The Barracuda X are gaming headphones that can also use outside the home because they are discreet and the microphone is removable. In addition, they are compatible with PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Android mobiles. They are very comfortable, and their sound quality is excellent for their price. Of course, we must bear in mind that we must use a wireless adapter to use them, something that may not be entirely comfortable on the mobile.
| PROS | CONS |
| Works with PC, PlayStation, and Switch | No customization options |
| 3.5mm wired option | No Bluetooth |
| Solid gaming and music performance | |
| USB Type-C charging |
General
| Razer Barracuda X | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | Razer |
| Release date | July 13, 2021 |
| Construction | Ultra-Soft FlowKnit Memory Foam |
| Colors | Black |
| Battery life | Up to 20 hrs |
| Weight | 250 g / 0.55 lbs |
| Connectivity | USB-C Wireless (2.4GHz), 3.5mm Analog |
| Dimension | 60 mm X 40 mm |
| Compatibility | PC (wireless, wired) PlayStation (wireless, wired) Nintendo Switch (wireless, wired) Android Devices (wireless, wired) Xbox (wired) |
Design
| Type | Over-ear design featuring Ultra-Soft FlowKnit Memory Foam |
| Wireless | Yes |
| Driver | 40 mm |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω (1 kHz) |
| Sensitivity | 96dBSPL / mW@1KHz by HATS |
| ANC mode | Passive Noise Cancellation |
| Carrying Case | No |
The Razer Barracuda X are wireless headphones designed to be used both as regular gaming headphones and wireless headphones that we can take to the street.
For this reason, they have a much simpler and discreet design, very similar to the usual ANC headphones that so many people use on public transport or at work. Mind you; these Barracuda X don’t have ANC. The good thing is that they have an adapter with a USB-C connector that connects to our device and sends the signal wirelessly to the headphones. Thanks to that, the latency is minimal.
The outer part of the headphones is made of black plastic with a matte finish. Thanks to that, the headphones are very light to be wireless, 256 grams without the microphone. Something awesome.Â
The build quality is excellent for the price of the headphones, and they have nothing to envy of headphones of 200 or 300 euros. The materials are good, everything fits perfectly, and the moving parts feel robust. The adjustment mechanism of the headband is metallic and has perfect behavior. The steps are precise and do not misalign.
The cups can be turned back and forth to adapt to the shape of our heads. In this case, they are designed to lie flat when resting on the table, so they are not flat when resting on the shoulders.
Another of the most important factors of these headphones is their comfort. The padding on both the headband and ear cushions is excellent, one of the best I’ve ever tried. It is smooth but firm at the same time. The size of the glasses is large, and my ears fit inside without touching the edges. They are also quite deep, so the feeling is that the ears have a lot of free space.
The earpads are covered with a very comfortable, breathable fabric. The feel in hand is not as good as leather, but they accumulate less heat than in the end is the most important. In addition, fabrics tend to withstand use and the passage of time very well.
In the left cup, we have all the buttons and all the connections. From front to back, we have:
- Microphone
- USB-C charging
- 3.5mm mini jack
- The turn on and turn off button
- Volume control
- Microphone mute button
The on / off button also allows:
- One-click pause
- Skip to the next song with two clicks
- Go back to the previous song with three clicks
Features
| Instant one-touch pairing | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes |
| Microphone Features | Detachable HyperClear Cardioid |
| Music Controls | Yes |
| Water resistance | Yes |
| Quick Charge | Yes |
| Compatible Platform(s) | Mac/Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Android |
The Barracuda X mounts the Razer TriForce 40mm drivers, similar to those used by other headphones such as the BlackShark V2 Pro. TriForce technology features multiple parts tuned at certain frequencies to achieve more accurate sound at individual high, mid, and low audio frequencies. And the result is excellent in both music and games.
Sound Quality
The bass is impressive. They have strength and punch but are very well controlled. The tour is not excellent, but for the price they have, they are perfect. They are capable of spicing up any song without being aggressive. And the songs with good bass and the games make your head vibrate.
The media have excellent quality. Lead vocals and instruments sound authentic. The sounds are clean, clear … crystal clear. All the nuances of the notes are heard, and the instrument separation is excellent.
The highs are subtle and delicate, but they stay warm and pleasant. They do not have as much prominence or quality as the media, but they are perfect.
In general, the Barracuda X has an addictive sound. They sound clean and crystal clear, but with a remarkable bass punch. It is an excellent kind of sound for enjoying music, games, and movies.
As for competitive gaming, the crisp media makes us hear our enemies’ footsteps perfectly. In CS: GO, we can identify the number of enemies and the distance more easily than other similar gaming headsets. That and their lightness make them the perfect headphones to play for hours and hours.
Microphone
The Barracuda X comes with a removable microphone. It is easy to put on and take off for a comfortable transition between gaming headsets and street headsets. The microphone has a cardioid pattern to improve voice pickup while reducing the pickup of ambient noise.
Microphone performance is excellent and picks up voice loudly, clearly, and without the noise of PC fans. Also, the voice sounds relatively natural and somewhat fuller than with other microphones. With other headphones, the voice is somewhat robotic between the noise cancellation and the poor-quality microphone. Very fine and without bass. With these Barracuda X, the voice sounds significantly more natural. It is not a brutal difference, but it is clearly appreciated, and the voice is more pleasant.
Battery
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
| Battery Life | Up to 24 hours |
| Charging Port | USB Type C |
With the wireless connection, the headphones have an battery life of about 20 hours. Using them on the computer, they have lasted a little less, around 18 hours, although it also depends on other factors such as volume. The battery life is not exceptional, but it is quite good for such a light headset.
We can charge the battery through the USB-C port and the cable that is included. A negative point is we will need to carry the Razer cable to charge the headphones when we could use any USB-C cable from the mobile. A full charge takes about 3 hours.
Connectivity
| Controls | Mute, Volume |
| Connection | USB-C Wireless (2.4GHz), 3.5mm Analog |
We can use the headphones with the included 3.5 mm cable or through a wireless connection. Of course, the wireless connection is not via Bluetooth, but rather it needs a small Razer adapter that connects to the USB-C port of our device (Razer also includes an adapter cable to connect it to USB-A ports).
The headphones come with an analog cable with 3.5mm connectors, a USB-C charging cable, an extension cable/adapter for the wireless dongle, the wireless dongle itself, and the microphone.
Thanks to this adapter, the connection has no latency, and the Barracuda X is compatible with all devices with a compatible USB connection. In this case, the headphones are compatible with computers, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Android devices. Connection is as simple as plugging in the adapter and turning on the headphones. There is no need to install drivers or configure anything.
We will need to use the 3.5 mm cable to use them with the Xbox because the wireless connection will not work. The most comfortable thing is to connect them to the remote …
The headphones will work with all USB-C Audio compatible devices. We only have to connect the wireless adapter; it is not necessary to install drivers.
The wireless connection is perfectly stable at reasonable distances, and the sound quality is maximum (it has more bandwidth than Bluetooth).
Conclusion!
The Barracuda X is exciting headphones because they are designed to play at home and take them on the street. Another strong point is its sound quality from its TriForce drivers and the quality of the microphone.
Comparision
Razer Barracuda X Vs. SteelSeries Arctis 1
Both models are very similar in terms of functionality and accessories. However, the Barracuda X is somewhat more discreet for use on the street, especially since the cups of the Arctis 1 are very bulky. Of course, they are not very deep, so my ears touch me with the fabric inside. So the Barracuda X also seems a bit more comfortable to me.
For its part, the Arctis 1 has the advantage of having software that allows you to adjust the equalizer, configure the automatic shutdown timer, and control the microphone’s tone. Even so, Razer may release something similar over time.
Both headphones are practically tied in the rest of the characteristics (weight, sound quality, microphone, battery, etc.), so both are perfect models. Mind you, the Arctis 1 still uses a micro USB connection.
Razer Barracuda X Vs. HyperX Cloud Stinger
The Barracuda X is lighter, sounds better, the microphone is removable, and is much more discreet. The HyperX Cloud Stinger is pure and hard gaming.
