feature that blocks out a great amount of ambient sound. They also have much better onboard controls.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The Razer BlackShark V2 X, unlike other Razer headphones such as the Razer Kraken X or the Razer Nari Ultimate Wireless, have an oval ear cup shape more reminiscent of casual headphones. They have a black plastic design with neon green accents and use thin wire hinges that give it a distinct look. However, you can't detach their boom microphone to make it a little more casual.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are comfortable headphones. They're more comfortable than the Razer Kraken V3 X, thanks to their thick memory foam ear cushions and a padded headband, which is good if you've got a multi-hour gaming session ahead of you.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X have disappointing controls. Although it's to be expected from entry-level gaming headphones, they have only two buttons, but they're both easy-to-use and have good feedback. There's a volume wheel on the left ear cup that stops at min/max, and there's a mute mic button.
These headphones, just like most gaming headphones, aren't very portable. They come with a really thin and flimsy carrying pouch, and they can't fold or swivel to lay flat, which makes them a bit more difficult to take with you if you don't have a bag.
These headphones come with a flimsy and cheap-feeling soft pouch. It won't protect your headphones from anything but scratches.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X have fair build quality. They're mostly made up of plastic but don't feel very durable. The thin metal hinges and the cables between the ear cups and the headband are the headphones' weakest parts. These parts seem particularly fragile and could break or bend if you're not careful. The audio cable doesn't detach, so if it breaks, you need to replace the entire headset.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are stable headphones. They feel lightweight but they don't move around too much on your head. However, they don't have a detachable cable, so if it gets caught on something, these headphones could get yanked off your head.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X have a dark and bass-heavy sound profile that can help bring out the intensity of explosions in action games. However, they have inconsistent bass and treble delivery, and their position, seal, and whether you have glasses or thick hair can all affect your listening experience each time you use them.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X have disappointing frequency consistency performance. Bass delivery can vary and a drop in bass may occur if the ear cups aren't flush to your head, especially if you wear glasses or have thick hair. There are also inconsistencies in the treble range as treble delivery seems to be sensitive to the headphones' positioning and placement.
The bass accuracy is good. It's slightly over-emphasized in the mid-high bass range, which gives it a punchy, boomy sound that fans of action games may enjoy. However, the response here represents the average bass response and as bass delivery can vary across users, your experience may vary.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X have impressive mid accuracy. The range is mostly flat and accurate. Although there's a dip in the low-mid and the high-mid, which can thin and weaken vocals and lead instruments, it shouldn't be too noticeable.
These headphones' treble accuracy is poor. It's underemphasized across the range, resulting in a veiled and dark sound. However, as treble delivery can vary across users, your experience may differ.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X's peaks and dips performance is satisfactory. There's a peak in the high bass that makes the mix sound muddy, and the dip in the low-mid further clutters vocals and lead instruments. There's also a dip in the low-treble, which further reduces their clarity. Finally, the peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants like cymbals piercing.
These headphones have very good imaging. Their weighted group delay falls beneath the audibility threshold, ensuring a tight bass and transparent treble. While their L/R drivers are well-matched in regards to amplitude and phase response, a bit of frequency mismatch is present, which can have a very minor impact on the stereo image's evenness. That being said, these results are only valid for our test unit, and yours may perform differently.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X have a poor passive soundstage, which is common for closed-back gaming headphones. They don't have a particularly large or natural-sounding soundstage, and audio is perceived as coming from the inside of your head rather than in front of you.
These headphones have a virtual soundstage available which can make your PC 7.1 surround-compatible. However, we don't currently test this feature, and you need to download this software in order to use it.
Their weighted harmonic distortion is good. There's a small peak between the low to mid-treble range but it shouldn't be too noticeable. Its frequencies otherwise fall within good limits, which should result in clear and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when using these settings.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X have disappointing noise isolation. They don't block out any bass-range noise like bus or train engines, so they won't be suitable for commuting. They do a slightly better job of reducing mid-range noise such as background chatter, but it still may not be enough for a work environment. However, they're able to cut down a lot more treble sound like the hum of an A/C unit.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X have good leakage performance, especially for gaming headphones. All noise falls below the noise floor of an average office.
These headphones have a boom microphone.
The boom microphone has excellent recording quality. You voice sounds full-bodied, natural, and clear.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X's boom microphone is excellent at noise handling. It's able to separate speech from ambient noise, even in noisy environments such as gaming tournaments.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X are passive headphones and don't have a battery.
These headphones can't be used with Razer Synapse software. If you're looking for a similar pair of gaming headphones that can be used with the Synapse software, check out the Razer BlackShark V2.
These headphones are wired and don't have a Bluetooth connection. If you want a pair of similar wireless gaming headphones, check out the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2020.
The Razer BlackShark V2 X don't have any non-Bluetooth wireless connectivity options.
These headphones come with a non-detachable 1/8" TRRS cable as well as a PC Y-splitter for mic and audio compatibility with desktop PCs.
These headphones can be plugged into your Xbox One controller for full audio and microphone compatibility.