The Razer Clio Headrest Promises Spatial Audio Sans a Headset

Gizmodo

09-05-2025

The $230 Clio promises surround sound, so long as you don't move your head.
Folks who sport bald heads—like me—know that finding a truly comfortable gaming headset can be an expensive struggle. I have had to eschew a number of what would be high-quality earphones from companies like SteelSeries and Corsair just because they chafe against my scalp's bare skin. As a possible remedy, Razer promises its Clio audio-blasting head cushion will keep my noggin free of a headband and still give me access to high-quality, headset-level audio.
Razer has a running obsession with both immersive audio and gaming chair accessories. Combining both into the $230 Clio is supposed to create a personalized audio experience when you're sitting by your lonesome self in your favorite gaming chair. The device includes near-field dual speakers that should direct audio directly to your ears. It should be available starting May 16.
The device has twin 43mm drivers with support for THX Spatial Audio and supports three EQ modes for gaming, movies, or music. You can also set it as either the primary speaker or rear speaker for a 7.1 setup. Razer suggests combining the Clio with other surround sound speaker systems, like Razer's own Nommo line, to make you feel like you're being blasted on all sides with your game's audio.
The Clio wraps around your gaming chair's headrest and connects via Razer's 2.4 GHz Hyperspeed Wireless—which means dealing with the brand's obtuse and intrusive Synapse 4 software—or over Bluetooth. The cushion itself is made from memory foam, and it should fit onto most high-back gaming chairs with a single strap.
Battery life is rated at up to 14 hours of battery, though you could have it plugged in continuously via USB-C. At CES 2025, I suggested to Razer it should consider adding power passthrough to its gaming chairs, such as with its Arielle concept cooling and heating gaming chair. That way, players could have one cable running from their seat with the ability to plug in all the accessories Razer wants to stick behind players. There's the Razer Freyja haptic cushion that requires its own separate plug, and now with Clio, players shouldn't need to keep remembering to plug in their seats alongside all their other expensive peripherals.
It isn't the first time Razer has positioned itself as the king of headset-less 3D audio. Razer promoted 2023's Leviathan V2 Pro soundbar with built-in headtracking as the best way to get spatial sound from the front. There were even those age-old Mako speakers that sought to hit you with strong sound from all sides. The deciding factor with Clio will be how well it sounds when you dare to reposition your head away from the headrest. A quality pair of headphones like Razer's own $180 Kraken V4 don't have that problem, and after using them for a while, they still seem like the better option for most people without sensitive scalps. I have found other headsets like the Alienware Pro Wireless remain comfortable enough for long periods of play.
I find the gaming chair to be a very lonely place. Even when I'm playing online with friends, I can't sit still in one anymore. I end up with my legs curled underneath me like a dying spider, and my head is stretched a distance away from the neck rest. Maybe Razer's audio cushion can make my gaming chair a place I'll enjoy lounging in again.