Razer Leviathan V2 PC soundbar review

While you still can if you’re saving bucks, it’s not really the best idea to rely on tinny monitor sound for PC audio these days. You basically need some solid speakers (like the Razer Nommo Pro) or a decent set of headphones to properly immerse yourself in the all-important audio aspect of PC gaming, multiplayer audio and music streaming. I’m a fan of combining speakers and headsets in my everyday computing, and I honestly didn’t know how much I’d appreciate a PC soundbar until Razer sent me the Leviathan V2 to review.

Razer is a premium-priced brand, so it should come as no surprise that the Razer Leviathan V2 isn’t cheap. The Leviathan V2 retails for $409.95 in Australia but you should be able to source it for around $100 cheaper, which helps up the value.

It’s less that the Leviathan V2 is peerless and more that there aren’t many PC-only soundbars out there. The Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 retails for $499.95, which makes the Leviathan V2 cheaper, but Creative is renowned for audio while Razer is more multifaceted when it comes to peripherals. Because of this, it’s more practical to compare with PC speakers, and I absolutely prefer the sound and space-saving of the Leviathan V2 to my current 2.1 PC configuration for the Logitech Z906.

The Razer Leviathan V2 is a cinch to unbox and configure. Your biggest challenge will be finding somewhere to place the subwoofer, but it’ll happily sit behind a monitor or on the floor. From there, simply connect the power cable to an outlet, the subwoofer cable to the subwoofer, and the USB cable to your computer. I do wish the cables were a smidge longer, though.

I highly recommend replacing the default rubber feet with the included angled alternatives. They’re incredibly easy to slot in and out, yet they still have a robust enough fit to support the soundbar. Razer seems to have deliberately designed the length and height of the Leviathan V2 to seamlessly slot beneath a 24-inch monitor’s desk stand, and it certainly comfortably fit beneath my MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD gaming monitor.

Windows 11 detected the Leviathan V2 straight away and I was able to pump out big audio immediately. While that’s the shortest path to playback, you should download the Razer Synapse software. Admittedly, it’s a bit underwhelming for what you can tweak for the Leviathan V2, but Synapse does let you switch between stereo and THX Spatial Audio. Plus, here’s where you can test equaliser settings between THX, Game, Movie and Music, or customise your own.

There are also RGB lighting tweaks in Synapse (if that’s your jam), but I found the default settings were subtly appropriate at 40 brightness.

There are two things I like when it comes to speakers or headsets. First, loud volume or at least the option to go uncomfortably loud. Second, big bass and a way to easily tweak it. For lovers of volume cranked up to 11, the Razer Leviathan V2 has you covered. It can absolutely get uncomfortably loud to the point you can expect the neighbours to be banging on your door to turn it down.

As for the bass, it’s more tuned than titanic. Basically, it feels appropriate for the equaliser settings, but it didn’t blow me away. Tweaking bass also requires some equaliser knowledge, which hammers home the light-on audio configuration options within Razer Synapse. Outside of equaliser settings, you’re only left with a stereo or THX toggle, a centre focus switch, and then there’s a lighting tab for RGB lovers.

One convenience inclusion I absolutely loved within Synapse is the option to set a secondary sound device for the soundbar’s toggle button. The toggle button is lit up and located on the left, so it’s easy to find, and I appreciate being able to effortlessly switch between Leviathan V2 audio and whatever headset I’m reviewing at the time.

As for the sound quality, bass gripes aside, I love the overall balance of the soundscape. Whether the volume is low, mid or loud, audio playback is always clear. The Leviathan V2 is a great complement for high-fidelity music services like Tidal where you can appreciate the higher bit rate. The same is true for a rich soundscape for movies, YouTube videos and gaming. I’m particularly fond of how clear voices are with THX Spatial Audio enabled so they don’t get lost amid competing sounds.

I’ve been using the Razer Leviathan V2 for weeks now, but I’ve only recently been sent the Creative Sound Blaster V2 soundbar to review. Out of the gate, if you want a cheaper option, the Razer Leviathan V2 costs $409.95RRP while the Sound Blaster Katana V2 costs $499.95. It was also easier to find cheaper pricing for the Leviathan V2 than the Katana V2. Both soundbars are compact enough to fit under a monitor and both offer great sound.

Still, the Sound Blaster Katana V2 has the sound advantage, which isn’t surprising given Creative’s audio-centric history. The Katana V2 offers up to 24-bit 96kHz playback via USB connection, whereas the Leviathan V2 maxes out at 24-bit 48kHz. While the Leviathan V2’s sound quality is nothing to sneeze at, the depth and balance of the Katana V2 makes for better overall audio, plus Creative’s soundbar offers bigger bass and straightforward bass tweaking.

I like that the Leviathan V2 comes with easily removable feet for straight-on or angled playback. And while the Katana V2 is fixed at an angle, it also comes with a bracket and screws if you want to wall mount. Following this versatility trend is where the Katana V2 has a noticeable advantage in connectivity options. Where the Leviathan V2 has Bluetooth and USB-C, the Katana V2 is fully featured: USB-C, Bluetooth, aux-in, optical-in, SXFI-out, DC-in, and HDMI ARC.

The Katana V2 also comes with a remote to really hammer home that Creative has built a soundbar that’s absolutely built with PC gamers in mind, but it can also be used with so many other devices in the home. One PC-centric convenience that the Leviathan V2 has that the Katana V2 doesn’t, though, is the dedicated button for toggling between audio sources.

Still, if you’re willing to spend the extra $90, the Katana V2 offers enough value to justify the price difference.

If desk space is a premium and you don’t want to mess around with 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound, the Razer Leviathan V2 is worth buying. While the bass lacks a few levels of bravado, the volume and overall audio balance are great. The virtual surround sound isn’t a viable replacement for a quality gaming headset, but the Leviathan V2 is still a neat inclusion to any gaming desktop.