The Razer Opus Comes Dressed to Impress—It Absolutely Does

I was afraid to go to CES this year. Thanks to post-traumatic stress and an anxiety disorder, big noisy crowds aren’t always a lot of fun for me. I invested in a pair of AirPods Pro before the trade show. The active noise canceling (and the fact that I could wear them comfortably for hours) was a lifesaver. Walking the show floor, I’d have noise canceling on and Halestorm playing—and it was like I was the only one there. I was even wearing ‘em when I first got my hands on Razer’s new headset, the Razer Opus.

I was led into a private room filled with black curtains and neon snakes, a nightclub populated by dudes in black polos and khakis. I sat down and donned the pair of headphones that were given to me. A PR rep pointed out the active noise canceling button, and when I pushed it, it was like someone hit pause on reality. That moment has stuck with me ever since. I’ve been eagerly anticipating the day a demo unit would come for review; I have had a set for a few weeks now, and well, there’s a lot to unpack.

When I was testing the Opus, I wanted to use the pair every day. I found myself reaching for the headphones over some of my other favorites, and that’s a first for a Razer audio product. Usually I rotate between my AirPods Pro, the Steelseries Arctis 1 wireless, or the Master & Dynamic MH40. Each one has its place in my daily life, especially now.

During quarantine, I spend almost 17 hours a day with some kind of headphones or earbuds on my head. It’s excessive, but if I’m not listening to music I can’t concentrate. I can’t form sentences. The tide of my thoughts and anxieties starts to rise and rise and rise until all I can do is lay in bed and try to hold myself together. It’s fair to say that all-day comfort is a must for me.

On that note, the Opus delivers. They’re easily adjustable, and the plush leatherette ear cups are comfortable without being too hot or stifling. Just today I’ve had the Opus on for about six hours, and they haven't started bugging me yet. Thankfully they last as long as I wear them. The Opus offers about 25 hours of use (with ANC active) per charge. Plus, they automatically pause or play when you take them off or put them on.