Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed

Verdict

This cheaper spin on the BlackShark V2 Pro proves that price cuts don’t have to mean a cut in audio quality. The Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed makes compromises in the looks department, but sacrifices little in the crispness of its microphone, quality of its speakers, or comfort. This is a great value-for-money headset, even if build quality has taken a hit.

Introduction

The Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed has been made with one thought clearly in mind: to be a more affordable alternative to Razer’s very impressive BlackShark V2 Pro (2023). It clears that bar with room to spare.

At $129.99 / £129.99, it’s a good chunk cheaper than the V2 Pro, but manages to hit that price point without dropping any key features. Its crisp microphone, wide speakers, improved connectivity and comfort make this a very well-performing headset. Cutbacks have instead been made to its finish and build quality, but even they’re not so egregious that they dampen its overall design. 

Design and features

• Extra wired connectivity
• Generous battery life
• Non-detachable microphone

The BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed shares the same design as the BlackShark V2 Pro, albeit with a few noticeable but by no means deal-breaking cutbacks in quality. The ear cups and headband are encased in leatherette rather than a more breathable mesh fabric, the steel spindles that connect the two don’t move quite as smoothly, and the stitching around the headband is less robust. 

Leatherette doesn’t have a reputation for being the most durable material and tends to perish or split over time with continuous use, and the ear cups don’t block outside noise quite as successfully as the V2 Pro. The microphone also isn’t detachable, and the whole unit is made from a cheaper, lighter plastic. It’s something Razer rather amusingly makes out to be a big plus, but at only 40g lighter than the V2 Pro, it’s a largely negligible difference.

But these are minor quibbles that you probably wouldn’t notice unless comparing the V2 HyperSpeed side by side with its pricier sibling. The headset sits firmly around my noggin without pinching or feeling overly tight, and the steel sliders are stronger than their spindly design might suggest (you’d have to deliberately apply a lot of pressure to snap them). It even has one bonus feature of its own: unlike the V2 Pro, it can be used over a wired connection thanks to the USB-C charging port that’s able to process audio. It’s a handy failsafe and would even allow you to use them with an Xbox console (if you buy a separate USB-to-audio-jack adapter).

Of course, it’s intended to be used wirelessly and can connect over Bluetooth or using a 2.4Ghz wireless dongle. There’s a handy button for changing connection sources on the right ear cup, as well as a mute-mic button on the left, alongside a newly textured volume wheel.

Battery life, too, is as good as the V2 Pro. Razer advertises 70 hours of juice and that seems accurate from my testing. It went days before dropping below 50% charge, and only took a few hours to go back up to full capacity.

Audio and microphone

• Fabulously clear microphone
• Razer’s 50mm speaker driver
• Straightforward graphic EQ

Like the BlackShark V2 Pro, the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed’s big selling point is its standout microphone. A 9.9mm condenser mic running a 32kHz sampling rate, it’s crisper than the vast majority of mics at this price point, and does a superb job of picking up balanced tones while cutting out background noise. You could happily stream on this mic, and your friends will thank you for the clarity of your voice.

The microphone has, however, lost the internal pop filter that was included in the V2 Pro. It’s not a big deal, and the included black puffball that sticks firmly on the mic’s head does a good job of reducing those pesky popping sounds.

Inside the cans, meanwhile, are the same TriForce 50mm drivers as used in the V2 Pro. They sound superb. Less bassy than many headsets, the mids ring clear, and even those moments in which music, dialogue and the usual glut of gaming sound effects are layered on top of each other rarely sound muddy. They’re also nicely broad for closed-back ear cups and – as you’d expect from any Razer product – latency was no issue at all.

Out of the box, I thought the sound coming out of the cans was a tad hollow, but a quick EQ adjustment to boost the low frequencies had them singing as splendidly as my V2 Pro. The V2 HyperSpeed features four custom sound profiles that can be adjusted, saved and switched between on the fly, but is missing the V2 Pro’s presets that were specially tuned for several popular FPS games. But really, that’s a tiny omission.

EQ adjustments can be made in the Razer Synapse app, which is serviceable if austere. It’s intuitive and features a very simple graphic equalizer, as well as a handy option to automatically switch to a pre-set audio profile when booting up a specific game.

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