Razer Unveils Thresher Ultimate Wireless Headsets for PC, Xbox One & PS4

If there was one piece of hardware that stole the show at this year's E3 -- or Electronic Entertainment Expo -- it was most certainly the awkwardly named Xbox One X, a premium video game console that will compete directly with Sony's PS4 Pro.

But the Xbox One X was hardly the only notable hardware unveiling at the show. Also of note, Razer's announcement that it will soon begin shipping a new gaming headset for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC platforms. Called the Thresher Ultimate, the headset is expected to provide simulated wireless 7.1 surround sound and retail for $249.99 USD.

That will put Razer's Thresher Ultimate in direct competition with some of the gaming industry's most popular, and expensive, headsets, including devices from Astro, Turtle Beach, and SteelSeries.

The announcement also shows that Razer is continuing to slowly but steadily move from the PC market to consoles. The San Francisco, California-based company, which has been producing high-end computers and accessories for PC gamers since 2005, has only recently begun appealing to console users in earnest.

The Thresher Ultimate does come in at an interesting price point -- at $250, it's significantly cheaper than the Astro A50 wireless headset, which is considered by many to be the best wireless headset available to console gamers. At the same time, the Thresher Ultimate will be selling for considerably more money than a glut of more affordable headsets, like Sony's own Gold and Pulse devices. So, how does the Thresher Ultimate stack up against the Astro A50 headset?

The most obvious difference is the Thresher Ultimate's dependence on the 2.4 GHz channel, which could result in it having performance issues. Unlike Astro's A50 device, which employs both the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz channels, the Thresher Ultimate will have to compete with the many other household devices that use the 2.4 GHz channel.

Aside from that, Razer says the Thresher Ultimate will feature 50 mm drivers, have a 40-foot range, and come equipped with noise-isolating leatherette-wrapped memory foam ear cups. For an extra cost, gamers can upgrade to cooling gel-infused ear cushions that should make long gaming sessions a bit more comfortable.

Another handy feature of the Thresher Ultimate headset will be a retractable boom mic; according to Razer, the entire mic can be hidden away when not in use, which will help give the headset a somewhat less ostentatious look for when you're just listening to music or podcasts. As for the battery situation, Razer says the Thresher Ultimate should last about 16 hours before it needs to be charged, with the estimated charging time being 4 hours.

Conclusion

It's hard to see this as anything but a wise move on the part of Razer, which clearly recognized that there's a substantial gap between a plethora of affordable headsets in the $50 to $200 range and more premium devices like the pricey Astro A50. The release of the Thresher Ultimate should also be a good thing for console gamers looking for virtual surround sound headphones for under $250. But would it have killed Razer to put its premium wireless gaming headset onto anything other than the 2.4Ghz band? It's already polluted with so many household devices from Bluetooth to Wi-Fi. Last I heard, the 5+Ghz is sounding pretty empty these days since home phones are going the way of the dinosaur.

The Razer Thresher Ultimate headsets for each platform are available now. Please share with us in the related forum thread below if you have a set and on what platform you are using them on.

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