The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro: The New Standard?
Sponsored by RAZER
When it comes to gaming headsets, we see that pros like to use pretty basic products. No RGB, no fancy designs, no extra frills. A simple, sturdy product with a focus on performance and reliability is what has historically been favored in the pro scene. The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (which has been built in collaboration with pro players) is a headset that definitely falls within that category. After the release of the 2023 version (which brought a number of improvements over the first version) it has taken the #1 spot as the most used headset on ProSettings.net, so it is high time to explore what makes this headset so well-liked.
You can also read our Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review for a more in-depth dive into the product and its features.
The New Standard?
Those who have been following our website for a while will know that the HyperX Cloud II has been the #1 gaming headset since the website launched. For years, it stayed in the top spot with no other headsets even coming close to its dominance.
However, in September of 2024, this changed. The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro became the first headset to take over the crown, making it (as of right now) the #1 headset on ProSettings.net. Both headsets are still close to each other, so there’s no telling what might happen in the future. With the rest of the top 5 trailing far behind, it’s unlikely that a third dog will enter the fight though. In the image below, you can see a snapshot of the BlackShark V2 Pro’s rise over the past year.
Design
Comfort
Aside from the sound (which we’ll get to later on) the most important aspect of a headset is how comfortable it is. While the factors that make a headset comfortable are partially down to personal preference, aspects like the weight of the headset and the softness of the chosen materials are pretty much universally accepted to be of importance.
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is a lightweight headset that puts a great emphasis on being pleasant to wear. The thick mesh on the headband and ear cushions provides a comfy fit, even when wearing the headset for multiple hours. The clamping force isn’t excessive and the weight is distributed evenly, which means that there are no pressure spots when wearing it. For the vast majority of people, this is an extremely comfortable piece of kit.
This comfy design obviously helps with its popularity. The greatest headset in the world wouldn’t be worn by very many pros if it was extremely uncomfortable to wear.
Overall Design
When we look at the headsets that have been popular with pros over the years, there’s a clear trend that emerges. Pros like well-built, basic-looking headsets. Pretty much all top 5 headsets that we’ve seen come and go over the past years don’t look overly ‘gamery’ and focus on build quality and overall reliability over looks.
Here again, we go back to the ‘form follows function’ principle. A gaming headset should be able to survive multiple trips in a stuffed backpack on the way to the next LAN event or training facility. A great headset that breaks when it meets a little roughness is of no use to traveling pro players.
With the BlackShark V2 Pro, Razer has understood this. There are no gimmicks to the headset that would only serve to add bulk or add additional points of failure. The BlackShark V2 Pro is a sturdy, no-nonsense headset with a focus on performance over aesthetics. Looking at trends of the past years, it’s quite clear that this design principle has helped the BlackShark V2 Pro become as popular as it is.
Wireless Convenience
The world of gaming peripherals is definitely making a move towards being wireless. Thanks to technological leaps that have been made over the past years, going for a wireless product does not handicap you like it did in the past decades. Top mice, for example, have been wireless for years now.
Right now, the headset scene seems to be in the process of cutting the cord. If you ask us, this makes sense. The wire on a headset might not be bothersome in 99% of scenarios, but there’s no doubt that it’s a lot more comfortable to be without a wire. Going wireless prevents those scenarios where the wire might get snagged under your arm or leg, for example.
Additionally, the added freedom is just nice to have. If you’re playing remotely with friends, you can just get up to stretch your legs or grab a drink without having to stop talking. Wearing a wireless headset also means that you can hear when the queue pops for your next game when you’re away from your PC.
With the 2023 BlackShark V2 Pro models, you can also connect via Bluetooth. This give you the option to simply detach the mic and be on the go when you’re done gaming.
In essence: using a quality wireless headset like the BlackShark V2 Pro has pretty much no downsides and only upsides. Even the microphone (something that usually suffers on wireless headsets) sounds really good.
Mic
One of the biggest compromises that you normally have to make when going for a wireless headset comes in the microphone department. Even on the first version of Razer’s BlackShark V2 Pro, the microphone notably suffered.
With the 2023 version, this has been fixed. The microphone on the headset universally gets lauded as a great one, even when compared to wired headsets. Our own reviewer said the following about the mic:
“The microphone on the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro 2023 is one of the best microphones I’ve ever heard on a (wired or wireless) gaming headset.“
– Lars in the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review
Other reviewers also took note of this. Tom’s Hardware even gave the BlackShark V2 Pro a 2024 innovation award.
While the microphone isn’t necessarily required to be broadcast-quality on a gaming headset (you don’t need crystal-clear audio for short callouts and strategies) it’s definitely a bonus to have a clear mic in times where remote meetings and such are much more common. And for pros, who are regularly holding (strategy) meetings over the internet when they’re not at a bootcamp, having a clear mic is an obvious advantage.
Audio
The number one job that a gaming headset has to do is transmit audio. It should do so in a way that doesn’t muffle important sounds (footsteps, reloads, …) while also allowing the listener to pinpoint where those sounds are coming from. To do that, a gaming headset (or really any audio product) needs a wide soundstage, good sound imaging, and a good balance between bass, mid, and treble sounds.
Razer’s patented drivers, which use 50mm titanium-coated diaphragms, (see our headphone drivers explained article for more info on diaphragms and headphone drivers) provide great clarity and an accurate audio response. Furthermore, the headset is tuned specifically for esports. Doing things like locating enemy footsteps in the midst of battle is the priority here, and that shows in the audio performance of the headset.
In addition to the great gaming audio performances, the BlackShark V2 Pro also has a good amount of passive noise isolation. This means that you can focus on your gameplay without being distracted by sounds brought forth by the world around you. Again: this is something that’s handy for professional gamers. Bootcamps can get pretty loud with a bunch of players in the same room, and at home it’s just nice to not get distracted by the neighbor’s barking dog, for example.
Finally, there’s also an equalizer in Razer’s Synapse software. There, you can tweak the EQ to achieve a sound that matches your preferences, or you can choose from a variety of pro-tuned FPS audio profiles. Razer has worked with professionals in games like CS, VALORANT, and Fortnite to come up with EQ presets that are a perfect starting point for those games.
Conclusion
Based on our experience, a pro gaming headset should be no-nonsense, built like a tank, have great audio imaging and quality, and offer straightforward and reliable performances without any gimmicks. Razer’s BlackShark V2 Pro is basically all of that, and it comes in a wireless package as a bonus. It has also been around for some time (which helps with name recognition) and has recently received an update to make it even better in the form of the 2023 version.
Looking at all of this combined, it’s perhaps not a huge surprise that it has managed to become the #1 gaming headset on our website. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not other brands can catch up in the near future, or if this is just the start of Razer’s dominance in the audio department.
This would be a perfect headset if not for the use of thin, cheap plastic on the hinge buckles. I’ve gone through two sets in less than a year with very gentle use. If they would just make this part out of metal it would be 10/10.