Razer Kraken – Cross-Platform Wired Gaming Headset (Custom
Razer Kraken – Cross-Platform Wired Gaming Headset (Custom Tuned 50 mm Drivers, Unidirectional Microphone, 3.5 mm Cable with In-line controls, Cross Platform Compatible) Quartz Pink
| Weight: | 358 g |
| Dimensions: | 17.2 x 19.3 x 9.8 cm; 358 g |
| Model: | RZ04-02830300-R3M1 |
| Batteries Included: | No |
| Manufacture: | Razer |
| Dimensions: | 17.2 x 19.3 x 9.8 cm; 358 g |
The problem is they don’t work with the razer surround sound because my pc doesn’t have a 7.1 jax … otherwise there great … if you can I’d get the USB or wireless ones otherwise these are a cheaper optio
Been gaming multiplayer since the first counterstrike beta in 1998.
These headphones are by far the best i’ve had and i’ve had loads of em.
The 7.1 is amazing, the accuracy of directional sound is true and the vibration (i thought might be a gimmick) is a true immersion bonus!
I ve seen some reviews saying the headphones are cheaply built . really ? very solid don’t hesitate.. the best i’ve ever had
When we opened the box we were already impressed because the packaging is perfect. Headphones are nestled and protected by solid foam. Taking then out and putting them on even without plugging them in was like wrapping a warm sound proof cloud around my ears. They really do block out all the sound. When I finally got to gaming it took the experience to a whole new level. I feel like I am truly inside the game with no chance of being brought back to reality by screaming siblings. Only downside is that I can’t hear the dinner call. A definite must buy.
Pros:
– Comfort – The most comfortable headset I have ever used and it isn’t even close. There is no compromise here, these are beefy cans with very deep ear cups. As an owner of big ears, I’m very particular about this detail; anything too shallow will produce a burning sensation on my ear lobes after about 20 minutes of wear. Not only are the ear cups deep, the materials used are stellar; faux leather cups with a velvet contact point (where the cup meets the ear), additionally covering the driver itself is another memory foam layer ensuring even more comfort. The headband is plush and well constructed with just enough clamping force to keep them relatively stable while not inducing headaches.
– Sound – Fantastic sound profile. I’m not an audiophile by any stretch, but I absolutely love the clarity at every frequency range (probably due to the tri-force driver system). Out of the box I felt the sound felt slightly flat for my liking, after about a minute of EQ modification in Synapse (the companion app) they sounded perfect. Beefy punchy bass (without too much rumble), slightly scooped mids and clear crispy highs.
– Haptics – Implementation is fantastic. They respond accurately to a set low-end frequency range and the effect is very pleasing. Whereas the Razer Nari Ultimates (predecessors with haptics) were slightly hit-and-miss in this regard, the Krakens are incredible. When listening to EDM, the experience becomes much more immersive as you actually sense the vibrations on your temples/cheeks. I have mine on the “Low” setting as that is more than enough stimulus and doesn’t add too much rumble to the mix. During gaming sessions, sensing heavy footsteps and being able to geo-locate enemy players is also a huge advantage.
– Build Quality/Looks/RGB – Subjective of course, I do like the “chunky” look however, they are also very well built (a mixture of metal and high-end plastic). The implementation of RGB is gorgeous, can be set to a cycling, breathing or static colour mode in the Synapse chroma app.
– Battery Life – Decent, especially considering the usage of haptics. I don’t feel I’m getting the advertised time, however a good 9 hours is still pretty great considering haptics being on, perhaps around 30 hours if no haptics are used.
– Wireless Audio/Wireless Range/Latency – The wireless audio definitely doesn’t feel as if it’s a compromise; I’ve tried it both wireless and with the 3.5mm audio cable and am hard-pressed to notice any difference. As for the range, nothing too crazy, I do feel I can go downstairs and get something from my kitchen while my laptop stays upstairs without much trouble which is always nice. There is no noticeable latency to speak of. Everything (especially during gaming) is instantaneous and behaves as if wired.
Cons:
– No Bluetooth connectivity – The ability to connect and seamlessly switch back and forth between gadgets is missing here, would have been a nice-to-have.
– Mic – Average, not bad and not great either. I’ve tried the Razer Blackshark v2 Pro (2023 edition) and that was by far and large the best in-built headset mic I’ve ever used. I returned them as the aforementioned ear-cups were simply not deep enough and made the headset uncomfortable for me.
– Haptics can’t be used while charging – This is a small gripe, but a gripe nonetheless.
I wouldn’t have bought these a second time if I didn’t think they were fantastic, and at 149gbp, they are offering a whole lot for the money. Fantastic and clear sound, immersive and very-well implemented haptics and they’re ridiculously comfortable. Very hard to go wrong here.
packaging was really nice, headphones work amazingly. the sound quality is great and they sit really comfortable on your head. you can adjust the length as suitable and my friends have said that the mic quality is awesome, i also really love that you can tuck in the mic when you’re not using it to avoid damaging it. the wires are sturdy and high quality too which is fantastic, my last headset had awful wires and that’s how they eventually broke. additionally, i think the noise cancellation is really good too, my mum has jumpscared me a few times because i don’t hear her come into my room
overall, just a great headset and i’m super happy with the purchase, i would say it’s definitely worth your money if you’re looking for a high quality headset that will last a long time
i splashed a little bit too and got the cat eat attachments, such a fun and cute edition to the headset, definitely not a necessity though
My son loves these headphones for his gaming pc.. sound quality is amazing and they are super comfortable..Noise cancelling brilliant he can’t hear any outside noise at all..Would definitely recommend..
Didn’t realise it was refurbished/used when I placed the order (my fault); but am more than pleased with the item – exceeds what I could have otherwise afforded.
Love it, good sound in and out. Comfy as well.
use this every day for my computer comes with adapters and works on both xbox and pc. there’s a mute button on the headset and volume control both have been very useful
Bought this for my x box but then relised its not compatible but i love it so much i just kept it. The hypersense feture is what made me keep them it gives depth to music that normal headphones don’t achieve
bought these for 35quid and was impressed, lightweight, sound is good not bad. Plug them into a playstation and the sound isn’t as good. not worth 50gbp imo
It works mostly but for some reason it’s making a weird sound when I turn the haptic feedback on that makes the haptics useless because it sounds so bad, it might be something I’ve done on my pc or they sold me a broken headset, I ordered this and it says it’s in very good condition.
Edit:
It isn’t much of a problem, just turn it off and o
I’ve had these for two years and the build quality is very solid. They still function perfectly and feel comfortable.
Incredibly comfortable and lightweight, fantastic sound, mic quality is exceptional, , muffs are slightly worn but to be expected. Would recommend!!
I was a bit weary of buying these because I’d never really heard much about Razer headsets. Everyone I knew was always going on about Turtle Beach so I kind of just stuck with them for a number of years. Sadly my last four Turtle Beach headsets all stopped working within a matter of months so I started looking at alternatives… I was immediately attracted to the green Kraken ones because I’ve always loved how green and black go so well together (thank you Original Xbox!) and I’d be lying if I said they weren’t the main reason I bought them!
These Kraken’s have been great! The sound quality is brilliant, the build quality is excellent and did I mention they are GREEN?!?! The only thing I would change if I could was to provide more ventilation around the ears as I find the padding is a bit too thick in the summer resulting in me getting quite warm quite quickly!
1. Great surroundings sound quality very good for gaming.
2. Perfect material containing a wide range of natural design
3. Excellent service when arriving on time, I mean it’s expensive product but definitely worth it
4. I’d recommend buying it again for another device or something else in particular like PC, perhaps a gaming console
These headphones are one of the best purchases I have made. I use these headphones everyday and have had nothing but crystal clear audio and mic quality with them. The setup is easy being no more complicated than plug and play. Razer themselves also have an amazing software to easily control these headphones. In comparison to similar ones on the market they are also significantly cheaper. I would highly recommend these headphones to anyone looking for a new pai
I use them for gaming and streaming on my PS4. I like that the plug is at a 90 degree angle preventing it from getting in the way or bending. The cooling pads are so great and sound quality is also very good for the headphones and the Mic.
Just overall very comfortable to wear for many hours as they cover my entire ears too. I would certainly recommend these.
The headset it very comfortable and has great quality. Way better than the pulse 3d headset that I upgraded from
Honest not a bad product, for the price that sound is really good almost completely noise cancelling, was 100% worth the money
I’ve used this headset for almost a year and it is worth the money, the only thing I don’t like is how the wire twists around itself. But overall its pretty good.
I love this headset, I have this for my pc so I thought why not get for console gaming as well, like I said I love this headset, I bought the green I would of liked the white or pink but I still love it no matter the colour and the green looks good with the Xbox and PlayStatio
I’ve had this product since November 2022. It’s now March 2023 and the cushioning has started to come away from the headset. At the time it was in the sale for 25 however it’s now at 35+ and I do not recommend it. For a little bit more you could get one that’ll last a lot longer than 4 months. It’s comfy and has good sound but the build quality lets it down unfortunately.
Bought this as a replacement to my recently broken Razer Nari Ultimate headset and overall it’s been a good purchase so far. The headset is much lighter than a lot of other Razer headsets, while this takes some getting used to is ultimately a nice bonus, and is built quite robustly so I can imagine it being somewhat resistant to breakage. Sound quality is good and the wireless range on the product is excellent, easily enough range to extend across several walls/floors without compromise on sound quality. There are a few things which let it down somewhat however. I don’t think I have an abnormally large head but even on the most extended setting it only just about fit when new out of the box (something to consider if this is an issue you have with other headsets) and doesn’t have much leeway in the frame for, if like me, you like to keep one earcup off slightly. This problem is exaggerated as the earcups do a really good job of cancelling outside noise, which for some people (such as me) isn’t desirable. Additionally, there isn’t any convenient place (on my previous headset there was a slot in the headset itself) to store the wireless transmitter for transport, which can be somewhat inconvenient if you’re travelling. Overall, it’s definitely worth buying if you’re looking for a decent headset, but be wary of the things I’ve mentioned and maybe look for an alternative if these things would bother you.
This headset is great sound is the best ive ever heard and I sound better on others mics however the wire that needs to be plugged in means I can’t charge my controller and have the headset in at the same time on the ps5 it’s a small issue and it’s more of a PS5 problem but overall the headset is amazing can’t recommend it enough.
First off-the box it came in felt premium quality. The way it was packaged. Just beautiful.
The headset is really chunky. But I love that. It feels like a sturdy headset.
The cooling gel on the ear pieces never makes your head warm. It’s super super comfortable to wear! Any other headset used to make the top of my head ridiculously sore! And I wear glasses. This headset I’ve worn for hours on end and my head never gets sore and I can wear glasses and it doesn’t hurt the side of my head!
My friends can hear me so much better now. However occasionally it likes to not pick up my speaking in which case I pull the microphone out closer to my mouth if needed. The mic, you can conveniently slide in and out of the headset.
Only down side is, sometimes my friends can hear what’s happening in my game/can hear my music if I play it too loud. Slightly annoying but it is what it is.
The headband is adjustable also!
Overall I love the feel of this headset and it’s brilliant.
So how do they perform?? Well sure studio monitor headphones they are not! however…
They sound amazing for headphones for under 100, the stereo quality is good and on my Xbox series X I used the Dolby Atmos pluggin app that really improved the output.
They also sound great on the PS5.
The retractable boom microphone is very good for its intended purpose.
It’s more than adequate for spouting less than complimentary comments regarding people’s mother’s on halo on your Xbox or using party chat in final fantasy XIV on your PS5.
I’ve also tested the headset on discord & roll20 on my laptop and it works well for group chats. Very little background noise interference.
The is one point that a should point out is that the microphone dose pick up the Hi’s on “T’s & S’s” this can easily be fixed with a pop filter. (Pop filter not included) I doubt most people would even notice however I felt it prudent to point this out.
The inline volume and microphones mute switch is a very nice touch and the cans and band are very comfortable.
Overall the build quality is great, the retractable boom microphone hardware is done well.
I believe the sound quality is the best I’ve experienced for headphones under 100 in this category. The microphone is definitely fit for purpose in all gaming applications.
All said and done if you want a decent headset for under 100 you can’t go wrong with a razer Kraken.
So haptics on headphones may seem potentially unnecessary, however, it’s honestly a great experience. I can understand that to some people it might be a bit much if you are hyper sensitive to vibrations but even then the lowest setting might work for you, but for me it set to medium is the sweetspot. Feeling the bass in songs and the beat of drums makes it feel much more real, like you’re actually there with all the noise pulsing through your body, and feeling the shockwave of explosions or the rumble of a car engine is definitely something to experience. I’ve briefly had to go back to another pair of headphones (simply to play games on another device and i didnt feel like setting up the kraken on it, even tho its basically instant if you already have razer synapse installed) and i found myself really missing the haptics even more so than the THX spacial audio which made my other headphones sound dull. To sum up about the haptics, they add an extra edge of immersion into whatever content you are experiencing and it’s so satisfying but you’ll miss it if you have to go without it for even a minute.
Now the last of what i consider to be the three most important factors of a headset, comfort. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of round headphone cups, but honestly these are the most comfortable ones I’ve tried, it still feels strange to me (as I have mainly used rectangular for many years) but it’s definitely comfortable the many hours I’ve had the kraken on. It doesnt make your ears overheat and the cups are soft yet supportive. Only issue I have is there’s less clamping pressure than I’m used to and due to the circular shape, if i tilt my head completely down, the headphones slip and rest on the back of my ears, feeling as if they’ll fall of with some average energy head shaking, but I may just be spoiled with my previous rectangular headphones which feel sturdy no matter what which made them feel more comfortable just because I could do anything and not worry about them falling off. I have the same issue with all round headphones I’ve tried, so if you don’t have an issue with others, you wont with this because this is noticeably better than others to me.
Overall, the Kraken V3 with hypersense is an absolutely amazing set of headphones, amazing quality, innovation in the amazingly tuned haptics, and decent price below what I’d consider matching level headphones from competitors. Of course they’re not the best headphones in existence, as if you spend a couple to many times the price you’re likely to get better clarity and surround sound from headphones with five or so speakers per ear, but you cant get much better in the same price range, if you can find anything better anyway.
And to actually finish, in a place most people skip to read, best headphones for price, will probably last forever like my older Razer Electra V2. Only issue is its microphone is great for picking up voice no matter the surroundings, but it still sounds like “a high quality game chat”, and is a bit worse than my electra, so perfect for game chat, mediocre for talking to friends or in meetings, and definitely wouldn’t use for streaming or making content of any sort.
I’ve been a little nervous since other reviews seemed to highlight the “snapping” problem where the headset snaps in half. I do not find the headset build to be overly flimsy or cheap but I generally do try to treat my hardwares with care.
The head padding is soft and underneath it seems to be a sturdy/firm infrastructure that keeps it together. The ear padding is very comfortable for my use – I work on my computer with the headset in the day and use it for entertainment and gaming in my off time – and I have not yet encountered headache using it or sweaty ear paddings. I also wear glasses on a daily and previous tight headsets were therefore very problematic for me. But not this one though. It seems to rest more on top of the head, moreso than pressuring the ears. I am very pleased with my purchase, although I haven’t activated/used its surround sound capabilities yet. It also cancel out the noise around me pretty good without the earpads working like a “plug” on my ears.
Edit: I forgot to include about the microphone which is quite decent. The fact that it is retractable is quite nice and practical, and the quality of the mic sound itself is fine with good noise cancellation from my surroundings. I am no streamer or podcast host but I have not received any complaints on my microphone quality – even in daily work situation.
The biggest minus for me is the cable. If there is any weakness to this headset it would be the very thin cable which is even braided! I am trying not to let the cable tangle itself too much since I believe this is the element of the headset that would give up the first. That’s a huge shame IMO, having a great headset for the price tag, and then attaching a weak cable that seems flimsy and potentially prone to being ripped off by accident. The cable being braided does not seem to be of any benefit when the cable itself is super thin. I will just be extra careful about this aspect since I do love this headset!
Negative:
– The max volume is a bit low for my liking. I’m using max volume on ps4 settings and game settings and on headset settings and its still not good enough.
– The surround sound or positional is good, but could be better, doesn’t satisfy me, I would probably invest a bit more and get more quality. I mean, for the price tag you really cant demand much more…I imagine that this is what you get on other brands for this price.
– Can’t find anything else I dont like
Positives:
– Build quality is very good and the finishing touches are amazing.
– Super comfortable, they are amazing!!!! Although the headsets have a big and chunky look their size makes them very adjustable and they are a perfetc fit for me. I have a large head and big ears and the fit is confortable and I dont feel my head pressured or being squashed and plus my ears fit all inside the cup and this adds confort and for long gaming periods you dont feel pain on your ears.
– Besides being extremely comfortable and the earcups actually isolate you from outside sound very well so all your focus is in the game.
– The foam or gel technique and fabric cover on the earcups edges makes them confortable but they also prevent the warming up of the ears and building up of sweat. I have some Sony music wireless headsets and I cant wear them more than half an our because of the heat discomfort and I start sweating lots…so I’m very happy with this RazerKraken set!
– Love the retractable mic and its very adjustable. Mic sound is clear and good enough, and background sound isolation is good also.
– I like the fact that the sound volume control is in the 3.5mm cord and that there is a button to mute the mic. Also the cord is built with a anti tangling fabric like finishig that is very handy.
– In the box you get also an extra extension cord with 2 different types of 3.5mm jacks that I imagine that you can use for different platforms.
– Sound quality is very good…just wish it could go lauder and thet positional sound technology could be better.
Overall very good quality, extremely comfortable, good sound quality. Very good for the price tag.
Personally I woul invest a few more pounds to get a better model from the same brand
Sound:
The 7.1 surround sound (software required) is a great step up from my previous headset, a 15 headset that was unremarkable and lacking. I was quite frankly surprised at how easy it was in games to make out where sounds were coming from (Valorant, GTAV, CSGO to name a few) in relation to where my character was positioned.
One area where the audio is less impressive is music. The low frequencies sound a little muddy, and the highs lack structure, in comparison to my other headphones (Sony WH-H910N). I am not hugely disappointed by this, as the headset is not advertised to have studio-quality sound for music.
Build/Ergonomics:
The headset is comfortable, with the ear cups sitting around my ears rather well. the headband is soft and forgiving, allowing for longer gaming periods. The build quality isn’t excellent however. The frame of the headphones are entirely plastic, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but the size adjusters on the sides lack a smoothness in movement. I am not really one to rage at games, but if you find yourself the type to be destructive when succumbing to a poor game mechanic (because it is always the game’s fault) I would recommend you do not take your anger out on your Razer Kraken V3 X headset.
The input USB wire for the headset does seem to kink without great difficulty, but it does feel sturdy enough for day-to-day use.
Mic:
The mic quality seems to be good, with my friends noticing an improvement over my old headset in a Discord call (the headset being Discord Certified). Sure, it won’t transmit your voice as well as a 500 studio microphone, but for an all-in one package it does the job.
In conclusion, the Kraken V3 X is a solid headset for 70, even more so for the 40 I acquired it for in an Amazon sale
I chose these because they seemed the best, economy priced, headset I could find for remote group sessions and some media use, after being embarrassed for a remote group session by a fragile design failure of an expensive S. S. 7 gaming headset I had, which is now obvious in most of their models.
I buy gaming headsets because they tend to have better Audio, so are useful for media, and can even be cheaper than voice specific headsets with microphones, the larger over-ear cups can also better block external noises too.
Update: December 2022, after, only, a little over a year:
The headband is flawed because the leather-like padding cover has part come away at the back, from the slot it originally was in. More seriously, the headband has started cracked from the back, on the Right side near to by the R, of RAZER on the top, so it’s only a matter of time before it completely separates. I’m glad that I later bought a pair of “Razer Kraken” as an upgrade, because they are much tougher with a one piece Steel headband and ear cup rings, and really put S. S. to shame. I had relegated these for mobile use, but may have to bin them if I can’t patch them up easily.
But even without 7.1 surround sound for console the sound is great for what it is, still has a great 360 sound quality.
They are very light too and the padding around the ears and top of head are very comfortable for long periods of gaming.
Although these earphones don’t exactly have great airflow if that makes sense because your ears will get hot and sweaty sometimes and does get slightly uncomfortable but I then take breaks.
They completely cover your ears and there’s no sound leakage at all.
The cons that I have is the microphone with mediocre quality and non detachable or to hide away.
For long distances you have an extra cord to extend the length but the cord is also not very durable and seem very easy to damage especially if you have pets that chew.
Either way I recommend these headphones for the price they are near perfect, sound quality is very good too. You will still hear footsteps and the perfect amount of bass too.
For people wearing glasses these are perfect they will not be uncomfortable in anyway.
Edit: These headphones broke within a month while trying to place on my head the right side snapped and I’m always careful with my stuff so quality not so great it’s flimsy and easy to brake
The headset with a connecting cable, it has a functional mute button and a volume control dial on the cable. Alongside the headset, came another cable used for connecting the headset to a PC, the mic and audio cables.
Finally, I received some documentation, some stickers and a code for the 7.1 surround sound software – more on this later.
General aesthetic:
I received my order yesterday, they look great inside the box, extremely well presented. It feels nice, each part is well crafted, pulling the headphones down to fit over the head feels great, nice tactile feel.
The microphone is seated inside the headset, if you need to you can pull it and it comes out to about two inches over your mouth so plenty of space.
Audio quality:
I decided to try them out on the PS4 to see what audio quality was like, it is great. The cooling pads in the headset really make it a lot more comfortable especially when you’re in it for the long run.
Noise cancellation:
I have my music about 80% and there is some bleed, but this is to be expected with over-the-ear headphones, once I have my headset on, there’s probably no bleed at all.
Other:
The only thing that prevented me from giving this 5/5 was the fact that the 7.1 surround sound seems to be handled by a proprietary software that you need a unique code for. If I had bought this second hand I may not have been able to take advantage of this feature. Even still I don’t think it is true 7.1 surround sound, I think it is simulated from the software, so bear this in mind before purchasing a used set.
Final verdict:
Still worth buying, was cheap and just needed something to wear that is comfortable.
-the packaging was decent but overall meh. sadly the headphones don’t come with a pouch
-microphone and speaker test on laptop
speakers ridiculously decent, not the best but far above average, comparing to the Powerbeats Pro sounds relatively the same, ‘apart from when the beat drops’ as expected. the microphone is not Walmart gaming headphone level but not the best, maybe after fiddling with it my opinion would change. but for now the microphone did not sound as fulfilling as the inbuilt microphone on my Mac.
-had to wait for the console to update so that sucked, literally the worst timing. (really triggering).
-still waiting for the console update
just as stated all you need to do is plug into the controller to be connected to the console (xbox 1x).
the speakers sound incredible for music, and It means a lot coming from someone that plays with a full sound system normally.
noticed the headphones are quite heavy, you can really feel the weight on your neck, but it is manageable. After longer gameplays I would re-review the whole thing.
aiit 100% lets go.
-Console test (overall)
F1 2019
The cars sound flat compare to the sound system, an incredible decrease in sound depth *
lap times are about a second of 🙁 , maybe i’m rusty or maybe the difference in tone. not sure if its the headphones in particular or all headphones. so take with a pinch of salt. actually to change it to something relatively close to the sound system I went to audio settings, then advanced audio settings then changed radio output device to main output device. it sort of tricks the system, sounds way better and vibrant. Yeah, way better although you become more afraid of locking up.
Forza horizon 4 and motorspot 7 (never noticed the game had ads your forced to watch) btw if you want the lego pack contact me.
Sounds decent enough, not outstanding but really good.the cars actually sound better than the surround sound, those crackles and downshifts (especially the holy trinity and their modern counterparts). definitely your moneys worth or this game.
FIFA, GTA, ACECOMBAT, FORTNITE & COD franchises
sounds ok, would go more in-depth after 2 weeks of offline and online play, but right now its just meh.
-Overall review
I got mine, the Razer Kraken for Console for about 52.25 pounds and it was totally worth it
pros cons
Sounds good both with music and games a lot of plastic (I personally don’t mind)
Works on xbox without any setup quite heavy
totally worth the price of purchase design is quite cumbersome (just pointing out, IDM)
Build seems sturdy
would I recommend, 100% on the X or this if price difference is below 10 pounds.
I hope this helps, add me on xbox (traplordafro21), or reply to this review for further questions.
most likely I wasted my time with this, but if there’s anyone that appreciates this you are most definitely welcome.
Would be Re-reviewing after 2-4 weeks of ownership.