Razer’s Leviathan V2 is a great-sounding soundbar trapped on PC

Soundbars are usually reserved for the entertainment center, but there are a few companies that make soundbars for the PC battlestation. The previous iteration of the Leviathan V2 sound system was launched in 2014.

The low-profile form factor of the component is similar to that of the soundbar, and it includes a wired subwoofer that connects via a long cable. The lightest version of the 65W soundbar makes it easier to move around on your desk if you need to. On the other hand, the sub is about a pound and a half heavier.

Some of the improvements in the Leviathan V2 are more obvious than others. It has a strip of RGB LEDs on its underside that can be programmed into the software of your choice. The Leviathan V2 looks like a modern entertainment soundbar with more subtle markings. It looks pretty cool to see some color on my desk. The swappable feet allow you to angle the soundbar upward to better match where your ears are.

The Leviathan V2 has two full-range drivers and two tweeters, just like its predecessor, but it adds passive radiators to the rear, allowing the soundbar to deliver bass by itself. The wired sub is there to amplify the booming low-frequency sounds.

I will get to more of the features below, but at $250, the main obstacle for Razer here isn't just convincing the gaming community that this is a good product. It is trying to convince them that they should get their audio fix from a different, more versatile kind of speaker system for a similar amount of money. If you're into console gaming or want to hook it up to your TV for streaming, you shouldn't get this, as there's no way to do that.

The Leviathan had a 3.5mm jack and an optical audio port, which would make it viable in the living room. Instead, it relies on the internet for its wired connections. It is possible that it isn't enough for you to connect to phones, tablets, and other sources.

It is possible that your taste in design might lean more towards something that is not flashy. I settled on Kanto's elegant YU2 self-powered bookshelf speakers because there were so many other options. The Leviathan V2 supports audio-in via a 3.5mm jack, but these don't. If I have an audio receiver, this will allow them to work with my PC, record player, or TV. I was able to find a deal for around $150, which was less than the normal price. This is just one of many options.

The Leviathan V2 is a little too complicated to use, but it sounds great. You will need to use the free THX Spatial Audio app to turn on the product. To turn the feature on within the dedicated app, you need to set your main PC audio device as thx Spatial Audio. It doesn't seem like this process would be simpler if there was a switch between Stereo and Spatial Audio in Synapse.

A growing number of PC games support Spatial Audio, which is a great feature for a virtual surround sound effect. I enjoyed using it, but the music sounded better when the setting was off.

There is a new mode in Synapse that claims to steer more of the audio to the center. It didn't make a difference to the listening experience for me with gaming or other types of audio.

I liked listening to music on the Leviathan V2 more than I did my gaming audio. It's very large for my needs, and I usually had it set near the lowest volume, which would fill my work zone in our studio apartment. You could bring the house down with this system. The sound from this device is strong and clear, and it provides a wider soundstage than I expected.

The Leviathan V2 adds to the rat nest of cables in my PC space. The amplifier is wired and has a power cable. I can't understand why the wireless subs weren't included in the system.

The leftmost button on the top-facing panel is the source toggle button. If you need to route audio to your headset quickly, you can program it to switch to a different audio source by tapping and holding this button. The Leviathan V2 can be controlled remotely via the Razer Audio app, which I like. You can change the songs, volume, and settings from the app.

If you are someone who uses their PC for their main source of entertainment, the Leviathan V2 will likely be the source of a lot of enjoyment. It isn't a soundbar for everyone, but it might be okay for some people. It's hard to ignore the many devices that this soundbar simply can't connect to because of its high price.

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it. It is impossible for us to read and analyze all of these agreements. We started counting how many times you have to agree to use devices when we review them.

The Leviathan V2 can be used as an audio device. To get the most out of its features, you'll need to use the software and the app. You need to agree to use those.

• Razer’s software license agreement

The Verge has a photography by Cameron Faulkner.