My First Hand Experience With The Razer Barracuda X

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Mussab Ali

At Tech4Gamers I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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The story begins with me giving away my previous headphones, the Britz K700Ghv, and looking for newer ones.  After some hit and trial, I landed on the Razer Barracuda X.

The feature that intrigued me the most, was its portability, due to its USB-C type 2.4 GHz dongle. I checked the sound by connecting the dongle to my Phone. I turned on a music track and knew there and then, that my search was over. These were to be my next headphones!

Design And Features

Razer is known for installing RGB and its signature green neon lighting on its peripherals. However, with the Baracuda X, the chosen design was fairly simple. The frame and the ear cups are entirely made of plastic, with no green present. 

The plastic headband comes with a steel core and leatherette padding. It’s quite comfortable to wear even when used for prolonged periods. The Earcups come with memory foam that is quite comfortable to wear and doesn’t leave any scratches or cause any chafing.

The left side contains the onboard controls. A power button, a mute button, a volume roll, a 3.5mm jack for connecting in a wired manner, a USB type-C port, and, lastly, the omnidirectional mic. 

The Earcups feature the RAZER™ TRIFORCE 40MM DRIVERS, the proprietary technology that independently replicates low,-mid, and high frequencies resulting in excellent sound quality. 

The battery life is another feature that the Barracuda X thrives on. Razer claims 20 hours on a single charge. An accurate claim, as I could use the headphones for 4-5 days without charging. 

The wireless dongle is the headphones’ signature feature and isn’t even on the headset. Initially, I was hesitant to use a wireless headset because of latency issues in gaming, but the 2.4 GHz dongle eliminated any problems with delayed sound. Due to the dongle, you can easily jump between devices as it’s pretty much plug-and-play. 

Razer also offers a good old-fashioned type-A to type-C adapter cable that allows you to connect it with a USB port. The wireless connection is quite stable, and the only downside is that it’s a bit on the large side of things, 1.47 x .88 x .25 inches (WDH). I sometimes had trouble with using the dongle when I was outside, touching grass. 

There are better headphones in the market available than the Barracuda X, but it doesn’t disappoint. In games like Witcher 3, Detroit Becomes Human, and God of War, it gives a balanced as well as deep sound that lets you appreciate the audio engineering of the respective game title. 

In competitive games such as Valorant, I had no trouble tracking the enemy’s footsteps and pre-aiming the spot of their head, to kill them off. The headphones come with Virtual 7.1 surround.

To further enhance your audio experience, Razer encourages you to pair the headset with its THX Spatial Sound, although it’s a $20 add-on, it’s worth it! I got to use the headphones without the add-on at first and while the sound was good, the bass and treble didn’t feel that pronounced. 

When the THX spatial sound was turned on, the sound changed. Especially, while gaming, enemy footsteps became more accurate. I was able to pinpoint which direction the enemy was coming from. This gave me quite the advantage and in competitive games, it’s all about gaining that advantage over the enemy. 

The Mic requires some tweaking from your end, initially, my friends would inform me that the voice wasn’t clear. However, once I found that optimum position, the voice became crystal clear. 

My Thoughts

The Barracuda X falls under the budget category and is more of a mid-tier headphone in its price range. Currently, I am using the Astro A40 TR+ Mixamp Pro TR, and the sound quality is much better. This goes to show that there are differences in budget and premium headphones, a fact I was ignorant about. 

The Barracuda X is pretty much a plug-and-play platform that you can hook up with a PC, console, and even your phone. The sound quality, while not the greatest, is the best you can get with a $99 headset. 

I had some trouble while giving it away when I switched to the Astro A40, but I kept the THX Spatial sound and it serves me well to this day.  This headset is one of the best wireless headphones out there that you can get in that price range.