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BlizzardWares Verdict
(4.5 out of 5)
We feel that the product is a fantastic set of headphones, but the bass wasn’t able to come through clearly enough to give the product that perfect five-star rating.
Pros:
- Comfortable
- Good build quality
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Microphone quality is average
- No designated noise-canceling feature
Description
Razer has produced some of the best headsets for e-sports enthusiasts and even for non-gamers. The new headset from the line-up called the Razer Kraken is a headset every PC gamer is familiar with.
Although it’s not a huge update when compared to its predecessors, the Razer Kraken headset comes with an attractive price tag. Moreover, there are several amazing features that make the Razer Kraken one of the high-quality gaming headsets that tend to offer the best value for money.
If you already have a Razer headset, then you won’t notice much difference. However, it’s an amazing headset to try if you’re interested in buying a Razer headset.
Specifications Table
Weight | 0.71 lbs (322 g) |
Dimensions | 7.87 x 6.69 x 1.55 inches (LxWxH) |
Cable Length | 4.27 ft. (1.3 m) |
Connection Type | Analog 3.5 mm |
Driver Type | Custom Tuned |
Driver Size | 50 mm (Diameter) |
Frequency Response | 12 Hz – 28 kHz |
Sensitivity | 109 dB (1 kHz) |
Impedance | 32 Ω (1 kHz) |
Microphone Style | Retractable Unidirectional Microphone |
Microphone Sensitivity | -45 ± 3 dB (at 1kHz) |
Microphone Frequency Response | 100 Hz – 10 kHz |
Earpads Material | Heat-Transfer Fabric, Memory Foam, Leatherette |
Earcups | Cooling Gel-Infused Cushions |
Inner Earcup Diameter | 65 mm (Major Diameter), 54 mm (Minor Diameter) |
Volume Control | It contains an in-line Analog Volume Control Wheel |
Battery Life | None |
Other Controls | It also has an in-line Mic Quick Mute Toggle |
Compatibility | Cross-Platform |
Where to Buy Razer Kraken Headset?
You can buy the Razer Kraken headset at the official Razer website for $79.99. It is also available on Amazon for the same price. But with the latest deal, you can get the Razer Kraken headset for $33.70 on Amazon.
Image Credit: Razer
Design and Comfort
The Kraken is a lightweight headset with a flexible frame made up of bauxite aluminum. The headset is durable and designed to last. Despite the metal frame, the headset is not too heavy. Its headband and ear cups both have significant cushioning, and the thick, soft foam finish resembles leather.
The distinctive style of the Razer Kraken headset might seem a bit similar to its predecessor, but it is thicker and more padded, unlike its predecessor’s angled, stylish design. Still, the aesthetics are amazing, and the mix of colors is quite impressive.
The Razer Kraken headset is available in five colors, including the famous Green, Classic Black, Console (black color headset with blue accents), Quartz Pink, and Mercury White.
This headset weighs 322 grams which are lighter than we had anticipated given the high build quality and materials used in the headset.
When it comes to the headband, we found that it’s covered in mesh and has more padding, making the Kraken a pretty comfortable headset. The Razer Kraken headset sits nicely on most heads, and the earcups are large enough for almost everybody’s ears.
Another amazing thing about this particular headset is that its earcups contain a “cooling gel” that prevents excessive sweating in the ears, even if it is hot.
However, the headset is somewhat bigger and doesn’t fit tightly on the head. During the testing, the headset fell off when we leaned over abruptly. But it is not a huge problem. You can easily adjust the headset by tugging the headband.
Image Credit: Razer
Performance and Sound Quality
We also tested the performance and the sound quality of the Razer Kraken headset with in-game sounds, the voices of players, and even with music. The performance was not too impressive, but it is still considered very good by many.
There are plenty of basses, with an excellent frequency range and good sound quality. But we were disappointed to find that the tested sound quality of the Razer Kraken headset hasn’t really changed compared to its predecessor.
Still, the custom-tuned 50mm drivers offer a great gaming performance, especially considering the price tag. Volume can be hinged up to a very high decibel level, almost loud enough to pierce the eardrums. But it’s a good thing because there are several gaming headsets that are too quiet, even at maximum volume.
The Razer Kraken headset performed well when it came to the in-game sound effects. It’s quite easy to tell where the sounds, such as gunshots, footsteps, or vehicle noises, are coming from and identify their direction accurately.
The voice is rich and clear, but it is not nearly as crisp as some of the best gaming headsets available on the market. Since the earcups on this headset have closed backs, some background noise is reduced. But strong background noise can still be heard. Also, another downside is that there’s no designated noise-cancelling feature.
When you’re sharing a room with someone, they might be able to hear the in-game audio. But despite showing good gaming performance, the Razer Kraken headset is not as fantastic when it comes to music.
The vocals are not as transparent as they would be with more expensive headphones, and the instrumentals lack clarity. Thus, the Kraken is not a versatile Razer headset.
But what makes this headset awesome is that there’s no difference in the sound quality whether you’re using it on a console or PC. The reason is that the headset connects over 3.5mm, which means no loss of quality.
Image Credit: Razer
Microphone & Software
Microphone
Razer claims that it has upgraded the microphone with better ambient noise rejection. But we didn’t find any noticeable change. At the same time, the Razer Kraken headset’s microphone did a good job of filtering the background noise.
Still, the microphone is not that outstanding. And some people would say it is quite average. We found it a bit disappointing that there was an audible tone that other players could hear whenever the microphone was muted.
Even though the microphone usually doesn’t pick up the sounds of typing or eating, other gamers may become irritated if you constantly mute and unmute your microphone. But your teammates can hear you clearly. Yet, you will have to speak a little louder.
Another good thing about the Razer Kraken headset is that it comes with a cable that is 1.3 meters in length and won’t get tangled after a few hours of gaming. Plus! Your head won’t be pulled constantly. We also found that the headset has in-line controls to mute the microphone and adjust the volume.
But the volume wheel is a little too sensitive, and you may accidentally bump the switch, which will change the volume.
Software
Razer offers the Surround software for free with its several headsets, including the Kraken. It is an amazing software, which according to the company, provides you with virtual 7.1 surround sound.
This might impress you if you’re new to the e-gaming world, but you need to remember that Razer provides “virtual” 7.1 surround sound. It’ll be different from the “actual” 7.1 surround sound.
Achieving true 7.1 surround sound in the Razer Kraken is almost impossible because the headset has only a single driver in each ear. But if the hardware is upgraded to include more drivers, the headset can offer true 7.1 surround sound. However, it’ll make the Kraken heavier.
When using the Surround software, you can benefit from better positioning and depth. You can easily judge if something is from the left or the right. But it’s still difficult to identify whether anything is coming from the back, the back left, or the front left.
Razer also offers a few other audio processing options like bass boost, stereo enhancement, voice clarity, and sound normalization. Still, there’s also paid DSP software that you can use if you want a better experience.
The Razer Kraken offers all these features at an affordable price, offering the best value for money. Although the premium headsets are more versatile and provide better sound quality and performance, the Kraken is a fantastic choice as the first Razer headset.
Image Credit: Razer
Bottom Line:
Razer is popular among gamers for its high-quality headsets, and the latest Kraken is an amazing addition to the product range of the company. So, if you’re looking for a great gaming headset that has excellent build quality and design, and good sound quality that won’t break the bank, then the Razer Kraken is the headset for you.
With thicker padding in the headband and earcups containing the “cooling gel,” the Razer Kraken is one of the most comfortable headsets that can be found on the market. While the earcups do a good job at reducing background noise, the lack of a noise-cancelling feature is a bit disappointing.
If you already have a Razer headset, then getting the Kraken won’t be considered a huge upgrade. The headset has only small tweaks compared to its predecessor, but it’s in no way boring. The Razer Kraken still offers the best value for money.
The Razer Kraken is perfect for both PC and console. However, if you’re looking for a versatile headset with the best sound quality, it’s better to go for premium headsets.
