Audio accessories are a must when it comes to video games. Regardless of whether it is a set of speakers, headphones or TWS, audio accessories allow individuals to better immerse themselves in the world of video games. But what about soundbars? Soundbars are usually used in conjunction with televisions but Razer has released the Razer Leviathan V2 X compact soundbar which is an affordable version of the flagship Leviathan V2 soundbar.
The Leviathan V2 X is designed for use with computer monitors rather than televisions. In addition, it is also suitable to be used as a decoration to complete the user's gaming set because the Leviathan V2 X is equipped with the Razer Chroma RGB system. The question is, is this soundbar good enough to meet all these needs.
Specifications And Design
Razer Leviathan V2 X
Soundbar type
Audio Drivers Full-range racetrack drivers: 2 x 2.0 x 4.0″
Passive radiator: 2 x 2.0 x 4.1″
Bluetooth 5.0 tethering
USB-C Power Delivery input
Output None
Razer Synapse app support (Windows/macOS)
Razer Audio (Android/iOS)
Physical Button Controls
Selling Price RM499
There aren't many soundbars on the market that come in a compact form factor. For the Razer Leviathan V2 X, this is possible because Razer uses a racetrack-shaped audio driver to produce a thin and small speaker. To achieve such a compact size, sacrifices have been made with Razer ditching subwoofer support, tweeters and even a THX audio system.
Not only is the size reduced compared to the Leviathan V2, the selling price is also reduced by around 65% cheaper than the Leviathan V2. Even so, Razer's iconic element is still maintained, which is the Razer Chroma RGB system support, only it is reduced to 14 zones compared to 18 zones on their flagship product.
The interior of the Leviathan V2 X consists of two oval-shaped active audio drivers and two passive radiators that according to Razer the audio produced can reach up to 90dB at a distance of 1 meter. It's a pretty good feat for a small soundbar placed on a desk close to the user's face.
The Razer Leviathan V2 X does not offer any output if you want to connect wired headphones for example. For input it uses a USB-C connection only with a USB-C to USB-C cable (L-shaped end) included in every purchase. For me it's not a problem because I use a laptop with multiple USB-C ports.
But if other users are using a PC, a normal massage USB-A to USB-C cable can be used but it may be a little difficult without the 90-degree L-shaped end that prevents the cable from folding all the time. I recommend purchasing a USB-A to USB-A adapter only because it is more practical.
Another connection option is via Bluetooth 5.0 which can be paired with two devices.
This Razer compact soundbar also uses a square design that is minimalistic and looks elegant. On the front is the Razer logo on the fabric finish, above there are physical buttons that feel good to press for power, volume, and the option to change the connection (cable or Bluetooth).
A small RGB strip is also visible on the front and below is another RGB strip. At the bottom there are also legs that allow the lighting to be spread better. Finally on the back there is only one USB-C port. There is absolutely no input for the 3.5mm or optical jack that is usually present as standard on a soundbar.
Audio Quality
The Razer Leviathan V2 X is sold at a price of RM499 which is much cheaper than the Leviathan V2 priced at RM1239. For this soundbar, the price is quite affordable. But the audio quality produced is less than satisfactory. This is because it is just loud and loud so it does not provide an immersive audio experience.
Bass/Lows
The bass produced is weak. It rumbles well, but no definition makes it sink. This indirectly does not give lively results and does not give any satisfaction. Because of that, even though this is a soundbar specifically for video games – video games with explosions, gunfire are not good. Not to mention listening to music and watching action movies.
Vocals/Mids
This soundbar is capable of producing balanced audio. In terms of vocals or mids, a woman's or a man's voice is clearly heard when listening to music - but it lacks definition and quickly gets boring in my opinion. Meaning, this soundbar is suitable for listening to audio from special scenes in video games where there is a lot of conversation between characters or also used to listen to podcast content.
High Tone/Highs
Like the bass earlier, the high notes are also very soft. A good level of treble is not achieved and is not sharp enough. It was like trying to poke the ear, but not with a sharp knife but with a blunt knife. Even after changing the equalizer built into the app, it's still not to my taste.
Applications And Controls
There are two application options, namely Razer Synapse for control via a Windows or macOS computer and the Razer Audio application via Android or iOS. As for the Razer Audio app, it's very simple and user-friendly. After pairing via Bluetooth the user is given the option to turn RGB Razer Chroma on or off and is also given the option to turn on the Audio Reactive feature where the RGB lighting follows the audio beat.
Then there is also a basic equalizer option that can be selected either flat, game, movie, or music. Input options are also provided whether you want USB or Bluetooth if the Leviathan V2 X is connected to the phone and computer at the same time. Razer also includes volume controls in the app along with media controls for mute, skip, pause and play.
On the Razer Synapse, I still don't like the interface design. It looks messy, although it is easy to use. It has the same features and functions as the Razer Audio app, but there are extras like an equalizer that can be adjusted better.
For Chroma, there is control of the brightness level, the type of light movement and there is an option to synchronize with other Razer products that have Chroma through the Chroma Studio Module which allows all Razer products owned by the user to have the same lighting.
The physical buttons on the Leviathan V2 X as I mentioned earlier feel good to press. The first button is for input, then there is a Bluetooth button where when pressed the light turns blue, a power button that only needs to be pressed once and a volume control button.
Conclusion
Razer Leviathan V2 X is an affordable soundbar but the audio performance of this product is not satisfactory enough for a product priced at RM499. It has a beautiful design, RGB Chroma support that produces interesting gaming modes and user-friendly applications.
But for an audio product, audio quality is the most important thing and you can get other speakers at a cheaper price or if you want RGB there are options under RM300 such as Creative Pebble Pro speakers. Pay in RM100 more, you can get a bigger soundbar with a wooden subwoofer like Philips offers.
I probably won't use this soundbar again, and would rather use a set of headphones for better audio and a more satisfying listening experience. We can only recommend the Leviathan V2 X to hardcore fans of Razer products who want to have a complete ecosystem at home.
Pro
Minimalist design and looks neat.
Razer Chroma support that livens up the table.
A user-friendly and youth-controlled application.
Cons
Unsatisfactory audio quality.
Connectivity options are limited to Bluetooth and USB-C only.
Relatively high selling price for the audio performance offered.