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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want real noise isolation with a sealed, over-ear fit and total freedom from cables, choose Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2; if you need a simple wired headset you never have to charge and can plug into almost anything, choose Corsair HS35. That's the short version, and for college students juggling lectures, dorm noise and late-night lobbies, that one split decides almost everything.
• Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2 — biggest strength: closed, over-ear noise-isolating earcups with ultra-soft memory foam that seal around your head, backed by 70 hours of battery life and a detachable HyperClear Super Wideband mic.
• Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2 — biggest trade-off: it's a wireless headset that leans on a battery, ships with a 90-day limited warranty, and its passive noise control only isolates — it doesn't actively cancel sound.
• Corsair HS35 — biggest strength: a universal 3.5mm wired connection that works across PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch and mobile, with on-ear mute and volume controls and no battery to manage.
• Corsair HS35 — biggest trade-off: no wireless freedom, a shorter 2-year manufacturer warranty is its only long-term safety net, and its soft fabric pads seal less tightly than a closed memory-foam cup.
• Pick the Razer if you want the deepest isolation and untethered play; pick the Corsair if you want plug-and-play simplicity and don't mind a cable.
The BlackShark V2 Pro is built around one idea: shut the world out and keep you locked in. Its closed earcups use ultra-soft memory foam to conform to your head shape, creating a seal that blocks outside noise passively. For a college student studying in a loud common room or gaming next to a roommate who never stops talking, that seal is the whole point. The breathable fabric padding keeps it comfortable through long sessions, and the oval over-ear shape means it sits around your ears rather than pressing on them.
Who should skip it? If you hate charging anything, or you want a headset that works the second you pull it out of a bag with zero setup, the battery-first design will annoy you. And if you need guaranteed long-term coverage, note the 90-day limited warranty — shorter than what a new retail unit typically carries.
Corsair HS35: Who It's For
The HS35 v2 is the opposite philosophy: keep it simple and plug it in. A universal 3.5mm jack means it works with PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch and mobile without dongles or pairing. For a college student moving between a laptop in class, a console in the dorm and a phone on the bus, that one cable covers everything. There's no battery to remember, no charging cable to lose, and no wireless latency to think about — it just works.
Comfort comes from a floating headband design paired with cushioned soft fabric ear pads, and at 8.96 ounces it's lighter than the Razer's 11.68 ounces. The custom-tuned 50mm drivers cover a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range with 32-ohm impedance and 114 dB sensitivity, so it's easy to drive from a phone or controller. The flexible omni-directional mic handles calls and commands, and the push-in mute button plus volume wheel sit right on the ear cup where your hand already is.
The trade-off is isolation. The HS35 lists active noise cancellation in its spec sheet, but its soft fabric pads and open floating-band design don't create the same tight physical seal as a closed memory-foam cup. In a noisy room, you'll hear more of the room. It also can't go wireless. If you want to walk to the kitchen mid-match without unplugging, this isn't the one.
• Best for noise isolation → Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2. Closed memory-foam earcups seal to your head and passively block distractions.
• Best for cable-free freedom → Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2. 2.4GHz RF and Bluetooth 5.2, with up to 70 hours per charge.
• Best for plug-and-play across every device → Corsair HS35. Universal 3.5mm works on PC, Mac, consoles, Switch and mobile with no pairing.
• Best for long sessions without charging → Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2. 70 hours of battery means days of gaming between charges.
• Best for lightweight wear → Corsair HS35. 8.96 ounces versus 11.68 ounces on the Razer.
• Best for clear voice chat → Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2. The detachable HyperClear Super Wideband mic is designed to capture more vocal detail.
• Best for quick in-game controls → Corsair HS35. The push-in mute and volume wheel are right on the ear cup.
• Best for competitive FPS tuning → Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2. Pro-tuned FPS audio profiles are built in.
• Best for budget-minded simplicity → Corsair HS35. One cable, no battery, nothing to configure.
I'd buy the Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2. For college students, noise isolation is the feature that actually changes your day — the sealed memory-foam cups quiet a loud dorm, and the 70-hour battery means you're not hunting for a charger mid-essay. The detachable wideband mic and pro-tuned FPS profiles make it the stronger all-rounder for both calls and competitive play. I'd only steer you to the Corsair HS35 if you'd rather never think about charging and want one cable that works everywhere. In my opinion, the Razer wins on isolation and flexibility; the Corsair wins on simplicity. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since renewed and new stock move around.
what is noise isolation headphones
Noise isolation is passive blocking of outside sound through a physical seal — the closed earcups and memory foam on the Razer BlackShark V2 conform to your head to shut out distractions. It's different from active noise cancellation, which uses electronics to cancel sound. The Razer's spec sheet lists passive noise cancellation.
are noise cancelling headphones good for gaming
They can be, because cutting room noise helps you hear in-game audio cues. The Razer pairs its isolation with 50mm drivers and pro-tuned FPS profiles for competitive play, while the Corsair HS35 lists active noise cancellation with its own 50mm drivers. Both are aimed at gaming first.
what are the best noise cancelling gaming headphones
"Best" depends on your setup. For sealed isolation plus wireless freedom, the Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2 is my pick, with closed memory-foam cups and up to 70 hours of battery. For a wired, works-everywhere option, the Corsair HS35's universal 3.5mm connection is the simpler choice.
are there noise cancelling gaming headphones
Yes — both of these qualify on paper. The Razer BlackShark V2 lists passive noise cancellation via its sealed earcups, and the Corsair HS35 lists active noise cancellation. Neither is a dedicated ANC travel headphone, so treat their noise control as a gaming-focused bonus rather than a flight-grade feature.
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