When I reviewed the Razer Leviathan V2 last year, PC gamers felt like they finally had a decent soundbar that console gamers could enjoy thanks to more mature TV audio gear from companies like Sonos, but the perfect not. .
THX spatial audio is no match for Dolby Atmos, and some miss the lack of optical or 3.5mm inputs. But while the new Razer Leviathan V2 Pro, unveiled at his CES 2023 in January, doesn’t fix the limited input problem, it does have amazing spatial audio that rivals many of the best soundbars out there. Absolutely. for PC.
Price wise, the Leviathan V2 Pro is 60% more expensive than the Leviathan V2’s $249 / £229 / AU$449 MSRP, so it’s definitely a more premium device, but the price is what you get. I think it’s suitable for what you have.
I got to hear the Leviathan V2 Pro at CES myself and the difference between the two devices is truly incredible. As powerful as the model.
What’s interesting about the V2 Pro is the beamforming surround sound effects that can be produced thanks to the head-tracking technology built into the soundbar.
There are four audio settings you can choose from. Stereo, virtual headset, virtual surround speakers and full room audio. The brilliance is in the virtual headset and speaker settings.
Virtual Headset Presets create isolation that delivers sound to your ears like the best PC gaming headsets do, without the discomfort of having to physically wear them.
When it comes to virtual speakers, audio with multi-channel audio (such as PC games) sounds great with virtual multi-directional audio effects that recreate the experience of a 5.1 surround sound system.
Stereo is still great, and full-room audio is great for parties, but the real selling point of this soundbar is the virtual headset and speaker options. The virtual setup is clearly only suitable for single-user use, as someone listening will have a very different and very bass-heavy experience.
This also means that the sensor must be given an unobstructed view. So if you have a messy desk or a cat that likes to lie in front of a soundbar, you won’t get the effect you’re looking for.
On the positive side, all the effects are generated by the onboard software, so you don’t have to fiddle with Razer Synapse to enable them (although you should use Synapse if you want to tweak equalizer settings) .
In terms of connectivity, it’s the same three-cable configuration as the standard Leviathan V2, so a USB Type-C to connect to your PC, a cable to connect your subwoofer, and a power cable. As such, audiophiles wanting optical or 3.5mm are out of luck and may disappoint those who see Pro in the name and want a more professional side.
All in all, we’ll have to fully see its pace when doing a full review, but from our limited time with the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro, it’s almost certainly going to be our PC gaming soundbar this year .
