Should You Buy The Razer Leviathan V2 X Kuromi Edition?

The best gaming setups often feature high-end monitors and TV screens, but their visual quality usually comes at the cost of the audio. Razer is no stranger to resolving this issue, offering players speakers and soundbars that not only sound great, but look cool too.

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Razer has lately been partnering with Sanrio to create a number of special edition lines that highlight specific characters from the world of Hello Kitty. I was given the chance to review the new Kuromi lineup of accessories, and so far the collection has proven to be noteworthy, particularly the Razer Ornata V3 Kuromi Edition tenkeyless gaming keyboard.

I’ve been using the soundbar as my main PC audio output for a few weeks now, listening to everything from Fortnite matches to YouTube radios, and even a bit of audio editing. With a modest price increase over the standard edition, the Kuromi edition of the Leviathan V2 X seems set for success.

Box Contents

The soundbar comes in very nice packaging, complete with a Kuromi-themed box sleeve and a thin, yet soft fabric bag. There are no surprises with the full list of the box contents, either:

• Leviathan V2 X Soundbar
• Power Cord
• Instruction manual

The inside of the box lid displays the basic instructions for the soundbar, which is a nice touch that allows you to get started in almost the instance that you open the box.

Design

The biggest difference between the Kuromi edition and the standard Leviathan V2 X is how it looks. The design choices made really elevate the soundbar, even if some of the basics are still appreciable.

For instance, the Kuromi edition of the V2 X powers on the same as the original: by making the Halo shield regeneration noise. This is a bit of a silly addition, but it’s tough not to smile when turning it on, regardless. This edition also shares the same tall, rubber feet and RGB lighting that helps color your desk in whatever lighting you choose.

However, similarity with the older, original version isn’t always a good thing. This is true when it comes to the responsiveness of the buttons. They don’t make any noise or light up, making it tough to tell when an input has been received, especially when it comes to connecting to a new device via bluetooth.

On the other hand, the new Kuromi color scheme makes the soundbar look so much better than the original. The purple and black is perfect for just about any aesthetic, bringing a pop of color that appears brighter than it actually is. The lavender looks great against the black finish, and it can look even better when paired with similar light colors.

On top of the color scheme, literally, is a collection of Kuromi-themed motifs, such as crowns, hearts, and diamonds. These are the same doodles that can be found on the keyboard and Kuromi’s Razer chair. They’re just as tough, yet cute as the other Kuromi accessories, and her sassy, full-body pose on the left side adds a touch of fashionista supremacy to the look.

The new design is a big win overall. The black finish is perfect for budget or all-black setups, while the lavender offers a pop of color and ties together well with white PCs and accessories.

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Software

There’s not much new when it comes to the software, as Razer has already established a pretty robust ecosystem using the Synapse app. The V2 X connects to this app and can connect to the Razer Chroma app for changing up the lighting. There are a few slight annoyances when it comes to using this soundbar with the software, but none are a deal-breaker by any means.

The biggest issue I ran into is the fact that you can’t use synapse with it while it’s connected through Bluetooth. While this probably avoids straining a PC too much, would it really be that much of an issue for most users? The answer is likely no, yet Bluetooth connection is just not available between the V2 X and Synapse.

Additionally, using the Chroma app was a bit of a challenge. Despite the app showing both devices side-by-side, it was tough to get the soundbar and keyboard colors to sync, as some of the colors don’t match exactly. Eventually, I was able to get them close enough to create a cohesive vibe.

That being said, there are a ton of colors and modes available for the soundbar. If you’re willing to pay, Razer has even more options available, including syncing with certain game titles and a wide array of pre-programmed lighting schemes. Simply put, the Leviathan V2 X is one of the most customizable soundbars around right now. Even if the software isn’t perfect, it gets the job done well enough to make sure your audio sounds the way you want it to.

Performance

As I mentioned, I listened to a ton of different things to test out this sound bar. While the performance was excellent for the most part, I did have some issues here again, albeit briefly. There is a slight issue with some of the V2 X soundbars that causes them to brick after switching too rapidly between Bluetooth and wired connections.

I’ll be honest, it was annoying and confusing, but the solution was pretty simple: a factory reset. This requires holding down both volume buttons and the power button, then, while still holding the buttons, plugging the soundbar back in.

A handful of Razer forums have mentioned this issue, so it’s odd to see that it hasn’t been resolved for the Kuromi edition release. Regardless, it seems to happen to only a small percentage of the soundbars out there, so it likely won’t be a problem for most buyers. That being said, when I reached out, Razer eventually advised that the Leviathan is best designed for wired PC connection, while Bluetooth is best for mobile device use. I found this to be true during testing.

Getting to the actual audio performance, everything was perfect. The Leviathan V2 X Kuromi Edition comes with two full-range drivers and two passive radiators capable of delivering 90dB of volume at your desk. In truth, I kept the volume at around half and could clearly hear music coming from my office all the way down my hallway.

The dual speaker setup adds a surprising amount of depth, and rich sounds work to immerse you in whatever game or video you’re engaged with. The two speakers and radiators successfully add some dynamics to the audio, helping identify where enemies are in games and clarifying speech during tense movie scenes.

The 15-inch size is perfect for centering below a monitor, too, making it even better for creating an immersive gaming environment.

Should You Get The Leviathan V2 X Kuromi Edition Soundbar?

There are always going to be negatives to electronic devices, so the ones that come with the Leviathan V2 X Kuromi edition don’t scare me off. The fact is, I like this speaker a lot, particularly because of the cute and cool design choices. The fact that this is an official Kuromi-themed accessory just makes it better.

Even though it is more expensive than the standard version, when the Leviathan V2 X is not on sale, the Kuromi edition is just $30 extra, which is hardly an up-charge at all for a Razer product. Its stylish design and ease of use, despite issues, make it a unique and worthwhile addition to gaming setups that aim to achieve a cute, yet dark aesthetic. Any fan of Kuromi or purple aesthetics in general should definitely make this new version of the V2 X soundbar their next PC speaker.

Grab the Leviathan V2 X Kuromi Edition Soundbar for Yourself!

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