Slap the “Gaming” tag to a headset (or anything really) and you can expect to pay significantly higher. The new gaming headset from Razer – Kraken X gets the job done, without the financial strain.
The Razer Kraken X is the gaming lifestyle brand’s latest entry level gaming headset that’s basically leveled up its features to provide the key requirements for gamers – comfort, 7.1 surround sound, and a dependable mic.
For starters, setting up is a breeze. you just plug and go. The Razer Kraken X features a 3.5mm jack, and an audio-mic splitter, that sets you up immediately on basically any platform – PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.
The wired gaming headset features a decent build and a fresh redesign that slims down the Razer Kraken profile to an extremely light weight of just 250 grams (0.55 lbs), making it one of the lightest gaming headsets in the market today.
Paired with memory foam ear cushions, it keeps you comfortable as you go the distance. While the memory foam is comfortable enough, it’s still not as soft as what you’d expect from “premium” grade headsets. However, the inner cushion provides great coverage to provide actual over-ear comfort.
Although the cups can’t rotate, the headset has been designed with the glasses-wearing gamer in mind. The ear cushions don’t put any pressure on your frames with glasses-friendly eye-wear channels and an adjustable headband.
While I no longer have the need to wear prescription glasses (thank you Lasik), I have switched to blue-light reducing glasses for my digital needs. I can truly appreciate the benefits of not having to constantly re-position the headset to alleviate the soreness of the frames pressing into the sides of my head.
The Razer Kraken X provides the key requirements for gamers – comfort, 7.1 surround sound, and a dependable mic, at a truly affordable price.
The Kraken X is built with a bendable cardioid microphone. Its tight pickup pattern is designed to suppresses noise from the back and sides and it does it’s job well enough. A microphone mute switch and volume controls can be found directly on the ear-cup for quick and easy access.
However, you can’t detach or stow the mic away. It is where it is, and that’s where it stays. Unlike some of my other gaming headsets, it is very unlikely that I’ll be using this on the go and it is definitely one meant just for your gaming station.
The Kraken X provides decent music performance – especially in the mid-bass range. However, it doesn’t hold up too well for the higher frequencies. It does generally well for pop and hip-hop, but you’ll feel the sound-stage shrink on acoustic tracks.
Once available to only the higher-end models, The Kraken X benefits from Razer’s initiative to provide 7.1 surround sound across its gaming headset range. 7.1 surround sound delivers true competitive advantage by providing accurate positional audio, so you know where danger is coming from, in the middle of battle.
However, this feature is software driven and only available with the Kraken X on Windows 10 64-bit.
The Kraken X is available in classic black, and another variant, the Kraken X for Console will come with black and blue highlights.
Available at a suggested retail price of $79 SGD, the Razer Kraken X really is a value-for money buy.