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It is a known fact that Razer has dominated the market for gaming mice, and they look poised to roll out yet another high-precision gaming mouse. However, they have attempted to cross over into another field of computer gaming hardware with the release of the Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headphones. This is a specialized headset for gaming and intended for use specifically with the Barracuda AC-1 Sound Card (but can be used separately).

Looks-wise, Razer products have never disappointed me. The recurring Razer theme is giving the products a mean and fearsome look, throwing in some slick and stylish finishing. The Barracuda is no exception. The headset is entirely black, down to cables and control, with the distinctive Razer snake trademark in blue LED on the outside of the muffs. The cables have a special Razer HD-DAI (High Definition-Dedicated Audio Interface) to fit only into the Barracuda sound card. Fortunately, Razer also equipped the headset with an adapter to function with other sound cards. The Barracuda sports a small microphone which is detachable when not in use.

The soft padded ear cups make wearing the Razer Barracuda a comfort. Even after long hours of wear while playing Warcraft III, there was totally no discomfort. The head strap is self-adjusting and fits snugly to the frame of your head. The Barracuda comes with an in-line remote control for adjusting volume. This volume control is similar to that found on speaker systems - you can control output from the front, rear, side, centre and bass. This opens up much freedom for users to explore and customize to fully enjoy the audio aspect of watching movies or gaming.

In the performance field, the Barracuda's sound quality is something Razer can be proud of. Though not known for products in the audio department, Razer has sculpted the Barracuda to be a fine gaming headset. When used during movies or games, the Barracuda produces clear and crisp sounds. The surround sound quality is evidently present and considerably realistic, especially during games. There is no distortion of sound even when the volume is tuned up significantly. One aspect that fell short was the bass. The bass makes a rather significant presence during usage, however, it lacks that oompf factor. Of course I was not expecting similar bass quality from a 5.1 speaker system, but the bass range was lower than I expected. Furthermore, playing dance and techno music at higher volumes, the bass did not have that resounding adrenaline-inducing effect and it sounded quite hollow. Good enough for gaming, but the Barracuda's bass will not provide a satisfactory listening experience when bass-intensive music is chosen. The detachable microphone does an excellent job of transmitting dialogue clearly, thanks to Razer's noise-cancellation technology. You will not need to be forced to yell into the mic at close range for this set of gear.

One thing to note is that, although the head strap is self-adjusting, you are not able to adjust it manually. The Barracuda resembles slip-on loafers in this respect. This means that some users will definitely face problems; those with a smaller head circumference will find it loose and unable to tighten to headset, while those with a bigger head width will find the headset too tight, pressing too hard on the ears. As usual, the downside of the Barracuda HP-1, like all other Razer products, is that hefty price tag. Retailing for approximately US$120, this is not something the casual gamer can afford. Furthermore, at US$120, one can actually get a set of above-average speaker systems from Creative or even Altec Lansing. The speaker sets may not guarantee better sound quality, but it will definitely product much better bass and eliminates the discomfort of having to wear a headset. If you are looking for a high-end headset for music, movies or gaming, and if you do not have any financial limitations, the Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headset would be a valuable asset.

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