The Razer Nari Essential gaming headset provides reliable wireless performance at an affordable price. The $99.99 headset is compatible with both PCs and PlayStation 4 consoles, and it boasts a sturdy, comfy design and surprisingly strong audio. It also offers 7.1-channel simulated surround sound and a plethora of audio balance tuning options, but only on PC; if you use it with a PS4, you'll be confined to stereo and the standard EQ. Despite this, the Nari Essential is a fantastic bargain and one of the finest budget wireless gaming headsets.

Razer Nari Essential

Design

The Razer Nari Essential is a large, distinctively Razer headset. The huge, spherical black plastic earcups include Razer insignia on the rear panels. They're not illuminated like the Nari Ultimate's; they're just engraved. The inside and outer sides of the spherical memory foam earpads are coated in fake leather, while the top, where they rest on the ears and sides of the head, is covered in a more breathable soft fabric.

The power button, a micro USB charging connector, an indicator LED, and a volume dial are all located on the bottom and rear edge of the left earcup. The boom microphone, which is a cylindrical black capsule attached on a flexible arm that folds up to sit against the side of the earcup when not in use, is also located on the left earcup.

The earcups are attached on circular rings that allow them to swivel up and down independently of the headband's flex. The headband is made up of two sections, one of which is made up of two thin black metal bands for structure and the other of which is made up of cushioning attached on a wire suspension. The fabric on the earpads enables for lengthy listening sessions without your ears becoming too heated, and the hanging head cushioning gives a secure, comfortable fit.


Connectivity

The USB transmitter that comes with the package is a plain, rectangular piece of black plastic that may be mistaken for a flash drive. Only the Razer logo is imprinted on the top, with no indication lights or buttons. The Razer Nari Essential connects to PCs and PlayStation 4 consoles through Bluetooth. It does not operate with the Xbox One X, and there is no option for a cable connection. The headset, according to Razer, can last up to 16 hours before needing to be recharged.

If you connect the Razer Nari Essential to your PC, you can use the Razer Synapse programme to replicate 7.1-channel surround sound through the headset using THX Spatial Audio. Because of how bass-heavy the headset sounds out of the box, the app also includes a user-adjustable 10-band EQ. Razer Synapse also has a Sound Normalization tool that raises the upper frequencies to smooth things out, a Voice Clarity feature that boosts the high-mids while killing the bass to make conversation and voice chat stand out, and even a Bass Boost mode that isn't essential. If you're listening on a computer, a little tweaking might help you discover the ideal balance.


Performance of Music

The Razer Nari Essential is capable of producing some impressive low-end power. Even at highest (and dangerous) volume settings, the headset did not distort when playing The Knife's "Silent Shout." Without a trace of crackling, the kick drum impacts sound appropriately head-rattling.

The sound signature of Yes' "Roundabout" demonstrates how bass-heavy it is by default. The initial acoustic guitar plucks have a lot of resonance, but they're balanced off by some delicate string texture. When the bassline kicks in, it takes up the majority of the mix, pushing the vocals and guitar strums to the side. The other parts are still audible, but the bass takes precedence over them all.

The Crystal Method's "Born Too Slow" demonstrates this concentrate on bass. The kick drum's backbeat remains in the forefront of the mix, allowing the guitar riffs and screaming vocals to take a back seat. They may be heard against the beating once more, although the lower frequencies grab the most attention.


Performance in the Game

On the Nari Essential, games have a robust sound. The PlayStation 4's rhythmic electronic soundtrack has lots of thump in the lower frequencies, with the more melodic tones sitting somewhat back but still coming through clearly. Although further high-mid sculpting would be nice, the game's soundtrack is already rather immersive.

Apex Legends for PS4 has a dynamic soundtrack with explosive shooting. On the headset, distant talk may be heard well, and all sound effects and speech clips are audible. Unfortunately, the PS4's audio is restricted to stereo, which reduces the directional imaging's detail when compared to the simulated 7.1-channel surround provided by the Razer software on Windows. You'll need the more expensive Razer Thresher 7.1 or Sony's own PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset to enjoy surround sound on the PS4.

The THX Spatial Audio simulated surround sound, on the other hand, performs well on PCs. The headset provided good directional images of explosions and gunfire all around me while playing Overwatch. I was able to precisely identify the directions from which the sounds of combat were emanating, and I even had a feeling of when fighting was taking place behind me to the left and right.


Microphone

The boom microphone on the Razer Nari Essential is fantastic for the price. There was no sibilance or fuzziness in the test recordings, and they sounded clear and pleasant. The sound isn't quite as clear as a much more expensive wired headset like the Astro Gaming A40 TR or a dedicated USB mic, but it's amazing for $100.


A Valuable Option for PC Gamers

Our pick Choice for budget wireless gaming headphones is the Razer Nari Essential, which is a good selection for PC players. It has a strong, comfortable construction, terrific audio with simulated surround sound, and a great microphone for the price. The bass is a little heavy out of the box, but with little tuning, that can be fixed. The headgear isn't as enticing on the PlayStation 4, which lacks THX Spatial Audio and the ability to adjust the audio balance. However, for $100, it's difficult to beat.

If you really want to go all out with a wireless gaming headset, the Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless is still one of our favourites, despite costing three times as much as the Razer Nari Essential. For $80, the PDP LVL50 Wireless, on the other hand, provides good performance with a little cheaper feel. If you don't mind a wire and want great sound, the $100 Razer Kraken Tournament Edition is the way to go, at least on PCs. At the same price as the Nari Essential, Sony's PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset is a fantastic deal for PS4 enthusiasts (and can often be found for much less).