Why You Can Trust CNET Razer Nari Ultimate wireless gaming headset is ready to rumble
The wireless headset has haptic feedback to make gameplay more immersive. And, of course, it lights up.
- Patrick's play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival.
This is a photo of a preproduction pair of the Razer Nari Ultimate headset.
Whether it's adventuring as Link in Legend of Zelda or climbing mountains in Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, video games are a big part of my life, and over the years I've found ways to make playing them more immersive. That journey is dotted by a big-screen TV, wireless controllers, a sound bar and a comfy chair, but Razer's Nari Ultimate wireless gaming headset might be my next tool.
The wireless headset is packed with haptic drivers that cleverly vibrate to complement the audio as you play. It's the first wireless gaming headset to use advanced haptic drivers, a feature called Razer HyperSense, and was developed in partnership with German engineering company Lofelt.
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See all pricesDuring gameplay the headphone's haptics can provide positional awareness for sounds, music and effects. But Razer HyperSense also works with movies and music.
The earcups are made from memory foam and lined with cooling gel to help keep your ears from getting too hot. In the cushion is a hidden channel for eyeglass frames that alleviate pressure on your temples. They're covered in leatherette and can swivel to provide a snug fit. The headband has a soft springy feel and fits like a well-worn baseball cap. I got to try a preproduction copy of the Nari Ultimate headset and found it wonderfully comfortable.
The headset has a dial (second from the left) that allows you to adjust the mix of gameplay audio and chat audio.
Other features include THX spatial audio, which helps position sounds and effects around you. There is also a game and chat dial that allows you to find just the right mix of multiplayer chat volume and gameplay volume.
The Nari Ultimate headset has wireless support for Mac, PC and PlayStation.
There are two other headsets in the Razer Nari family: the Razer Nari without the haptic feedback and the Razer Nari Essential, which lacks haptic feedback and wired connectivity.
The Razer Nari headset is currently available for purchase while the Nari Ultimate and Nari Essential will be available later in 2018. For a comparison of specs and features of each headset see the chart below.
Razer Nari, Nari Ultimate and Nari Essential headsets compared
| Razer Nari Ultimate | Razer Nari | Razer Nari Essential | |
| Price | $200 (converts to about £150 or AU$275) | $150 (converts to about £115 or AU$205) | $100, £100 (converts to about AU$135) |
| Razer HyperSense (haptics) | Yes | No | No |
| Cooling gel cushions | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swivel earcups | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wireless compatibility | PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 | PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 | PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 |
| Wired compatibility | PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, smartphones | PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, smartphones | None |
| THX spatial audio | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Razer Chroma, aka light-up logo | Yes | Yes | No |
| Driver diameter | 50mm | 50mm | 40mm |
| Game/chat control | Yes | Yes | No |