We were greatly impressed by the Razer BlackShark V2. The $100 wired gaming headset offered a comfortable fit, excellent sound quality, a fantastic mic, and accurate simulated surround sound. Razer now offers a wireless version in the BlackShark V2 Pro. It looks, feels, and sounds just as good as, if not a little better than, the wired BlackShark V2, just without the cables. However, at $179.99, it’s nearly twice as expensive as the BlackShark V2, and faces some stiff competition.

 Design

 The Blackshark V2 Pro looks and feels almost exactly like the Editors' Choice award-winning Blackshark V2, just without the wire. It has the same oblong matte black plastic earcups connected to the headband through Y-shaped struts made of stiff wire, with cylindrical mounts that let each cup slide freely up and down to adjust the fit. It has the same memory foam earpads wrapped in breathable fabric, and similarly memory-foam-covered padding on the underside of the headband with faux leather on the top side. This results in a light, comfortable fit that’s easy to wear for long periods of gaming.

 The headset even has the same prominent volume knob on the back side of the left earcup. The only visual clue that this is a different headset, besides the lack of a hardwired cable, is that the Razer logo on the back of the earcups is a glossy black instead of neon green. Besides the volume dial, all other controls and connections also sit on the left earcup, arranged along the bottom edge. They include a 3.5mm headset cable jack, another 3.5mm jack for the detachable boom microphone, a micro USB port for charging, a microphone mute button, and a power button. When powered on, a small indicator LED above the micro USB port glows unobtrusively.
 

 The boom mic is a foam-covered capsule mounted on a flexible black metal arm, and looks almost identical to the BlackShark V2’s microphone. Razer gave it an upgrade, however, with the company’s 9.9mm HyperClear Supercardiod microphone. The headset has a larger capsule than the mic on the BlackShark V2, and rejects even more outside noise, according to Razer.
 

 Connectivity and Software

 The BlackShark V2 Pro is a PC headset, with a USB shaped receiver that works with Windows 10 PCs. Using the receiver and Razer’s Synapse software enables THX Spatial Audio processing, the same simulated surround sound found on the Blackshark V2 (or available or any headset or headphones with Razer’s THX Spatial Audio app). The headset includes a fabric-wrapped 3.5mm cable for wired use, so it works with any current game console (or computer, or mobile device with a headphone jack). That said, the wired connection disables the THX surround sound and, obviously, removes any wireless convenience.

 The Razer Synapse software lets you perform the same sorts of audio tweaks as you can with the wired BlackShark V2 and the Razer Kraken Ultimate. It provides access to a 10-band EQ with multiple presets, along with separate, tweakable Bass Boost, Sound Normalization, and Voice Clarity features. The mic gets its own EQ, along with other enhancements like Volume Normalization, Vocal Clarity, and Ambient Noise Reduction. It also has an adjustable Voice Gate. Synapse also enables THX Spatial Audio, and lets you adjust the surround effect calibration by moving virtual speakers around your head. You can enable THX manually for each app and game you open that has sound, let the software automatically determine which mode to use, or disable THX Spatial Audio entirely. There are many customization options here, even if there are no RGB lights to program, like on the Kraken Ultimate.

 According to Razer, the BlackShark V2 Pro can last up to 24 hours on a charge, and has a range of nearly 40 feet.

 Microphone
 

The BlackShark V2 Pro’s microphone is excellent, just like the mic on the original BlackShark V2. Our test recordings sounded crisp and clean, without a hint of fuzziness or sibilance. Once again, Razer has made a fantastic microphone for a gaming headset, one that works well for streaming, recording, and podcasting. We recommend serious users consider getting a dedicated USB microphone for audio capture, since those mics almost always outpace headset mics' performances. Still, the V2 Pro's boom will do in a pinch.

 Performance
 

For music, the BlackShark V2 Pro offers potent power and solid bass response. The deep bass notes in our bass test track, The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” come through with solid thump, though it doesn’t quite reach low enough to make you think there’s a subwoofer strapped to your head. Even at maximum (and unsafe) volume levels, the headset doesn’t distort.

 The song “Roundabout” by Yes gives a better sense of the headset’s overall balance for music. The opening acoustic guitar plucks have strong resonance and get a bit of string texture, but there isn’t much finesse in the higher frequencies to bring the plinking out. When the track properly kicks in, the bass gets plenty of presence, while the vocals and drums manage to share the spotlight just behind it. The guitar strums can also be discerned, though again they lack the high frequency response to really make their own space in the mix. It’s a well-balanced sound that definitely leans more toward the lower frequencies, though the higher frequencies get just enough presence to not sound dull.

 As for games, Doom (2016) sounds loud and powerful on the BlackShark V2 Pro. The industrial soundtrack and explosions come through with plenty of force at higher volume levels, while other, higher frequency sound effects can be clearly discerned. The headset’s THX Spatial Audio provides a solid simulated surround sound experience, with very accurate left-right panning to help pinpoint the source of demonic growls and gunfire around you.

 Fortnite also sounds very good on the BlackShark V2 Pro, and the THX Spatial Audio adds a bit of a tactical advantage thanks to its accurate surround mixing. I could pick out the general direction distant gunfire and nearby thumping footsteps, keeping me aware of threats.
 

 A Capable Wireless Contender
 

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is an excellent wireless headset based on an excellent wired headset. It offers all of the benefits of the wired BlackShark V2, like strong audio performance, an incredibly clear mic, and THX Spatial Audio, plus wireless connectivity. Whether that wireless benefit is worth an extra $80 compared with the BlackShark V2 is up to you, but this is a very good performer.
 

 If you want wireless PC audio for a bit less, the Razer Nari Essential (an Editors' Choice for budget gaming headsets) offers wireless sound with THX Spatial Audio for just $100, but it’s bulkier, doesn’t sound quite as well-balanced, and lacks a wired connection option. If you don’t mind spending a bit more, the $200 JBL Quantum 800 (an Editors' Choice for premium gaming headsets) offers excellent sound, a clear microphone, simulated surround sound, active noise cancellation, Bluetooth connectivity, and programmable lighting.