Wearing the Razer Barracuda X Chroma headphones can be summed up with one word: liberating.

After being an advocate for wired headphones for god-knows-how-long, you would think the change would be jarring. I still swear by my Philips SHP-5000 for work and (sometimes) play, but a week with one of Razer’s recent flagship RGB headphones prove that this audio dog can still adapt to some new tricks. There are caveats, but we’ll start with the good.

One-Mode Fits All Kinda Deal…

No matter your gaming setup with multiple platforms -PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and so forth- it’s always a boon to have one encompassing headset to “rule them all”. The Razer Barracuda X Chroma fits the bill here, as it’s a wireless headset that connects easily to any gaming device or your PC for some surround sound audio-listening.

The headphone design is light, sleek, and hugs onto your ears just fine and dandy. Setting it up on your PC is easy, and connecting it to your consoles via BlueTooth is easier still. The microphone serves its purpose well, being clear enough and decent for online communication and even conference calls; it still picks up loud noises from a few feet away, but that’s just how default microphones on headsets pan out.

The device connects using a BlueTooth 2.4Ghz dongle (using USB Type-C connection), and can be charged using a USB Type-C charging cable. Most of your options from volume control dial to equalizer-shifting are on the left side of the cans, along with the audio jack for the aforementioned microphone. The pads for the earphones are cushion-based and feel good, with the clamping force for the cans just having the right amount of force; I didn’t feel like my head was stuck in a vice and the cans don’t feel like they’ll flop off after a couple of hours of use.

The bigger focus should be the sound from the headphones, and it’s pretty warm and pleasant. Changing equalizers on-the-fly and setting them up pre-gaming is easy thanks to the button placement for the former and tweaking the Razer Synapse app. The music EQ settings sound meaty enough to justify its price tag and all-roundedness; the Spotify playlist “Songs To Test Headphones With” helped a lot. The channels and levels are adequate, finer sound details are noticeable, and the left-to-right stereo percussion movement moments come out just right.

It’s no audiophile standout, but it’ll do given its multi-purpose design. Games also sound just right and focused; a few sessions with Marvel Rivals, Warframe, and Street Fighter 6 kept me immersed just like with the Spotify playlist thanks to the headphone’s TriForce 40mm drivers. I can’t tell you much about the science, but it keeps the audio balanced for all facets of media, be it farming Warframe quests or watching a jarring mix of Terrifier 3 and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.

So we have a great combination of ergonomics, form factor, audio quality, and connectivity with the Razer Barracuda X Chroma, along with fancy-looking RGB lighting. On its own merit, the price tag may seem worth it. However, we cannot pretend that its predecessor, the Razer Barracuda X, doesn’t exist and is still readily available in the market. Taking the original into account, the X Chroma is essentially a luxury upgrade at best and if we’re being nice. While the weight addition isn’t a big deal (the Barracuda X is lighter), the Barracuda X Chroma adds RGB lighting and ditches the 3.5mm wired audio option: why?

Light Weight?

While not the most quality-laden headphones in the market, you have to give it up for the Razer Barracuda X Chroma’s versatility and adaptability. Its RGB aesthetics may be tailored for younger gamers, but its well-roundedness, and improved wireless capabilities and battery life match the price tag.

However, if you own the original Razer Barracuda X, you may want to think long and hard if you feel as if the RGB additions are worth the price hike. For comparison, the Razer Barracuda X is RM599 (less on sites like Lazada and Shopee if you look hard enough). The X Chroma variant is RM749. Still, that extended battery life of 30+ hours might sway you towards the green-and-red-and-blue; gaming wirelessly with the sound close to your ears for hours on end is an attractive prospect indeed. If you’re not too hung up on missing wired headphone features, the Razer Barracuda X Chroma is a worthy headphone all-rounder for all your gaming devices.

Pros

• Good decent sound for all media.
• Great headphone design & comfortable to use for long hours.
• Easy to connect.
• Long battery life.

Cons

• No wired option like its predecessor.
• Slighty pricier for luxury features like its RGB additions.

Final Score: 70/100

Review unit provided by manufacturer. 

Vital Statistics

Price: RM749
Surround Sound: 7.1 Surround Sound
Microphone: Upgraded Detachable Razer™ HyperClear Cardioid Mic
Connectivity: Wireless: Razer™ HyperSpeed Wireless Technology (2.4 GHz) + Bluetooth 5.3
RGB Lighting: 6-Zone Earcup Lighting
Battery Life: 30 Hours+ (with lighting & 2.4GHz connection), 70 Hours+ (without lighting)
Weight: 285g
Drivers: Razer™ TriForce 40 mm Drivers