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 Professional, 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 answer, and it’s simply that.

Minimalist design for a gaming soundbar

The Leviathan V2 Professional is a regular-looking soundbar. What I imply by that’s it doesn’t function any cheesy gamer-esque parts. Nevertheless 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 regulate the V2 Professional are positioned neatly on prime and embody a quantity knob that additionally doubles as an influence on/off button, and 4 smaller spherical buttons to regulate equalizer presets, audio modes, RGB lights and inputs.

The Leviathan V2 Professional is designed to sit down proper in entrance of you in 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. Nevertheless, some PC customers, particularly whereas gaming, want having their monitor positioned near them at a slanted angle. I might think about the soundbar would get in the best way in these conditions, because it is available in at 4.5-inches tall. The one-firing subwoofer isn’t too enormous both, coming in at 10.2-inches x 11.6-inches x 10.2-inches. The best place for it’s beneath your desk close to your ft, in order that shouldn’t take up any additional area in your desk.

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

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

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

Connectivity is simple, and customization choices are plentiful

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

It’s price noting that the soundbar and the subwoofer require their very own energy retailers, and contemplating that the ports round your PC would already be occupied with the monitor and accent wires, you’ll must 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 management tray.

Additional, you may as well plug your headphones straight into the three.5mm slot on the rear of the soundbar to change between the 2 units 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 provide 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 provide something that the opposite doesn’t. Each apps help you swap between modes, together with Digital Headset, Digital Encompass, Stereo and Room Fill. The equalizer additionally has some presets, together with Flat, Sport, Film and Music, although you’ll be able to alter the sound and bass in keeping with your individual choice as properly.

The Leviathan V2 Professional sounds unbelievable

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

Probably the most attention-grabbing function that the Leviathan V2 Professional provides is its beamforming digital headset mode. I had quite a lot of enjoyable attempting out the function, however is it sufficient to switch an precise headset? The function basically employs the front-positioned IR digital camera to scan the place your head and ear are and beam audio waves on to them.

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

This brings us again to the query: can the Leviathan V2 Professional exchange an precise headset? Properly, in some instances, sure. Taking part in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales with the mode turned on was pleasing, with all types of sound results from the sport beamed on 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 pinnacle monitoring mode turned on, however for extra aggressive video games the place it is advisable hear the place precisely your enemies are coming from, I might nonetheless want a daily headset. Not solely as a result of the positional audio is extra correct with common headphones, but in addition as a result of I’d need to maintain the soundbar at a reasonably excessive quantity when gaming, and that wouldn’t at all times swimsuit properly with my housemates.

Just like the Digital Headset mode, Digital Encompass additionally makes use of the front-positioned IR digital camera 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 middle 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 uninteresting because of the lack of tweeters. That doesn’t essentially imply that the high-end and treble are totally lacking, nor does it fully make or break the Leviathan V2. It’s simply that the soundbar can’t replicate precise headphones in that facet.

The Razer Leviathan V2 Professional isn’t low cost, given it costs $549.99. However for what you’re getting, spending that a lot is justifiable. Leviathan V2 Professional soundbar is a wonderful addition to a PC setup for players 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 provide a variety of customization choices, and the soundbar is appropriate with Bluetooth units. The sound high quality is spectacular, however the lack of built-in woofers implies that the subwoofer is important for an optimum listening expertise. The Razer Synapse and Razer Audio apps provide a variety of customization choices, and the soundbar is appropriate with Bluetooth units.

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

Whereas the Leviathan V2 Professional doesn’t fully exchange a gaming headset, it’s undoubtedly a worthwhile funding for these searching for a high-quality PC audio answer.

The Razer Leviathan V2 Professional is accessible to order from Razer’s website for $549.99.

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