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Growing up, I always had two things on me: my portable CD player and a set of wired, black earbuds. In 2007, this was the pinnacle of escape, and while the sound quality was lacking, it was through those tinny, eight-dollar earbuds that I developed my obsession with sound. Over the years, I’ve traded those wired headphones for wireless earbuds, Bluetooth headsets, and speakers, but I have never lost my love for the little wired earbuds you can roll up and stick in your pocket. Because of this, the release of Razer‘s Hammerhead V3 Chroma Wired ANC Gaming Earbuds immediately caught my attention, and I have found myself helplessly in love with them.
These simple, sleek earbuds have everything I loved about old-school earbuds combined with newer features like active noise canceling and bright RGB lighting. They are light, comfortable, and easy to use – and the best bit? You never have to worry about remembering to charge them.
Key Details
- Developer: Razer
- Style: Wired, in-ear
- Connection Style: USB-C
- Price: $79.99
- Review Sample Provided: Yes
Feature-Rich Listening Anywhere
The Razer Hammerhead V3 Chroma wired earbuds aren’t just earbuds on a string. Razer has taken care to include features that elevate both music and gaming audio. The design is simple, with two lightweight earbuds attached to the lime-green cable. The bodies of the earpieces are light and small, perfect for those who don’t like bulky chambers. The soft, silicone eartips can be swapped for a perfect fit, ensuring you have a good seal to boost ANC.
The control mechanism on these wired earbuds throws me right back to my set from college. The small, black box sits at the point where the two separate earbuds come together. Here, you can control the volume, set your ANC, play or pause your sound, mute, decline calls, and switch up RGB settings. The earbuds also have different equalizer modes for gaming, music, movies, and calls. I particularly liked this feature, as I swap between my phone for music and my Ally X for gaming frequently.
At the connection point of these earbuds, Razer selected a USB-C that is compatible with most phones and gaming devices. However, the design has tipped the connection so it is horizontal to the device. This is an important choice, as it prevents damage from the connection port getting bumped, yanked, or snagged. It fits discreetly into the device and feels secure and stable.
My only comment on the overall build for the Hammerhead V3 Chroma wired earbuds would be the material that coats the wires. The color is brilliant, but it’s a bit stiff and gets tangled in weird ways because of how it bends and rolls. I almost wish they were fabric or net/mesh covered instead of plastic.
Reliable Music Audio With Balanced Range
When listening to music with the Hammerhead V3 Chroma, you are going to get a balanced, reliable range of sound. With any wired device, audio is going to sound better than most Bluetooth and wireless options due to a lack of compression, and that rings true with these earbuds. The soundstage is rich and clear, and you can hear and make out the details of different instruments depending on what you are listening to.
However, these earbuds don’t have Razer’s THX Spatial Audio, and at times, they do struggle with a lack of bass and some flatness, especially with acoustic artists. This is not at all surprising, as the design isn’t packing massive drivers or Hi-Fi performance. They are more of a budget option for high quality without the stress of wireless price tags or charging limitations.
However, if you are looking for something reliable, simple, and affordable, the Hammerhead V3 Chroma provides everything you need for under $90, and the sound is far better than your $30 Skullcandy. Additionally, the ANC feature is not something typically seen in earbuds, and it makes a huge difference when listening in busy areas.
ANC, Gaming, & On-the-Go Use
As mentioned above, the Hammerhead V3 Chroma has active noise cancelling as an out-of-the-box feature. ANC in wired headphones isn’t common, and that is primarily because it requires power to be drawn into the audio device. This isn’t possible with most 3.5 mm jack earbuds, and is one of the reasons that the Hammerhead uses a USB-C connection (alongside the fact that most smartphones don’t have headphone jacks as part of their build anymore)
The ANC of these earbuds works best if you have a good eartip seal. I picked the medium tips, and that boosted the amount of noise cancellation I was able to achieve. However, the power of this ANC is limited. I can still hear the thump of my keyboard keys while typing, or the voices of people around me talking while I am gaming or listening to music. The ANC muffles and dulls this noise, but it isn’t powerful enough to eliminate any additional racket.
Despite this, I do think the isolation works really well in a home setting, and it amplifies the sounds of games and music, increasing immersion.
When it comes to console gaming while wearing the Hammerhead V3 Chroma, these have become my new favorite companion for my Nintendo Switch 2 while using the chat feature. Not only do the headphones fit perfectly into the top USB-C port on the Switch, but they are a great, low-profile option for chatting with friends and getting good game audio. I hate having to mess with Bluetooth connections on my Switch 2, and the ability to plug and play with zero added steps is fantastic. I also appreciate the lack of a large headset, especially when I am just looking to lounge on the sofa and play Disney Dreamlight Valley with my family.
Final Score – 8/10
The Razer Hammerhead V3 Chroma Wired ANC Gaming Earbuds are affordable, comfortable, and functional. I love that they deliver that nostalgic vibe and also offer critical features at a price point under $100. I would love to see more options for the wired cable style, and I do think the ANC is a bit underpowered, but the audio is balanced and clear, making up for some of the background noise that still leaks through.
If you are looking for a simple, affordable, well-balanced set of wired earbuds, the Hammerhead V3 Chroma are a great option, and you will look very stylish with the bright RGB and lime-green cable color no matter where you go or what you are doing.
**Bonus Action was provided with a sample of the Razer Hammerhead V3 Chroma Wired ANC Gaming Earbuds for the purpose of this review**
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