The Barracuda headset serves a key role in Razer’s lineup, giving gamers the freedom to leave their desks. Catering to a broad audience, the Barracuda X Chroma adds six-zone RGB lighting to a mobile-friendly form factor. More practically, thewireless gaming headsetboasts significantly improved battery life. The Barracuda X Chroma is now available in black for $129.99, with a white version expected to arrive shortly.
Some gamers may not prioritize looks when shopping for a comfortable, stellar-sounding headset. Still, the Barracuda X looked rather plain compared to otherRazer headsets, especially in black. The Barracuda X Chroma brings its distinctively oval earcups to life with intricate RGB effects.
Mobile headphones are typically unlit because of battery life concerns and the inconvenience of regular recharging. The Barracuda X Chroma contains a larger battery to compensate for the additional power drain, producing a more than respectable 30-hour playtime. Without active RGB lighting, that number increases to 70 hours.
Razer Barracuda X Chroma Gaming Headset
The Razer Barracuda X Chroma offers the same sound quality and spectacular good looks whether at home or traveling. As an improvement over previous Barracuda headsets, the X Chroma has a longer battery life of 70 hours, with six-zone RGB lighting reducing that mark to 35 hours. Gamers can still rely on SmartSwitch to easily toggle between HyperSpeed and Bluetooth connectivity or monitor for phone calls while gaming. The 285-gram Barracuda X Chroma features memory foam earcups that swivel to enhance comfort and portability. TriForce 40 mm drivers produce balanced sound for gaming, music, and movies across multiple platforms.
A side effect of the improved battery life may be an increased weight, as the Barracuda X Chromanow checks in at 285 grams. Even so, the headset remains reasonably portable, with swiveling earcups that help avoid damage when packed in bags. The earcups consist of form-fitting memory foam porous enough to reject heat buildup.
SmartSwitch is an essential feature in the Barracuda lineup, enabling gamers to seamlessly select between Bluetooth and 2.4 Ghz wireless sources. The Barracuda X Chroma has the same capability, making it easy to monitor smartphones for calls or listen to multiple devices simultaneously. Consequently, the Barracuda X Chroma is aheadset option for PCs, Macs, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. Sadly, due to Microsoft’s restrictions on USB adapters, Xbox gamers are again out of luck.
As far as how the Barracuda X Chroma sounds, not much has changed in the newest version. Relying on Triforce 40 mm drivers, the headset should provide balanced sound suitable for desktop gaming or on-the-go music listening. Considering it’s versatile enough to use in crowded subways or cafes, its lack ofactive noise cancellationis a bit disappointing.
Razer could have chosen a retractable design with the Barracuda X Chroma, butdecided on a detachable HyperClear cardioid mic. While maximizing the headset’s portability, the mic is laser-focused on the human voice, rejecting the background distractions encountered when traveling.
Offering a universal software experience with a hybrid mobile/desktop headset is challenging. In the recently upgraded Synapse 4, gamers can set up game-specific profiles and sync the headset’s lighting withRGB keyboardsand in-game effects. Gamers aren’t disadvantaged when on the road since the Razer Audio App unlocks access to EQ sound presets and some lighting customization.
Razer has been active recently, debuting otherheadsets like the Kraken V4and the pricier Kraken V4 Pro with haptic feedback. Also, the company’s popular Axon wallpaper now reacts to music and coordinates RGB effects with the Barracuda X Chroma and Kraken headsets.
The Barracuda X Chroma promises to integrate the best qualities of Razer’s diverse headset collection. Game Rant will let readers know if it meets the high standards of mobile and desktop gamers.
