Over time, Razer has kept expanding into new product categories and diversifying its lineup, and it seems the company can't resist doing so without sprinkling in its iconic Razer Chroma RGB lighting. Apparently, the same holds true for microphones.
The Razer Seiren V3 Chroma is one of the latest dedicated microphones out of the black-and-green company, aimed at gamers, streamers, and content creators with a sleek all-black design, lots of bright RGB lighting, and the promise of great audio quality without a complicated setup. I've been using the Seiren V3 Chroma has my primary mic for a while now, and it does mostly deliver on all of its promises.
This is indeed an attractive mic and boasts some impressive build quality, and it's dreadfully easy to plug in via USB and begin recording right away. This is undoubtedly a great option for anyone who wants a dependable mic that also looks good in their setup, although the Razer Seiren V3 Chroma is a little on the expensive side and, at least in this case, Razer Synapse falls short in terms of software features and customization.
Seiren V3 Chroma review: Pricing and specifications
Pricing highlights
- The Razer Seiren V3 Chroma retails for $129.99, and is available in black, white, and pink colorways.
- Recording quality-wise, the Seiren V3 Chroma does feel closer to what I'd expect from a great $100 microphone.
- However, the mic is excellent from a build quality and design perspective, and the RGB lighting does help it stand out.
• Price: $129.99 at Best Buy | Razer
• Mice type: Supercardioid w/ 16mm condenser capsule
• Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz
• Mic specs: 96KHz sampling rate, 24 bit rate, 96dB signal-to-noise ratio, 5V power draw
• Dimensions: 213.1 x 90.2 x 90.2mm (8.39 x 3.55 x 3.55in)
• Weight: 408g (0.9lbs)
• Other features: Razer Chroma RGB reactive lighting, multi-function capacitive tap-to-mute button, built-in shock absorber, Razer Synapse support, digital gain limiter
The Razer Seiren V3 Chroma is a mid-sized, USB-powered supercardioid condenser microphone that falls in the mid-range category. You can pick up the Seiren V3 Chroma for $129.99 at Best Buy in black or white, with an exclusive pink color also being offered for $129.99 at Razer. Razer positions the Seiren V3 Chroma as an easy-to-use microphone perfect for gamers, streamers, and content creators, with the RGB lighting across the top half of the microphone being a big selling point.
To this end, the Razer Seiren V3 Chroma does have built-in memory to retain its audio and Razer Chroma profiles, so you don't need Razer Synapse for it to function. However, Razer's software suite does grant access to some additional features and customization. In the box, you'll find the Razer Seiren V3 Chroma microphone and a braided USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable. Razer also offers a standard 12-month warranty for the Seiren V3 Chroma.
Seiren V3 Chroma review: The good
The pros highlights
- The Seiren V3 Chroma is, in fact, a very easy microphone to set up and use, basically only requiring you plug it into your PC.
- The design is clean, the microphone is well-built, and the RGB lighting is also very well done.
- Recording quality is solid, retaining a fair amount of detail and clarity while managing microphone gain.
One of the biggest advantages of a USB microphone versus a more professional XLR mic is ease-of-use and a simple setup, and the Razer Seiren V3 Chroma nails both aspects. All you need to do is plug it into your PC, and it'll work right away without any software or driver downloads required (yes, that includes the RGB lighting, multi-function mute button, and front dial).
If you do want more control, Razer Synapse 3 gives you more features and various options to make the most of your new mic. The Seiren V3 Chroma does have some onboard memory, so while you can't switch between different profiles on the fly, it'll at least remember whatever you do in Synapse. I never once had any issues with the mic working or doing exactly what I need it to do, and that reliability is precisely what you want from a creative or professional tool.
From a design perspective, the Razer Seiren V3 Chroma appears at first glance to be a fairly standard pill-shaped microphone, but closer inspection reveals a fit and finish that punches above this mic's weight class a tad. It's a very clean design in any color and looks great even with the RGB lighting enabled, and everything feels high-quality and durable, including the stand, swivel mount, cable, and how everything pieces together. Enable the RGB lighting, and it all looks even better.
That Razer Chroma support will understandably be a little much for some, but you can cycle between various settings via the mic itself or get super granular with Razer Synapse. Rainbow waves are cool but can be overwhelming, so I stuck with a nice purple when I'm recording or idle and a red when I'm muted.
A mic is only as good as its recording quality, though, and the Razer Synapse is what I would describe as good, but it's certainly not setting a new bar for the category. Voices are clear and detailed with a fair amount of warmth, and when you engage the digital gain limiter, the Seiren V3 Chroma does do a solid job managing volume levels and preventing unwanted artifacts or noise in recordings.
This is a $130 mic that sounds mostly on par with the very best $100 mics like the original Logitech Blue Yeti, so you basically need to weigh if you fancy the design enough to pay a little extra.
Seiren V3 Chroma review: The bad
The cons highlights
- Razer Synapse lacks some basic features like EQs, granular control over gain and other elements, and more.
- The Seiren V3 Chroma also lacks any meaningful background noise cancellation beyond a simple noise gate.
Annoyingly, the Razer Seiren V3 Chroma simply doesn't support the new Razer Synapse 4 at time of writing, despite older Seiren microphones being supported by the new hub. Support is likely coming, but I will be talking about the older Synapse 3 here.
The Seiren V3 Chroma doesn't need Synapse to work, but download it, and you'll get some limited options to customize the multi-function capacitive button at the top, adjust mic and sidetone volume levels, toggle the digital gain limiter (including an automatic option that works quite well), and toggle some basic features like a "radio voice EQ" and a simple noise gate. There's also the Synapse stream mixer, but if you need mixer software, you're almost certainly not using Synapse.
Everything that is here does work well, but Synapse doesn't give you fine control over the digital gain, there's no custom EQs beyond the "radio voice" profile that basically makes you sound louder and a little sharper, and you don't have any options whatsoever for background noise cancelation.
You heard that right. Razer Synapse claims the noise gate filters out lower and quieter sounds from the background when you're not talking, but you'll get mixed results. The Seiren V3 Chroma at least had no issue recording every single click and clack from my keyboard at full volume, and that's just one example. You'll want to keep that in mind: your voice will sound good with the Seiren V3 Chroma, but so will everything else.
Seiren V3 Chroma review: Final thoughts
You should buy this if ...
✅You want a dependable, easy-to-use microphone
The Razer Seiren V3 Chroma is simply a good, plug-and-play USB microphone that you don't have to think too hard about using, with a high-quality design and solid recording quality that will stand up whether you're gaming, streaming, or creating.
✅You're invested in the Razer Chroma ecosystem and need more
Razer knows its fans, and its fans love RGB lighting. The Seiren V3 Chroma would've been a great $100 microphone that blended in with that extremely competitive bracket, but that extra price nets you an attractive and colorful design that stands out.
You should not buy this if ...
❌Great noise suppression is a must
Noise suppression is really difficult to nail in any microphone, but Razer doesn't seem to have invested much effort with the Seiren V3 Chroma. Beyond a simple noise gate, the Seiren V3 Chroma seems content capturing most of what's happening in your environment, so those dealing with a lot of noise should avoid this.
There's a lot of Razer Chroma in my current PC gaming setup, so I have to admit the Razer Seiren V3 Chroma fits right in and looks awesome. I have a lot of control over how my setup looks, and it's so easy to change everything with a few clicks. The Seiren V3 Chroma also sounds more than good enough for my needs, and it's clearly a quality product.
Is the Seiren V3 Chroma the best microphone, though? Well, if you don't care about the RGB lighting at all, then something like the Logitech Blue Yeti will cost you less and sound just as good, if not a little better. There are also some compact microphones like the Elgato Wave Neo that sound shockingly good considering their size and price. If you really value great background noise suppression, many microphones will do a better job or at least give you the options to finetune it yourself.
I still really like this microphone, and its design will probably keep me from returning to the objectively more premium AVerMedia Live Streamer Mic 350 I reviewed previously. This hardware is excellent, so there's always the chance that Razer will add some new features and capabilities via software, too (perhaps when the Seiren V3 Chroma finally gets Synapse 4 support). I have to review a product based on what it is now, though, and there are too many great microphones to forgive one for simply being good.
The Razer Seiren V3 Chroma nails the overall design and build quality, looking better than most other microphones on the market, but its recording quality is average for the price and the software lacks features. It's still a great microphone for those who love the way it looks, but it's not without compromise.
