SPECS:
http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-audio/razer-blackshark#product_specs
Driver Type Dynamic
Plug Type 3.5mm
Cord Length 1.3m
Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance 29 Ohms
Sensitivity 105 dB
WHERE TO BUY / COST:
http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-audio/razer-blackshark
OVERVIEW
Having gone through two pairs of Turtle Beach X12’s I began looking for a more durable gaming headset. I am pretty careful with my headphone, but inevitable a wire always comes loose, shorts, or otherwise damagers beyond the worth of my time to repair it. If you have taken a few gaming headphones apart you know how pesky those tiny wires can be to solder. After scouring the internet for a headphone with as many positive reviews as possible from multiple sources I ended up with the Razer Blackshark.
AESTHETICS
The Blackshark feels well-made with solid earcups, a strong cable, strain relief at the earcup, and a comfortable stitched headband. The earcups swivel although not flat making them mold easily to a multitude of head shapes. The earpads are pleather and very cushy and soft. Inside each earcup is a layer of green cloth to help filter out unwanted debris. Generally the looks are above average.
Caveat one is that the headband is tight right out of the box, but placing them onto a full-sized tissue box when not in use loosens headphones up in a few weeks so the tightness is not cause for alarm. I actually just flexed the headband flat a few times which alleviates the extra clamping pressure. The second warning I have is the earcups are small even for my small ears. Due to the small size it is important to properly adjust the headband length to allow the entire ear inside the earcup. Otherwise expect discomfort, possible leaking sound, and weak bass response due to a lack of a proper seal.
What would I change? I would add real leather to the earcups and headband because it is more durable and high-end. Keeping the pleather pads moist with some lotion every few months will keep them from eroding quickly. The second aspect of the Blackshark I would change is the size of the earcups. I would add 2cm horizontally and 3cm vertically to give more people room to fit their ears into the headphone. This would be the most significant change as I feel it is the one thing keeping the Blackshark from being accessible to more people.
ACOUSTICS
The Blackshark is a gaming headset so my focus will be on gaming performance, but I did run them through some music testing. Both amped and unamped tested was conducted to give a broader sense of the headphone’s capabilities.
When I test gaming headsets I look a set of features.
- Sound Signature ( Bassy, mid-centric, V-Shaped, or Trebly )
- Soundstage
- Mic performance
These features allow me to get an idea of how competent a headphone will be during intense gaming sessions. I used Treyarch’s most recent release, Call of Duty: Black Ops III. I noticed that the Blackshark is bassy and lacking good treble extension. The midrange is muddy although not so much so that it is unpleasant. I spent some time trying to optimize the sound signature with the built-in EQ on Black Ops III, but nothing made them sound clearer in the midrange or extended the treble enough to compensate for the overall sound signature. Coming from the Turtle Beach X12 the Blackshark is definitely a more laid back and bassy headset.
Scale Defined
1 = Horrid and not recommended under any circumstance
2 = Poor and seeming to lack any desirable characteristics
3 = Decent, but needs more attention
4 = Good and recommend for casual gaming
5 = Excellent and highly recommended
Sound Signature ( 3/5 )
Immediately the Blackshark sounds bassy, muddy in the midrange, and the lack of treble extension feels like a radical absence. This is a laidback headphone which makes it incredibly easy to listen for hours. At moderate listening levels gunshots that would otherwise be piercing are tame, but at the same time loud and direct. Ambiance is heard clearly, but because of the laid-back nature the volume has to be turned up beyond comfort to enjoy the subtleties of the environment. Birds, wind blowing through brush, and even the shuffle of footsteps lack the treble and loudness to be considered true gaming quality.
The bass and midrange are the sweet spots for the Blackshark during gaming. The bass is not as sloppy as I was expecting. The rumble of explosions, jets flying by, and other bassy game sounds will sound enjoyable. Although the midrange is muddy it is not so much so to be unbearable. It is more of a result of being so laidback and easy on the ears that the midrange appears subdued. Voices, midrange instruments, and general game sounds like surface noise all sound good and will be enjoyable to the casual gamer. Pro gamers may want to look elsewhere to extract the absolute last ort of sound from every moment because the Blackshark does suffer from an imbalance in its sound signature.
Soundstage ( 3/5 )
Being a closed headphone I did not expect it to have a huge soundstage. Most open or semi-open headphones have wider soundstages because the driver does not suffer from damping pressure inside the earcups and open headphones tend to reproduce treble more accurately. The Blackshark has a compact soundstage, but because it isolates so well it allows for more articulate sound recognition. It simply creates a quieter environment than open headphones. If you must hear every footstep and rustle of leaves look elsewhere, but if you are looking for a bassier headset the Blackshark is for you.
Mic Performance ( 4/5 )
The mic on the Blackshark is excellent and with the ability to adjust the boom mic’s position to just about any reasonable location it is easy to find the perfect spot. The mic is extremely sensitive, but my comrades on the other end, especially in party chat, never complain that it is too loud or direct. If you record a message and play it back it is apparent that the mic is extremely receptive and sensitive. The mic does not give any voice feedback so when you talk you will not hear how loud you are speaking. This can be annoying for people around you or even in the other room. If you are constantly being told to not talk so loudly the Blackshark is probably not a good option for you.
The mic does come with a very nice pop filter and has angular adjustments making it straightforward in finding a quieter position. I would definitely like to see Razer add mic feedback so the user can hear how loudly they are speaking. A dew dB less sensitivity would be wonderful too!
MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Unamped the Blacksheek is bassy, clear, and rolled off in the treble. Due it its laid back nature I found it very comfortable to listen to, but at higher volumes the bass and sub-bass emphasis can be too abrupt and I found them tiring at high volumes. Using Sade’s Smooth Operator the lack of soundstage and treble is obvious. The reverb and drumhead snap is lacking and all detail in the treble is much too attenuated to be considered audiophile grade. If you enjoy sub-bass emphasis and loud music the Blacksheek is a decent option, but for general listening I found them too bassy to be enjoyable.
Amped the Blacksheep extends the treble clarity and the soundstage opens up. The mid-bass emphasis is prevalent and still overwhelms the sound signature. Listening to Maroon 5’s Can’t Stop delivers a much too bassy experience. The obvious increase in treble, midrange, and soundstage are appreciated, but the mid-bass is just too dominant. If you are a basshead you might enjoy this type of sound signature, but those of us demanding more balance will find the Blackshark disappointing.
CONCLUSION
For a headphone under $150 the Razer Blackshark is constructed amazingly well which is the primary reason I purchased it. Due to the lack of soundstage and treble it is not the ideal headphone for any experience. Music is too bassy and gaming is too flat and sterile to amaze. If audio quality is what you are looking for I would shy away from the Blackshark, but if you want a bassy gaming headset that feels and behaves durably headset then this is for you.
A FEW TRACKS THAT SOUND GREAT WITH THE BLACKSHARK
Artist: Keb’ Mo’
Album: Suitcase
Track: Life Is Beautiful
Artist: Muddy Waters
Album: Folk Singer
Track: Good Morning Little School Girl
Artist: The Doobie Brothers
Album: The Very Best of the Doobie Brothers (Remastered)
Track: Ordinary Man
Headphone Reviews by NA Blur 