Razer Opus Review

Razer’s First Non-Gaming Over-Ear Headphones

Razer’s one of the most well-known brands when it comes to gaming gear. Razer’s gear is usually jam-packed with LED lights, flashy colors, and large, bulky designs. This look appeals to the market of gamers who want people to know they are gamers.

But that’s all about to change…

The Opus is Razer’s attempt at an everyday pair of wireless headphones. At a glance, these headphones might even be mistaken for Sony’s WH1000-XM3. Although they look the part, they are a lot more budget-friendly.

So, is Razer’s first big move outside the gaming market a hit or miss? Let’s find out in our in-depth Razer Opus Review…

Design

The build is mainly plastic, like most non-gaming headphones currently on the market. The earpads are covered in leatherette. They are decently padded, although as with all leatherette covered pads, there is some heat buildup when worn for prolonged periods of time.

Comfy and secure enough…

The headphones are ergonomic, though, with the ear pads swiveling so that the earphones can lay flat in the included carrying case.

The metal strip along the inside adds some extra durability, but also helps the headband fit securely on your head. It grips well, and we never felt like it might fall off our heads, even after jumping up during a heated FIFA 20 argument.

Not good with glasses…

The headphones were overall really comfy, but unfortunately, they weren’t comfy with glasses on. It’s unfortunate since Razer has some of the most comfortable gaming headphones for people who wear glasses. It would make sense that they would add those carvings in here as well, but they didn’t.

The design cues might have been taken from Sony’s flagships, but Razer opts to keep the physical buttons on the side of the ear pads, instead of touch gestures. They are easy to find and very responsive.

The headphones are lightweight, comfortable, grip well, and the earpads are nicely padded. At a reasonable price, there is little to fault other than the fact that they aren’t comfy with glasses on.

Sound

Up towards the lower mid-range frequencies, the frequency response is neutral. Great for casual listeners of any genre. The bass won’t eat up the rest of the mix, and the guitars and pianos will sound true to the mix.

Razer worked with THX to create a vast array of different EQ presets using the Opus app. The profiles all make some massive changes to the sound, and we are sure there’s a profile that suits every person’s tastes. That said, we would have liked to see an option to make your own EQ profile.

Thin on the high-end…

The largest problem sound-wise is the subdued high-end frequencies. Above 2000kHz, there is a lot of de-emphasis happening. This means strings, some vocals, and cymbals will all sound lifeless and tucked back far away in the mix. However, there are EQ settings that help with this problem, like the Vocal preset, which will boost vocals.

The microphone isn’t great. There is a lot of de-emphasis in the lower frequencies. It does help keep low hums to a minimum, but male vocals might sound robotic or not loud enough. The microphone also isn’t very clear. We won’t recommend using these for any sort of professional video or voice call.

Eliminates the noise…

Razer has also included what they call hybrid ANC that works well. However, not to the same degree as some other headphones.

On our morning commute, we did find the headphones were able to decrease the volume of footsteps, car’s rumbling, and passerby’s chatter by a considerable amount.

Overall, we never felt like we had to turn the volume up when outside, which is the reason you’d buy ANC headphones.

Connectivity and Battery Life

The Razer Opus comes packed with Bluetooth version 4.2 and supports AAC for IOS users and aptX for Android users with supported devices. Unfortunately, there is no Bluetooth multipoint. This means you can’t connect to two devices or more at once.

Can be powered by a computer…

There is also a 3.5mm jack if you still own a device that actually still sports an audio jack. That said, if you want to use these on a computer, a 3.5mm jack will come in handy.

It’s also handy to use when the battery dies since you can still listen to music plugged in with a dead battery.

Long-lasting and quick charging…

Speaking about the battery, Razer claims that the battery life on these bad boys is 25 hours on a full charge, with ANC on. This is decent and more than enough for even the longest flight or commute.

If you ever run out of juice, charging the headphones are fast and convenient since they use USB-C to charge.

Who is the Razer Opus for?

These headphones are perfect for commuters who want a decent pair of ANC headphones but don’t want to pay the flagship prices. They can subdue a lot of the everyday noise during your commute, and the great battery life means you probably won’t ever run out of charge.

They are also perfect for everyday listeners who want the hi-res audio codecs wrapped up neatly in a comfortable, stylish, and affordable package.

If you are someone who has headphones on all day at work, these might be right up your alley.

How does it stack up?

Want better noise-canceling or the best of the best when it comes to hi-res codecs? Then Sony’s flagship products with LDAC and aptX HD and industry-leading active noise canceling are just the ticket.

If you are willing to wait and save a bit longer, you will be getting your money’s worth.

Razer Opus Review Pros and Cons

Looking For Something Else?

Need a pair of budget headphones? Then check out our reviews of the Best Headphones Under 100 and the Best Headphones Under 20 currently available. Or if a Bluetooth connection is a must-have, take a look at our reviews of the Best Wireless Bluetooth Headphones and the Best Bluetooth Headphones Under 100 on the market.

Or, lose yourself in the music with the Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds you can buy in 2023.

Razer Opus Review Final Thoughts

Razer offers a great pair of headphones at a stellar price. They are comfy, durable, and sound decent. With so much competition at this price range, what really makes these stand out, is how close they come to the flagship level.

However, a lack of aptX HD, no customizable EQ, and poor microphone performance definitely knock some points off the score. But if you have a firm $200 budget, then these are about the best you can buy.

Here’s to a better-sounding commute.