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.