Razer’s Leviathan V2 Pro really wants to replace your gaming headset

I’ve spent the previous week and a half utilizing Razer’s newest PC gaming soundbar, the Leviathan V2 Pro, and I can confidently say that it doesn’t disappoint, however it additionally isn’t for everybody.

Razer touts the soundbar as a one-stop PC audio resolution, and it’s simply that.

Minimalist design for a gaming soundbar

The Leviathan V2 Pro is a regular-looking soundbar. What I imply by that’s it doesn’t function any cheesy gamer-esque parts. But it’s not plain and boring, both. The soundbar includes a premium-looking black mesh grille within the entrance with a matte physique. The buttons to management the V2 Pro are positioned neatly on high and embrace a quantity knob that additionally doubles as an influence on/off button, and 4 smaller spherical buttons to modify equalizer presets, audio modes, RGB lights and inputs.

The Leviathan V2 Pro is designed to sit proper in entrance of you on your desk and be positioned beneath your monitor. In my case, the monitor’s backside bezel is pretty excessive, and I place the monitor additional away on my desk, leading to no inconvenience. However, some PC customers, particularly whereas gaming, desire having their monitor positioned shut to them at a slanted angle. I’d think about the soundbar would get in the way in which in these conditions, because it is available in at 4.5-inches tall. The single-firing subwoofer isn’t too big both, coming in at 10.2-inches x 11.6-inches x 10.2-inches. The supreme place for it’s beneath your desk close to your ft, in order that shouldn’t take up any additional house on your desk.

The entrance of the soundbar homes an IR (Infrared) digicam that tracks the person sitting proper in entrance of it (extra on it later). On all sides of the IR digicam are LED lights that point out which audio mode you’re presently on, and if the soundbar is in a position to monitor your head or not.

And, after all, RGB lights. Through the underside of the soundbar runs a customizable Razer Chroma RGB mild strip that doesn’t scream “GAMER!” however provides a enjoyable component.

On the rear, the soundbar includes a common energy port, adopted by a subwoofer output port, a 3.5mm headset port and a USB Type C port.

Connectivity is straightforward, and customization choices are ample

Razer has designed the Leviathan V2 Pro to work finest with a PC, although it’s additionally appropriate with Bluetooth gadgets similar to cell phones, tablets, and the Nintendo Switch. On PC, connecting the soundbar is not any problem thanks to a USB-C to USB-A plug-and-play connection. Similarly, Bluetooth 5.0 permits for a seamless, quick and low-input delay reference to cellular gadgets.

It’s price noting that the soundbar and the subwoofer require their very own energy shops, and contemplating that the ports round your PC would already be occupied with the monitor and accent wires, you’ll want to buy an additional extension. Connecting the subwoofer to the soundbar is pretty easy, with an enter/output wire for every finish, although a wi-fi subwoofer would have served me higher. Ever since I’ve moved to a brand new home, my cable administration has gotten terrible, and tucking away thick energy cables for each the soundbar and the subwoofer has been a ache with out a wire administration tray.

Further, you can even plug your headphones instantly into the three.5mm slot on the rear of the soundbar to change between the 2 gadgets with ease.

The audio modes for the soundbar can simply be adjusted from the top-placed buttons, however the Razer Synapse app for PC and the Razer Audio app for iOS and Android supply a a lot wider vary of customization. I discovered myself utilizing the cellular software extra usually than the PC one simply due to the benefit of accessibility, although not one of the apps supply something that the opposite doesn’t. Both apps permit you to change between modes, together with Virtual Headset, Virtual Surround, Stereo and Room Fill. The equalizer additionally has some presets, together with Flat, Game, Movie and Music, although you’ll be able to modify the sound and bass in accordance to your personal desire as nicely.

The Leviathan V2 Pro sounds unbelievable

An excellent soundbar primarily wants to have good audio high quality, and the Leviathan V2 Pro actually delivers. It’s price noting that the soundbar itself doesn’t have built-in woofers, so utilizing it by itself wouldn’t supply very pleasing outcomes. With the subwoofer related, although, the Leviathan V2 Pro doesn’t really feel any much less succesful than a full-fledged house theatre that wouldn’t fail to piss off your neighbours.

The most attention-grabbing function that the Leviathan V2 Pro presents is its beamforming digital headset mode. I had quite a lot of enjoyable making an attempt out the function, however is it sufficient to replace an precise headset? The function basically employs the front-positioned IR digicam to scan the place your head and ear are and beam audio waves instantly to them.

The function isn’t a trick to promote the soundbar; it really works fairly nicely. For me, utilizing the mode for the primary couple of minutes felt very bizarre. Not uncomfortable-weird, however extra like fascinating-weird. While utilizing the mode, it really felt like I used to be sporting digital headphones, with audio constantly beamed instantly to my ears, even when I modified my place or swayed my head from facet to facet.

This brings us again to the query: can the Leviathan V2 Pro replace an precise headset? Well, in some instances, sure. Playing Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales with the mode turned on was satisfying, with every kind of sound results from the sport beamed instantly to my ears. Titles that don’t require absolute sound accuracy, like FIFA 23 or God of War, for instance, are a pleasure to play with the top monitoring mode turned on, however for extra aggressive video games the place you want to hear the place precisely your enemies are coming from, I’d nonetheless desire an everyday headset. Not solely as a result of the positional audio is extra correct with common headphones, but additionally as a result of I’d have to preserve the soundbar at a reasonably excessive quantity when gaming, and that wouldn’t all the time go well with nicely with my housemates.

Similar to the Virtual Headset mode, Virtual Surround additionally makes use of the front-positioned IR digicam precisely replicates a 7.1 encompass sound expertise, with audio beaming to you from all sides of the room in a stage-like expertise. It’s fairly outstanding that I can sway from side-to-side and nonetheless constantly really feel like I’m positioned on the heart of the soundstage.

What’s lacking is built-in tweeters. I really feel that generally the vocals really feel muddy and in-game audio results really feel boring due to the dearth of tweeters. That doesn’t essentially imply that the high-end and treble are totally lacking, nor does it utterly make or break the Leviathan V2. It’s simply that the soundbar can’t replicate precise headphones in that facet.

The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro isn’t low cost, given it prices $549.99. But for what you’re getting, spending that a lot is justifiable. Leviathan V2 Pro soundbar is a wonderful addition to a PC setup for avid gamers and non-gamers alike, with its smooth and easy design, a number of audio modes, and distinctive beamforming digital headset and digital encompass modes. The Razer Synapse and Razer Audio apps supply a variety of customization choices, and the soundbar is appropriate with Bluetooth gadgets. The sound high quality is spectacular, however the lack of built-in woofers signifies that the subwoofer is crucial for an optimum listening expertise. The Razer Synapse and Razer Audio apps supply a variety of customization choices, and the soundbar is appropriate with Bluetooth gadgets.

I wouldn’t purchase the soundbar if I wished it to double as a house theatre setup for my TV. The Leviathan V2 Pro would have been a way more succesful soundbar with help for TVs, however Razer appears adamant to restrict it to PCs and Bluetooth connections. I additionally wouldn’t purchase this soundbar if your housemates or neighbours disapprove of loud music and thumping bass. Further, the soundbar and subwoofer require their very own energy shops, which generally is a problem for cable administration.

While the Leviathan V2 Pro doesn’t utterly replace a gaming headset, it’s undoubtedly a worthwhile funding for these on the lookout for a high-quality PC audio resolution.

The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro is obtainable to order from Razer’s web site for $549.99.

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