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
• Razer BlackShark V2 — biggest strength: Software-enabled 7.1 surround sound for positional audio (Windows 10 64-bit only), plus TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers and a lightweight 240g build with breathable foam cushions.
• Razer BlackShark V2 — biggest trade-off: Surround sound is tied to Windows software, and the 3.5mm wired connection means no wireless freedom; Xbox One may need a separate stereo adapter.
• FOXXRAY BAL-67 — biggest strength: An in-line control box for instant mic mute and volume, a rotating microphone, USB-powered LED lighting, and a Y-splitter for PC audio/mic jacks.
• FOXXRAY BAL-67 — biggest trade-off: Surround sound is presented as a headset feature rather than a software-enabled positional mode, and its 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range is narrower than the Razer's.
• Pick Razer BlackShark V2 if you game primarily on Windows PC and want software-tuned positional audio.
• Pick FOXXRAY BAL-67 if you want simple plug-and-play control across PC, PS4, PS5 and Xbox with a mic you can flip up and mute fast.
The Razer BlackShark V2 is built around one clear idea: competitive positional audio on PC. Its headline feature is software-enabled 7.1 surround sound, which Razer explicitly limits to Windows 10 64-bit. That matters. If you play on console, you're getting stereo through the 3.5mm jack, not the surround mode. So the surround sound selling point lives and dies on whether you're a Windows PC gamer.
The audio hardware backs it up. Razer's TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers split the driver into three parts, each tuned separately for highs, mids and lows. In plain terms, that's a design meant to keep footsteps and gunfire distinct from low-end rumble instead of smearing everything together. Add the 32 ohm impedance, 20 Hz–28 kHz frequency range and 100 dB sensitivity, and you have a headset that should run fine off a controller or phone jack without a dedicated amp.
Comfort is the other half of the pitch. At 240g it's genuinely light, and Razer pairs that with thicker headband padding and leatherette memory foam ear cushions. The closed oval earcups are designed to seal around your ears for passive sound isolation, which helps block room noise without any active circuitry. The HyperClear Cardioid mic uses a pickup pattern that rejects more sound from the back and sides, so your voice comes through with less keyboard clatter behind it.
Buy it if: you game on Windows PC, care about positional audio and voice clarity, and want a light headset for long sessions. Skip it if: you mainly play on console, want wireless, or need on-cable volume and mute controls you can reach without touching software.
The FOXXRAY BAL-67 takes the opposite approach: keep it simple and put controls where your hand already is. The in-line control box handles mic mute and volume directly on the cable, which is a real quality-of-life win if you're switching between game chat and a call. The microphone rotates, so you can swing it out of the way when you're not talking instead of leaving it parked in front of your face.
Connectivity is its strongest argument. It ships with a 3.5mm Y-splitter cable, so on a desktop PC you plug into separate audio and mic jacks and you're done. On PS4, PS5 and Xbox, you plug straight into the controller's 3.5mm jack. FOXXRAY also notes that the LED lighting is powered separately over USB — if your device has no USB port, you can run it from a power bank or any USB charger. That's a neat trick, and it also means the lights don't drain the audio connection.
On the audio side, the BAL-67 uses 50mm dynamic drivers with 32 ohm impedance, 114 dB sensitivity and a 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range. The higher sensitivity number means it should get loud easily from weaker sources like a controller jack. The narrower frequency range is the honest trade-off — you won't get the same high-end extension as the Razer's 28 kHz ceiling, though for most game audio and voice chat that ceiling is academic. It uses passive noise cancellation via the ear cup seal and breathable mesh cushions, which should run cooler over long sessions than leatherette. It's also listed for adults, teens and kids, which tells you FOXXRAY is positioning this as a family-friendly, all-rounder headset.
Buy it if: you want one wired headset that works across PC and consoles, you like hardware controls, and you want breathable cushions. Skip it if: you specifically want software-tuned 7.1 positional audio, or you prefer a metal-and-memory-foam build feel.
• Best for positional audio → Razer BlackShark V2. Its software-enabled 7.1 surround mode is the entire reason to pick it, as long as you're on Windows 10 64-bit.
• Best for cross-platform plug-and-play → FOXXRAY BAL-67. PC, PS4, PS5 and Xbox all work over 3.5mm, with a Y-splitter included for desktop audio and mic jacks.
• Best for long-session comfort → Razer BlackShark V2. At 240g with thick headband padding and memory foam cushions, it's engineered specifically around weight and cushioning.
• Best for on-cable control → FOXXRAY BAL-67. The in-line box gives you volume and mic mute without alt-tabbing into software.
• Best for mic convenience → FOXXRAY BAL-67 (hardware) vs Razer BlackShark V2 (pickup quality). The BAL-67's rotating mic is easier to swing away; the Razer's cardioid pattern is designed to reject more background noise.
• Best for cool ears → FOXXRAY BAL-67. Breathable mesh cushions versus the Razer's leatherette memory foam.
• Best for higher sensitivity / easy volume from weak sources → FOXXRAY BAL-67. 114 dB versus 100 dB on the Razer.
• Best for wider frequency range → Razer BlackShark V2. 20 Hz–28 kHz versus 20 Hz–20 kHz.
• Best for warranty peace of mind → Razer BlackShark V2. A 2-year manufacturer warranty versus 1 year on the FOXXRAY.
In my opinion, the Razer BlackShark V2 is the one I'd buy — but only if you're a Windows PC gamer. The 7.1 surround mode, TriForce Titanium drivers, 240g weight and 2-year warranty make it the more purpose-built competitive headset, and the cardioid mic is the better voice solution for team chat. If your gaming is split across consoles or you just want hardware volume and mute controls, I'd go with the FOXXRAY BAL-67 instead; it's the more flexible, easier-to-live-with headset for mixed setups, and the in-line control box is genuinely useful. Neither is a bad pick — they're aimed at different players. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since budget headset pricing swings around a lot.
how to get surround sound headphones
For the Razer BlackShark V2, surround sound is software-enabled and only available on Windows 10 64-bit, so you enable it through Razer's software rather than a physical switch. The FOXXRAY BAL-67 is described as a surround sound headset out of the box over its 3.5mm connection. In both cases, surround depends on your source device supporting it.
how to test surround sound headphones
Play a game or video with clear directional cues — footsteps, engine panning, ambient effects — and listen for whether sounds move left, right, front and back rather than just getting louder. On the Razer, make sure the software surround mode is actually enabled on Windows 10 64-bit first. On the FOXXRAY, test on the platform you'll actually use, since console and PC handle surround differently.
how to fix surround sound headphones
Start with the basics: confirm the 3.5mm plug is fully seated, and on PC check that the Y-splitter is connected to the correct audio and mic jacks. On the Razer, verify you're on Windows 10 64-bit, because the surround feature isn't available elsewhere. On the FOXXRAY, if the LED lighting isn't working, remember it needs USB power — a power bank or USB charger will do.
how to make surround sound headphones
You generally can't add true surround to a stereo-only headset; you enable what the headset and your device support. The Razer BlackShark V2 requires Windows 10 64-bit and its software to activate 7.1 positional audio. The FOXXRAY BAL-67 relies on its 50mm dynamic drivers and whatever surround processing your console or PC provides over the 3.5mm jack.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Voarmaks 4 vs Zosvoses ATH-M50X, Yunsailing 30 vs Yoley Classroom Headphones Bulk, TOPOINT Sleep Mask vs Perytong 2-Pack, Rockville RC1DTRS vs GOWENIC Headphones Replacement Audio