If you are going to spend lots of on a gaming headset, there is a good likelihood you may wish to use it with a couple of machine, and for issues non-gaming associated like work conferences, long-distance journey and your day by day commute. It appears many headset makers have realized this currently, with Corsair, Epos, and most lately SteelSeries releasing wi-fi headsets that may connect with your cellphone and a PC or console on the identical time, whereas providing up energetic noise canceling to assist shut out the horrors of the world exterior your head.
Razer’s Barracuda Professional is the most recent providing on this realm of do-it-all audio units aiming for a spot on our greatest gaming headsets checklist. And bucking the development for a corporation typically identified for costly, RGB-lit {hardware}, the Barracuda Professional is each understated in its black plastic shell and one of many least costly choices we have examined on this gaming headset meets life-style audio realm, at $249.99. It additionally sounds nice (because of 50mm “bio-cellulose” drivers), was fairly snug for hours of use in our testing, and features a good inflexible carrying case for taking the Professional on the go. The corporate additionally charges the headset at a stable 40 hours of battery life.
So what is the draw back? Primarily it is the design and plastic construct. There’s additionally no retractable/detachable mic, which can flip off some avid gamers. Though actually, the pair of beamforming built-in mics labored positive for me in calls, conferences, and video games. For those who want premium voice pickup in your gaming and streaming periods, you may wish to think about one of many greatest gaming microphones we have examined.Â
Nonetheless, and not using a growth mic or any actual edginess or pleasure in its design, the Barracuda Professional feels extra like a way of life headset first and a gaming machine second — which is okay. However rivals just like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional flip that script, and so could also be a greater match for some. And whereas the noise canceling on the Razer headset is sweet (I discovered it about on par with my Sennheiser Momentum 3s), Sony and Bose nonetheless do a greater job of blocking out the hums and drones of the surface world.
Specs for the Razer Barracuda ProfessionalÂ
| Driver Kind | 50mm customized drivers |
| Impedance | 32 Ohms |
| Frequency Response | 20 – 20,000 Hz |
| Design Model | Closed again |
| Microphone Kind | Twin built-in beamforming noise canceling |
| Connectivity Choices | (Simultaneous) Wi-fi 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Twine Size | N/A |
| Weight | 0.75 kilos (340g) |
| Lighting | None |
| Software program | Razer Synapse, Razer Audio app |
| Battery Life | As much as 40 hours |
| Value | $250 |
Design and Consolation of the Razer Barracuda Professional
Whereas competing headsets have a tendency to combine supplies and add fascinating design prospers, the Barracuda Professional is nearly fully plastic, which doubtless contributes to its gentle 0.75-pound weight and luxury throughout hours of listening. However it additionally seems surprisingly boring for a Razer-designed machine and does not significantly really feel like a premium headset. The plastic additionally picks up finger smudges with relative ease, so you may wish to give it a superb wipe down often. However a minimum of the construct feels stable.
For my head a minimum of, the Razer Barracuda Professional was extraordinarily snug. I wore it for many of a 13-hour stretch on my first day of testing and had no complaints. The padded leatherette-covered foam ear cushions and headband offered an important steadiness between consolation and sufficient clamp from the interior band to maintain the headset from transferring round on my dome. That stated I think about my head medium-large, and the proper match for me was with the band not prolonged in any respect, so these with small heads could discover the Barracuda Professional a looser match. If doable, it is best to discover a retailer the place you possibly can strive a ground mannequin earlier than shopping for.
In line with the design (which actually seems like a mix of bits of Sony and Bose’s noise-canceling cans), the button format can also be pretty minimal. Other than the 2 mic slits within the entrance, there are simply three buttons and a wheel, all on the rear of the earcups. The proper homes only one button for toggling noise canceling–on, off or “ambient,” which actively amplifies the sound round you so you possibly can maintain a dialog or order your sophisticated morning latte. Double urgent this “SmartSwitch” button additionally switches between Bluetooth or Kind-C audio.
The left can has the USB-C charging port on the backside. The facility button behind that does quite a bit, performing as a pause button for media in case you brief press it (plus accepting or ending a name) and a pairing button in case you maintain it after turning the headset on. Double urgent the ability button rejects or swaps calls, and skips to the following observe. Three presses goes to a earlier observe. Whereas all this performance packed right into a single button is appreciated, and a minimum of a few of it’s intuitive, I’d have most well-liked to simply have a pair extra buttons included for media management. The amount wheel is subsequent up (which is plastic and feels a bit low cost for a $250 headset), adopted by a mic mute button close to the highest the place the band attaches to the cup.
Notice that the headset turns itself off after 15 minutes with out sound operating via it (adjustable as much as 60 minutes in software program). However there is not any proximity sensor that pauses audio once you take away the headset (granted, this function might be tough to get proper).
I actually like that the Razer Barracuda Professional ships with a inflexible carrying case, quite than only a bag (just like the $100 pricier SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional). This makes it far simpler to journey with the headset. And there is even an inside compartment for charging cables and the USB-C dongle. That is the most effective bundled carrying answer I’ve seen from any headset or headphones at something approaching this value vary. Bravo, Razer.
Other than the carrying case, you get two USB cables, one USB-A to USB-C male for charging and the opposite USB-A to USB-C feminine to make use of for plugging the small USB-C dongle into techniques with minimal Kind-C ports, or people who solely have Kind-C ports on the again.
Audio Efficiency of the Razer Barracuda Professional
I examined Razer’s headset with my cellphone, my primary gaming/work PC, and my Nintendo Swap. Audio sounded glorious, whether or not I used to be linked by way of Bluetooth or the two.4 GHz dongle, thanks largely to the headset’s “TriForce Bio-Cellulose 50mm drivers.” By way of basic constancy and crispness, I did not discover a distinction between the Barracuda Professional and my Sennheiser Momentum 3 headphones.
Bass on the Razer headset was punchy with out being overpowering, which I appreciated whereas listening to Rhys Fulber’s Collapsing Empires album for the primary time. It was additionally nice in video games, though the corporate’s Synapse software program nudges you to pick THX Spatial Audio by default. That is positive for video games, however makes music sound hole and crunchy. I really feel like for long-term use I would in all probability depart Spatial Audio off as a result of it did not present sufficient of an in-game profit for me to wish to cope with remembering to toggle it on and off. I additionally put the headset’s “Hybrid Energetic Noise Cancellation” to the check throughout a stroll round my city neighborhood, whereas additionally taking a piece name. The headset does a superb job blocking out issues like engine and machine noise, which helps within the enjoyment of music and in with the ability to hear folks on a name in considerably noisy environments. It additionally reduce wind noise, however did not mute the blowing sounds utterly to my ears — the mics appeared to do a greater job there, blocking it from the ears of the opposite folks on my calls.
General I’d say noise canceling right here is kind of good, about on par with my Sennheiser Momentum 3 headphones. I haven’t got a present or current set of high-end Sony or Bose headphones available to make direct comparisons there, however I’ve owned noise-canceling Sony headphones up to now and I really feel like they did a barely higher job blocking exterior noises. However except you’ve got used among the greatest noise-canceling cans within the enterprise, you have to be proud of the sound-subduing skills of the Barracuda Execs.
For individuals who prefer to tweak their audio, there’s an equalizer, plus toggles and sliders for including bass, normalizing sound and prioritizing voice readability within the firm’s Synapse software program. However in my time testing, I discovered the default settings sounded greatest.
Microphones on the Razer Barracuda Professional
Whereas the built-in mics could flip off some avid gamers in search of the absolute best replica of your voice, I discovered the pair of beamforming noise-canceling mics to be excellent, although not glorious. In calls, video chats and video games, my colleagues and pals stated I sounded good or had no complaints. And whereas outdoor the headset did a superb job of minimizing wind noise that I may clearly hear on my finish with my very own ears.
The mics additionally made some quite loud building noise occurring throughout the road behind my desk principally disappear in my check recording, though the clicks and thocks from my mechanical keyboard and its Holy Panda X switches have been very muted however nonetheless considerably audible on the default settings. Digging into the Settings in Synapse, I observed there was additionally a Excessive setting for the mic’s noise canceling, which reduce the sound of the switches out utterly however left my voice sounding fairly compressed. I feel I would reside with a bit keyboard noise for higher total mic constancy, nevertheless it’s good to have choices.
Talking of choices, Synapse additionally offers you a separate equalizer for the mic, in addition to 5 presets and another toggles and sliders. Once more I assumed the default settings have been positive. Briefly, for most individuals, the mics on the Barracuda professional can be positive, whether or not you are gaming or calling or chatting. However in order for you the most effective sound pickup doable it is best to go for a devoted desktop microphone.
Battery Lifetime of the Razer Barracuda Professional
Razer charges the battery lifetime of the Barracuda Professional at 40 hours. That is not unparalleled, however nonetheless fairly good. I did not have sufficient time with the headset to run it down a number of instances. However after 20 hours of heavy blended use over two days, largely with noise canceling on, the battery meter dropped simply 24%. So both Razer’s longevity score is kind of conservative, or the meter in Synapse wants a cost cycle or two earlier than it is significantly correct.
Backside Line
By way of audio, the Razer Barracuda Professional is an excellent headset for its $250 value, with good built-in mics and energetic noise canceling — though Sony and Bose do that higher. It is also very snug (although that may differ by head dimension) for long-term carrying and battery life appeared nice in my restricted time testing. Razer’s 40-hour score could also be fairly conservative. And the included inflexible zip-up carrying case is healthier than I’ve seen with some headphones that value lots of extra.
However for a tool from Razer, the general design is boring and the plastic housing attracts smudges. I’d like to see some metallic used right here, particularly at this value. However the one metallic used within the headset’s shell is the band. That is disappointing as a result of whereas the headset feels stable, a lot of the competitors on this multi-device headset class (save for the Epos H3Pro) seems and feels extra premium.Â
I do like that Razer has minimized its snake brand by making it black on the black earcups. However for a corporation that I typically really feel ought to tone down its design, Razer may have finished extra to make the Barracuda Professional feel and appear thrilling — or a minimum of premium. The headset feels extra like a Bose or Sony headset, which can be positive for some, however could not attraction to the avid gamers inclined to go for this model over these longer-lived rivals.
For those who’re in search of a do-it-all headset for touring, workplace work and gaming, the Barracuda Professional is an efficient choice, significantly in case you discover sound and luxury most vital and do not wish to spend greater than $250. However severe avid gamers might want one thing edgier with a retractable or detachable mic, and frequent vacationers will discover higher noise canceling with the most effective that Sony has to supply on that entrance.
