Razer Kraken X review

How do you improve your online gaming skills without spending a lot of money on a fancy gaming headset? Razer hopes to have cracked the code to the cheap gaming headset with the Razer Kraken X, a no-frills wired headset that costs just $50. Gamers don't get a lot of features, but the onboard controls, boom mic, and 7.1 surround sound cover the needs.

Editor's Note: This Razer Kraken X review was updated on June 21, 2021 to reflect price updates.

Who is the Razer Kraken X for?

The Kraken X is an affordable gaming headset without RGB LEDs.

The Razer Kraken X Headset is designed for

gamers

on a budget and works just as well for anyone who needs an on-ear headphone with a built-in boom mic. They are not intended to leave your gaming station and include a dedicated audio/mic splitter cable for computers with separate inputs. These are cross-platform compatible. You can use them with

computer

,

Xbox

,

playstation

,

nintendo-switch

, and mobile devices.

What's it like to use the Razer Kraken X?

The headband is the lightweight reinforcement that makes wearing the Kraken X comfortable.

Using the headset couldn't be easier. All you have to do is plug it in and start playing. If your desktop computer has separate audio and mic inputs, you will need to use the included splitter for full functionality. The flexible cardioid boom mic is very forgiving in terms of placement. For best voice quality, position the diaphragm parallel to your mouth.

Polycarbonate-ABS, a durable thermoplastic, makes up the headband and slider. This lightweight material in tandem with the hidden goggle channels makes them

comfortable with glasses

. Said channels relieve pressure at the temples. Plus, memory foam earpads help with overall comfort. Unfortunately, the earpads aren't user replaceable, but Razer offers a two-year limited warranty.

The cardioid boom microphone is easy to adjust.

The headset is not online. but feature a volume button and a mute button on the left earcup. I would like to see a little more resistance from the dial. That said, the mute toggle requires just the right amount of resistance and provides a satisfying click when pressed or released.

Is the Razer Kraken X good for gaming?

The volume wheel and microphone mute switch are easily accessible from the left earcup.

It's awesome. 40mm dynamic drivers reproduce a natural representation of three-dimensional space, which gamers should

require

of any helmet. This realistic perception of sound helps to better understand in space where the enemies are. By playing

destiny

, alien footsteps were easy to identify, and I predicted which gates potential threats were emerging from.

If you want to take full advantage of 7.1 channel surround sound, you must use a PC running Windows 10, 64-bit. That's a boring caveat; however, Razer provides an additional download code.

How does the Razer Kraken X sound?

The headphones amplify bass and low frequencies. This makes explosions more punchy and voices more audible.

Although the

frequency response table

looks rather odd, headphones sound good for the price. Bass notes are given the most emphasis, which is typical of gaming headsets, as it makes explosions punchier. Voice frequencies are increased, which facilitates dialogue between characters and teammates. The wide dip from 1 to 6.5 kHz isn't as dramatic as it looks, but subjects high frequencies, like harmonics, to

hearing masking

. This is more noticeable in music playback than in gaming, as it can be difficult to hear the details of a chord's resonance.

Low frequencies like A/C units are not blocked by headphones.

isolation

it's good but nothing spectacular: Hot Pocket enthusiasts will still hear the microwave working. While I was playing music through headphones, the microwave hum at least was nullified. If you need to be undisturbed while playing, find a secluded room to settle into.

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Bass, mids and treble

Chastity Brown's Song

Colorado

is a great song to listen to with the Razer Kraken X. The headset's boosted bass response lends itself well to Brown's style folk, emphasizing drum kicks. Meanwhile, the light midrange boost highlights Brown's vocals even more than the intended blend, which works well for the genre.

The treble reproduction, however, is insufficient. The shaking of the tambourine is difficult to hear, especially from 2:15. Brown's vocals and backing vocals at 2:35 mask the high frequencies. The tambourine remains audible but the clarity is not the greatest because a guitar is played at the same time.

Is the Razer Kraken X microphone any good?

The microphone amplifies the voice so it's clear and audible to other players.

Yes, vocals are crisp and clear through the Razer Kraken X microphone. The 100-300Hz dip is odd because most vocal fundamental frequencies are in that range. That said, real-world use demonstrates that the Kraken X has an excellent boom mic, which is heard in the demo below.

Razer Kraken X Microphone Demo:

https://www.soundguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Razer-Kraken-X-microphone-demo.mp3

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If you listen carefully, you can hear a reverberation of my voice. The microphone doesn't do a great job of attenuating ambient noise, but if you're in a quiet room it shouldn't be too noticeable. Also, because of the de-emphasis around 180 Hz, my voice sounds a bit higher because the

harmonics are strongly accentuated

.

How does the Razer Kraken X compare to the Razer Kraken Pro V2?

The Razer Kraken Pro V2 is a 3.5mm headset, so it will work with consoles like the Switch or Playstation 4 without much issue.

Both headsets are branded with the Razer logo and follow the company's basic over-ear design. the

Razer Kraken Pro V2

comes in four colors (black, green, pink, and white) while the Razer Kraken X is only available in black.

The Kraken Pro V2 headset has a retractable boom mic which is nifty but other than that it offers little extra functionality over the Kraken X model. The ear pads and headband padding are however more substantial, which is useful for extended sessions.

Razer Kraken Pro V2 Microphone Demo:

https://www.soundguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Kraken-Pro-V2-recording.mp3

Rather than including the controls integrated into the side of the earcup, the controls are integrated into the braided cord. If you are between the Kraken X and Pro V2 models, better to use the Kraken X or upgrade to one of the

Razer's most premium models

.

Razer Kraken X vs. Razer Nari Ultimate

The Nari Ultimate are bulky and heavy.

the

Razer Nari Ultimate

is a more premium gaming headset that has a stronger design with its LED lights. One of the biggest features of the Nari Ultimate that other Razer headsets lack is Hypersense. This enables haptic feedback that forces the earbuds to vibrate with the bass of whatever you're listening to. It's a great way to make games more engaging, but it can get annoying when playing music.

Another big difference between the Razer Nari Ultimate and the Razer Kraken X: connectivity. The Kraken X is a wired-only gaming headset, while the Nari Ultimate supports wireless connection via the USB adapter. The Nari Ultimate is compatible with PS4, Xbox and PC when used wirelessly and offers a wireless range of 12 meters. Alternatively, you can just use the 3.5mm cable to connect to any source with a headphone jack.

The Nari Ultimate attenuates the mids and highs a bit.

While wireless support is nice, it also means you have to be aware of battery life: the Nari Ultimate offers 8 hours, 22 minutes of gameplay before needing to be recharged. That's good, but it may not be enough for marathon gamers. Another annoying element: the microUSB input.

None of the headphones reproduce accurate sound, as they both exaggerate low notes and emphatically de-emphasize high notes. Isolation, however, is significantly better with the Nari Ultimate than the Kraken X. If you want all the bells and whistles, the Razer Nari Ultimate may be worth it, but casual gamers will appreciate the quality of the Kraken X and the extra $170 they save over the Nari model. Right now you get a lot for

less than $35

, depending on the color.

Should you buy the Razer Kraken X?

the

Razer Kraken X

is a reliable budget headset that meets all the requirements of a good gaming headset. Glasses channels are a must-have feature for anyone who wears glasses. If you want a simple pair of gaming headphones with cross-platform compatibility, the Kraken X is a user-friendly option. If you're able to splurge on a similarly sized gaming headset with a slightly more neutral sound signature, look into the

SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless

.

Razer Kraken X

All prices are quoted in USD unless otherwise stated. Prices may change over time and vary by region. Unfortunately, we cannot list Amazon prices on the site, as they vary widely by currency.

$ at Amazon

$39 at Best Buy

$39 at Target< /p>

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