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VPNs for ad-blocking It’s less that the Leviathan V2 is peerless and more that there aren’t many PC-only soundbars out there. The Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 retails for $499.95, which makes the Leviathan V2 cheaper, but Creative is renowned for audio while Razer is more multifaceted when it comes to peripherals. Because of this, it’s more practical to compare with PC speakers, and I absolutely prefer the sound and space-saving of the Leviathan V2 to my current 2.1 PC configuration for the Logitech Z906. I highly recommend replacing the default rubber feet with the included angled alternatives. They’re incredibly easy to slot in and out, yet they still have a robust enough fit to support the soundbar. Razer seems to have deliberately designed the length and height of the Leviathan V2 to seamlessly slot beneath a 24-inch monitor’s desk stand, and it certainly comfortably fit beneath my MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD gaming monitor. Windows 11 detected the Leviathan V2 straight away and I was able to pump out big audio immediately. While that’s the shortest path to playback, you should download the Razer Synapse software. Admittedly, it’s a bit underwhelming for what you can tweak for the Leviathan V2, but Synapse does let you switch between stereo and THX Spatial Audio. Plus, here’s where you can test equaliser settings between THX, Game, Movie and Music, or customise your own. There are also RGB lighting tweaks in Synapse (if that’s your jam), but I found the default settings were subtly appropriate at 40 brightness. As for the bass, it’s more tuned than titanic. Basically, it feels appropriate for the equaliser settings, but it didn’t blow me away. Tweaking bass also requires some equaliser knowledge, which hammers home the light-on audio configuration options within Razer Synapse. Outside of equaliser settings, you’re only left with a stereo or THX toggle, a centre focus switch, and then there’s a lighting tab for RGB lovers. One convenience inclusion I absolutely loved within Synapse is the option to set a secondary sound device for the soundbar’s toggle button. The toggle button is lit up and located on the left, so it’s easy to find, and I appreciate being able to effortlessly switch between Leviathan V2 audio and whatever headset I’m reviewing at the time. As for the sound quality, bass gripes aside, I love the overall balance of the soundscape. Whether the volume is low, mid or loud, audio playback is always clear. The Leviathan V2 is a great complement for high-fidelity music services like Tidal where you can appreciate the higher bit rate. The same is true for a rich soundscape for movies, YouTube videos and gaming. I’m particularly fond of how clear voices are with THX Spatial Audio enabled so they don’t get lost amid competing sounds. Still, the Sound Blaster Katana V2 has the sound advantage, which isn’t surprising given Creative’s audio-centric history. The Katana V2 offers up to 24-bit 96kHz playback via USB connection, whereas the Leviathan V2 maxes out at 24-bit 48kHz. While the Leviathan V2’s sound quality is nothing to sneeze at, the depth and balance of the Katana V2 makes for better overall audio, plus Creative’s soundbar offers bigger bass and straightforward bass tweaking. I like that the Leviathan V2 comes with easily removable feet for straight-on or angled playback. And while the Katana V2 is fixed at an angle, it also comes with a bracket and screws if you want to wall mount. Following this versatility trend is where the Katana V2 has a noticeable advantage in connectivity options. Where the Leviathan V2 has Bluetooth and USB-C, the Katana V2 is fully featured: USB-C, Bluetooth, aux-in, optical-in, SXFI-out, DC-in, and HDMI ARC. The Katana V2 also comes with a remote to really hammer home that Creative has built a soundbar that’s absolutely built with PC gamers in mind, but it can also be used with so many other devices in the home. One PC-centric convenience that the Leviathan V2 has that the Katana V2 doesn’t, though, is the dedicated button for toggling between audio sources. Still, if you’re willing to spend the extra $90, the Katana V2 offers enough value to justify the price difference.
