Razer - Barracuda Pro Wireless Gaming Headset for PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, and Mobile - Black

These are really high quality headphones, that in my opinion, fair better than the actual AirPods Max. They are very comfortable, the ANC seems to have a perfect air tight seal and bluetooth works flawlessly when connecting to devices. The headset comes with a leather covered hardshell carrying case, a long USB-C cable, USB-A to USB-C adapter cable, as well as a USB-C dongle to plug-n-play with a second device to prevent having to pair and re-pair between devices. A 100% recommend to anyone wanting perfect sound with a professional, yet comfortably aesthetically pleasing design.

I initially enjoy using these headphones. They are comfortable, noise cancelling features worked great and no major issues. They did, however, disconnect constantly from the hyperspeed wireless and bluetooth connections. Sound would be staticky randomly throughout the day. Even after contacting Razer, no solution was found. The real nail in the coffin was that after only 5 months of regular use, cracks started to appear (see images). Not worth it, save your money.

Design/Comfort Pros: - Streamlined clean look - Very lightweight feel - Ear cups and headband are very soft - Easy to use controls for audio, mute, or switching modes - Audible announcement for most modes (such a pairing, powered on, powering off) - The included carrying case is well laid out, has a nice pocket for cables and is tough enough to protect the headset. Cons: - Leather earcups can support sweat as they do not breath - Internal Mic leaves for sub par mic quality - The cup to headband distance is a little too large, barely fit my head on smallest setting - No audible announcement for “muted” - 2.4 GHZ Dongle is rather long and can block ports. There is an included extension cable that will fix this, but it’s use could be frustrating - Cannot use while charging - Doesn’t work in “wired” mode - Matte finish shows grease and fingerprints very easily - Getting the headset out of the case can be a bit finicky Sound Quality Pros: - Very nice and natural sound - Bass is present but not obnoxious - Connected to the included 2.4ghz USB C dongle, audio is fast and high quality - Music, Movies, and games all sound very good. There are built in profiles for each mode Cons: - THX support requires a licensed app. This should be been included with the headset - Setting up the THX Spatial audio was insanely hard to do. Audio often does not work and requires reboots, switching inputs, uninstall/reinstall and became more pain that it was worth Wireless Connectivity Pros: - Very good wireless range - Bluetooth pairs easily with devices - Instant connection using USB C 2.4Ghz Dongle Cons: - Razer Android or iOS app doesn’t seem to pick up the headset when using bluetooth after disconnection. Had to often unpair then repair to get the app to recognize it again Battery Life Pros: - Amazing battery life. Used for 3 days and still at 60% - Razer claims about 40 hours of use which may even be downplayed Cons: - Cannot use the headset while it is charging Active Noise Cancellation Pros: - Has 10 levels of ANC that can be controlled via the headset switch or the Razer app - Good enough to block out ambient noise such as laptop or desktop fans and background noise - Voice announces when it is in use Cons: - Not as good as other headsets rocking this feature - May not be a large selling point for gamers Microphone Pros: - Unobtrusive hidden design - Looks more stylish Cons: - Audio sounds more distant due to being internal - Likely won’t appeal to hardcore gamers Recommended Changes: - Change from internal mic to external boom mic that can detach - Give a license for THX audio away - Fix the THX audio setup - Fix the lack of headset detection in the mobile apps - Allow an option to use while plugged into USB and/or charging - Come up with a way to get the headset out of the case easier (maybe a pull tab?) Bottom Line: This is a nice sounding and very comfortable headset. There are a number of features that should appeal to a wider audience but may exclude their core customer base, hardcore gamers. I also feel the asking MSRP price point of $250 is steep given the requirement to purchase a THX license, sub par mic quality and lack of size adjustments. Overall though, this is one of the better sounding wireless headsets aimed at gamers, with outstanding battery life and extremely comfortable feel. Razer hit most of the key points with this model. Gen 2 could knock it out of the park.