The new Razer BlackShark V2 is billed as "the definitive esports gaming headset," but for those of us not on the eponymous esports team 1337, we can look at this new Razer can in a different light.

Yes, it's really great. From audio response, to comfort, to design, to software, the BlackShark V2 is one of the best gaming headsets available today, and possibly the best, and the fact that Razer has kept the price down to a vaguely affordable $100 means that the classic HyperX head set and going head-to-head with it, and for my money, it's hard to beat.

The original BlackShark was introduced in 2012 and had a more industrial design than most, with a wire-frame microphone. The sound quality, comfort, and clarity of the microphone made it immensely popular in the esports community, and it was this pillar that Razer built the BlackShark V2 on this year.

However, this is not an iterative update, but an entirely new headset. It features a new design and gives us our first look at Razer's TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers. Comparisons to the Cloud Alpha work here as well, as the tuned ports of the new TriForce drivers work in a manner not dissimilar to the HyperX design. Separate ports for bass, mids, and treble ensure that the different tones do not interfere with each other as they do in the dual-chamber layout of competing products.

The BlackShark V2 also has levels and auditory clarity that would make you doubly surprised to hear it from a headset costing only $100. But there is a richness in the midrange and velvety bass that you can only get from the BlackShark V2, and the sound quality is not as good as you would expect from a headset costing only $100.

The Razer Synapse software allows you to adjust its detailed audio to your heart's content thanks to the included USB sound card. You also have access to THX Spatial Audio software. To my real surprise, this enhances not only the gaming experience, but also the experience of listening to high-res music.

I'm an audiophile, and I'm obsessed with Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) offered by Tidal, and when I played Take the Power Back by Rage Against the Machine at high volume on really good audio equipment There are no words to describe the joy of slap bass. My go-to headphones are the Audeze LCD-3s, which are beautiful open-back headphones with planar magnetic drivers, among other things. They are great for both music and gaming, but are expensive because of these advanced drivers.

The BlackShark V2 may not have the glorious clarity of a worn-out planar magnetic set, but the tonal qualities of the TriForce drivers work amazingly well with the THX software in music mode for a great experience.

And it's great in-game, too. There's a warmth to the musical experience that oscillates between the melancholy of Swift's folklore and the toe-tapping of Seasick Steve's latest, but after the explosive mission of Battlefield V, you feel a bit shell-shocked.

It's intense and all-encompassing.

And THX Spatial Audio comes into its own here, providing detailed game audio as well as clear positional signals and environmental cues. However, one week after today's launch, Razer will be announcing THX Game Profiles. These are dedicated game-specific profiles accessible via Synapse that have been specifically tailored with input from real game developers. At launch, 18 games will be supported, including Apex Legends, Valorant, CS: GO, and Modern Warfare.

But just as the auditory experience is absolutely critical, so is the overall design, which is Razer's restrained best. There is one microphone mute toggle, one perfectly simple volume wheel, and that's it. The braided green cables above each ear cup are the only color representation on this headset.

Of all the gaming peripherals in the world, you should never put colored lights on anything you wear on your head. Use something else for peacocking.

The design of the BlackShark V2 is simple, functional, and surprisingly comfortable; it's lighter than the Cloud Alpha, and while the foam padding may not be as luxurious as the leather padding, you won't sweat after long hours of gaming with it on. I wear this headset for extended periods of time, both for work and play. I wear this headset for work and play.

Thankfully, the microphone is a removable Razer HyperClear Cardioid, designed for voice clarity above all else. It is also designed to reproduce the actual voice. By default, the tone is intentionally lightweight and the bass is cut down considerably, but that allows it to cut through when you are speaking. It is not overly pleasant, but it gets the job done.

However, the microphone equalizer in the Synapse software can make all the difference when you want to bring back the smooth, deep vocal tones.

The Razer BlackShark V2 is one hell of a package and one hell of a headset. I'm still a big fan of wireless Razer Threshers, but I'm less enamored with many of the headsets these days and have been raving about how good the Cloud Alpha is ever since I first put a pre-production version on my head before it was released.

But the BlackShark V2, thanks to its combination of great price, high-quality audio, and impressive software, has driven the HyperX headset from its once-secure place in my heart.