Razer is known for its gaming peripherals for computers, but the company has recently started making headphones for mobile gamers as well. Late last year, Razer launched THX-certified TWS headsets – now the company has released a full-size Razer Opus model that’s great for smartphones.
Razer Opus: Design
The first thing to expect from a Razer headset is a striking gaming design. Such that it is backlit, with a large logo and a massive frame. But all this is not about the Opus model – it is more classic, with a solid black body and compact ear pads. The design of the headphones is somewhat reminiscent of the hits from Sony and Bose.
A black case is included with the headset, in which it is convenient to store the device itself and all additional wires. The kit includes a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging, a wire with 3.5 mm plugs and a plug for connecting headphones on an airplane. Everything is done with high quality and neatly packaged: even the USB has plastic caps.
The headset has movable cups: they fold easily, making the device as compact as possible. In the open position, they are slightly pushed forward – this design is closer to the anatomical position of the ears, due to which the headphones sit comfortably. In addition, the ear cushions are soft and do not put pressure on your ears. The only thing that can get in the way is if you wear glasses, the temples will be pressed against your head.
The headband is made of metal, extends by about 4 cm on each side. It’s pretty easy to make adjustments to your size. All other parts are made of matte plastic: if you do not touch it with greasy hands, it will keep its “marketable” appearance for a long time.
Control and functions
You can control the gadget using the buttons on the right earpiece: change the volume and turn on active noise cancellation. Speaking of shumodave: the model is equipped with a system of 4 microphones, due to which ANC is realized. In fact, the ear cushions themselves well isolate the ears from external sounds, and if you turn on the noise reduction, you generally find yourself in a soundless space alone with your thoughts or music.
If you hold down the ANC button, on the contrary, the surround sound amplification mode will turn on. This feature is useful on the street if you are crossing the road, or in the office – to talk with colleagues.
To set up your headphones, you can download the Opus app to your smartphone (available on Google Play and the App Store). The system also offered to additionally install the Razer Audio plug-in – but it will only be able to enable or disable the THX sound, which we will discuss below. But in Opus, you can adjust the equalizer and turn off time of the headphones when idle, update the firmware and find out the battery level.
Since the headphones have several built-in microphones, they can be used during phone calls, Skype, or to record audio messages.
Sound
The Razer Opus is THX Certified, a renowned home theater system builder who knows a lot about sound quality. The earbuds provide surround sound for an immersive content experience – be it music, game soundtrack or movie. This is also achieved at the expense of good noise reduction: external noise does not interfere with the perception of music in any way. The headset also uses AAC and SBC codecs when connected to compatible devices.
By default, the headphones are set to a THX preset, but the Opus app has an equalizer in which you can change the playback mode. The available programs are “Boost”, “Vocals”, “Boost Bass” and “High Definition”. But it is impossible to set the settings manually (by frequencies).
Conveniently, when you remove the headphones, playback stops. And if you put them back on, it starts again. This allows you to save battery power on your smartphone and the headset itself.
Autonomy
The manufacturer promises that the headphones will work up to 25 hours with active noise canceling enabled. We did not manage to discharge the headset after a week of use – therefore, the declared operating time can be trusted.
If you configure automatic shutdown after 5 minutes of “idle”, the headset will not waste its charge at all, which is very convenient. When you turn it on again, it will already connect to a familiar smartphone by itself, and you will not have to start a search for Bluetooth devices.
Conclusion
The headset turned out to be really interesting – and not only for mobile gamers, but for all music lovers. We especially liked the sound quality, the ANC and the good package – there is even an adapter for connecting headphones on the plane. Overall, the Razer Opus is a great option for everyday use. And the headset is cheaper than competitors with similar characteristics.
