Review Verdict: The Razer Leviathan V2, in our review in the Philippines, fits well into any setup with its compact size, signature gamer-like aesthetic, and booming sound. While the sound and hardware ports aren’t audiophile-grade, those who like watching a lot of movies on their PC or listening to a lot of bass-heavy music such as rap and EDM will surely be pleased.
Pros
- Soundbar and Subwoofer pairing delivers full, boomy sound
- Chroma RGB lighting sets the mood for gaming
- THX Cinematic experience
Cons
- On the expensive side
- Lack of 3.5mm audio port and other essentials
- Sound isn’t ideal for audiophiles
The Leviathan, according to ancient mythology, is a sea monster that struck fear into sailors back in olden times. Our guess is that Razer chose its name for its speaker product to let consumers know that this speaker isn’t just all bark, but no bite. It not only looks intimidating but performs the part too. We put the second-generation Leviathan to the test to see if it lives up to its lofty aspirations.
Design
The Razer Leviathan V2 is a soundbar that actually fits on smaller tables. This is a big deal since most high-end units were designed for living room use and will often be a struggle for those in more compact working spaces. Looking at the device up front, it is mostly constructed of a metallic speaker grille. Unmistakably at the center of attention is the signature Razer snake logo, marking its membership in the premium lineup. These parts conceal the 2 full-range drivers and tweeters located beneath the frame.
On the device’s right side is the badge of THX Spatial Audio, lending it credibility for movie marathon sessions. We’ll get more into that later.
The soundbar’s upper portion shelters the typical array of buttons consisting of source, Bluetooth connectivity, volume controls, and a power switch. All of these light up depending on which function the user is attempting to toggle.
Facing the rear are the ports for wires to connect to the speaker. There isn’t a lot going on here as there are only 3 ports: USB-C for PC connection, Power, and the Subwoofer plug. While the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack is noticeable, the fact holds true that this decision minimizes the clutter that often plagues systems such as these; favoring a more wireless arrangement in 2022. These options are sandwiched by 2 passive radiators whose function is to further relay the depth in the sound.
If you look at the soundbar from underneath, you’ll find a mostly barren surface save for the interchangeable rubber feet and the light strip. Both provide immense functionality – the former allows you to decide how to angle the sound within the room, while the latter bounces light off the surface to give that signature Razer Chroma look you won’t mistake for anything else. Switching out the rubber magnet feet is effortless since these come off and on without any difficulty.
The subwoofer is meant to stay on the floor and is designed as such. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles that the soundbar does, nor does it get any form of RGB lighting, but it blends in cleanly into any setup.
A simple Razer logo can be spotted in certain lighting conditions at the top of its cubic design, while the bottom conceals the down-firing subwoofer. Besides that just think of any similar unit you’ve seen in the past and we can say with certainty that this one will look identical.
User Interface
We found connecting to the Razer Leviathan V2 during our review in the Philippines to be easy peasy. It comes with the latest Bluetooth 5.2 on board, and we never had any issues with interrupted connections whether it be from a laptop or a smartphone. Things worked perfectly fine when we opted for the wired connection via PC as well.
You can toggle between EQ modes on the Razer Audio app, which will change the characteristics of the sound quite a bit.
Go into the Chroma menu for the expected suite of color display options available for the light strip mentioned previously. Choosing here will select the hue emitted by the speaker, sort of like the ideal mood lighting to place you in a state of mind, whether it’s time to relax or to get competitive.
Audio Quality
We’ve already mentioned this earlier, but producing sound for the Razer Leviathan V2 are 2 full-range drivers, 2 tweeters, 2 passive radiators, and a down-firing subwoofer.
If we could summarize the aural characteristics of the Razer Leviathan V2 in one word, it would be: bassy. The soundbar-subwoofer pairing thumps vibrations with no regard for the durability of items in the immediate area. Everything played over the device sounds deep and packs a lot of punch, but fortunately, the hit is tight with no muddiness.
The bass strength is honestly surprising, considering the fact that the subwoofer draws is connected only to the soundbar and doesn’t have its own energy source. The Leviathan itself plugs into a moderately-sized power brick with region-specific options for wall plugs.
From a seasoned listener’s standpoint, the sound signature follows the mainstream V-shape regardless of the EQ settings you select on the Razer Audio application. Of course, there is an audible change as you course through different settings and fiddle the configurations, but the overall sonic traits remain.
This gives an immersive cinematic experience when watching movies and genres like rap, pop, EDM, and bright tracks pop out immensely. Vocals and instruments do take a backseat to the boom sometimes, but the sound is enough to keep your blood pumping and heart racing. What’s important is these finer details still remain in the music and come out clear with no distortion.
With the RGB lights pulsing with life in a dark room, you essentially have a cinema or a nightclub in the palm of your hands.
Wrap Up and Conclusions
The Razer Leviathan V2 is definitely a step up from the original in both design and audio quality. It is unmistakable from a visual standpoint due to the Razer logos and RGB Chroma lighting. Its compact size relative to other similar products is a very strong point it carries with it.
Small packages don’t have to mean small sound too, though. Pressing play will definitely send currents down the basshead community’s spine. Since most casual listeners associate the bass presentation with the quality of the speaker, this is a good thing. Luckily, the tight thump doesn’t cause the overall sound to be muddy or muffled.
The lack of a 3.5mm audio jack is slightly bothersome but the stable Bluetooth 5.2 and USB connections make up for it. You’re paying a fairly high price here, but it is without a doubt a bona fide Razer product you won’t regret buying.
Razer Leviathan V2 Review Price Philippines
The Razer Leviathan V2 is priced at PHP 15,790. Learn more about the speakers here. We’ve also uploaded a quick two-minute TikTok unboxing video you can watch here.
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