HARDWARE REVIEW

Razer Electra V2 Analog Gaming Headset Review

by Luke Walsh, March 20th, 2018

The Razer Electra V2 is a headset aimed at the more budgeted gamer who is looking for something that is decent while also being fairly priced. Quite a multi-functional headset the Electra V2 works with PC, PS4 and mobile devices while being able to replicate 7.1 with virtual surround sound.

Budget and Razer are normally quite wide apart, the word budget instils “cheap” and normally means subpar build quality and sound. Razer like to use good materials and internals which usually means more of a premium. It’s good to see though they are trying to drop the price on some of the devices so more gamers can get their hands on gaming gear. You might not get the greatest headset, but for the price, it could be worth a trade-off or two, more so if you already have a Razer set up in the works.

In terms of design, the Electra could pass for a more expensive headset with the mixture of metal and plastic being a fairly sturdy piece of kit. It’s a little more creaky than other headsets made of plastic but you have to keep remembering that price of £54.99 which I can see as an easy reason for it not to be exactly the same that costs £100+.

What it does have which I am always a fan of is similar to SteelSeries Ski-band style headset with a headband that connects to four wires attached near the earcups. These designs I believe are the best as you don’t have to fiddle with the notches to get an okay fit. With the suspension style band, you put it on your head and it moulds to your shape with no fuss.

With the microphone, it does not retract like a lot of other headsets and this is usually a sign of cost saving. It connects to the left ear cup via a jack connection but when connected, fits nicely. Also on the ear cup is the microphone button which turns it on and off as well as the volume rocker to adjust the volume. The volume controls are a little basic only affecting the incoming audio to the headset and could be a little more responsive as a button.

The headset comes with two different input options, 3.5mm jack and a USB. Apart from being able to light up the USB version of the headset the obvious differences are there. The jack can connect up to pretty much anything including your Xbox One, Switch and mobile phone. On the USB version, you’ll be able to connect to a PS4, Mac or PC. Both are able to produce virtual surround sound, have the same 40mm drivers and frequency response. It’s down to a preference and if want to pay an extra £10 for the USB option.

When wearing the device, it is really light for the way it looks as it gives off a heavier appearance from its bulkiness. The is partly down to it be mainly built from plastic and having things like the microphone external instead of built into the cup. In terms of the band, I’d have to say it is not as nice as the ones found on the Arctis range from SteelSeries which are also adjustable. The Electra will mould to your head but the tightness and positioning will really depend on your actual head rather than the headset itself.

Each earpiece has leatherette cups and are comfortable for a few hours but are not as breathable as some of the other Razer headsets. These would be fine to play for your own gaming sessions but long term they can start to fill a little restrictive. Mainly this comes down to the slight tightness I felt but not painful. If you could adjust the headset band, this would most likely allow for a better fit around your ears and alleviated the problem I had.

Comfort is one thing but performance is another and the Electra V2 works as I’d expect for a device in this price band. In Battlefield 1 I could hear enemies around me and the fire of guns and explosions. Overwatch has a similar sound with footsteps being audible and other noises being clear. When playing Monster Hunter with friends on PS4, everything from the game was clear and voices from friends were fine but together there was little unbalance between in-game audio and voice. The headset just lacked the over finesse compared to other headsets.

Unlike other Razer peripherals that use the Synapse software, Electra V2 does not because it uses a 3.5mm jack. To get the 7.1 surround sound you can use the Razer Surround software which looks to mimic the sound on any stereo device. Although it adds some depth to the audio it doesn’t make it feel the same as actual 5.1 or 7.1 surround-sound headsets. If you are looking for a headset with proper surround sound, you might as well get the real thing that looks to imitate it.

If you wanted, the Electra V2 being a jack can connect up to your mobile phone provided you still have a 3.5mm jack on your phone. So on this note, you could listen to music with it and it will be passable. The headset design does not really go well for out the house because it does have that slight “gamer” look, plus being fairly large. In terms of the balance similar to video games, things feel slightly disconnected, fine in theory and completely listenable but just without any real punch. Between voice and sounds, the V2 seems to favour the music which can make the vocals seem a little muddy.

Overall when taking the price as a factor the Razer Electra V2 is a fairly good headset for gaming and does follow the trend as a decent looking headset even if a little bulky. It’s a shame the audio quality does not stand up higher than expected with overall audio lacking that brilliance and finesse.

For those looking for a new headset on quite a tight budget but still want something from a known brand, the Electra V2 is worth taking a look. It might not be the best choice in the price range but at the £50 price point, you will see trade-offs whether it sound, build or features.