The Razer Barracuda X is the latest headset from Razer that comes with strong claims to be the one and only multi-platform gaming headset that casuals and enthusiasts alike will flock to. It is a plug and play wireless experience that supports the PC (desktop or laptops), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and even mobile devices. We at BunnyGaming were lucky enough to get a review unit and I managed to spend some time with the Barracuda X and despite some minor issues I really walked away impressed.

Design

When I first unboxed the Barracuda X the first thing that I noticed was how small, simple, and sleek it was. Most gaming headphones nowadays try to have a bolder design to stand out from the sea of competition and for me at least it is refreshing to see how the Barracuda X bucks that trend. The headset has an all-black glossy finish and as expected can attract fingerprints which is a point to highlight for those who mind.

When I look at headsets the first thing that comes to mind is how are the ear cushions as well as the headband as comfort and convenience is a really big deal for me. I am glad to share that after wearing it for extended periods of time the thick, soft headband and the ear cushions are quite comfortable. The ear cushions are made from memory foam so with extended use and long gaming sessions users will not have to worry about the ear cushions peeling excessively over time. However, I can’t say the same for the headband as I suspect in time with sweat and etc that might be the first thing to degrade.

But on a positive note, one of the best things about the Barracuda X is how light it is as it weighs only around 250g. I really liked how it feels barely noticeable on my head and as someone who wears glasses, I appreciated that the headphones did not have the occasional squeezing sensation that I tend to experience with other brands.

Performance

The most important I would like to highlight first is how the Barracuda X excels almost flawlessly at being multi-platform. The Barracuda X comes with a plug and play wireless USB-C dongle, a 3.5mm audio cable, and a USB-A to USB-C extender cable for systems without a USB-C port. Set up for the headphones is very minimal whereby with my mobile phone and PS5 I was able to just plug in the USB-C dongle and use the headphones immediately.

However, the dongle’s portability is also in some ways its weakness. I really didn’t feel like it fit quite right into the PS5’s USB-C port so I just used the extender. Using it on my phone with its casing on also proved a challenge> I have a minimalist casing for my mobile phone but while playing games on it while using the Barracuda X, I noticed the sound would cut out sometimes too often due to how my hand would almost accidentally touch the dongle and it would take 5-7 seconds for the sound to pop back on. Luckily without the phone casing, that problem disappeared entirely even when I intentionally messed with the dongle.

To accommodate the slimmer and lighter design the Barracuda utilizes their patented Razer Triforce 40mm drivers that is meant to deliver richer, clearer, and immersive audio. Marketing is part of the package to deliver an enticing product but during my extensive testing, the Barracuda X did not fail to really surprise me time and again. I am by no means a seasoned audiophile although as my wife can attest to, I seem to be quite irritatingly concerned about the aural experience while watching movies or gaming. The sound quality that comes from the Barracuda X with its highs, mids, and lows is really almost nearly indistinguishable from my pricier pair of Arctis 7 headphones. When it comes to music, in some cases I might even prefer it because it just feels really balanced.

The Barracuda X also comes with support for 7.1 surround sound but only on the PC. A small, weird thing I found was that to be able to download the 7.1 surround sound software I needed to register my pair of headphones otherwise I would not be able to. If I am being honest, I really did not feel like it added much. When using it to watch movies or listen to music I felt like it made the sound a little too full and after constantly putting it through multiple tests I just preferred it without. It also does not help how Razer advertises the THX Spatial Audio that works even better right in the 7.1 Surround Sound software but of course, you must pay for that. Now what’s interesting is that I was not so sure if the Barracuda X would support 3D Audio on the PS5, but it does! Again, I put it up against my own pair of Arctis 7’s and it performed almost similarly which is a positive.

The detachable Razer Hyperclear Cardioid Mic performs well in gaming sessions although as the Barracuda X only has a unified volume controller you cannot adjust sound and voice separately from the headphones. I also wish It were a retractable one, but sacrifices had to be made to make the Barracuda X as light as it is.

What I Liked

• Design – Really excellent combination with it being sleek, minimal, and light.
• Sound Quality – The 40mm drivers really surprised me with how well balanced the headphones were.
• Multi-Platform – I also really enjoyed how true to their word, Razer has made the multi-platform feature so simple but works almost flawlessly.
• Long Battery Life – The 20-hour battery life is also ace.

What Could Be Better

• 1 Surround Sound – Not as game-changing as I imagined it to be.
• USB-C Dongle – Really great concept that I wish just worked flawlessly in any circumstance.

Final Thoughts and Recommendation

The Razer Barracuda X is meant to be direct competition to the Steelseries Arctis 1 Wireless, Corsair Void Pro RGB Wireless, and HyperX Cloud Stinger Wireless. What does set it apart from the competition is that it is the lightest of the lot and the consistency in quality that accompanies the Razer brand shines through in spades. At Rm499 there is a lot to love about the Razer Barracuda X and if you are a fan of the products Razer makes and the price point is agreeable for you then I can definitely recommend the Barracuda X especially if you are looking for that multi-platform solution that most of us are looking for these days.