How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Black Shark's biggest strength: triple-mode connectivity (wired, wireless, Bluetooth 6) across PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox, laptops, tablets, TVs, iPads and phones, plus up to 40 hours of battery and a 120° adjustable noise-cancelling boom mic.
• Black Shark's biggest trade-off: it's the heavier, bulkier pick at 325 g with a fixed boom mic, and it leans on push-button controls rather than anything touch-based.
• RK ROYAL KLUDGE HG101's biggest strength: a cleaner, more flexible design — memory foam cushions, RGB side strips, a retractable omnidirectional mic and touch controls — with three connection modes (2.4G, Bluetooth 6.0, 3.5mm/USB-C wired).
• RK ROYAL KLUDGE HG101's biggest trade-off: the data sheet doesn't list a battery life figure, so you can't plan around a claimed runtime the way you can with the Black Shark.
• Buy the Black Shark if you want maximum device coverage, a long claimed battery and a mic you can aim.
• Buy the HG101 if you want all-day comfort materials, touch controls and a mic that tucks away.
The Black Shark Gaming Headset (Goblin X8) is built around one idea: get it working on whatever you own. The spec sheet lists PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox, laptops, tablets, TVs, iPads and phones, and the wireless transmitter ships with both USB and USB-C adapters so you pick the port that matches your device. That's the kind of flexibility that matters if your setup is a console in one room, a laptop in another, and a phone in your pocket.
Audio-wise it runs 40mm dynamic drivers with virtual 7.1 surround sound, a 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range and 39 ohm impedance. Black Shark also quotes 20 milliseconds of audio latency, which is the number to care about if you're playing competitively — low enough that the gap between what happens and what you hear stays small. The mic is a 120° adjustable, high-sensitivity boom with omnidirectional noise cancellation, a one-touch mute switch and on-headset volume, so you're not alt-tabbing to fix chat.
RK ROYAL KLUDGE HG101: Who It's For
The RK ROYAL KLUDGE HG101 V2 takes a comfort-and-convenience angle. The over-ear design pairs a padded adjustable headband with memory foam cushions, which is the spec that tells you this headset was designed for marathon sessions rather than quick matches. The mic is omnidirectional and retractable — it captures your voice for chats and calls while reducing noise, then tucks into the shell when you're not using it. That's a genuinely useful detail if you also wear your headset for music or video calls and don't want a boom in your face.
Connectivity is triple-mode too: a 2-in-1 2.4G USB adapter for low-latency, lossless audio on PS4, PS5 and Switch, Bluetooth 6.0 with a 10-meter range, and a wired path via the included USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable. The box includes the 2-in-1 wireless receiver, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, the audio cable and a manual. Drivers are 40mm dynamic, impedance is 32 ohm, sensitivity is 120 dB and frequency response tops out at 20 KHz. Side RGB strips add the gaming look.
Two things stand out as trade-offs. First, the data sheet lists environmental noise cancellation but not active noise cancellation, so don't expect the same isolation story as a headset with ANC. Second, there's no battery life figure listed — charge time is given as 2 hours, but runtime isn't specified, so if long untethered sessions are your priority you're buying on faith. Controls are touch-based, which some people love and some people accidentally trigger. I'd recommend the HG101 if comfort materials, a hideaway mic and a clean look matter more to you than a guaranteed hour count.
• Best for battery confidence → Black Shark Gaming Headset. Up to 40 hours, or 20 with RGB on, with a 3-hour charge time.
• Best for console-first setups → RK ROYAL KLUDGE HG101. The 2-in-1 2.4G adapter is explicitly aimed at PS4, PS5 and Switch.
• Best for mic flexibility → RK ROYAL KLUDGE HG101. The retractable omni mic tucks away; the Black Shark's 120° boom is adjustable but always present.
• Best for aiming your mic precisely → Black Shark Gaming Headset. 120° of adjustment plus a one-touch mute switch.
• Best for long-session comfort materials → RK ROYAL KLUDGE HG101. Memory foam cushions and a padded adjustable headband.
• Best for low-latency gaming claims → Black Shark Gaming Headset. It's the only one of the two that states a latency figure (20 ms).
• Best for lightest carry → RK ROYAL KLUDGE HG101. The Black Shark is listed at 325 g; no weight is given for the HG101, but the memory foam and plastic-heavy build suggest a lighter feel.
• Best for noise isolation → Black Shark Gaming Headset. It lists active noise cancellation; the HG101 lists environmental noise cancellation.
• Best for touch controls → RK ROYAL KLUDGE HG101. The Black Shark uses push buttons.
In my opinion, the Black Shark Gaming Headset is the safer buy for most people. The reason isn't hype — it's that the spec sheet answers more of the questions that actually annoy you six months in. You know the battery lasts up to 40 hours. You know the latency is quoted at 20 ms. You know the mic is adjustable, mutable and noise-cancelling, and you know it'll connect to basically everything you own via USB, USB-C, Bluetooth or 3.5mm.
The HG101 is the more comfortable, more stylish headset, and the retractable mic is a genuinely smart touch. If comfort and looks are your top two criteria, go that way. But if you want the one with the fewest unknowns, I'd take the Black Shark.
how to connect bluetooth headphones for pc
Turn the headset on and put it into pairing mode, then open your PC's Bluetooth settings, choose "Add device" and select the headset from the list. Both of these headsets use Bluetooth 6.0 with a 10-meter range, so keep the PC within that distance during pairing. If your PC has no Bluetooth, the Black Shark's USB/USB-C transmitter and the HG101's 2.4G adapter are the plug-and-play alternative.
how to use bluetooth headphones for pc
Once paired, set the headset as your default output device in your sound settings, and pick it as the input device if you want to use the mic. The Black Shark gives you a multi-function button for volume, mute, play/pause and calls; the HG101 uses touch controls. If you'd rather avoid Bluetooth entirely, both also run wired — the Black Shark over 3.5mm, the HG101 over its USB-C to 3.5mm cable.
how to bluetooth headphones to pc
Hold the headset's power or pairing button until the indicator starts flashing, then add it from your PC's Bluetooth menu. Both models advertise Bluetooth 6.0, which is the newer, more stable version of the standard, and both quote a 10-meter wireless range. For anything latency-sensitive, plug in the 2.4G dongle instead of relying on Bluetooth.
how to pair bluetooth headphones pc
If pairing fails, delete the old entry from your PC's Bluetooth list and start over, and make sure nothing else is already connected to the headset. The Black Shark can also connect through its USB or USB-C transmitter, which sidesteps Bluetooth pairing completely. The HG101's 2-in-1 2.4G adapter does the same job for PS4, PS5 and Switch.
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