For the longest time, the go-to audio option for many gamers has been either a pair ofheadphonesor agaming headset, but while they are certainly not for everyone, a nicepair of speakersor a soundbar is a great way to get something else out of your gaming sound that is hard to replicate with headphones.
We all know Razer for its excellent headsets, keyboards, and mice, but you might not know that it also makes incredible desktop soundbars, like the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro. The Leviathan V2 Pro aims to provide an astonishing soundbar experience and innovative 3D audio using head-tracking AI and adaptive beamforming sound. While that sounds amazing, virtual surround sound is always hit or miss, but thankfully, Razer allowed us to test out the Leviathan V2 Pro for the last couple of weeks, and rest assured, this soundbar is quite the hit.
Razer Leviathan V2 Pro
Experience the next innovation in 3D audio with the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro – the world’s first PC soundbar with head-tracking AI and adaptive beamforming powered by THX Spatial Audio. Directing sound to your ears through intelligent on-the-fly tracking, enjoy ultra-personalized audio with untold accuracy and immersion.
Unboxing and Setup Process
Razer never disappoints when it comes to the unboxing experience, and the Leviathan V2 Pro is no different. From opening up the box, to taking all the parts out, everything feels incredibly premium and well worth the price tag.
After getting everything out, the setup process is pretty straightforward. Plug in the power for the soundbar and the subwoofer, and then plug in the connecting cable between the two. It is worth noting that there is no way to connect the subwoofer wirelessly, so it does work best if you have the subwoofer under your desk for the easiest cable management. After everything is connected, you just need to plug in the USB cable, and your computer will instantly recognize the speaker; no software is required.
You can download Razer Synapse, which we will cover in more depth later, but if you would rather not, you get pretty much full access to the soundbar’s settings through the physical buttons on the soundbar itself. Just remember that you will need to install the software if you want to make any EQ settings or specific color changes for the RGB lighting.
Overall, the setup process was quite a breeze, even though we were taking our time. The entire process took about five minutes, which is pretty comparable to any other sound system, whether it is for your desktop or home theater.
Design and Features
Whether you like it or not, Razer has a consistent design across all its products. The Leviathan V2 Pro continues that similar design with this sleek black soundbar, which sits comfortably under most monitors, and the patented Razer RGB lighting. While RGB lighting is not essential for an excellent sound experience, the subtle underglow from this RGB lighting adds a lovely ambiance to the desk and does not become overbearing.
As we mentioned before, the subwoofer is only connected via a wired connection, which is not ideal for non-desktop setups. However, after making that initial cable run, it was not that big of a hindrance. While it’s not the biggest subwoofer, it is worth noting that it is going to take up a fair amount of space under your desk. The first couple of days we had it set up, there were a couple of stubbed toes, but that’s not entirely the fault of the Leviathan V2 Pro.
Features
By far, this soundbar’s biggest feature is the AI-powered head tracking for 3D sound. Recently, we met with the team from Audioscenic, which powers all the beamforming and head-tracking features. The Leviathan V2 Pro is not the only soundbar that offers virtual surround sound, though the Levithan takes it to another level with its IR camera, which allows the soundbar to create a virtual headset sound experience.
While a camera on your soundbar might seem a bit intrusive, it is essentially the same technology that the Xbox Kinect used, which gamers are probably more familiar with. The camera is only there to keep track of your head while you move around to ensure the audio experience doesn’t change, regardless of how you are sitting. Using this data, the Leviathan V2 Pro is able to use each driver in the soundbar as if there were separate speakers to perfectly recreate a surround sound experience, no matter how much you are moving your head.
Performance
While the design and talking about the fancy features are great, the part that really matters to most gamers is how it sounds. To put it simply, the Leviathan V2 Pro sounds absolutely amazing. Whether playing games, listening to music, or watching movies, the Leviathan provided an incredible experience all around.
We are not usually ones to base reactions on tech demos, but after playing through the THX demo that is built into Razer Synapse, we were thoroughly impressed. It’s not often that a product makes us rope in other people to try it out, but the virtual headset mode with the THX demo is unlike any other sound bar or speaker system we have tested. The sound feels like it is entering your ears from headphone drivers, but it also has the wide sound stage that comes with a speaker. At first, it can be a bit disorientating and maybe too much for some, but it really scratches an audio itch that we didn’t know we were missing.
A lot of people throw out soundbars and speakers as being viable gaming audio solutions because the directionality isn’t as good as headphones but, even in competitive games, we didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything with the Leviathan V2 Pro. In fact, for games likeHelldivers II,the speaker actually created a more immersive experience. The combination of the binaural audio from the soundbar and the surprisingly powerful sub made my desktop feel like a home theater system.
Speaking about the subwoofer, you can pick up this soundbar without it with the Leviathan V2 X, but we highly recommend going for the sub if you can afford it. Even for apartment dwellers like myself, this sub provides an excellent amount ofoomphand impactful bass without being overbearing and, most importantly, no sound complaints from your downstairs neighbors. However, if you want to drive this setup at full volume, the room-fill mode does exactly what it says on the tin.
While this soundbar is mainly intended for desktop use, if you want to use it for playing music or even in a smaller living room setup, the sound performance holds up even when you are further away from the speakers themselves. However, keep in mind that the AI head tracking only works for one person and has the best performance when you are at most a couple of feet away.
Software
While added functionality is nice to have with a piece of companion software, the main aspect we look for is its ease of use and the ability to keep it in the background most of the time, without it being in your way. With Razer’s time in this space, it is no surprise that its software design and ease of use are pretty solid. Razer Synapse is super straightforward to use and allows you to have a good amount of control over the Leviathan V2 Pro’s sound and RGB lighting with just a few clicks.
As we said earlier, Razer Synapse is not necessary to fully enjoy the Leviathan V2 Pro unless you want to make custom color choices for the RGB lighting or mess around with the EQ settings. We still recommend installing it when you first set it up, though, which is very easy if you are on a Windows machine; it should ask you to install the software when you first plug it in.
Is The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro Right For You?
The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro is a gaming soundbar that currently outperforms the competition, but that doesn’t mean it is the right choice for everyone. The Leviathan V2 Pro is quite the investment for a lot of people, coming in at $500; luckily, they do have two lower-cost options with the V2 and V2 X, if you want a similar experience for a lower price tag. Keep in mind that both of the lower-priced options do not come with extraordinary head-tracking virtual surround sound capabilities.
However, if you are willing to invest in the Leviathan V2 Pro, you will not be disappointed. From the stellar build quality to the sound performance that will leave you blown away, this soundbar will last you for years to come and not leave you wanting more performance out of it. Even with a selection of nice headphones to use as well, during our testing period, we kept finding ourselves drawn back to using the Leviathan V2 Pro again and again.
Similar sound for lower price
Smaller form factor
Soundbar that works for both desktop and TV setups
FAQ
Q: Should gaming audio be mono or stereo?
While gaming can still be immersive in mono, stereo is the way to go if you want the most immersive experience possible. Plus, most games are mixed for at least stereo, if not surround sound playback.
Q: Can you use Razer Leviathan V2 Pro on TV?
While Razer recommends the Leviathan V2 Pro mainly for desktop use, you can connect it to other devices. When it comes to TVs, it depends on the TV you are using. The Leviathan V2 Pro connects via a USB cable or Bluetooth, so if your TV supports either, you can use the Leviathan V2 Pro on that TV. However, keep in mind you will not be able to use the head-tracking surround sound feature if you are plugged directly into a TV.
