Razer's new USB-C earbuds bring back wired audio, complete with RGB lighting

[Shawn Knight]

The takeaway: Bose isn't the only brand bringing back the wire. Less than a month after announcing a new set of noise cancelling earbuds that trade wireless Bluetooth for a hardwired connection, gaming peripheral maker Razer is essentially doing the same thing.

The Razer Hammerhead V3 Chroma is said to be designed for players that demand "uncompromised" digital audio on the go. The wired buds do away with common wireless solution shortcomings including latency, audio compression, and battery life woes, instead affording a plug-and-play experience across multiple platforms.

The buds feature custom-tuned 11mm dynamic drivers for punchy low-end reproduction and dedicated 6mm tweeters for crisp highs. Pre-sets for gaming, music, movies, and calls can make finding the right profile for the job easier or if you prefer, you can use the equalizer to dial in what sounds best to you. As an added bonus, THX Surround Sound 7.1 is available when using the buds on PC via Razer's Synapse software.

Razer's latest earbuds utilize USB-C with a low-profile 90-degree connector, and carry an IPX4 rating against sweat, light rain, and accidental liquid splashes. Razer says the 90-degree connector is designed to sit flush against phones, tablets, and handheld game systems, and can help eliminate cable strain.

The in-line remote can be used to quickly adjust volume and playback as well as toggle ANC, and the built-in omni-directional mic should be sufficient for in-game comms and voice call duties. At just 1.2 meters (3.93 feet), however, the cord is a bit on the short side.

Being a Razer product, it should come as little surprise that RGB is part of the package. The buds support 16.8 million colors and can be synched with other Razer gear, if you are into that sort of thing. If not, just leave the lights off and rock on.

The Razer Hammerhead V3 Chroma Gaming Earbuds come backed by a two year warranty and are available to order now directly from Razer's website priced at $79.99. Look for them to ship next week.

Permalink to story:

Razer's new USB-C earbuds bring back wired audio, complete with RGB lighting

 

[NumberNine]

A wired USB connector on headphones truly does give the worst of both worlds because they lose the freedom of wireless without ever gaining the benefits of wired. As an added bonus, an app is required now for full functionality. USB powered speakers and headphones have always been the lowest rung. That's why they're always dirt cheap. Get real earbuds. Listen through a decent DAC.

There are so many Chinese companies now making so many earbuds and IEM solutions that are worth listening to for a fraction of the price this garbage retails for. The only thing Bose and Razer have accomplished is the narrow avoidance of being crushed by the cost of their own brand in the near future.

As far as audio kit goes, you can do so much better for yourself. This is not a value.

 

[yRaz]

A wired USB connector on headphones truly does give the worst of both worlds because they lose the freedom of wireless without ever gaining the benefits of wired. As an added bonus, an app is required now for full functionality. USB powered speakers and headphones have always been the lowest rung on the food chain. That's why they're always dirt cheap. Get real earbuds. Listen through a decent DAC.

There are so many Chinese companies now making so many earbuds and IEM solutions that are worth listening to for a fraction of the price this garbage retails for. The only thing Bose and Razer have accomplished is the narrow avoidance of being crushed by the cost of their own brand in the near future.

As far as audio kit goes, you can do so much better for yourself. This is not a value.

The funny part is you can get a quality USBc DAC for $20 if all you want to do is listen to ear buds. I have a pair of Sony over ear headphones and found that even that cheap DAC gave a great listening experience. Now that 3.5mm is impossible to find I have been recommending everyone have at least a cheap but not super cheap USBc to 3.5mm DAC laying around.

Also, DACs can be a point of failure in headphones. I wouldn't want to spend money on headphones that are USBc only. Speakers and headphones are simple things, just some magnets arguing with electricity. The cheap DACs they put in these things are a lot more likely to fail before the magnets do. And I'm not talking about the "cheap" $20 on Amazon. I bet most of the DACs they put in all in one headphones are less than a buck and bucks aren't even worth very much anymore.

 

[NumberNine]

The funny part is you can get a quality USBc DAC for $20 if all you want to do is listen to ear buds. I have a pair of Sony over ear headphones and found that even that cheap DAC gave a great listening experience. Now that 3.5mm is impossible to find I have been recommending everyone have at least a cheap but not super cheap USBc to 3.5mm DAC laying around.

Also, DACs can be a point of failure in headphones. I wouldn't want to spend money on headphones that are USBc only. Speakers and headphones are simple things, just some magnets arguing with electricity. The cheap DACs they put in these things are a lot more likely to fail before the magnets do. And I'm not talking about the "cheap" $20 on Amazon. I bet most of the DACs they put in all in one headphones are less than a buck and bucks aren't even worth very much anymore.

I've really been enjoying Fiio's small inline DACs. I don't mind that it gets warm because it's doing real work.

 

[yRaz]

I've really been enjoying Fiio's small inline DACs. I don't mind that it gets warm because it's doing real work.

I know some people who don't think they do anything meaningful and are afraid to try them, but I also see them with tiny bluetooth earbuds. I'm not hating on bluetooth earbuds, I actually love mine for work or the increasingly less days I goto the gym. But what I like to point out to people is that Apple Airpods have a battery, Amp and a DAC all built into each tiny little earbud. I think they tune those guys pretty well on the digital side to compensate for what's going out on the analog side, but you can get a tremenous amount of sound out of a small package(all about how you use it ).

Something else I would like to note is that you can trick your computer into doing "7.1 surround sound" over a 3.5mm jack with a USB-c DAC. You have 2 ears, not 8, you only need 2 speakers. The thing that I really want to point out about is that when I game with my sony's on using the DAC it really opens open the soundscape in games that my Reddragon's just can't do. My "gaming head set" is mostly for comms in EvE but playing a single palyer RPG or something with my Sony's+DAC on is a wildly different experience. if I haven't used them for awhile I will hear a sound in Skyrim or something and relfexively look over my shoulder. I also don't throw my Sony's around, but I will throw the Reddragons around.

 

[NumberNine]

I know some people who don't think they do anything meaningful and are afraid to try them, but I also see them with tiny bluetooth earbuds. I'm not hating on bluetooth earbuds, I actually love mine for work or the increasingly less days I goto the gym. But what I like to point out to people is that Apple Airpods have a battery, Amp and a DAC all built into each tiny little earbud. I think they tune those guys pretty well on the digital side to compensate for what's going out on the analog side, but you can get a tremenous amount of sound out of a small package(all about how you use it ).

Something else I would like to note is that you can trick your computer into doing "7.1 surround sound" over a 3.5mm jack with a USB-c DAC. You have 2 ears, not 8, you only need 2 speakers. The thing that I really want to point out about is that when I game with my sony's on using the DAC it really opens open the soundscape in games that my Reddragon's just can't do. My "gaming head set" is mostly for comms in EvE but playing a single palyer RPG or something with my Sony's+DAC on is a wildly different experience. if I haven't used them for awhile I will hear a sound in Skyrim or something and relfexively look over my shoulder. I also don't throw my Sony's around, but I will throw the Reddragons around.

That's what's up.

 

[LordVile95]

I've really been enjoying Fiio's small inline DACs. I don't mind that it gets warm because it's doing real work.

Work if doesn’t need to do you mean. You can drive HD800’s off an Apple dongle

 

[ddferrari]

I wasn't aware that wired buds ever went away