Yes ! AND he doesn’t come off as a douche while doing it. Like, it’s not « my taste is objectively better » but rather « I tested it as scientifically as I can in the hour I’ve got with it, here is what I think about it »
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
I disagree with the "7.1" for a different reason. There is a midrange, tweeter, and passive radiator for each of the left and right channels. It's 2.1. They are probably just doing virtualization like they do with headphones to make them "7.1".
I think only someone who works in or has grown up knowing marketing from the last 10 years would respond passive aggressively to you. I 100% agree. the X.1 has always been, the number of channels, no matter how many speakers you slap on a channel. left and right is 2 channels. Left and right with a tweeter, woofer, and sub in each cabinet, 6 speakers total, still 2 channels. Three pairs of speakers with 3 drivers each is not 18.1, its 2.1 (assuming there is a dedicated sub channel and not just a crossover in the cabinet, then its simply stereo.) Rather then killing the messenger, the most useful thing I learned today was when faced with "users want more channels" instead of investing in making a good product, Razer bought THX so they can change the naming convention and standard. Like the soundbar they made, the THX branding is now worthless to a consumer.
@@JayDDubbleyuh THX doesn't make the standards or naming conventions for surround audio and hasn't meant anything since 2002 when creative bought them, they bought THX for the same reason creative did, so they can imply their product as compliant with the THX quality assurance system by slapping the logo on it
You only have two ears yet you don't hear in stereo. Your brain can figure out where sound is coming from based on delay. You can also trick your brain into thinking sound is coming from somewhere else. That's why you only need 2 speakers in a headphone for true surround sound. The better the algorithm, the better it also works for a soundbar. Simple as that.
Could listen to this guy talk for hours on end. As an audio fan myself, this is the best we've gotten so far from the LTT family at reviewing audio products in detail. HUGE kuddos.
Dan called THX spatial audio "Dolby Atmos" and proceeded to say dolby atmos requires speakers around the listener in order for it to work, when dolby atmos is basically upwards firing speakers to simulate a "surround Sound" effect, previous people from LTT don't make errors like that, i wouldn't call him the best and i'm surprised they didn't re shoot that section
@@boxposed3855 sometimes people slip up, I think the editor caught it. If they do the same thing over a longer period of time? Okay then i'm right there with you.
i have a feeling between scenes they must of been talking about dolby atmos vs THX spatial or something since he never made the mistake then all of a sudden started calling it dolby atmos. just my guess.
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
I love everyone from LMG equally but I dunno now. Dan is really becoming my favorite. I love his audio reviews because I know NOTHING about it but he explains everything so eloquently. Please keep up the audio equipment and please give some great audio recommendations.
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
@@iHasCaek You don't even have to spend more... For less than $100 you could get a set of Mackie CR3's or PreSonus E3 monitors that will blow this soundbar out of the water and at least give you proper left & right separation
I have had this for a few months now, and I don't think it's that bad at all. From a basic everyday consumer stand point (if you have the money for it, it is too pricey) I have noticed that the "surround sound" type feeling is heavily effected by the angle of the sound bar. My chair height allows the angled sound bar to be aimed at "the center of my head" (I guess) and it really does sound like it's behind me as well. Especially with movies, more so than games (which I totally understand as an issue). I did notice, like in the video, the software randomly gets hiccups when adjusting the eq, I have also noticed all of the lower sounds drop randomly (when I first got it, hasn't happened in a while). I'm by no means an audio expert, or even an audio novice, in fact I know nothing about audio. Just figured I would toss in my "everyday consumer" opinion!
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
@@OpptimusPrime1 you do need the razer software (which is free, no purchase necessary) downloaded to mess with sound settings. If that's what you mean.
This is a 2.1 system that tries to sound like a 7.1 For those that don't know, you don't count the number of drivers to find out how many channels a speaker is, as multiple drivers can be attached to the same channel. This one, has 4 front facing drivers, and 2 passive radiator in the back, passive radiator don't do anything on there own, and uses the pressure created by the active speakers in the speaker enclosure to give a better and deeper base. Passive radiators are a big reason why many compact bluetooth speakers have really big sound for there size.
Most soundbars only have 2 channels, one for right and one for left. this makes it a 2.0, but when you add a subwoofer it will be 2.1 4.1 is somewhat rare, but i have seen it sometimes, and have become more popular in recent time.
Maybe 5.1 at best? 4 drivers at the front, 1 left, 1 right, 2 centermost as center; 2 drivers at the back (of the soundbar), 1 as "rear left" and 1 "rear right"? Optimistically saying anyway. I would've assumed it is just 2.1 with some clever stereo processing, like "7.1 surround sound" gaming *headphones*
@@grdprojekt no its 2.1 there is a left and right “full range” driver on each side, a tweeter on each side to produce the high end for that channel. Tweeters do not count as seperate channels because they carry the same signal (Left or Right) just filtered. On the back there are two bass radiators, these also do not count as seperate channels, they just allow the bass that builds up from the front 2 speakers to project out of the soundbar. Plus the sub
it ticks all the razer checkmarks: overpriced, check mediocre preformance, check overhyped, check promise the world, check under deliver on those promises, check RGB for the real gamerz, check
@@corktail7900 don't forget the bloatware only runs on Windows so if you ever want to connect these to anything else, you're only going to get the default sound profile which, as we learned here, stinks.
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
Finally someone that properly reviews the razer soundbar. I'm in no way an audio expert, but I've seen many videos of people praising this speaker, without having the knowledge to test it. Especially because of its price.
Having owned the previous version, I'm going to say that Dan is being much too nice about it. He didn't even mention the likely complete lack of longevity.
Except every video I've seen says the opposite and this is just continuing that trend. I bought it and love it, but to each his own. It perfectly fit my scenario. I didn't want speakers all over my desk, all I wanted was a soundbar, thats it, no more. As best I can tell I had 2 options, and 1 wasn't available to me.
@@stayupthetree I can definitely understand that problem, as I also swapped out my desktop speakers for a Dell Soundbar that clips to the bottom of my main monitor and is good enough for listening to podcasts and similar, but I also only paid about 40 bucks for it. I don't think 250 bucks is a good price for this Soundbar, at all, but if it's the only fitting option in town it's hard to argue against it. My option only worked for me because I have a Dell monitor, the thing can't clip to any other monitors.
@@RAHelllord yeah before that I was using the audio coming out of one of my monitors, which I don't have to tell you, really sucked. I use headphones for gaming 90% of the time, this is basically a casual listener thing for me. Living room I have a Samsung Q950A for the beast mode.
I picked up the Leviathan V2 X last November and, honestly, it's way better than my dual PC speakers. I also only paid around $100 for the speaker bar, which in my opinion was a steal. I guess my reason for commenting is that I don't really agree with a lot said here. The speakers sound fine and have plenty of options for tuning in the Synapse software, which a lot of people already have to configure their keyboard/mouse anyway. It gets plenty loud and doesn't distort at high volumes. It's also perfectly usable at very low volumes. The lighting is fun and, if you enjoy the devil's lettuce, can be pretty mesmerizing while listening to some good tunes. The bar itself is small and compact enough to fit on any desk and has usb type-c input. It looks very clean and matches the aesthetic of other Razer devices. My only complaint is that the bluetooth can be a little finicky. Connecting can be a struggle and if the speaker isn't outputting for a significant amount of time, it has a habit of losing the connection to the PC/Phone without realizing that it isn't connected to anything. It doesn't happen too often and using it via bluetooth isn't going to give the best sound quality anyway, but I have noticed it. I don't really care about the single C input for data and power, as that's really all I need anyway. I don't have any devices, aside from a Steam Deck, that even utilizes auxiliary anymore and, to be frank, I don't want the extra cable mess anyway. If I really need better sound quality, I will use headphones.
I doubt a true audio nerd would confuse passive radiators for audio channels and would be able to deduce that 7.1 in this kind of system means it's virtualized surround coming from a 2.1 setup.
@@TheDeltaMoo he literally says several times "there's no way this is a 7.1". This whole script is basically throwing it in the face of this shithouse product, being dumb and buying dumb
Soundbars for gaming monitors? Now that's a... bizarre idea. The correct approach would be to just use two speakers and maybe a subwoofer. Place the speaker cones at ear-height and you get all the 3D stereo imaging you'd ever need. The subwoofer can just go on the floor like usual. Use it as a footstool.
You can get a couple of Yamaha HS fives. Two professional studio monitors that are widely popular within the professional music industry for $150 each… That’s $50 more than this joke of a sound system
Thanks for the review, I’m glad that negative reviews are being published as well as good ones. Few notes though, the drivers an the back are most likely passive radiators to help the front speakers extend a little lower. Second, the subwoofer frequencies (80hz and below) are mostly omnidirectional so you shouldn’t be able to tell where they are coming from. If they sound like they are coming from the bar, then the integration was done well. Best way to know the difference is to just unplug the sub and listen for the crossover frequency. Frequency response charts would be great too
Wow this guy is a complete psychopath zero emotion. His voice doesn't even fluctuate when he's trying to emphasize something in a sentence. He's definitely a serial killer
If this is anything like my Razer headphones, I think I know why the EQ wasn't working at first! For the EQ to have an effect, you need to set Windows's audio output device to "Razer Synapse Speaker" instead of "Razer *device name*"
I've bought a sound blaster X katana 3 years ago and I love it. Beautiful sound, nice compact subwoofer that sounds great and it's not that expensive either. It has simple rgb too so that's kind of cool and many different inputs
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
@@OpptimusPrime1 tbh, the sound blaster software can be a bit funky sometimes, but that's all you need, be sure it's plugged into a pc and not a console obviously, but the button on the bar itself or remote can change the eq as well
An awesome idea for labs: after testing the frequency response on products, showing what EQ settings make each products sound the “best it can for gaming/movies/music” though it may be subjective, it can at least be a starting point for fine adjustment per user
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
I have the Leviathan V1. It filled its niche for it's time. It uses Bluetooth/Aux/Optical and no Razer Synapse or RGB. Picked it up on a sale a few years ago for around half the price of the V2.
If you've got the space for it. Try using old home stereo equipment. I use an old Technics SA-5170 and passive speakers I got for around $40 (Hell, the amp was practically free cause I helped a friend clean out his basement and found it), and it all sounds great, miles better than any "gaming" speakers you could buy new at these prices, probably higher. Plus, no stupid software to download and sign into to configure, its all physically right there. All you really need is a rca to aux adapter. Start by asking around family and friends to see if they have anything older stuff laying around.
The brutal honesty gets an instant sub. More reviews need to be like this. Too often a product reviewer, I believe, will soften their final opinion to remain brand friendly. This review, was not that. I look forward to watching more genuine reviews!
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
I would love to see LTT do a round-up of computer speakers at various price points. It's so hard to find decent reviews & comparisons online, and so many sets sound just like the generic speakers from the 90s but in black housings instead of beige
I had the V1 and the proprietary sub connection ended up failing. Wanted to just upgrade to the V2 till I watched this. Why did they remove so much of the connectivity? I would think you'd want more options not less. Ended up going with the SteelSeries Arena 7's. Can have multiple inputs simultaneously. Razer really dropped the ball cause I really loved the V1 and was totally going to buy this one. Oh well...
I have the v1 and have never had a problem with it. After seeing this I wondered if I just had tin ears and v1 has been bad the whole time. I looked at reviews from people who "upgraded" from v1 to v2 and the consensus is it's actually a downgrade. I've successfully avoided feeling ~9 years delayed buyers remorse. Especially since I got a free Ferox (mini bluetooth speakers) when I bought it and those are still doing fine as well.
yeah same here, the sub still works and connects with the connector but it'll fall out every now and then. I don't think that he knew you could adjust the bass from the sound bar. But I agree, I think I'll stick to my V1 until it goes out lol
@@PunakiviAddikti I go full open back headphones when I want to wear them. Don’t think I could go back to closed backs unless I really need the sound isolation. The sound accuracy is too good.
I’ve transitioned away from speakers for gaming. Headphones are just way better, especially if you have voice chat needs. ANC headphones even better. My new fad is one single speaker box that has Bluetooth support. USB to the PC for system sounds and UA-cam videos, otherwise headphones.
I guess if you like having something on your head all the time. I have a few headphones, and even though my Hifimans and Sennheisers are super cozy they still start to get uncomfortable after a while, plus can make you hot even though they're open back
Yeah I understand that. I have a friend who hates headphones of all types. I find I get more detail and immersion from headphones, but that's probably because I do a lot of late night sessions and don't want to disturb my neighbors. That in turn would likely have caused me to keep my speakers at volumes too low to really enjoy the sounds.
Maybe try the G560 (Logitech RGB speakers) if you haven't already. Pricepoint is not too different so definitely a competitor for those who are looking for RGB speakers
Seconded this. I had the v1 Razer soundbar. It was mediocre and died after 1.5 years of light use. Have the G560 now. It's not the best set of speakers in the world, but far far better than the sound bar and the lighting can be fun.
I would like to see Dan reviewing the Sound Blaster Katana soundbar, I've heard good things about it but I like Dan's way to review audio stuff a little more than those people
8:01 Can agree Dan. Before the computer restart, there was no difference in audio quality when the profile was adjusted. After the reboot, the sound profile change was noticeable. Why the EQ wasn't working properly before that is beyond me. Before anyone asks, yes, even though my earbuds are set to bass, the difference in sound was big. Also, if they do a V3, they need more port selection. Especially for $250.
I would really like it if you guys would review the Creative Katana v2 and compare it to this one. Also maybe the Polk MagNifi Mini as well; it's not a "gaming soundbar" but it would fit nicely on a desk and is in the same price range as the Katana and this Razer thing.
I was actually choosing between Razer and Creative for my soundbar! I chose to go with Creative as it looks like Razer cut a lot of features in there new one (front 3.5MM). Also I have generally found Razer products to be of below average build quality.
@@71x2 I'm strongly considering it, as I moved from having a few monitors to using a 55" 4k TV at my desk, and I think a soundbar would compliment it well. Not sure if I would get a lot of value from moving away from my current PC speakers or not though.
@@captain_zed Depends on what speaker you have. I mostly made the change as I was using some older Logitech speakers and the extra cables were annoying me a little too much hahaha.
Recently got a ~$100 set of active bookshelf speakers and I was surprised at how good they sound compared to my ~150 sennheisers, I didn't think I'd use speakers much but it really does just sound that much better when the speakers aren't strapped to your head
I have to recommend the Topping VX1 as a usb audio DAC. Usb to the unit from your pc, then speaker wires to your speakers. Good little unit that used to go for around $100 and wipes the floor with anything in the $500 range when paired with most reasonable speakers. I use mine with a pair of Monitor audio silver 6's and it is simply amazing for the price. It has dedicated power and as long as the speakers you run arent some inefficient behemoths, you'll have volume to spare.
I had the v1. It was meh. It died after about 1.5 years. The power input on it used a flimsy, janky, proprietary plug... which I think shorted and killed the soundbar. I doubt this one has improved it much. Don't buy Razer anything... except maybe their laptops and even then, that's a huge maybe. Edit: See below. Wasn't the power connector, was the connection to the left of it.
@@goblinslayer5404 Just looked at some pics of it and you're absolutely right, the connector I'm thinking of was just to the left of the barrel connector. In mine it was wobbly and janky from day one and would regularly just fall out with both ends of the connector still attached and leaving the bare pins showing in the back of the sound bar. The connector was 2 or 3 pins surrounded by square plastic connectors.
@@FandangoJon ah u mean the connection to the subwoofer, having 2 pins/wires is standard, but the square plastic part probably isnt standard. mine is wobbly as well, but ive never had it fall out or anything, its always connected in place. perhaps u pulled on the cable? its not normal for it to just fall out unless its broken. its possible that the 2 pins shorting might've killed it. a temporary fix wouldve been hot glue or tape or something so that the wires dont short out. but yeh that's razer quality control for u, the buttons on mine are acting weird af, and it sometimes defaults to Bluetooth when i turn it on and id have to press THE POWER BUTTON to switch the input to aux, rather than pressing the button that switches the inputs (it doesnt work sometimes), buggy piece of sh*t. it was still my best option at the time though, so i cant really regret my purchase.
With my Razer Kraken you have to go into an application list in synapse and enable a THX game mode for that application to support spatial audio. As for windows seeing only stereo, right click your sound icon and change the speaker setup there. This was so poorly tested I really hope that labs change this. Learn to use the software before testing, alot of things require the software. As for hate on Razer, my hammerhead pros are the best earbuds I've ever used, I wonder, how do you feel about them Dan?
I had a headset that said it was 7.1 from razer but I had to download their 7.1 software to activate it. And if you wanted thx audio you had to buy that separately
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
For those considering purchasing this for their battle station, please don't. I run mostly Razer products (keyboard, mouse, mousepad) but opted for the Soundblaster Katana soundbar instead. It has a ton more inputs and with the v2 out now with support for HDMI ARC it's a no-brainer if you want something low profile on your desk. I absolutely love my v1 Katana, and I'm sure others who might have one will probably comment the same thing. They are around the same price, but the Katana is the clear winner if you want more than just Bluetooth and USB input for your sound needs. Watch Hardware Canucks review if you want to check it out for yourself!
While I don't fully agree with the verdict - I mean, I might not know better, but after some fine-tuning of equalizer, I absolutely love my Razer Leviathan v2, the sound quality is really great - this was still entertaining to watch.
I'd love to see you guys test out the Creative Sound BlasterX Katana. Not the V2, but the original one if it's still available there where you guys are at.
At one point Dan wanted to open it to see the driver array. Back in the old days we shone a flashlight through the plastic grill to see inside. Thanks for the review. As always I found the review entertaining.
I got home, checked my subscriptions and there were so many vids I wanted to watch, but the moment I've seen Dan, I knew this is what I need to watch tonight.
While I entirely agree with the “avoid flashy gamer aesthetic stuff”. I purchased the sound blaster katana V2 earlier in the year. Honestly very impressed by it. I use it for solo games and music etc when I don’t want to use a headset.
Love having Dan come in and shine a light on the fact that "gaming" audio products have been bad for a very long time. I want to see him review something that would be a really solid recommendation for desktop audio.
Just for info 7.1 is worked out as left and right side having front centre and rear, that equals 6 plus you have front centre which usually is for speech a few the 0.1 is the subwoofer
$250 = ~£205, hitting ebay for some solid used hifi gear will get you something that will far out perform this for less money e.g 2.1 system: Cambridge Audio A1 Amp (£40), Sony SS-MS7 Active Sub (£30), Mordaunt Short MS10i Bookshelf Speakers (£50), add in £10 for cables and you've got a room shaking setup for £130. If it has got to be surround then how about a Yamaha RX-V350 5.1 amp (£43) and an Eltax 5.1 speaker system incl. active sub (£75) chuck in £20 for cables and that's a cinema experience for a total of £138 delivered!
I much prefer dedicated speakers over a soundbar, but some people just like being able to set a thin box on their desk or under their TV and have better sound than what is built into their monitor or TV. For those people, I would still recommend getting a wider soundbar because it allows for better imaging and soundstage (allows you to locate enemies by sound). Even at this price, you can get one with a wireless sub, so it's even more convenient than this. If you also need it to fit in the space that this does, you're pretty much out of luck.
It seems like the price is volatile, but the Philips B8405 soundbar has eARC so you can use HDMI for the sound. One less cable because it goes between your device and the TV. The one eARC device I have works with monitors that don't support eARC, but different devices work differently.
I purchased a MK1 of these many years ago because it was open box at best BestBuy for real cheap. Its dead now, but it was ok when it worked. Except for the part where the sub connector was terrible and I had to solder it directly to the soundbar and the Bluetooth receiver died and it auto powered off after 10 minutes if not being used (and you couldn't disable the "feature"). But it sounded OK. Now I use JBL powered monitors and life is much better.
The thing about the Dolby Atmos test video on UA-cam, is that UA-cam doesn't support 5.1, or better, surround sound. It only supports stereo audio. Just to keep that in mind for everyone.
I bought one at half price. I liked too loud as a kid, at this time of my life I just care about clarity, and volume (not loudness). I originally bought the model without the subwoofer. It wasn't bad for my uses. You can absolutely put that one into a backpack for your laptop. But I like a little more bass on my desktop. So I upgraded to the next, this one here. It also serves as a stereo in my bedroom. I'm good with it.
I’ve had it for around 2 months and it’s been for me. All I play are RPG and single player games on PC. I use it for the switch to and it’s been fine for smash. No complaints for me. Of course, it’s expensive and there are better products for the same price. In all honesty, I’m a razer fan. Im no expert to sound so I believe you when you say it’s crap but as for me I’m fine with it.
I got a Leviathan V2 X (more or less the Leviathan without the sub) and for under 100 bucks I'm happy with it. If I want true surround I will hook up my Roku surround system up to my PC, but for just my desk this thing is fine.
I have the same and it's not bad. How good is the Roku sound system? I'm intrigued after seeing your comment as I'm looking to put the LV2X in my second bedroom for my office laptop, and now on the hunt for a new soundbar for my private laptop in my bedroom office.
I picked up the Creative Sound Blaster Katana v2 bar to use with my gaming PC when my speakers died. Would love to get your thoughts on it. So far I really like it, and the sound quality is great (to me) with music and gaming - granted I'm by no means an audiophile.
I adore how Dan just says it how it is and has *no* issues with tearing things apart like this, it's so damn refreshing to see! Praise be Dan!
Yes ! AND he doesn’t come off as a douche while doing it. Like, it’s not « my taste is objectively better » but rather « I tested it as scientifically as I can in the hour I’ve got with it, here is what I think about it »
Fucking oath, dan is quickly becoming a highlight for me aye,
Yep... not a hype man, just saying how it is.
When it isn't Dan hosting an audio product, you know it's sponsored 😂
In Dan we pray!
Truly one of the soundbars to ever exist
very true
i morbed a man at 10:31 pm 2003 off the side of a road 17 miles away from las vegas
Why this sound of that... Morbin time life changing line
it's sure to make one razillion dollars
It has a beautiful frame, astoundingly compact, and it has sound.
Dan coming with that audio expertise we all need. Thanks for being honest and saying it's crap. Sorry razor
Except he doesn't know what passive radiators are.... thankfully the editor did.
What he has is far from "expertise." He calls things by the wrong name and seems to not understand a lot about how the speaker hardware works.
@@Mr0Tubby Doesn't make this any better though.
@@Mr0Tubby what things?
This guy is clueless.
Dan is freaking amazing. His honesty and sense of humor is just pure gold.
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
I disagree with the "7.1" for a different reason. There is a midrange, tweeter, and passive radiator for each of the left and right channels. It's 2.1. They are probably just doing virtualization like they do with headphones to make them "7.1".
No shit Sherlock
Definitely!
I think only someone who works in or has grown up knowing marketing from the last 10 years would respond passive aggressively to you. I 100% agree. the X.1 has always been, the number of channels, no matter how many speakers you slap on a channel. left and right is 2 channels. Left and right with a tweeter, woofer, and sub in each cabinet, 6 speakers total, still 2 channels. Three pairs of speakers with 3 drivers each is not 18.1, its 2.1 (assuming there is a dedicated sub channel and not just a crossover in the cabinet, then its simply stereo.)
Rather then killing the messenger, the most useful thing I learned today was when faced with "users want more channels" instead of investing in making a good product, Razer bought THX so they can change the naming convention and standard. Like the soundbar they made, the THX branding is now worthless to a consumer.
@@JayDDubbleyuh THX doesn't make the standards or naming conventions for surround audio and hasn't meant anything since 2002 when creative bought them, they bought THX for the same reason creative did, so they can imply their product as compliant with the THX quality assurance system by slapping the logo on it
You only have two ears yet you don't hear in stereo. Your brain can figure out where sound is coming from based on delay. You can also trick your brain into thinking sound is coming from somewhere else. That's why you only need 2 speakers in a headphone for true surround sound. The better the algorithm, the better it also works for a soundbar. Simple as that.
Could listen to this guy talk for hours on end. As an audio fan myself, this is the best we've gotten so far from the LTT family at reviewing audio products in detail. HUGE kuddos.
Dan called THX spatial audio "Dolby Atmos" and proceeded to say dolby atmos requires speakers around the listener in order for it to work, when dolby atmos is basically upwards firing speakers to simulate a "surround Sound" effect, previous people from LTT don't make errors like that, i wouldn't call him the best and i'm surprised they didn't re shoot that section
@@boxposed3855 sometimes people slip up, I think the editor caught it. If they do the same thing over a longer period of time? Okay then i'm right there with you.
@@ExarchGaming yes people slip up but the entire video he was calling it Dolby Atmos not THX Spatial Sound
Why does it matter, it's a little thing. All the codecs and technologies can be confusing. I absolutely love these audio videos with Dan so far
i have a feeling between scenes they must of been talking about dolby atmos vs THX spatial or something since he never made the mistake then all of a sudden started calling it dolby atmos. just my guess.
As Alex once said: Don’t buy gaming speakers/headphones/mics, get used audio/music-centric headphones/speakers/mics.
Wouldnt the old analog connectors be an obstacle, though?
And he's god damn right. My old Genelec 1029As (made from 1995 until 2005) are the best 400€ I paid for audio stuff. They're insane.
@@bruceluiz not all the time, that also heavily depends on what you want to do.
Used headphones would be fucking nasty dude.
Two completely different price points, my friend
"It's a waste of money and it's a terrible product"
Thank you so much for being freaking honest!! Can't wait for labs!!!
i have it and its good i cant complain
@@dibbstar3984 just buy an actual soundbar or a good bookshelf speakers for that money
@@dibbstar3984 Because you never experienced an actual soundbar/speaker
@@vagamer522 Its his money lol
@@luckymark571 ITS MY COMMENT
I want Dan in way more videos. He's so upfront, honest and adds a perfect level of humour to a still fairly serious review!
Way More Videos!!
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
I love everyone from LMG equally but I dunno now. Dan is really becoming my favorite. I love his audio reviews because I know NOTHING about it but he explains everything so eloquently. Please keep up the audio equipment and please give some great audio recommendations.
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
I never knew that Dan shitting on bad audio equipment is something I would enjoy BUT here I am again and happy that I watched it
nah most of us know how terrible razer audio hardware is....
cant believe i fall for that too when i was an edgy teen
@@5at5una It's fine. Experiencing garbage helps you appreciate the better stuff
I love how Dan feels like a very calm person but is very passionate in his hate against shit like this
as he should. for just a little more money you could get real audio gear that will outperform and OUTLAST these.
@@iHasCaek You don't even have to spend more... For less than $100 you could get a set of Mackie CR3's or PreSonus E3 monitors that will blow this soundbar out of the water and at least give you proper left & right separation
@@seaghan Or if you want to fill the budget get a pair of used LSR 305's and be absolutely blown away.
this guy is amazing, we love it and it should stick as a regular host for shortcircuit
I agree! He's so entertaining
Agreed, would take him hosting over Riley every time
@@rossharper1983 I love Riley though, I think he should do all the audio stuff and Riley the rest.
@@rossharper1983 nobody insults my Riley
@@sepplschpeedruns281 I can't stand Riley, find him so annoying
More dan please, been watching as an audio engineer and acoustician for years now and seeing somone with more advanced knowledge makes me very happy.
I have had this for a few months now, and I don't think it's that bad at all. From a basic everyday consumer stand point (if you have the money for it, it is too pricey) I have noticed that the "surround sound" type feeling is heavily effected by the angle of the sound bar. My chair height allows the angled sound bar to be aimed at "the center of my head" (I guess) and it really does sound like it's behind me as well. Especially with movies, more so than games (which I totally understand as an issue). I did notice, like in the video, the software randomly gets hiccups when adjusting the eq, I have also noticed all of the lower sounds drop randomly (when I first got it, hasn't happened in a while). I'm by no means an audio expert, or even an audio novice, in fact I know nothing about audio. Just figured I would toss in my "everyday consumer" opinion!
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
@@OpptimusPrime1 you do need the razer software (which is free, no purchase necessary) downloaded to mess with sound settings. If that's what you mean.
@@nikoder8790 in your opinion, would this be a good purchase for the average person
This is a 2.1 system that tries to sound like a 7.1
For those that don't know, you don't count the number of drivers to find out how many channels a speaker is, as multiple drivers can be attached to the same channel.
This one, has 4 front facing drivers, and 2 passive radiator in the back, passive radiator don't do anything on there own, and uses the pressure created by the active speakers in the speaker enclosure to give a better and deeper base.
Passive radiators are a big reason why many compact bluetooth speakers have really big sound for there size.
so its a 4.1?
Most soundbars only have 2 channels, one for right and one for left. this makes it a 2.0, but when you add a subwoofer it will be 2.1
4.1 is somewhat rare, but i have seen it sometimes, and have become more popular in recent time.
@@prawny12009 no. passive radiators do not count as speakers
Maybe 5.1 at best? 4 drivers at the front, 1 left, 1 right, 2 centermost as center; 2 drivers at the back (of the soundbar), 1 as "rear left" and 1 "rear right"? Optimistically saying anyway.
I would've assumed it is just 2.1 with some clever stereo processing, like "7.1 surround sound" gaming *headphones*
@@grdprojekt no its 2.1
there is a left and right “full range” driver on each side, a tweeter on each side to produce the high end for that channel. Tweeters do not count as seperate channels because they carry the same signal (Left or Right) just filtered. On the back there are two bass radiators, these also do not count as seperate channels, they just allow the bass that builds up from the front 2 speakers to project out of the soundbar.
Plus the sub
it ticks all the razer checkmarks:
overpriced, check
mediocre preformance, check
overhyped, check
promise the world, check
under deliver on those promises, check
RGB for the real gamerz, check
shitty bloatware dependency, check
Embarrassing construction quality for anything that doesn't project lights...
check.
wait,
They managed to f*ck up even those, at least on my mouse.
garbage? check.
Breaks minutes after the warranty expires, check.
@@corktail7900 don't forget the bloatware only runs on Windows so if you ever want to connect these to anything else, you're only going to get the default sound profile which, as we learned here, stinks.
1:00 My man inspecting the sound bar like he's a soldier inspecting a gun
Your comment made me laugh! 👍
Dan is my new favorite reviewer - his reticence for all products is like a fine whiskey, down to his "everything is terrible" t-shirt.
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
I like Dan. He's a great addition to the team. He's so knowledgeable about Audio.
This man is my favourite LTT member by far, such dry funny humor (y)
Finally someone that properly reviews the razer soundbar. I'm in no way an audio expert, but I've seen many videos of people praising this speaker, without having the knowledge to test it. Especially because of its price.
Having owned the previous version, I'm going to say that Dan is being much too nice about it. He didn't even mention the likely complete lack of longevity.
Except every video I've seen says the opposite and this is just continuing that trend. I bought it and love it, but to each his own. It perfectly fit my scenario. I didn't want speakers all over my desk, all I wanted was a soundbar, thats it, no more. As best I can tell I had 2 options, and 1 wasn't available to me.
@@stayupthetree I can definitely understand that problem, as I also swapped out my desktop speakers for a Dell Soundbar that clips to the bottom of my main monitor and is good enough for listening to podcasts and similar, but I also only paid about 40 bucks for it.
I don't think 250 bucks is a good price for this Soundbar, at all, but if it's the only fitting option in town it's hard to argue against it. My option only worked for me because I have a Dell monitor, the thing can't clip to any other monitors.
@@RAHelllord yeah before that I was using the audio coming out of one of my monitors, which I don't have to tell you, really sucked. I use headphones for gaming 90% of the time, this is basically a casual listener thing for me. Living room I have a Samsung Q950A for the beast mode.
I really, REALLY love how it hurs him to hear bad tuning. You can literally see him wince every time he hears something out of whack.
I picked up the Leviathan V2 X last November and, honestly, it's way better than my dual PC speakers. I also only paid around $100 for the speaker bar, which in my opinion was a steal.
I guess my reason for commenting is that I don't really agree with a lot said here.
The speakers sound fine and have plenty of options for tuning in the Synapse software, which a lot of people already have to configure their keyboard/mouse anyway. It gets plenty loud and doesn't distort at high volumes. It's also perfectly usable at very low volumes. The lighting is fun and, if you enjoy the devil's lettuce, can be pretty mesmerizing while listening to some good tunes. The bar itself is small and compact enough to fit on any desk and has usb type-c input. It looks very clean and matches the aesthetic of other Razer devices.
My only complaint is that the bluetooth can be a little finicky. Connecting can be a struggle and if the speaker isn't outputting for a significant amount of time, it has a habit of losing the connection to the PC/Phone without realizing that it isn't connected to anything. It doesn't happen too often and using it via bluetooth isn't going to give the best sound quality anyway, but I have noticed it.
I don't really care about the single C input for data and power, as that's really all I need anyway. I don't have any devices, aside from a Steam Deck, that even utilizes auxiliary anymore and, to be frank, I don't want the extra cable mess anyway. If I really need better sound quality, I will use headphones.
It's so great to have a true audio nerd in house. The breakdowns are simple and concise. No words to muddle, just the truth from someone who knows.
I doubt a true audio nerd would confuse passive radiators for audio channels and would be able to deduce that 7.1 in this kind of system means it's virtualized surround coming from a 2.1 setup.
@@TheDeltaMoo he literally says several times "there's no way this is a 7.1". This whole script is basically throwing it in the face of this shithouse product, being dumb and buying dumb
Soundbars for gaming monitors? Now that's a... bizarre idea. The correct approach would be to just use two speakers and maybe a subwoofer. Place the speaker cones at ear-height and you get all the 3D stereo imaging you'd ever need. The subwoofer can just go on the floor like usual. Use it as a footstool.
Exactly
Agreed. Also i think that adding some bass shakers to gaming chair might be cool for gaming. 🙂
@@oplkfdhgk I get enough of those after eating pizza hut.
I use a soundbar with my pc, it is the best audio decision I've ever made, the sound wraps around you instead of having 2 spots
You can get a couple of Yamaha HS fives. Two professional studio monitors that are widely popular within the professional music industry for $150 each… That’s $50 more than this joke of a sound system
Thanks for the review, I’m glad that negative reviews are being published as well as good ones. Few notes though, the drivers an the back are most likely passive radiators to help the front speakers extend a little lower. Second, the subwoofer frequencies (80hz and below) are mostly omnidirectional so you shouldn’t be able to tell where they are coming from. If they sound like they are coming from the bar, then the integration was done well. Best way to know the difference is to just unplug the sub and listen for the crossover frequency. Frequency response charts would be great too
So glad you guys finally have someone that has more to say than,
Mmmyes... this is sound, sounds decent/bad against my gamer headset.
Listening to Dan pull zero punches on crap products is now one of my favorite things.
Wow this guy is a complete psychopath zero emotion. His voice doesn't even fluctuate when he's trying to emphasize something in a sentence. He's definitely a serial killer
You gave this thing an absolute drubbing. Loved it.
I have never heard this word, ty
If this is anything like my Razer headphones, I think I know why the EQ wasn't working at first!
For the EQ to have an effect, you need to set Windows's audio output device to "Razer Synapse Speaker" instead of "Razer *device name*"
Dan should read this comment and redo this speaker review yo!
We need more Dan in audio device reviews!
I've bought a sound blaster X katana 3 years ago and I love it. Beautiful sound, nice compact subwoofer that sounds great and it's not that expensive either. It has simple rgb too so that's kind of cool and many different inputs
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
@@OpptimusPrime1 tbh, the sound blaster software can be a bit funky sometimes, but that's all you need, be sure it's plugged into a pc and not a console obviously, but the button on the bar itself or remote can change the eq as well
An awesome idea for labs: after testing the frequency response on products, showing what EQ settings make each products sound the “best it can for gaming/movies/music”
though it may be subjective, it can at least be a starting point for fine adjustment per user
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
Dan has quickly become one of my favorite hosts for LMG!
I have the Leviathan V1. It filled its niche for it's time.
It uses Bluetooth/Aux/Optical and no Razer Synapse or RGB. Picked it up on a sale a few years ago for around half the price of the V2.
I picked up a v1 used for right around $100 CAD and I'm really happy with mine honestly
The bass on the v1 is way better than v2
If you've got the space for it. Try using old home stereo equipment. I use an old Technics SA-5170 and passive speakers I got for around $40 (Hell, the amp was practically free cause I helped a friend clean out his basement and found it), and it all sounds great, miles better than any "gaming" speakers you could buy new at these prices, probably higher. Plus, no stupid software to download and sign into to configure, its all physically right there. All you really need is a rca to aux adapter. Start by asking around family and friends to see if they have anything older stuff laying around.
The brutal honesty gets an instant sub. More reviews need to be like this. Too often a product reviewer, I believe, will soften their final opinion to remain brand friendly. This review, was not that. I look forward to watching more genuine reviews!
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
"It's a waste of money and it's a terrible product" DAMN, Dan is ripping them to shreds
Dan is fast becoming one of my favorite hosts on Ltt. Love it
Really good to see an honest review. It feels way more trustworthy with some negative reviews sometimes.
Dan is the soothing voice we all need in our lives sometimes. Love it!
I would love to see LTT do a round-up of computer speakers at various price points. It's so hard to find decent reviews & comparisons online, and so many sets sound just like the generic speakers from the 90s but in black housings instead of beige
I had the V1 and the proprietary sub connection ended up failing. Wanted to just upgrade to the V2 till I watched this. Why did they remove so much of the connectivity? I would think you'd want more options not less. Ended up going with the SteelSeries Arena 7's. Can have multiple inputs simultaneously. Razer really dropped the ball cause I really loved the V1 and was totally going to buy this one. Oh well...
I have the v1 and have never had a problem with it. After seeing this I wondered if I just had tin ears and v1 has been bad the whole time. I looked at reviews from people who "upgraded" from v1 to v2 and the consensus is it's actually a downgrade. I've successfully avoided feeling ~9 years delayed buyers remorse. Especially since I got a free Ferox (mini bluetooth speakers) when I bought it and those are still doing fine as well.
yeah same here, the sub still works and connects with the connector but it'll fall out every now and then. I don't think that he knew you could adjust the bass from the sound bar. But I agree, I think I'll stick to my V1 until it goes out lol
Nah, get JBL Quantum headphones instead. Full surround sound, wireless, RGB. What more do u need? And you can get those below 200 bucks.
@@PunakiviAddikti I go full open back headphones when I want to wear them. Don’t think I could go back to closed backs unless I really need the sound isolation. The sound accuracy is too good.
@@PunakiviAddikti thats a fair point lol, i got the speaker for free so I wasnt complaining
I’ve transitioned away from speakers for gaming. Headphones are just way better, especially if you have voice chat needs. ANC headphones even better. My new fad is one single speaker box that has Bluetooth support. USB to the PC for system sounds and UA-cam videos, otherwise headphones.
I guess if you like having something on your head all the time. I have a few headphones, and even though my Hifimans and Sennheisers are super cozy they still start to get uncomfortable after a while, plus can make you hot even though they're open back
There is absolutely no way I'm gaming for hours in headphones unless I absolutely need to be in voice chat
Yeah I understand that. I have a friend who hates headphones of all types. I find I get more detail and immersion from headphones, but that's probably because I do a lot of late night sessions and don't want to disturb my neighbors. That in turn would likely have caused me to keep my speakers at volumes too low to really enjoy the sounds.
@@alexossan2829 I blast music at the same volume at 4am as 4pm
Never had complains lol
@@wapniak666 I envy you. We live in a townhouse type neighbourhood built almost 25 years ago and the walls are too thin to do that.
The cheaper bose desktop speakers have done me great for years and were like 90 bucks, highly recommend for a cheaper decent option
Maybe try the G560 (Logitech RGB speakers) if you haven't already. Pricepoint is not too different so definitely a competitor for those who are looking for RGB speakers
Seconded this. I had the v1 Razer soundbar. It was mediocre and died after 1.5 years of light use. Have the G560 now. It's not the best set of speakers in the world, but far far better than the sound bar and the lighting can be fun.
They also sound fantastic now that you can turn the sub down. I feel they are really under rated, especially for their price
@@SorasioM More like overrated. The get crushed by a pair of 2.0 speakers in the 100-150 bucks range.
This is why I have never changed from my Z906 set up....THX certified (BEFORE Razer bought and shilled them) Proper separation, excellent sub.
Dan, Riley and Linus are the best hosts EVER
Yes. A great audio reviewer. Thank you!
I would like to see Dan reviewing the Sound Blaster Katana soundbar, I've heard good things about it but I like Dan's way to review audio stuff a little more than those people
I own the old one and its still rocking , its a beast of its own
I love just how hard he's trying to NOT hate it. The fact that Linus is telling him he's going to have it, just friggin hilarious. 🤣
I love the "I imagine they work independent of each other." then looks at the camera like *please don't sue me*
8:01 Can agree Dan. Before the computer restart, there was no difference in audio quality when the profile was adjusted. After the reboot, the sound profile change was noticeable. Why the EQ wasn't working properly before that is beyond me. Before anyone asks, yes, even though my earbuds are set to bass, the difference in sound was big. Also, if they do a V3, they need more port selection. Especially for $250.
Gotta love Dan:
"OH *impressed sound* feels... cheap and plastic-y"
This is an RGBar.
Dan is really symphatic (while destroying the product 😀)
There should be a theme or sound bite whenever a wild linus appears
1:14 It's 7.1 "virtual surround". one tweeter and full range counts as one channel, so it is actually a 2.1, since the passive radiators don't count.
I use a Klipsch Cinema 600 for my pc.
The subwoofer is a monster in size
Absolutely love it.
I would really like it if you guys would review the Creative Katana v2 and compare it to this one. Also maybe the Polk MagNifi Mini as well; it's not a "gaming soundbar" but it would fit nicely on a desk and is in the same price range as the Katana and this Razer thing.
I was actually choosing between Razer and Creative for my soundbar! I chose to go with Creative as it looks like Razer cut a lot of features in there new one (front 3.5MM). Also I have generally found Razer products to be of below average build quality.
@@71x2 I'm strongly considering it, as I moved from having a few monitors to using a 55" 4k TV at my desk, and I think a soundbar would compliment it well. Not sure if I would get a lot of value from moving away from my current PC speakers or not though.
@@captain_zed Depends on what speaker you have. I mostly made the change as I was using some older Logitech speakers and the extra cables were annoying me a little too much hahaha.
@@71x2 I'm in the same boat. Using some old Logitech speakers (the Z623 2.1 set), which sound pretty nice, but the cables... I hate the cables.
I would not mind a Creative katana v2 review or comparison to this as well 👍
Recently got a ~$100 set of active bookshelf speakers and I was surprised at how good they sound compared to my ~150 sennheisers, I didn't think I'd use speakers much but it really does just sound that much better when the speakers aren't strapped to your head
I have to recommend the Topping VX1 as a usb audio DAC. Usb to the unit from your pc, then speaker wires to your speakers. Good little unit that used to go for around $100 and wipes the floor with anything in the $500 range when paired with most reasonable speakers. I use mine with a pair of Monitor audio silver 6's and it is simply amazing for the price. It has dedicated power and as long as the speakers you run arent some inefficient behemoths, you'll have volume to spare.
I had the v1. It was meh. It died after about 1.5 years. The power input on it used a flimsy, janky, proprietary plug... which I think shorted and killed the soundbar. I doubt this one has improved it much. Don't buy Razer anything... except maybe their laptops and even then, that's a huge maybe.
Edit: See below. Wasn't the power connector, was the connection to the left of it.
If we know anything from Razer headsets, it's that razer and audio equipment are not something you want together.
the originals used a standard barrel plug lol. there have been numerous reports of the v1 dying though, not quite sure what that's all about.
@@goblinslayer5404 Just looked at some pics of it and you're absolutely right, the connector I'm thinking of was just to the left of the barrel connector. In mine it was wobbly and janky from day one and would regularly just fall out with both ends of the connector still attached and leaving the bare pins showing in the back of the sound bar. The connector was 2 or 3 pins surrounded by square plastic connectors.
@@FandangoJon ah u mean the connection to the subwoofer, having 2 pins/wires is standard, but the square plastic part probably isnt standard. mine is wobbly as well, but ive never had it fall out or anything, its always connected in place. perhaps u pulled on the cable? its not normal for it to just fall out unless its broken. its possible that the 2 pins shorting might've killed it. a temporary fix wouldve been hot glue or tape or something so that the wires dont short out. but yeh that's razer quality control for u, the buttons on mine are acting weird af, and it sometimes defaults to Bluetooth when i turn it on and id have to press THE POWER BUTTON to switch the input to aux, rather than pressing the button that switches the inputs (it doesnt work sometimes), buggy piece of sh*t. it was still my best option at the time though, so i cant really regret my purchase.
razer mices are actually really good, only mices, other products are really terrible
okay this man is legit, just straight up raw/say it like it is , like a well done improv tech review.
With my Razer Kraken you have to go into an application list in synapse and enable a THX game mode for that application to support spatial audio. As for windows seeing only stereo, right click your sound icon and change the speaker setup there. This was so poorly tested I really hope that labs change this. Learn to use the software before testing, alot of things require the software. As for hate on Razer, my hammerhead pros are the best earbuds I've ever used, I wonder, how do you feel about them Dan?
I had a headset that said it was 7.1 from razer but I had to download their 7.1 software to activate it. And if you wanted thx audio you had to buy that separately
These videos about sound stuff are very nice to watch, I jus love the mood.
Its really great having a person who actually knows what they're doing reviewing audio products.
I bought this product but EQ doesnt work . Do i need to buy an other software or did i do something wrong. I connected it with cable not using bluetooth.
For those considering purchasing this for their battle station, please don't. I run mostly Razer products (keyboard, mouse, mousepad) but opted for the Soundblaster Katana soundbar instead.
It has a ton more inputs and with the v2 out now with support for HDMI ARC it's a no-brainer if you want something low profile on your desk.
I absolutely love my v1 Katana, and I'm sure others who might have one will probably comment the same thing. They are around the same price, but the Katana is the clear winner if you want more than just Bluetooth and USB input for your sound needs.
Watch Hardware Canucks review if you want to check it out for yourself!
own the old version and its still rocking a couple of years later. plus the darn thing is heavy af and its really solid
They're called Razor, but it was Dan who brought the sharpest edge
Would love to see Dan do a review on reasonably priced desktop speakers
More of this guy. Please.
I tested these yesterday. The worst thing for it's price
While I don't fully agree with the verdict - I mean, I might not know better, but after some fine-tuning of equalizer, I absolutely love my Razer Leviathan v2, the sound quality is really great - this was still entertaining to watch.
The look of disgust on Dan’s face as the Crab Rave began was gold.
I'd love to see you guys test out the Creative Sound BlasterX Katana. Not the V2, but the original one if it's still available there where you guys are at.
At one point Dan wanted to open it to see the driver array. Back in the old days we shone a flashlight through the plastic grill to see inside. Thanks for the review. As always I found the review entertaining.
Dan looks so excited to be a host, and well, we are all excited to have him here as well.
This guy is the best addition to the channel, he's fucking awesome.
I got home, checked my subscriptions and there were so many vids I wanted to watch, but the moment I've seen Dan, I knew this is what I need to watch tonight.
While I entirely agree with the “avoid flashy gamer aesthetic stuff”. I purchased the sound blaster katana V2 earlier in the year. Honestly very impressed by it. I use it for solo games and music etc when I don’t want to use a headset.
Love having Dan come in and shine a light on the fact that "gaming" audio products have been bad for a very long time. I want to see him review something that would be a really solid recommendation for desktop audio.
Just for info 7.1 is worked out as left and right side having front centre and rear, that equals 6 plus you have front centre which usually is for speech a few the 0.1 is the subwoofer
$250 = ~£205, hitting ebay for some solid used hifi gear will get you something that will far out perform this for less money e.g 2.1 system: Cambridge Audio A1 Amp (£40), Sony SS-MS7 Active Sub (£30), Mordaunt Short MS10i Bookshelf Speakers (£50), add in £10 for cables and you've got a room shaking setup for £130. If it has got to be surround then how about a Yamaha RX-V350 5.1 amp (£43) and an Eltax 5.1 speaker system incl. active sub (£75) chuck in £20 for cables and that's a cinema experience for a total of £138 delivered!
Those things on the back of the center speaker are bass radiators they move from air being moved around by the speakers they aren't actually drivers
I much prefer dedicated speakers over a soundbar, but some people just like being able to set a thin box on their desk or under their TV and have better sound than what is built into their monitor or TV.
For those people, I would still recommend getting a wider soundbar because it allows for better imaging and soundstage (allows you to locate enemies by sound). Even at this price, you can get one with a wireless sub, so it's even more convenient than this. If you also need it to fit in the space that this does, you're pretty much out of luck.
It seems like the price is volatile, but the Philips B8405 soundbar has eARC so you can use HDMI for the sound. One less cable because it goes between your device and the TV. The one eARC device I have works with monitors that don't support eARC, but different devices work differently.
I purchased a MK1 of these many years ago because it was open box at best BestBuy for real cheap. Its dead now, but it was ok when it worked. Except for the part where the sub connector was terrible and I had to solder it directly to the soundbar and the Bluetooth receiver died and it auto powered off after 10 minutes if not being used (and you couldn't disable the "feature"). But it sounded OK. Now I use JBL powered monitors and life is much better.
The thing about the Dolby Atmos test video on UA-cam, is that UA-cam doesn't support 5.1, or better, surround sound. It only supports stereo audio. Just to keep that in mind for everyone.
I bought one at half price. I liked too loud as a kid, at this time of my life I just care about clarity, and volume (not loudness).
I originally bought the model without the subwoofer. It wasn't bad for my uses. You can absolutely put that one into a backpack for your laptop.
But I like a little more bass on my desktop. So I upgraded to the next, this one here. It also serves as a stereo in my bedroom. I'm good with it.
The closing statement is amazing! Sort it out Razer! Cheers Dan :)
I’ve had it for around 2 months and it’s been for me. All I play are RPG and single player games on PC. I use it for the switch to and it’s been fine for smash. No complaints for me. Of course, it’s expensive and there are better products for the same price. In all honesty, I’m a razer fan. Im no expert to sound so I believe you when you say it’s crap but as for me I’m fine with it.
I got a Leviathan V2 X (more or less the Leviathan without the sub) and for under 100 bucks I'm happy with it. If I want true surround I will hook up my Roku surround system up to my PC, but for just my desk this thing is fine.
I have the same and it's not bad. How good is the Roku sound system? I'm intrigued after seeing your comment as I'm looking to put the LV2X in my second bedroom for my office laptop, and now on the hunt for a new soundbar for my private laptop in my bedroom office.
This is how reviews should be. No fluff or drawn out filler.
I picked up the Creative Sound Blaster Katana v2 bar to use with my gaming PC when my speakers died. Would love to get your thoughts on it. So far I really like it, and the sound quality is great (to me) with music and gaming - granted I'm by no means an audiophile.
No product razer ever made had good audio, doubt this soundbar will
Loved Dan's realism and humor, so great!
I love Dan so much, he just makes all the videos he's in that much more enjoyable
The sound with the usb is not so great, but over Bluetooth is wayyyy better
Linus: Hard Chaotic
Dan: Soft Chaotic
Glad I found this video. Was about to pull the trigger on these v2s. You talked me out of it
This guys brilliant. Tearing stuff apart with authority.