Razer - Barracuda X Wireless Stereo Gaming Headset for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, and Android - Quartz

BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT: I can't say as I've ever been a big Razer fanboy when it came to their headsets. I have tried and passed on various wired/wireless iterations of the Kraken, Nari, and Blackshark for a variety of comfort, sound, and sometimes even software support issues. BUT, the Barracuda X came out of nowhere to totally blow my expectations out of the water and turn in some remarkably fine gaming AND multimedia performance for both the PC and Switch, all while overcoming some of the comfort issues that dogged a few of their previous outings. And all of this was on tap without needing Razer's sometimes bloated and resource-heavy Synapse client! Frankly, I was skeptical that the Barracuda X would be a keeper after a recent disappointment with the Blackshark V2 X, but Razer appears to have put its best foot forward with this headset and the results were simply outstanding. DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED if you're hunting in the crowded $100 headset market for something comfortable, versatile, and sporting a powerful, engaging, but definitely not bloated, sound signature. A MORE IN-DEPTH LOOK: Starting with style, build quality and comfort, Razer has eschewed their normal, over-the-top gamer aesthetic and loud RGB bling for something that looks more like a middle-of-the-road consumer headset with styling cues very similar to the Sony WH-1000XM4. In fact, if it weren't for the subtle Razer logos etched in the earcups, you'd be hard-pressed to identify the Barracuda X as a Razer gaming headset at all--definitely a plus if you want these to fit into a workplace or other subdued public setting. The mostly plastic construction keeps the weight down (just 250 grams), yet the construction feels solid with nary a creak to be heard. The underside of the headband is generously padded with a very long strip of faux leather that runs virtually the entire length of the headband assembly. Thankfully, the headband itself features a fairly natural curvature that dramatically reduces topside hotspots (at least for someone with a reasonably adult-sized head) by spreading the points of contact along a much wider section of your skull. The internal headband support is metal but still slightly flexible--this allows the headband to retain its primary shape yet still respond to gentle pressure so you can personalize fit and curvature even further--there's even a quick passage in the manual about making these slight adjustments to the headband to improve longevity. The earpads feature pillow-soft memory foam under a breathable mesh covering. While this does decrease passive noise isolation a bit, it makes them VERY comfortable against the skin, and keeps your ears from overheating during longer gaming sessions. Although billed as over-the-ear cans, the earpad openings on the Barracuda X are actually pretty small, falling somewhere between the wider stadium-shaped openings of the Arctis 7/Wireless Pro and the narrower ovals of the Audeze Mobius. In practice, this meant that a good deal of the earpads were pressing in on the lobes/outer anatomy of my ear. However, the soft earpad material, coupled with the design/construction of the headband, meant that on-ear contact and inward clamping forces were actually VERY comfortable. Unlike the unyielding construction and high clamping force of the Blackshark V2 X (which resulted in so much discomfort I had to remove the headset every 20-30 minutes), I was EASILY wearing the Barracuda X for 2-3 hour gaming sessions at a single go without ever needing to touch or readjust the headset even once. Moving on to function and controls, the Barracuda X puts all the controls and ports on the left earcup. Although the control possibilities themselves are minimal, this also means you're never really fumbling around from one earcup to the other trying to find volume, mute, or the power button. The volume wheel is nestled between the power and mic mute buttons...all are spaced far enough apart to allow easy access and manipulation without undue risk of adjusting one control while reaching for another. Although they are the same shape, the mic mute button features a longer push-button action than the power/multi-function button; however, there are no accompanying tones or LED status lights to indicate when the mic is muted. Nevertheless, the mic-on position (raised) feels different enough from the mute position (flush against the earcup) that I doubt anyone would mistake one position for the other--note that there is no mixing control dial for mic & playback volume levels. The main power button produces a set of rising & falling tones when the headset powers up or down--there are no spoken voice status indicators here. Beyond that, a single, double or triple press of the power button provides functions for play/pause & call accept/end, skip track and previous track--these functions worked perfectly from the headset when I was streaming Amazon music from my PC. The Barracuda X works wirelessly with a small, paddle-shaped USB-C dongle; Windows reported output formal support up to 16-bit/48khz. The male USB-C connector on the dongle was long enough that it still seated securely in my daughter's Nintendo Switch, even through a full-body bumper case; the dongle does not appear to be large enough to intrude during handheld use. The Switch recognized the dongle immediately and playback began instantly without any setup or menu adjustments--very nice! You are also provided a USB-A to female USB-C cable that gives you a connection point in case you don't have an open USB-C port. Wireless range was about 25-30 ft around a corner before I noticed the first bit of signal degradation; range was even better (~50 ft) while I maintained direct line of sight to my PC. The headset can also operate in passive/analog mode using the provided 3.5mm combination (stereo and microphone) cable. Note that Razer did not include an audio/mic breakout cable, so you'll need to provide one of your own if your PC, laptop, or other device has separate analog jacks for audio output and mic input. The headset will not function as an external sound card without the dongle--the additional USB-A to USB-C cable is for charging only. The removable microphone (thank you!) features a foam windscreen and an idiot-proof, one-way insertion design into the earcup. The boom is long enough to position the mic well inside the outer edge of your mouth, and it nicely stays in place once bent into position (that has not always been my experience with other boom-style mics!). It would have been nice if Razer had included a small bag or case with the headset (though the earcups do swivel flat for low-profile stowage), and the analog cable is only about 53" tip-to-tip so you can't game in wired mode very comfortably if your PC is situated quite far from your seat. But aside from those observations, the Barracuda X comes very nicely appointed. Finally, let's talk about performance. I didn't find mic recording quality or levels to be problematic at all; my teammates online had no trouble hearing me in the heat of battle, and my voice was devoid of any extreme distortion or tinny/metallic tones that I've experienced with lesser quality mics (YMMV depending on your setup/software support). As indicated up front, this headset does NOT require Synapse, but Razer's simulated 7.1 audio application is a separate (though mercifully small) client/download. Once you register your headset, you'll get a code to activate the program; but frankly, it doesn't seem all that necessary, at least on a Windows machine. The Razer 7.1 virtual surround solution isn't integrated with the OS like Windows Sonic or Dolby/DTS--you have to select a virtual 7.1 device (from the 'Sounds' settings page, or from the system tray) and then turn on 7.1 surround processing using the separate Razer 7.1 app (and then leave it running). The effect does add some depth/reverb, but it sounds pretty close (if not slightly inferior) to Windows Sonic IMO--Dolby & DTS are far more immersive and provide much greater realism in terms of a wide soundstage and convincing sound-source panning/localization. Once installed, you may upgrade to THX's Spatial Audio app (and are given a 50%-off code as incentive), but the number of supported games is currently somewhat limited so I eventually uninstalled Razer's 7.1 client in favor of the Dolby and DTS virtual surround processing solutions. Yeah, great...but how did the Barracuda X actually SOUND? In a word--fantastic (especially at this price point)! Overall, I found these cans to be very pleasant and non-fatiguing with just a bit of "gamer-appropriate" bloom in the low end. Transient response felt very accurate--instruments & notes on busier tracks didn't seem to be distorting or smearing into each other. Highs and mids seemed quite articulate with female vocals & acoustic instruments sounding clear and clean without getting harsh or sibilant at very high frequencies. Compared to the Acrtis Pro Wireless and Audeze Mobius headsets, the Barracuda X did feel just a hair less "airy" or "breathy"--it was only a subtle difference in detail retrieval, but still noticeable, especially during some quick A/B comparisons on a repeating loop. However, those headsets also cost 3x-4x more, so the fact that the Barracuda X turned in such a strong performance in comparison is more than admirable. In the low end, however, the Barracuda X definitely kicked things up a notch--mid-bass and deep bass (like bass guitars or kick drums) had some extra oomph and almost palpable heft over both of those higher-end gaming headsets. Fortunately, however, all that extra warmth and low-end body never sounded muddy or overblown, nor did it wear me down over time. If you favor a warmer/bass-tilting sound signature, I'm very happy to report that the Barracuda X felt like it delivered without overpowering everything else in the mix. Well done, Razer--this one is a keeper!

While suspiciously similar to the (older and cheaper) Steelseries Arctic 1, Razer’s Barracuda X is a great headset - so long as you are not bothered by the dongle (which is required for the wireless functionality). The headset is affordable, lightweight, produces balanced sound, is comfortable to wear (even with glasses), very simple to control, has great battery life, a stellar microphone, and is compatible with nearly every device (except for iPhones) - But, I absolutely hate being tied to the dongle. Apparently the Hyperspeed Wireless technology has virtually no latency - which makes it technically better for gaming compared to Bluetooth. Bluetooth, however, is universally compatible with nearly every product that produces audio and it doesn’t require a dongle. The dongle plugs into a USB-C port, but it is so wide that it blocks the other inputs on a laptop (see attached picture). To solve this issue, Razer has included a USB-A to USB-C extension cable. The added cable does ensure that the dongle doesn’t block other ports, but makes the dongle bulky. I would honestly rather have a Bluetooth connection as it would GREATLY improve the convenience of the Barracuda X. ...Bluetooth headsets are able to connect to multiple devices - which means that while you are gaming, you can also connect to your phone and listen to music, or accept phone calls. With the Barracuda X, you only have a single audio connection - which is really too bad. The headset design is low profile enough that it can actually pass as a pair of stereo headphones - instead of being the average bulky gaming headset that makes the wearer look like an air traffic controller. If the dongle was not required for wireless use, the Barracuda X could be the only headphones I need for home and for travel. For a headset that is only used primarily in one location, or with one device - I do absolutely recommend the Barracuda X. But, if you want a single headset for multi-use that will travel with you - I believe that a Bluetooth headset is a better option. - CONS: - Requires a dongle for wireless functionality - No Active Noise Cancelation - Ear cups are rather small - Ear cups are shallow so ears press against the inside fabric - No cooling gel used in the padding - Ear cup padding is not replaceable - No official iPhone support - No built in audio controls other than Play/Pause - No Bluetooth functionality - Cannot connect to multiple devices at once - No battery meter / indicator - 3.5 mm cord has no microphone or controls built in

I have had the pleasure of owning and using a large variety of gaming headsets – the Razer Barracuda X makes my 9th I believe. However, these are only my second pair of wireless headsets. My first wireless headphones are my Plantronics Rig 800HD, which I have been using as my daily drivers for 3 years now. I have come to appreciate the mobility of wireless headphones in the last year and a half while being WFH and virtual learning for my two younger kids. Something about being able to maintain a chat on my basement computer while making sandwiches upstairs for my kids is really convenient. Usually this extra freedom comes with some tradeoffs – added weight, reduced features compared to wired sets of similar price, and compatibility. I’ve have found this isn't necessarily the case for the Barracuda’s. Build Quality/Design The Barracuda X has a pretty standard closed back design with a detachable mic boom and a few on-body controls. The headset uses a traditional headband with leatherette wrapped foam padding (about 3/8-1/2” thick). The earcups are wrapped in a breathable nylon mesh. Each earcup is able to rotate – they rotate inwards slightly to better fit different head shapes and can lay flat when rotating outwards (keeps the mic from hitting the other earcup when rotating like this). The headset itself is fairly lightweight (250g) – maybe a touch lighter than my Rigs. The plastic doesn’t feel cheap and the fit and finish is good – no sharp points, or unfinished edges. One thing I always look out for is if the headphones creak when you put them on, but the Barracuda’s don’t show any hint of that. The earcups are mated to the headband with a metal strap that adjusts for different head sizes – pretty standard. The left earcup holds all of the controls/ports – power, mute, volume wheel, mic port, USB C charging port, and 3.5mm port. The mic port is also a 3.5mm but it has a different opening – circle with a flat on one side that acts as a guide for the mic. Included in the box are all of the connection cables. The charge cable (USB A to USB C), 5ft long 3.5mm (male-male) audio cable, extension cable (USB A male to USB C female), and the USB C wireless adapter. Each of the cords comes with an attached rubber cable wrap to bundle the cord up. Each cord appears to be well made, but are just jacketed in a textured rubber – no braid or anything like that. The 3.5mm cable utilizes TRRS connectors on both ends – the headphone side is a straight connector, and the device side is a 90° connector. If this cable ever gets damaged or lost you could replace it with an off the shelf cable without any problem. The box also includes a pretty nice setup/user guide which is somewhat rare these days. The volume control is a scroll wheel with stops (it doesn’t spin infinitely in either direction). This control only affects the headset and doesn’t adjust the sound output of the device. I’m used to wireless headphones/earbuds controlling the overall system volume, not just the headphones volume. The power button has multiple functions. If connected to a phone or PC you can use the power button to play/pause a song (single press), answer an incoming call or hang up (single press), skip track (double press), previous track (triple press). These button presses are very responsive and easy to execute which is nice for a change. Turning on the headset requires pressing and holding the power button for a few seconds, and once on a tone plays through the speakers. Powering off is the same method, but a different tone plays. The headset auto shuts off after some period of time if nothing is playing or using the headset (maybe 20 min). Comfort The design of the Barracuda X lends itself to long term comfort. The lightweight design and soft padded earcups keep them comfortable for long sessions. The earcups breathability kept my ears from feeling hot/sweaty. The headband is wide enough to spread out the load and keeps it from producing a pressure band across the top of my head. Overall the Barracuda’s could comfortably be worn for hours at a time without feeling any fatigue or discomfort. Compatibility One of the big selling points of the Barracuda is its broad compatibility. Using the USB C dongle its compatible with Android phones, the Switch, PS4/5 (with included USB extension adapter cable), and PC (extension cable might be needed unless a USB C port is available). Using the 3.5mm cable the headphones expand their compatibility to Xbox and any other devices that carry a 3.5mm jack. The only area the Barracuda X doesn’t cover is Bluetooth connectivity. Sound The Barracuda X’s come with a single, preloaded EQ. There is no adjustability on this front outside of controlling the EQ’s on the source device. Moving on from that the headphones employ Razer’s 40mm Triforce drivers. 40mm is a fairly standard driver size in most of today’s headphones and usually translates to small, but punchy bass, good mids, and highs. Playing music or games that employ a lot of low/rumbly bass the drivers are a little lacking, which I have found is the norm unless you go to 50mm drivers. This is more or less what I found while using the Barracuda’s for music and games. Playing FNF the headphones kept up well with the music/beat and remained crisp. I played a lot of Halo and Wreckfest on PC, and those games sounded great. Footsteps were as sharp and easy to hear as the gunfire and grenade bangs. Even though the earcups aren’t perfect at noise isolation due to their material, they still blocked enough of the outside world to allow the finer details to come through (footsteps and movement sounds). Wreckfest played well with the abilities of the headset – engine noise, crashes, squealing tires were all replicated well. For music reproduction the Barracuda’s worked great. Again, they are a limited by how deep/rumbly they can get but that only plays into some genre’s of music that I listen to. For the most part the music sounds great. Rock/pop both play well, and are on par with most of my headphones. The edge the Barracuda’s have is they are light and comfortable enough to handle listening to music or playing games for long periods without needing to take a break. Mic The mic the Barracuda uses is on a detachable flexible boom with a somewhat large foam windscreen. The mic itself is setup to filter out as much background noise as possible while keeping your voice clear. I have a tower fan blowing right by me that the mic filtered out, and it even filtered out the sound of my semi-clacky keyboard. However, all of this filtering seems to come at the cost of me sounding quieter. On PC I can adjust my mic volume to boost my voice, but on my phone I don’t have that luxury. It’s not that I sound muted or anything, but when comparing to my other headsets I come across the quietest with the Barracuda’s. The one thing that bums me out is the lack of side tone/mic monitoring. This is just a crucial feature to me nowadays. I have become accustom to it on my other headsets, and the ones that don’t have it don’t isolate my ears as well as the Barracuda’s. It’s almost like if you are going to do a good job of providing noise isolation, then you need to have a provision for sidetone. This should be absolutely doable with a wireless headset. Other Thoughts I wish the Barracuda’s came with a bag or case. There are so many cords, the dongle, and the mic that I can see something important getting easily lost. Thankfully I had a spare headset pouch I wasn’t using that these can now reside in. I want to have a better battery indicator. With my Rig’s I can bump the power button really quick and it will tell me (via audio through the speakers) if my battery is high/med/low. With the Barracuda’s you only get informed when you are at <30% by the little status light on the back of the left earcup turning red. You are again alerted at <10% when the light starts to blink red. Both of these indications require you to remove the headset to check the little light. Just seems this could be handled better. The volume wheel is precariously placed. I find myself accidentally scrolling it with my thumb just by taking the headset off or putting it back on. Either the wheel needs to be a little more resistive to accidental scrolls, or it needs to be relocated. Conclusion Overall, the Barracuda X’s provide a great value proposition for anyone looking for a solid headset platform with more compatibility than you normally get in a wireless setup. The headset is lightweight and comfortable, and they provide fairly good sound reproduction as well. The mic does a great job of filtering out background noise, so even in a noisy environment your voice will still be heard. I wish it had a couple of features (carry pouch, side tone), but none of them are dealbreakers.

Razer Barracuda X I found in my time of use very solid PC headphones I would easily recommend but there is so much more that makes the price way more compelling. With these headphones, there is a USB-C Dongle that you can use with a variety of consoles as well. This making headphones with the Nintendo Switch / Android / and a Playstation 5 as easy as plugging it in. I like what they have done with these new Barracuda X: the ease of use and its design to be as versatile as your gaming limits. They come with a wireless USB-C Dongle for PC, Switch, and Android. For Playstation (and PCs without a USB-C) Don't worry, because you can still use these headphones with the provided USB-C to USB-A cord. There is an AUX cord for older devices with a headphone jack so your hardware is never left behind. Razer has taken care of every angle when it comes to your gaming needs for private listening. You have a detachable mic that is very clear with voice chatting, people were able to hear me clearly in matches of Overwatch. For PS5 users, it's a great option to have for 3rd party headphones, They seem to be on par with the PULSE 3D Wireless Headset from Sony. The sound and Bass aren't strong but it's clear with a wide range of sound to hear footsteps and gunshots in the game you are playing. but I found these headphones way more comfortable than PULSE 3D, Barracuda X is lightweight and feels so good on the head. Cushions are nice and padded with the earcup feeling plush. Big thumbs up in that department to razer; even with the on-headset controls all of the buttons feel naturally placed in position from the volume rocker to the placement of the mute button. I can't tell you the countless times game manufacturers get this wrong. USB-C charges the headphones pretty rapidly. For Switch Users, This is probably one of the best headphones to get. The USB-C dongle doesn't protrude out that far from the bottom part of the switch. As far as sound well it is as good as the Switch allows it to be. These are just a nice wireless option to have. I mainly used these headphones on a Switch and a PC (Asus ROG M16) with Dolby Atmos activated and it was an amazing experience. I just think they are really great headphones in this price range. They sound good and they don't break the bank at all. They also look great and aren't too flashy with RGB or a wild light show. Design-wise they don't stand out much but they look nice with Razer branding on the headband glossy black. After coming off using the Barracuda X, it's a headset that is or could be the only ideal multi-purpose headphones you'll need. They sound good, look fantastic, are lightweight, wireless, and work with many gaming devices. The bass is a little lacking but the headphones are overall just great if you are a gamer especially if you are using a Nintendo Switch. Razer made a good product and if you want great headphones that are affordable, these are a good model to start with.

Excelent quality! Bought them for my wife and she loves them!

If you don't buy standard warranty from them you will not get it replaced if something happened because Razer reason to deny their warranty Headset is about 4 months old when it broke

I am always in need for gaming headsets due to the variety of platforms I can use it on. Living in a world of virtual meetings and online classes, it’s essential to have good sounds, microphone, and a sense of comfort for these long meetings. The Razer Barracuda is a nice entry for all of my needs, as I need cross platform: gaming, zoom, and entertainment. I really enjoy the simplicity of these headsets. It is literally a “plug-in-play” device. Included is the usb-c receiver that you plug into your device. The headset will automatically pair up. This is so someone. Yes, you do lose a usb-c port and that is a struggle for devices that only have 1 or 2 ports. I used this for my Surface Pro 7 and Pixel Slate that has limited ports. My gaming computer does offer more connection so that is not a problem. The sounds are decent. Bass is full and deep while the mids are clear. The over the ear cushion is a nice feel for my ears along with the cushioned headband. Microphone can be detached, which is nice for those moments you need to transport it in a bag. Included are a couple of usb cords for charging and plug-in for computers without a usb-c port, as well as a 3.5mm audio jack which is good for my XBox controller. Overall, a nice sounding headset with great sounds and comfortable feel to it.

Since I have a small head they fit great! I recommend it a bit more for ppl with small heads, because it has a more comfortable fit then the other people who tried it on. It fits better because it covers my ears. I also have glasses and they don’t hurt or bother me. This is also my first bluetooth headset and so far I haven’t had any problems. They last me a long time I play almost every night and so far I’ve only charged it about 3 times. I guess it depends how much you play but I don’t play for long hours, the color is cute it matches my stand. The ear pieces move as well so you can put them in a weird angle If you wanted too, they can go inward and out. Its very lightweight as well and the mic is pretty good people say they can hear me better than my last headset. The volume and power button are on the side of one earpiece as well as the charging port. My bf even the same one but black since he rlly liked mine. So I recommend it a lot