Quick outline
- What I bought and why
- Setup on my PC
- Sound in games and music
- Mic test with real examples
- Comfort and build
- What bugged me
- Who it fits
- A small tip
If you’d rather skim, jump to this concise quick outline I keep updated.
Why I grabbed it
I wanted a simple, wired headset for my gaming PC. Nothing fancy. Just clear sound, a good mic, and comfort for long nights. I picked up the Razer BlackShark V2 X for $49 at a Target run last fall. Green box. Big cups. Old-school 3.5 mm jack. I tossed it in my cart with oat milk and batteries. You know how that goes.
A quick browse through a compatibility thread on TabletPCBuzz assured me it would play nicely with my aging Realtek audio chipset, which sealed the deal.
If you want to see the clean web version of this breakdown, I also posted it on TabletPCBuzz right here.
Setup took me two minutes
I plugged the 3.5 mm cable into the front jack on my PC case. Windows saw it right away. I also tried it on my PS5 controller and my Switch, which worked fine. On PC, I installed Razer’s little 7.1 app so I could get virtual surround. It’s free with a code in the box. No strange drivers. No weird pop-ups. I like that.
Small note: the mic isn’t detachable. Not a deal breaker for me, but worth saying.
How it sounds when you play
Short answer: fun and focused. Footsteps pop. Voices are easy to hear.
- Valorant: On Ascent, I could track a slow walk coming up Tree to A Site. The “left-right” placement felt tight. Not super wide, but clean.
- Apex Legends: I heard a zipline snap behind me in Fragment and turned in time. Gunfire has punch without that muddy boom.
- CS2: On Mirage, I picked out a reload sound near Cat even with comms going. That saved me a round. Well, our Jett helped too.
Music is decent. Pop and hip-hop sound lively. The low end hits, but it doesn’t crush everything. Rock can feel a bit flat when the mix gets crowded, but it’s still easy to enjoy. I looped Olivia Rodrigo while making dinner and didn’t feel the urge to switch.
If you want a huge, airy soundstage like open-back cans, this isn’t that. It’s more “close and clear.” Great for games where detail matters. The lab numbers back this up; RTINGS’ measurements show a balanced profile with a gentle bass lift that matches what I’m hearing.
For a totally different kind of audio test, I recently jumped into the stylish action of Stellar Blade on console—my honest thoughts are over here.
Mic check — Discord didn’t roast me
I run weekly scrims in Discord, and I sit by a clicky keyboard. My friends said my voice was clear and a little warm. It cuts through chat without that sharp hiss on “s” sounds. But it does pick up hard key presses if I get excited. I can’t lie. I do get excited.
I tried it on three calls:
- Morning Zoom stand-up (work): No one asked me to repeat myself. That’s my whole bar.
- Discord comp night: Teammates heard me count numbers clean: “one-two-three-go.” No “shh” fizz.
- Late-night chat with a fan on: The mic pulled in a bit of fan noise. Not wild, but there.
The mute switch on the left cup is handy. It’s a simple flick. I wish the red indicator light was bigger, but you can feel the switch, so it’s fine.
Speaking of chat apps, I sometimes swap from voice to text and fire off playful lines on WhatsApp. If you ever draw a blank on what to type, the curated examples at WhatsApp Sexts can spark ideas with ready-made flirty templates and explanations of why each one works, so your banter lands smoothly instead of sounding forced.
Comfort — light, even with glasses
It’s light on my head. I wear glasses, and the clamp didn’t crush my frames. The pads are soft and breathe okay. About two hours in, my ears got warm, but not sweaty. The top band has enough cushion that I forgot it was there while editing a clip in DaVinci Resolve. That’s a good sign.
The cups are tall, so they don’t sit on my lobes. Also good. The cable brushes my hoodie sometimes and makes a little rub sound if I move fast. It’s not a deal breaker, but I notice it.
Build stuff I noticed
- The mic arm bends and stays put. I set it a thumb’s length from my lips.
- The volume knob turns smooth and has light resistance, which I like.
- The cable isn’t detachable. If your cat loves cords, be warned.
- No RGB. I don’t need lights on my head anyway. My PC already looks like a tiny arcade.
What bugged me (and how I worked around it)
- Heat after long sessions: After three hours in Florida heat, my ears asked for a break. I take a water break and I’m good.
- Cable rub noise: If the cable hits the desk edge, you can hear it. I clipped it to my shirt using a cheap badge clip. Problem mostly gone.
- 7.1 app is Windows only: On Mac or console, it’s just stereo. Still fine, but the surround boost is PC-only.
- Mic picks up loud keys: I set Discord input sensitivity a hair higher and moved the mic slightly off-center. That helped.
Who should get it
- You play shooters on PC and want clear steps and clean voice.
- You need a wired headset that just works with a 3.5 mm jack.
- You’re on a budget but still care about comfort.
Who should skip it:
- You want a huge, open sound with tons of space.
- You need a detachable mic or replaceable cable.
- You hate any warmth on your ears during long sessions.
Real moments that sold me
- I clutched a 1v2 on Split because I heard a tiny jump sound near Heaven. I would’ve swung wrong without it.
- My manager on Zoom said, “Your audio is the least annoying today.” That’s… high praise?
- I took it on a weekend trip and plugged into my Switch for Stardew. Cozy sound. Zero setup stress.
A small tip
On PC, set Windows to 24-bit, 48 kHz, then turn on the 7.1 app and lower in-game master volume to about 70%. It keeps the game mix from getting harsh. Also, nudge the mic off to the corner of your mouth. Less breath noise, same clarity.
Side quest: if you ever haul your rig (or just your trusty BlackShark) to a LAN in London and end up staying around Camden, you might crave a bit of real-world social downtime once the matches wrap. I’ve found the classifieds hub Backpage Camden incredibly useful for quickly spotting late-night events, hang-out spots, and personal listings, letting you switch from in-game comms to in-person conversations without any fuss.
Final take
The BlackShark V2 X isn’t flashy, but it’s easy to live with. Clear game audio, a solid mic, and comfy pads. It’s not perfect. The cable and the heat show up after a while. But for the price I paid, it’s a trusty daily driver on my PC. And honestly, when I forget a headset is on my head? That’s a win.