Razer

Razer is utilizing CES 2023 to grow its soundbar lineup with a top-tier exemplary with its ain subwoofer. Specs see a frequence effect of 40-20,000 Hz and a max dependable unit level of 98 dB. But for those who similar being highly cautious with their gadgets erstwhile it comes to privateness and security, the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro's integrated camera is disappointing to see.

Enlarge / The soundbar is 23.6×4.5×3.5 inches, and the subwoofer is 10.2×11.6×10.2 inches.

Razer

But Razer insists that the infrared camera, which exists successful the beforehand halfway of the speaker, is each successful the sanction of next-level virtual situation sound. Using head-tracking AI, the soundbar tin archer wherever the idiosyncratic is and make a virtual soundscape with the listener arsenic the halfway point. The beamforming exertion comes from Audioscenic, which discussed the diagnostic arsenic probe astatine CES 2017 and demoed it astatine CES 2022. The tech allows the soundscape to alteration portion it tracks you arsenic you move.

That makes the soundbar a unsocial product, with Razer aiming to grow PC audio capabilities without filling location offices and gaming dens with carnal speakers. The Leviathan V2 Pro uses THX Spatial Audio virtual 7.1 situation dependable (Razer acquired THX successful 2016) and, per Razer, focuses connected "crisp, wide treble" and "deep, punchy bass" done 3 antithetic audio modes, which you tin toggle crossed done a fastener connected apical of the soundbar.

The THX Spatial Audio Virtual Headset mode is expected to person stereo dependable into 3D audio, making it acceptable for listening to euphony connected Spotify, for example.

THX Spatial Audio Virtual Speakers is the 3D mode for 5.1 and 7.1 sources, with Razer seeing users chiefly utilizing it for watching movies and gaming. In a property briefing, a Razer spokesperson said the mode uses constructive and destructive interference to presumption audio.

The final, non-3D audio mode is for erstwhile different radical are successful the room. The Leviathan V2 Pro doesn't usage the camera oregon beamforming and, instead, attempts to capable the full country with audio.

But without a carnal shutter, there's nary mode to beryllium definite that the camera isn't capturing anything. It seems casual capable to hide which mode the soundbar's successful oregon that it's on. And we don't person to punctual you of unexpected bugs and camera-based information threats oregon the inherent imaginable (like immoderate gadget) for accidental hardware damage.

Enlarge / Top buttons are: an audio equalizer, 3D mode toggle, powerfulness button/volume dial, root toggle button, and a fastener for changing the soundbar's RGB effect.

Razer

Still, companies similar Razer proceed to propulsion cameras that usage AI successful user products and promote radical to permission them connected and unfastened to alteration their features, similar speedy logins. Recent examples see the integrated camera successful Dell's 6K monitor announced this week and the HP Dragonfly Folio G3 laptop, which uses its webcam to automatically dim the show erstwhile it tin archer you're not looking oregon if it sees idiosyncratic peering implicit your shoulder.

There are different audio products, mostly headsets, that usage camera-free head-tracking. I've tried head-tracking PC headsets, and their effectiveness varied greatly depending connected the contented I listened to. Head-tracking created a shifting effect erstwhile I moved my caput erstwhile listening to music, and the effect's usefulness differed crossed assorted games. Razer's soundbar and subwoofer person a antithetic task up of them, though, arsenic they pump audio retired into the unfastened aerial successful assorted types of country setups.

The Leviathan V2 Pro volition bash truthful with a brace of 2-inch full-range drivers and a 5.25-inch down-firing subwoofer. Razer equips its $250 Leviathan V2, which lacks head-tracking but has THX Spatial Audio, with 2 full-range drivers (2×4 inches), 2 tweeters (0.75 inches), 2 radiator drivers (1.7×5.3 inches), and a subwoofer (5.5 inches). The lower-priced Leviathan V2's scope has a higher low-end (45 Hz versus 40 Hz) than the Leviathan V2 Pro. Both person a 10-band EQ adjustable successful Razer's Synapse software.

Enlarge / Razer's depiction of the Leviathan V2 Pro's internals.

Razer

The soundbar's backside contains a subwoofer output port, a 3.5 mm jack, and a USB-C 3.0 port. Despite its price, you don't get HDMI, arsenic Razer designed the soundbar to unrecorded nether PC monitors. You tin besides link devices, specified arsenic a phone, tablet, oregon Nintendo Switch, to it via Bluetooth 5.0.

For those perfectly good with camera-equipped audio, oregon sticking portion implicit it, the Leviathan V2 Pro is $400.