RAZER BARRACUDA DRIVERS
RAZER BARRACUDA UPDATE
RAZER BARRACUDA PRO

Razer Synapse provides some key tools for the Barracuda Pro headphones. But the memory foam in the ear cups and headband is pitifully low-density, not providing much comfort nor confidence in their longevity. The clamping force does a good job keeping them held in place, and the yolks have enough movement in them to get a good angle around the ears. That battery may be part of the reason these headphones are on the heavy side at 340 grams. Once the battery gets to around 20%, the headphones say “low battery” every three minutes, which is hugely obnoxious, especially given that 20% battery should amount to another 8 hours of battery life. I had it getting low while I was in a meeting and couldn’t swap out to charge with the one USB-C connection on my laptop because then I wouldn’t have an audio connection, and Bluetooth is just never reliable enough as a backup. When the battery gets low, the lack of a wired connection can put you in a pickle. The headphones offer a commendable 40-hour battery life, outdoing the many headphones that tend to stick around 20 hours. Unfortunately, it’s THX Spatial Audio, which is only accessible through Razer’s own software on PC – and also requires a user login. Useful as it may be, Razer’s SmartSwitch feature doesn’t stack up to the simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity available on a great many SteelSeries headsets, like the new Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and earlier Arctis 9.Ĭonsidering the price, it’s no surprise Razer is also offering some blend of spatial audio support with the headphones.

RAZER BARRACUDA UPDATE

The latest firmware update fixed the switching issue, though not the speed, but that also requires using Razer’s Synapse software. With the initial firmware, the SmartSwitch didn’t always work for switching back to HyperSpeed Wireless, and there’s a slight delay when it does work. The button also cycles through ambient sound modes. There’s a button on the right earcup, called the SmartSwitch button, which can switch between Bluetooth and HyperSpeed Wireless with a double tap. The mics can also offer pass-through mode, which is handy for hearing surroundings without removing the headphones.

RAZER BARRACUDA DRIVERS

Compared to the $99 Barracuda X (recently updated) and $159 Barracuda, the Pro’s key differences are “Bio-Cellulose” 50mm speaker drivers and Hybrid Active Noise Canceling, the latter of which actually puts it into interesting competition with the best of the noise canceling headphone market, as it undercuts two of the most popular models there in price. The headset supports Bluetooth 5.2 in addition to a dedicated HyperSpeed Wireless connection using an L-shaped USB-C dongle that’s compatible with PC, PlayStation, and some mobile devices (though my experience was shaky on a Samsung Galaxy S20). Instead, the Barracuda Pro uses dual beamforming microphones that aim to replicate the quality of a boom mic, but largely fail to do so (more on that later).

One thing the headphones ditch in their aim to fit as a lifestyle headset is the boom mic – typically a tried-and-true staple on most gaming headsets. In fact, almost every inch of the headset is pitch black save for the little green indicator on the mic mute switch. It comes with a more subdued design with no splashy colors or gaudy flourishes. The Razer Barracuda Pro doesn’t look much like the wireless gaming headsets it competes with, and that’s largely because Razer positions it as a dual-role headset: gaming and lifestyle. Razer Barracuda Pro – Design and Features

Razer barracuda