Razer Barracuda Pro
MSRP $250.00
“The Barracuda Pro makes some unlucky sacrifices to create a discrete gaming headset, however it makes up for it with strong audio quality.”
Pros
- Discrete design
- Balanced audio
- Versatile connectivity
- Long battery-life
Cons
- High price
- Loose fit
- Weak microphone
Razer’s Barracuda Pro is a gaming headset that asks a very important query: What if being a gamer wasn’t completely embarrassing? As someone who enjoys games but not the loud “gamer” aesthetic that comes with it, I can’t stand most products and accessories marketed toward gamers. Ridiculous chairs, obnoxious RGB lights, gaudy headsets — it’s hard to play games without having some kind of loud statement piece in your own home.
Though Razer could be very much an instigator of that trend, the Barracuda Pro is aimed toward people like me. Slightly than making a futuristic headset with glowing green accents, Razer’s latest is as unassuming as a pair of Bose or Sony wireless headphones. It’s an try to fuse the precise qualities of a gaming headset right into a more lifestyle-friendly design. It’s an admirable pitch, though sometimes those two ideas are a little bit at odds with each other.
The Barracuda Pro is a solid option for players who desire a more multi-purpose gaming headset with a discrete look. It just comes with a couple of key trade-offs and quirks, including poor microphone quality and a high price tag.
Design and luxury
Perhaps crucial feature of the Barracuda Pro is that it looks like a superbly normal pair of headphones. It’s a solid black pair of cans with no glowing accents and minimal decals (the Razer logo appears on both sides, however it’s extremely subtle). My initial response when unboxing them was “thank God.” It’s simply nice to have an excellent gaming headset that I could wear out in public without drawing attention to myself.
It’s a snug fit, with oblong earcups which can be exceptionally soft. Though it’s a comparatively loose fit too, no less than on my head. If I nod my head forward, I notice that the scarf slides down the highest of my head relatively easily. By comparison, the Razer Kaira Pro is a tighter fit with firmer cups and it doesn’t wiggle around nearly as much. Just be wary in case you’re a headbanger.
The headphones include a compact carrying case too, which is a pleasant touch. It features a small compartment that holds its various dongles and wires. That presentation helps make the Barracuda Pro feel more like a premium product relatively than a high-end toy for gamers. It’s not something you’ll wish to haphazardly toss in your desk after you’re done wearing them.
Sound quality
At this point, Razer knows the way to create a gaming headset, so it’s no surprise that audio quality is a distinctiveness. During my tests, I discovered that the audio mix was fairly balanced across a spread of games because of the powerful bio-cellulose 50mm drivers. Most notable is its lower range, which allows it to provide thumping bass quite well. That’s key, since the Barracuda Pro isn’t only a gaming headset. With its lifestyle design, Razer is hoping you’ll use it for other purposes too, like music listening. That balanced default sound profile helps make it more practical as a jack-of-all-trades, even when it doesn’t excel in any specific category.
I’ve found that it does struggle a bit with mid-range tones. When playing Xenoblade Chronicles 3, which features chaotic battles crammed with clashing attack tones, I could feel the audio peaking a bit. That’s an extreme example (I’m not convinced Xenoblade’s battles sound good on any headset), but I did find it a little bit harsh to hearken to in that setting.
Luckily, you’ll be able to change the equalization using the Razer Audio app, which I’d recommend doing. The app also helps you to tweak mic noise cancellation, enable don’t disturb mode, and more. It’s a pleasant companion app, though I personally would have liked to see a couple of sound profile options on the headset itself to make some quick tweaks when the combination gets harsh.
One nice onboard customization option the Barracuda Pro does provide is hybrid noise cancellation. With the press of a button, I can easily toggle Lively Noise Cancellation on or off. I can even activate Ambient mode, allowing some outside noise if I need to pay attention to my surroundings — again, a useful addition for individuals who wish to use their headset for greater than just gaming. I can absolutely hear the difference between each mode as I cycle through the choices, with ANC cutting out a good amount of background noise. Nonetheless, some ambient noise does still make it through even with ANC on, so don’t expect a superbly isolated experience.
Your voice goes to sound prefer it’s coming out of an old landline telephone’s answering machine.
There may be one area where audio quality is sorely lacking. As a part of its sleek design, the Barracuda Pro doesn’t feature an attachable boom microphone like most gaming headsets. As a substitute, it opts for an in-line one, which creates a key decision for buyers. The dearth of a microphone dangling out in front helps it retain that lifestyle look, but at the associated fee of sound quality. Your voice goes to sound prefer it’s coming out of an old landline telephone’s answering machine. It’s a harsh digital quality that’s not exactly ideal for team communication. Consequently, the Barracuda Pro might be best fitted to solo players.
Connectivity
The Barracuda Pro has some neat tricks up its sleeve with regards to connectivity, though a notable blind spot too. Its most impressive feature is its Smartswitch dual wireless connection. That permits the headset to be connected to a tool via Bluetooth and connected to a different, at the identical time, via 2.4GHz. For instance, I connected my headset to my Steam Deck via Bluetooth, but concurrently connected to my PS5 because of the USB-C dongle that comes with the headset. With a fast double tap of a button, I could switch between each systems effortlessly.
The Barracuda Pro can hook up with a wide selection of devices out of the box.
I did run right into a slight problem with that setup after I unplugged the dongle from my PS5 while connected to it. After doing that, I discovered I used to be unable to get back to my Steam Deck audio unless I disconnected and reconnected. Similarly, I bumped into the identical issue after I by accident converted to 2.4GHz mode (without having the dongle plugged into anything) while connected to Bluetooth. I don’t think these are use cases many users will really run into, but there may be a little bit little bit of fuss to the method. Apart from that, the Smartswitch tech works quite well and makes it easy for me to reply a phone call while playing a game without taking my headset off.
Due to its hybrid approach, the Barracuda Pro can hook up with a wide selection of devices out of the box. I could get it connected to my Nintendo Switch, PS5, Steam Deck, and iPhone without struggle. Xbox is the odd one out, because the Series X doesn’t have native Bluetooth support nor a USB-C port (as a rule of thumb, I’m at all times against USB-C dongles, because the port isn’t common enough yet to be universal). That makes it feel a touch incomplete as an ideal gaming headset, even when there are workarounds.
Note that the Bluetooth option does include some latency issues. In my tests, I caught a noticeable audio lag when playing on Switch, because the sound of switching cycling mention options in games didn’t properly line up. For a lag-free connection, 2.4 GHz is a safer bet.
Battery life
Razer notes that the Barracuda Pro lasts about 40 hours, and that tracks with my tests. Naturally, there are variables in either direction, but I discovered I could get through an extended gaming session without having to fret about my headset dying on me. The headset auto-powers off when not in use too, which helps conserve some battery.
I did encounter two pain points with regards to battery. It’s only a touch disappointing that there’s no wired option for the Barracuda Pro. While it does include a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, you continue to must connect wirelessly irrespective of what. Way more annoying is the headset’s low battery indicator, which always interjects with a vocal warning — sometimes for hours on end as a consequence of how long the battery is. It’s the identical annoyance I’ve had with my Razer Kaira Pro and I’m shocked it carries over into this more “high-end” model.
If it feels like I’m nitpicking on a whole lot of these points, it’s for an excellent reason: These cost $250. At a better price point like that, I don’t just desire a headset to look the a part of a premium product. Just a few missing touches here and there add up, making it clear that Razer isn’t quite able to fight Bose or Sony as a life-style brand. It is a gaming headset at the start; it’s only one which you can wear outside without raising eyebrows if that you must.
Our take
The Razer Barracuda Pro is an excellent all-around headset for players who can’t stand the loud design of most gaming accessories. Its discreet design, long battery life, and balanced audio make it a robust option whether you must game at home or hearken to music on an airplane. Its hefty $250 price tag makes a few of its issues stick out greater than they might, though. Problems like its weak onboard microphone make me feel just like the high cost is more about maintaining the illusion of a gaming headset turned prestige lifestyle product.
Is there a greater alternative?
For a solid gaming headset with a low-key design, the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless is comparable in price and has a greater microphone. For a comparable lifestyle headset, take a look at the Jabra Elite 85H.
How long will it last?
The battery can last as long as 40 hours on a charge, which implies it’ll last any marathon gaming session. The built quality itself is solid and its carrying case should protect it from long-term damage.
Do you have to buy it?
Yes. In the event you just desire a less embarrassing gaming headset, it’s a superbly good option. Just be prepared for some quirks.
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