Razer has managed to create a name for itself by making mice for gamers.  The manufacturer has decided to capitalise on its reputation to add audio products to its range, including this new Carcharias.

A shark by name, but not by nature

Carcharias is the scientific name for a type of shark, the grey nurse shark, that is found off the coast of countries around the world.  That led us to expect an aggressive design, because after all, everybody knows that hardcore gamers are all fans of excessive design, covered with flashing LEDs.  Razer has decided to go for a more refined look, though, with a headset entirely in black, made with strong but light materials.

That's why the cable is coated in fiberglass, for instance.  And while we're on the subject, let's congratulate Razer for a three metre cable, which means it won't trouble you, even if you have to run it behind your computer.  Likewise, the band that joins the two headphones is lined with lycra foam, while the headphones themselves are finished with velvet.  The whole thing is excellent, and remains comfortable even after hours of gaming.

Nevertheless, the remote control can be criticized for being so big, and a little plasticky, despite not actually doing very much.  The volume control wheel offers too much resistance when you try to turn it, and it isn't very easy to try and adjust the sound levels while you're in the middle of a game.  What remains to seen is what it actually sounds like.

Not worth it for music fans

It's something of a tradition for headsets aimed at gamers: they sound great during games, and by extension in films too (especially action movies), but not so good for music.  The Carcharias doesn't buck the trend, unfortunately.  There is a good--very good, even--amount of detail.  The dynamic range is very broad, and as soon as you start listening, you get the impression of a wide, airy sound.

But like always, the problem is the equalization that's done across the spectrum.  The bass sounds are prioritized, but the mid-range is too far back.  In short, it's good for games but you can forget about it for listening to music.

The microphone does very well, without relying on all sorts of technology, unlike some recent USB headsets.

We'll finish with a simple finding: the Ccharias is a relatively basic headset.  It doesn't have USB, or brag about offering surround sound.  And yet it manages to beat headphones that claim to be 5.1 or 7.1 and which tend to ruin the sound to such a point that that we normally end up turning off the surround sound features most of the time.  That leaves asking some real questions about whether or not it's necessary to spend extra money to produce a result which is not much better.

It's just a shame that the Carcharias doesn't do any better with music, as it would certainly have won our highest score if it had done.