The original Leviathan soundbar has already been around for a few years. It was high time for an upgrade, Razer apparently thought and announced the successor just a few days ago. We have subjected the combination of soundbar and subwoofer to an extensive review and are thrilled. You can read more about it in the Razer Leviathan V2 review.
Specifications
| Device type | Soundbar, 2.1 system |
| Frequency Range | 45 Hz – 20,000 Hz |
| Driver | 2x full-range driver, 2x tweeter driver, 2x passive radiator driver, 1x subwoofer driver |
| Connectors | Power connector, USB Type-C, subwoofer connector |
| Bluetooth | Version 5.2 |
| Dimensions | Soundbar: 500 mm x 91.3 mm x 84 mm; Subwoofer: 220 mm x 220 mm x 241.5 mm |
| Weight | Soundbar: 1.4 kg; Subwoofer: 3.0 kg |
| Special features | RGB lighting (Razer Chroma); THX Spatial Audio; headphone quick switching |
| Price | € 227.90 * |
Razer Leviathan V2 review: the scope of delivery
Like the manufacturer’s last products, the Razer Leviathan V2 also relies on a dignified, brown cardboard packaging, which is printed on both sides with a picture or the information of the contents. The new understatement certainly suits Razer well.
After opening the box, we are immediately greeted by a rectangular cardboard slipcase that promises an easy setup of the soundbar in just four simple steps. Underneath, the soundbar rests, safely packed in a bag.
In a small box we find, besides the power supply, all the necessary cables. Among them are two power cables and a USB-A to USB-C cable for connecting to a PC or notebook. In addition, there are beveled rubber feet that allow changing to the straight, pre-installed feet if desired.
Logically, the subwoofer takes up most of the bulky box, which rests safely in a single compartment below the soundbar and accessories. A quick-start guide, including the obligatory Razer sticker, rounds out the package.
Design and workmanship
Apart from the prominent Razer logo on the front of the soundbar, as well as the top of the subwoofer, the design of the Razer Leviathan V2 is what you would expect from a soundbar.
The manufacturer largely relies on a matte or glossy black color scheme. The front of the soundbar is dominated by small, hexagonal outlets and interrupted by a shiny silver manufacturer logo in the center. The THX Spatial Audio logo is placed in the center of the right edge. The underside has little to offer besides the removable rubberized feet. Here, however, sits the LED light bar at the front, which relies on Razer Chroma RGB lighting.
On the other hand, things get more interesting on the back. There we find the connections of the Leviathan V2 in the middle. The power cable is connected on the left, the USB connection cable is in the middle and the subwoofer is connected on the right. To the right and left are the passive radiators, which take up about two-thirds of the back.
On the top, we find the soundbar’s controls at the front. These allow (from left to right) a choice of audio source, enable or disable Bluetooth, are used to turn on and off, and let us increase or decrease the volume.
The subwoofer directly catches the eye with its powder-coated exterior, but otherwise turns out less spectacular. Here, the bass is played out at the bottom, where the connection cable including rubberized feet can also be found.
Workmanship of the Razer Leviathan V2
Basically, the workmanship of the soundbar and subwoofer is on a high level, corresponding to the price. The components feel valuable and leave a pleasant haptic impression. That fits.
Commissioning and setup
Right out of the box, Razer promises a foolproof startup that should take just a few steps and minutes. The Razer Leviathan V2 can really keep this promise in the test.
Simply connect the power cable and the power adapter, plug it into the wall socket and plug it into the soundbar. Connect the subwoofer to the soundbar and the latter to the PC or notebook via USB and you are ready to go. Okay… Now, of course, you should position the combination – the soundbar (size: 500 x 91.3 x 84 mm), for example, fits comfortably underneath the monitor, while the cube-shaped subwoofer requires considerably more space due to its dimensions (220 x 220 x 241.5 mm).
Now all you really have to do is turn on the sound system and select your preferred audio source, and you’re ready to go. Since the Razer Leviathan V2 is a dedicated gaming soundbar, the variety of connections is manageable.
More precisely, the soundbar is aimed at a very specific clientele because it can only be used with a PC or notebook and Bluetooth sources. Due to the lack of HDMI, jack or optical output, console players are left out in the cold.
A connection with the TV is also simply not possible. Here, for example, the corresponding gaming counterpart Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 (our test) is much more varied, but also costs around 80 euros more than the Leviathan.
Operation and app connection of the Razer Leviathan V2
The 2.1 sound system is operated via the dedicated buttons on the top, which can only handle basic commands, though. The operation via the Razer Synapse software or the Razer Audio mobile app is much more versatile. The lighting can also be fine-tuned via the Razer Chroma RGB app.
The full potential of the soundbar can only be accessed via the software or app. Here, you can switch between stereo and THX Spatial Audio sound and adjust the sound with the help of a 10-band equalizer. If desired, you can also focus on the center speaker at the touch of a button, for example, to reproduce voices more clearly.
All settings can also be made quickly and easily from a smartphone or tablet in combination with the mobile app. If desired, you can also control the audio playback via Bluetooth connection and adjust the volume, skip to the previous or next track, or mute the Razer Leviathan V2 at the touch of a button.
How good does the Razer Leviathan V2 sound?
The soundbar-subwoofer composite covers a frequency band from 45 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The maximum audio quality is 24 bits and 48,000 Hz according to Windows sound settings. In comparison: The predecessor only reached down to 180 Hz in the bass range. The sound is realized by a total of six drivers in the soundbar and a 140 mm woofer inside the subwoofer.
For our Razer Leviathan V2 review, we put the soundbar and subwoofer under the microscope in various categories. The system had to hold its own in gaming mode as well as when streaming music and watching videos on YouTube, Netflix and other streaming platforms.
Already in the factory settings and in stereo mode, the Leviathan convinces with a clearly defined and powerful sound that reproduces bass, mids and trebles clearly differentiated and rich in detail. Massive explosions, voice-heavy content like podcasts and trebles do not pose any significant challenges to the system.
Turned up full, the subwoofer makes the home decor dance with its power. The clearly defined highs reveal no problems with sibilants, i.e. sibilants and sibilants in the voice, and remain clear and distortion-free even at maximum volume. At the same time, the sound system offers enormous reserves in terms of volume, so that presumably no one should play audio content beyond the 80 percent mark.
In practice, the volume levelled out at 25-30 percent in classic office, music and gaming applications in our test. It’s good to know, however, that you could also fill an entire party with sound and tear down your own four walls… if you wanted to.
In Bluetooth mode (version 5.2), the latency is around 60 milliseconds, which is absolutely sufficient for listening to music and watching movies or video content without realizing a noticeable delay. For gaming, however, you should fall back on the USB cable to completely eliminate the delay.
THX Spatial Audio: How good is the surround sound?
In addition to stereo sound, virtual surround sound can be activated thanks to THX Spatial Audio after you download the corresponding PC software. However, this works fully automatically during the initial setup.
In combination with the 7.1 sound, the sound of supported games or content is noticeably enhanced. Razer actually creates a spatial sound image that comes astonishingly close to a real surround sound environment. For example, games allow precise spatial localization of footsteps or other acoustic cues, which is an advantage especially in competitive titles.
The technology cannot quite keep up with a real Dolby Atmos environment of high-priced soundbars, but the comparison is not really fair in view of the price of the Leviathan V2 either. Considering the price, THX Spatial Audio in the Razer soundbar convinces with a noticeable sound improvement and successful implementation.
RGB lighting with Razer Chroma
The RGB lighting, which is implemented via the LED strip on the underside of the Leviathan V2, should not go unmentioned either. It relies on the Razer Chroma ecosystem and can thus be synchronized with other devices from the manufacturer.
A total of 18 lighting zones can display an almost infinite number of color effects or gradients in 16.8 million colors. This turns your desktop into a real disco. If you want it to be. If you like it more discreet, you can also deactivate the RGB lighting completely.
Razer Leviathan V2 review: conclusion
With the Razer Leviathan V2, the manufacturer has created a compact and chic soundbar that is a worthy successor to the original. The design is both elegant and discreet (at least without RGB lighting), the workmanship is convincing and the sound quality is on an excellent level.
For the called price of around 250 Euros, the inclined buyer gets a lot. The soundbar and subwoofer communicate with PCs and notebooks via cable and can even be connected wirelessly to audio sources via Bluetooth. The operation via software or mobile app is impeccable.
However, savings have been made in terms of connections. Neither a 3.5 mm jack, nor an optical output or HDMI are available, which disqualifies the gaming soundbar from being used with a TV or game consoles. A wireless subwoofer would have been a nice addition, but the lack of Dolby Atmos can be forgiven for the price. On the other hand, the device shines in all criteria on the PC. So, if you know what you are getting into, you will get a really successful soundbar-subwoofer combination with the Razer Leviathan V2.
Razer Leviathan V2
Workmanship
Sound quality
Features
Value for money
87/100
Compact, chic and high-quality gaming soundbar with strong sound and enormous volume. However, only suitable for PC users due to fewer ports and options.
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