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A little choice is never a bad thing, right?

Once upon a time, headsets only had one connectivity option: 3.5mm jack connectors. Usually this meant one for audio out (the cans) and a second for audio in (the mic).

Then things started to change.

Mobile devices started to ship with a single, unified 3.5mm jack port, that carried both audio out and in capability on the same cable. [Before they were ‘brave’ enough to drop the port altogether, amirite? – Sarcasm Ed.] Before long, laptop makers realised they could borrow this tech, saving valuable port space on their chassis.

All of a sudden, those twin-cabled headsets seemed less useful. On the flip-side, if you bought one with a unified jack design, it then wouldn’t play nicely with your traditional three-port sound card.

Enter the USB port. Not only can this jack of all trades handle everything with one port, it can also provide power to devices like speakers and headsets [which is great for important things like, uh, RGB lighting? – Sarcasm Ed., again]

Thankfully Razer’s newest contender – the Electra V2 headset – comes in both USB and unified 3.5mm flavours, so you can choose the right one for your setup. It also features 7.1 virtual surround sound, and a detachable boom mic, ideal for streamers who prefer a desk-mounted microphone setup. [Or listening to music on the go without looking like an off-duty call centre operative – It’s me! Sarcasm Ed.]

Razer Electra V2 headsets side by side

The unified 3.5mm Electra V2 variant has the advantage of being able to work with the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, so you’re not tied down to one proprietary headset per device

The USB Electra V2, on the other hand, will work with pretty much any PC (and also the PS4), getting around any compatibility issues you might run into with that pesky unified 3.5mm jack. It does also feature RGB lighting, and that’s not sarcasm this time – you really can make your ears glow like a festive Cyberman, if you so desire.

Other than those differences, and the fact the USB version weights a paltry 16g more, the spec of the headsets is identical:

Razer Electra V2 headset

  • 40 mm drivers
  • 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound
  • Multiplatform compatibility
  • Removable boom mic
  • Lightweight, flexible aluminium frame with suspended headrest
  • Lush leatherette ear cushions

Headphones

  • Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
  • Impedance: 32 ± 15% Ω
  • Sensitivity: 115 ± 3 dB
  • Max input power:50 mW
  • Drivers: 40 mm with Neodymium magnets
  • Cable length:1.3 m / 4.27 ft.
  • Approximate weight: 294 g USB / 278g 3.5mm

Removable boom mic

  • Frequency response: 100 Hz – 10 kHz
  • Signal-to-noise ratio: >= 50 dB
  • Sensitivity (@1 kHz): -41 ± 3 dB
  • Pick-up pattern:Unidirectional

Controls on headset

  • Volume up / down, mic mute

The new Razer Electra V2 headsets are available now from the Razer store. It’s priced at £54.99 / $59.99 / €59.99 for the 3.5mm variant, costing an extra tenner for the USB version, making it £64.99 / $69.99 / €69.99.

Given that choice is the theme here, we’ve asked Razer if there might be a Bluetooth version of the Electra V2 headsets on the way – we’ll let you know what they say.


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