The Razer Barracuda V2 Pro packs some bite with its outstanding sound and comfortable fit — but is it worth $199?

Razer knows how to make a good gaming headset, and it’s done it again with the Barracuda V2 Pro. Designed for PC, console and mobile gamers, the Barracuda V2 Pro boasts good ANC packed into a practical and comfortable design. Its immersive and detailed in-game sound quality is its biggest selling point, as is the extensive customization via desktop and mobile apps.

But the Barracuda V2 Pro enters a crowded market, and it takes a lot to stand out. Unfortunately, its mic performance is middling and the build quality doesn’t feel as premium as its $199 price tag. But if all you care about is sound and money is no object to you, it’s hard to fault the Barracuda V2 Pro.

To find out if this is the best gaming headset for you, read my full Razer Barracuda V2 Pro review.

Razer Barracuda V2 Pro review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A mid-range gaming headset for PC and consoles
• Who is it for? Gamers who need a headset with ANC
• How much does it cost? $199 / £199
• What do we like? The comfortable and practical design, strong ANC, detailed in-game sound, and dual companion apps
• What don’t we like? The middling mic performance and subpar build quality

Razer Barracuda V2 Pro review: Specs

Razer Barracuda V2 Pro review: The ups

From its practical and comfortable design, to its good ANC and detailed in-game sound, the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro is a competent gaming headset.

Low-key and practical design

The Razer Barracuda V2 Pro is an unassuming, low-key headset as there’s nothing flashy about its design — which is great news for people who prefer their gadgets free of RGB lighting. It looks like any other set of cans: all black with minimal branding, fit for wearing when you’re out and about, too. I personally prefer the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro’s ($249) aviation-style design, but it certainly draws attention to itself (which the Barracuda V2 Pro doesn’t).

I love the Barracuda V2 Pro’s practicality. Its earcups fold down to make it easy to carry and travel with, and I was able to fit the headset in my already full-to-the-brim backpack. What I love most about the Barracuda V2 Pro’s design is its dongle slot, located underneath the magnetic faceplate on the left earcup.

As someone who tests many, many keyboards, mice and other gaming peripherals, I often find myself complaining about the lack of dongle storage, as many brands don’t offer replacements if you lose the original. Thankfully, the dedicated dongle slot on the Barracuda V2 Pro means you don’t have to worry about losing the 2.4GHz receiver… unless you’re forgetful; I can’t help you there.

Extremely comfortable

I’ve always stood by the belief that there’s no point in spending any amount of money on a gaming headset if said headset makes your ears or head hurt. Well, the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro is an extremely comfortable set of cans, I can tell you that for nothing! The Barracuda V2 Pro utilizes plush leatherette memory foam cushions as well as a soft headband, both of which make the headset perfect for all-day wear or long gaming sessions.

The Barracuda V2 Pro isn’t very heavy to wear for extended periods of time either, weighing just 10.05 ounces. It feels weightless, really, and is lighter than the competition, like the Logitech G Pro X3 Lightspeed ($249, 12.5 ounces), HyperX Cloud III S Wireless ($179, 12.05 ounces), the Fractal Design Scape ($199, 12oz) and the Asus ROG Delta II ($229, 11.21 ounces). I wore the Barracuda V2 Pro for six straight hours and didn’t feel any discomfort whatsoever.

Simultaneous multipoint connectivity

I think multipoint connectivity is great, as it enables you to swap between two (or more) sources as and when needed. But you know what’s even better? Simultaneous multipoint, like on the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro. Basically, for instance, if you have the headset connected to your console over 2.4GHz and connected to your phone over Bluetooth, you can listen to both at the same time. No need to pause your game when you get a call, or press a button to switch to Bluetooth when you want to watch YouTube Shorts between gaming sessions.

Audio mixing, surprisingly, isn’t a common feature on gaming headsets, as you won’t find it on the likes of the Logitech G Pro X3 Lightspeed or the Fractal Design Scape — but it’s there on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 ($199). It’s so convenient, and I think every manufacturer should start implementing it.

Detailed in-game sound

The Razer Barracuda V2 Pro costs nearly $200, and for that price, you’re getting outstanding and immersive in-game sound. The cans are fitted with 40mm drivers — Razer’s proprietary TriForce Bio-Cellulose drivers, if you want to get technical. According to Razer, these keep audio distortion-free and deliver rich mids, deep bass and crystal clear highs. I can confirm that that is, in fact, true. I tested the headset by playing a few of my favorite games on the PS5 Slim.

In Ghost of Yotei, the clash of katanas cut cleanly through the mix as the treble remained crisp and sharp. Every parry, deflection and finishing blow had a satisfying edge. I also liked how the swish of incoming attacks helped make the swordplay feel fast and reactive. Exploring Ezo felt immersive, too, as the higher frequencies brought out subtle environmental details, like rustling of leaves and the hiss of the wind sweeping across the open landscapes.

To test the Barracuda V2 Pro’s spacious soundstage, I played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and I was very impressed with how the cans handled the game’s orchestral score and atmospheric effects. The power ballads didn’t overwhelm the combat sounds or dialogue, maintaining good separation throughout. Timing your parries in Expedition 33 has you relying on visual as well as audio cues, and even with the background music playing loudly, I was able to clearly hear said cues.

If you’re gaming on PC, you get access to THX Spatial Audio+ 7.1.4 which essentially creates a three-dimensional soundstage, and it can give you a competitive advantage in games like Counter-Strike 2. When I tried it, footsteps, reloads and distant gunfire felt separated rather than compressed into a flat mix. Everything sounded like it was coming from above or around me, and I was able to pinpoint enemy positions before engaging, which helped me sneak up on other players.

The Barracuda V2 Pro really doesn’t give you much to complain about in the area that matters most for a gaming headset.

Good ANC performance

One of the features that sets the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro apart from the competition is the presence of active noise cancelation (ANC). You won’t find it on many gaming headsets in this price range — it’s absent from the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2, the Logitech G Pro X3 Lightspeed and the Fractal Design Scape.

ANC on the Barracuda V2 Pro is fairly strong — though it doesn’t block out the world like the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro does. Still, it’s great. Indoors, my partner had to tap on my shoulder to get my attention, and I couldn’t hear the kettle boiling when I was standing right next to it either. Outdoors, the headset did well to block out idle chatter in the store and on the bus — although I could still hear the bus’ rattling, which the Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Headset ($229) completely cut out. Still good, though!

Given that the Barracuda V2 Pro is advertised as the perfect gaming headset for mobile gaming, even on the move, I’m pleased it boasts good ANC performance to keep you locked in.

Extensive customization

There are two ways of customizing the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro: either via Synapse on Windows, or the Razer Audio app on mobile. Razer Synapse offers extensive customization, enabling you to adjust the 10-band equalizer, toggle and adjust THX Spatial Audio, adjust the mic’s EQ, and apply sound profiles to all the games on your PC. The software sports a clean interface with everything being easy to understand.

Then you’ve got Razer Audio — which I tested on my Google Pixel 10 Pro XL — for on-the-fly customization. The app is user-friendly and gives you quick access to EQ presets and adjustments, ANC level, and mic monitoring. It’s basically a condensed version of Synapse and the only feature you miss out on is THX Spatial Audio, which works only on Windows anyway.

Many headsets lock you out of customization if you don’t have a Windows laptop to hand, like the HyperX Cloud III S Wireless or the Asus ROG Delta II. It’s a nice touch on Razer’s behalf to add mobile app support for the Barracuda V2 Pro — although the Fractal Design Scape uses a web-based app, which makes it even more versatile.

Razer Barracuda V2 Pro review: The downs

The Razer Barracuda V2 Pro isn’t perfect as its mic performance isn’t the strongest, and the build quality doesn’t match the premium price tag.

Middling mic performance

The Razer Barracuda V2 Pro’s mic performance isn’t anything to write home about. The headset is fitted with dual beamforming mics, and it comes with a detachable boom mic, too. The beamforming mics sound… fine, and are good to have if you’re gaming on the train and don’t want to draw much attention to yourself. When I tested them, my voice sounded flat and neutral but slightly tinny.

I’d recommend using the boom mic as it makes you sound better — but I don’t think you sound like you’re talking into a headset that costs $199. My voice sounded a little clipped, so I wouldn’t recommend using the Barracuda V2 Pro’s alone if you’re a streamer or content creator, though those you’re playing games with online should be able to hear and understand you just fine. If you want a headset with a crystal clear mic, the Logitech G Pro X3 Lightspeed utilizes a Blue Yeti microphone and boasts strong performance.

Build quality doesn’t feel as premium

My biggest issue with the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro is that it doesn’t feel premium — which would have been absolutely fine if the headset didn’t cost nearly $200. For the retail price of $199, the headset feels overly plasticky and lightweight at just 10.05 ounces.

My go-to headset is the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, which costs $50 more than the Barracuda V2 Pro — but the difference in build quality feels night and day. The slightly pricier Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Headset and Logitech G Pro X3 Lightspeed (both $229) feel so much better than the Barracuda V2 Pro. What gives, Razer?

Expensive

This is probably a pre-purchase consideration rather than an outright dealbreaker: the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro doesn’t come cheap. This headset retails for $199 / £199. Now, this isn’t outrageously expensive like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite ($599), but it’s a crowded market the Barracuda V2 Pro enters. It faces fierce competition from the likes of the Fractal Design Scape ($199) and the HyperX Cloud III S Wireless ($179).

You’ve also got heavy-hitters like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 ($129) and the Asus ROG Pelta ($129) offering excellent performance at much lower prices — so does it still make sense to buy the Barracuda V2 Pro? Well, you’re getting active noise cancelation, extensive customization, and one of the most comfortable fits around.

Razer Barracuda V2 Pro review: Verdict

The Razer Barracuda V2 Pro makes quite a splash, delivering immersive and detailed in-game audio, strong ANC indoors and outdoors, and exceptional comfort in a practical design. Its wide and spacious soundstage steals the show, whether you’re exploring vast grasslands or trying to sneak up on opponents. Razer’s desktop and mobile apps offer extensive customization, too.

However, the Barracuda V2 Pro isn’t quite perfect. Though it costs $199, its plasticky build quality doesn’t feel premium enough for the price. Mic performance is also merely adequate. Still, if comfort, ANC and immersive sound are your priorities, the Barracuda V2 Pro is easy to recommend, and true to its name, it’s got some bite.