Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed review: Great wired, poor wireless

The Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed wireless headset doesn’t offer the greatest experience during wireless gaming, but plug that bad boy in and it's a whole other story. 

At $129, you still don’t get everything you need to make this wireless headset worth your while. If you intend to use the Razer Synapse app (which I highly recommend), you need the headset plugged in to hear the effects of your sound adjustments. 

If you want to try the wireless experience though, the battery life is phenomenal and overall it has a comfortable fit. I wouldn't recommend it as one of the best gaming headsets, but it's a solid choice overall (when plugged in).

Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed design

The BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed features a lightweight design that will fit snugly on your head. The headband is covered in a leather-like padded material with Razer’s logo etched into the top portion. Connecting the band to the earmuffs is a black two-prong steel fork.

The headset’s outer sides consist of a cheap black plastic material, while the inner cushions have a plush memory foam padding that is covered in black leather-like material similar to the headband.  

Located on the left cup you’ll find the volume dial, power button, and mute button. The microphone, which is non-detachable but flexible, is also located on the left side along with a USB type-C input. The right side features a nifty little button to help you scroll through the audio equalizer in the Razer Synapse app. 

In the box, you can find a wireless dongle (which you’ll want to use for better audio quality) and a USB Type-A to USB Type-C charging cable.

Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed comfort

Though the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed is relatively affordable, that goes unnoticed in relation to comfort.

The oval ear cups are the perfect shape for most if not all ear shapes and sizes. The leatherette material makes for a soft feel against your skin, while the thick memory foam padding not only suppresses any noise around you but makes your experience so much more comfortable. 

The V2 Hyperspeed weighs 280g or 9.9 ounces, which is much lighter compared to the Pro version, which weighs 320g or 11.3 ounces.

Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed compatibility

The BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed’s compatibility extends out to everything but the Xbox. To be more specific, you can connect it to the PC, PlayStation, Switch, and your phone. The wireless dongle will help enhance your experience, but the Bluetooth function is also available (at the price of your audio/sound quality). And as we’ve stated, plugging it in offers the best experience.

Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed gaming performance

The Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed features Razer TriForce Titanium 50 mm audio drivers. Oh, the issues I ran into right away while gaming. Originally, I tried playing with the Bluetooth option for the PC, but not only was the audio quality terrible but so was my mic quality. Plugging in the wireless dongle helped quite a bit, but plugging in the headset directly to my PC helped the quality of both my audio and mic immensely.

I played Fortnite with Bluetooth — the beginning of many of my issues. I didn’t think using the headset through Bluetooth would be as disappointing as it was, but my game and Discord chat were muffled and altogether low-quality. It sounded like there was water in the speakers. Not to mention that the Bluetooth 5.2 that connects to the Razer Synapse app will not offer EQ settings. It was impossible to hear much of anything in the game and I had to switch headsets mid-game until I could figure out a better option. 

Then came the wireless dongle, a much better audio and mic experience for everyone involved, though still not the greatest. The game’s audio quality was clearer, but my Discord quality still sounded a bit muffled and robotic. 

Ultimately, plugging the headset directly into my PC led to the best sound quality. All of the aforementioned issues did not exist, and the quality became crystal clear. I could adjust the game’s sound using the Bluetooth button, and changing it to the Game setting made the experience more immersive. Not to mention that the sound quality in my Discord call became so crisp and perfect. However, I noticed that I can only use this setting when the headset is plugged in or while using the wireless dongle, so it’s not supported by the Bluetooth function. The curve in quality for each method was steep — it went from terrible to great so quickly.

Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed music performance

I’m guilty of listening to my music as loud as possible. That bass? Turn it up! I want my earphones vibrating with the low-frequency sounds a bass brings to the music. Don’t get me wrong, I also really like those songs that have a bright electric guitar section, or vocals of an absolute angel.

Speaking of angels, Hozier’s latest song Too Sweet was reproduced beautifully through the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed. The guitar leading in during the intro hummed with a low melody, and once Hozier’s higher-pitched voice entered the stage,  the headset hit a perfect pitch in each can.

I was very excited to hear this next song in Hozier’s latest album (I promise I’m not too obsessed). Empire Now has that nice deep bass in it, but I wasn’t entirely impressed with how it picked it up, even after adjusting some of the settings in the app. Hozier’s voice was crisp and clear, prominent but didn’t overlap the bass. Once the beat dropped and the bass picked up, the speakers couldn’t handle the overall sound, dipping in quality with each following beat. 

In Palaye Royale’s Don’t Cry, the singer has a wispier voice, which was going to be interesting to hear in contrast with the bass in the song. In contrast to Empire Now, this bass wasn’t as strong, so it didn’t seem to overpower the headset. Both the vocals and instrumentals played well in unison.

Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed microphone

The BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed’s microphone is non-detachable but flexible. It has a little wind muff to help reduce background noise such as breathing.

Along with the sound issues that the wireless and Bluetooth had, similar issues were present in the microphone. While chatting with a friend through Discord, it was noted that prior to plugging in the headset directly to my PC, there was distortion, muffled quality, and background noise was more present. When plugged in, these issues lessened significantly. I was told by said friend that my voice had more clarity, and the background noise decreased significantly.

Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed features

The BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed is compatible with most things thanks to the Bluetooth, wireless dongle, and plug-in options. This includes the PC, PlayStation, Switch, and smartphone.

You'll want to download the Razer Synapse software to enhance your overall gaming experience with the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed headset. Of course, bear in mind that the Bluetooth feature will not offer any difference in sound, so you’ll either have to use the wireless dongle or plug it in directly to your PC. Unfortunately, these features will not carry over to other platforms.  

Razer also advertises this headset to last a good 70 hours, which I can’t disprove. Not to mention this is the same duration as the Pro version which is priced at $199, so you can save your money there.

Bottom line

Let’s face it, if something is advertised as wireless it should sound decent while wireless. That’s not the case for the BlackShark V2. Audio is dull, games sound muffled while playing, and voice chat isn’t a great experience for either side of the call. 

If you can get past the fact that the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed does best when plugged in, then it's pretty decent overall. Bonus points for offering a comfortable fit and long battery life.