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The Razer Barracuda Pro is a gamer-focused $250 pair of headphones. They were launched in 2024 and haven't received a refresher yet. On paper, they look pretty promising and compete against the Bose QuietComfort 45, a mid-premium segment that has captured the market well. However, Razer's biggest strength is its software. The headphones are also compatible with the THX Spatial Audio standard.
On paper, the Barracuda Pro looks quite promising. Are the headphones worth your cash almost two years since release? Let's try to answer that in this mini-review.
The Razer Barracuda Pro gaming headphones are perfect in multiple ways
In several ways, the Razer Barracuda Pro is the perfect pair of headphones for casual gamers. Here's everything I loved about it.
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Connectivity-wise, the Barracuda Pro is posh
The headphones support all modern connectivity standards like Bluetooth. Hence, everything, from Macs to Windows devices and gaming consoles, are supported.
Moreover, you also get a 2.4 GHz USB adapter if you want the best latency for competitive gaming. The headphones come with HyperSpeed Wireless technology built-in, which delivers good enough latency even for pro gamers.
It is also possible to use the pair via a wired connection. Razer packs it with a 2m wire, which should be enough for any use case. However, the headphones rely on the USB-C connection for this mode. It doesn't have an on-board 3.5mm audio jack.
Read more: Best over-ear gaming headphones in 2024
The Barracuda Pro features Active Noise Cancellation
You also get Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) with the Barracuda Pro. The headphones feature four microphones to capture all the noise and then mute them. They have three profiles: ANC on, ANC off, and Ambient modes. The latter captures environment audio and plays it with the speakers for added clarity.
Audio quality is top-notch
The Razer Barracuda Pro is two years old now. However, I have to say, its audio quality remains one of the best I have tested so far. Now that it is cheaper than the launch MSRP of $250, I wonder about the futility of the much costlier Sony WH-1000XM5s.
Listening to music on these headphones is bliss. Every detail is clear, and you'd hear some extra beats in your favorite tracks. Moreover, unlike other Razer headphones I have tested in the past, the output isn't bass-boosted. Overall, it's perfect for casual music heads, but it isn't enough to satisfy audio connoisseurs.
Razer's design language, like always, is on point
The design language of the Razer Barracuda Pro is on point, too. The specific edition I tested is based on an all-black design with the typical "Razer green" accent only on the microphone mute button — it's so small nobody would notice it.
The headphones do have Razer branding on both earcups. However, they are both shiny black and don't stand out at all.
This makes these headphones perfect for use both while gaming and outdoors. You don't need to invest in another pair while not at your desk, which is a step up from my Corsair HS55 Wireless, whose retractable microphone always stood out in public.
Read more: Wired gaming headphones vs wireless gaming headphones
It comes with a free carrying case!
The Razer Barracuda Pro comes with a high-quality travel case in the box. This houses the headphones, all wires, and the USB-C connector firmly. I travel a lot and the carrying case, although large and bulky, came in handy to keep my pair of headphones spotless and arranged.
Most mid-premium headphones come with a case in the box, however. This feature isn't relative to the Razers.
The Razer Barracuda Pro has its set of cons
The Barracuda Pro, like most $250 headphones, isn't perfect. While it appeals to the gamer audience in more ways than one, certain things about it didn't appeal to me.
The Barracuda Pro can be incredibly bulky
The Razer Barracuda Pro is built like a tank. And, guess what — tanks are heavy. Wearing these headphones for long hours is impossible, given how heavy they are. I could wear them for about 90 minutes at a stretch. This problem is particularly persistent if traveling for long hours on flights.
Although the earcups fold down, wearing them around your neck is quite uncomfortable, given how bulky they are. I have faced this problem with other Razer headphones in the past. If you intend to wear your headphones for long hours, consider getting the Bose QuietComfort 45 instead.
Active Noise Cancelling performance isn't impressive
The headphones support ANC, but it doesn't work well. You can still hear most of your surroundings with the mode turned on. This can be ignored in a quiet environment, but I found ANC practically useless while on public transport.
The headphones heavily rely on passive isolation to do most of the trick. If you are listening to music, you won't notice this issue. Unsurprisingly, this feature is available on most cheaper headphones, including the Blackshark V2 X, which sells for about $40 open-box.
THX Spatial is advertised, but it doesn't work
The biggest let-down of the Razer Barracuda Pro is THX Spatial audio. The feature is heavily advertised in the box. However, the app simply won't install on your PC.
I tried installing it from the Windows Store, their website, and then some Reddit comment that linked to the last working version. None of them worked. THX might have shelved their PC app completely.
You can only control the headphones via Razer Synapse, which is fine. But the THX promise is practically broken — and Razer isn't to blame here.
Read more: Sony Inzone H5 wireless headphones review
Razer Barracuda Pro: The verdict
Overall, the Razer Barracuda Pro is a decent pair of headphones if bought at less than its launch MSRP of $250. I got a deal on them for about $155, which makes these headphones the best. No $150 headset even comes close to what the Razer can deliver in terms of audio quality.
However, like any other mid-premium device, the Barracuda Pro has a set of cons that you need to make peace with before buying.
