Razer Kraken Gaming Headset Lightweight Aluminum Frame – Retractable Noise Isolating Microphone – for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, Mobile – 3.5 mm Headphone Jack – Black/Blue
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From the manufacturer
About Razer
For Gamers. By Gamers. It’s not just a tagline. It’s a mission. It’s exactly what drives Razer to create products which constantly tilt the competition in your favor. From behind the drawing board all the way to the tournament stage, each step is controlled by the undeniable desire for all gamers – to always win.
Razer Kraken for Console
The 3rd generation Razer Kraken is the wired headset for console gaming. Its large 50mm drivers deliver powerful and clear sound. It’s engineered for long-lasting comfort with cooling gel cushions. A retractable microphone ensures your shotcalls are always delivered in absolute clarity.
- Custom-Tuned 50mm Drivers
- Cooling Gel-Infused Cushions
- Retractable Unidirectional Microphone
- Bauxite Aluminum Frame
- Thicker Headband Padding
- Cross-Platform Compatibility
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Custom-Tuned 50mm Drivers for Powerful, Clear Sound and Immersive BassEnjoy superior sound quality and deep, punchy bass for a wide soundscape. Listen to every detail from subtle footsteps sneaking up behind you to climactic explosions that blow you away. |
Cooling Gel-Infused Oval Ear Cushions to Reduce Heat BuildupCooling gel-infused ear cushions reduce heat buildup, while the leatherette rims provide superior sound isolation. The oval design ensures your ears are covered comfortably. |
Retractable Unidirectional Microphone to Easily Make CalloutsThe unidirectional microphone offers crystal-clear team communication. It’s retractable and flexible, allowing you to pull it out of the ear cup when needed and adjust for proximity and position. |
Specification: Razer Kraken Gaming Headset Lightweight Aluminum Frame – Retractable Noise Isolating Microphone – for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, Mobile – 3.5 mm Headphone Jack – Black/Blue
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Photos: Razer Kraken Gaming Headset Lightweight Aluminum Frame – Retractable Noise Isolating Microphone – for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, Mobile – 3.5 mm Headphone Jack – Black/Blue
10 reviews for Razer Kraken Gaming Headset Lightweight Aluminum Frame – Retractable Noise Isolating Microphone – for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, Mobile – 3.5 mm Headphone Jack – Black/Blue
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$72.38
SuzyQue –
The hardware in the Krakens is excellent, imo. My husband loves these phones (and I do, too!) My previous phones, a pair of Sony MDR-7506’s, were so good we thought nothing could beat them, even though the Sony phones’ drivers are 40 mms in size and these Razer Kraken drivers are 50mm–much depends on the amplification hardware in the ear pads and motherboard hardware as to which will drive the better sound–eg., 50 mm drivers are not automatically better than 40mm drivers, regardless of the hardware environments. A lot also depends on the preferences of the individuals asked to state their opinions, of course. Some people like bass so overwhelming it actually distorts whereas other people like it only enough to hear it plainly with no distortion, and others like it turned down or off, inexplicably, etc. (But you can’t argue with individual opinions, right?…Opinions are like armpits–we all have at least two of them, eh? So, I advise listening to all sides and colors of opinions, especially about computer hardware! There’s always something new to learn even we don’t agree with the overall opinions other people have or their conclusions. Opinions should always be debated–never, ever censored, we firmly believe!)Bear in mind, both sets of phones were tested via my husband’s x570 Aorus Master motherboard’s RealTek’HD Audio 3.5mm analog Hi-Definition front-panel jack–the best earphone connection jack in the system, btw. (Give me wired over wireless any day–I hate batteries and frequency interference, not to mention security concerns that do not exist with wired connections, etc.) The x570 Master also supports, in hardware, a 3-position headphone amp, and a hardware DAC, a SABRE 9118 DAC–the combination has to be heard to be properly appreciated, imo.Connector cabling. The Kraken offers a superior wiring connection–Kraken uses an extremely thin and ultra-flexible braided connector cable, whereas the Sony offers a thick, plastic-covered connection cable in which most of the length is coiled, just like analog amp cables circa the 1960’s were made. Indeed, the Sony cabling doesn’t look like something made for a 3.5mm plug! It looks exactly like something made for a full size plug! It’s opinion, sure, as everything always is in the end, but we much prefer the Kraken’s cabling over that used in the Sony cans used as the baseline comparison for this review. The Kraken cabling is ultralight, ultrathin, cloth braided, and so ultra-flexible that there simply isn’t any obstinate stiffness in the cable that can be perceived. We both like it very much because of that–it is the nearest thing to not having a cable at all, but without any of the negatives of wireless. Sony’s cabling is–well–SoA, circa 1969…;) Reminds my husband of plugging in his ancient but revered Gibson SG-Specials or Fender Strats & Telecasters into nice big onstage amps (which he still does, only the amps are a fair bit smaller, thankfully…;) )Razer Kraken has an inline volume and microphone control switch. The Sony has neither–well, it doesn’t have a microphone at all, so of course no Mic on/off switch. The Kraken has a nice, radial volume control for the cans, and a straight on-off switch for the Mic. Neither of us is a Mic user, so I’ll leave that portion of the review to others better qualified to write about it in another review. Suffice it to say the Mic works as advertised and the on/off inline switch works fine.Now for the optional DSP software. Here’s the situation as we think it stands regarding the extra-cost surround software available for the Kraken, the THX Spatial Audio software for the Kraken. We don’t recommend anyone buying the Headphones without buying the offered THX Spatial Audio software! It’s offered at 50% off when you buy the Kraken Phones, by Razer. So it’s $10! It’s the best $10 you are going to spend for a long time. We believe that these phones should not be offered sans the THX Spatial Audio–it’s kind of baffling that they are offered without the custom THX software, frankly. However, there are people who love distorted bass and volumes so loud that King Kong’s eardrums would burst!…;) So maybe that’s why Razer doesn’t integrate this into this Kraken package. Still, it would be unusual to find earphone wearers who would prefer their games sounding like an avalanche of boulders tumbling down the side of Everest. I think, anyway…;)To sum it up–I love this software. Husband loves it. He says it’s much better than what he thought it might be. Razer includes a 7.1 surround-sound software solution free of charge with the Kraken, and it’s just “OK”–just kind of average–seems to induce a fair bit of bass distortion in speech in some of our games–one guy’s speech is nigh unintelligible with the Razer 7.1 surround sound package for the Krakens. But run the THX Spatial Audio, instead, and the difference is real and immediately noticeable. THX really justifies its commercial claims–the software brings out the best in the Kraken hardware!Comfort. It’s a very important category with cans–as all of us know. If you can’t game for hours because your phones are causing you pain or discomfort after a certain wearing time–that’s unacceptable. These Kraken phones have “Oval Cooling Gel Cushions” in the pads and I’m just going to say that they are very comfortable indeed. My husband says that this set is the most comfortable set of cans he’s ever worn. Both of us think the Sony set tends to “pinch” a bit in a long wear. The Sony pads are by no means uncomfortable, absolutely not. But both of us–my husband’s typically swelled head and my petite but usually swifter smaller head both find the Krakens more comfortable in all wear scenarios–which I find a bit unusual. My husband says that what surprises him about the Krakens in addition to the gel-filled ear pads is how comfortable they feel–even for a large head like his they feel like they’ve got more room to give–not something the Sony’s ever did. The Sony’s were adequate, just not as comfortable.Durability. This is a big one for us, but especially for my husband. He’s gone through many Plasticine sets of cans promising great durability. Hah. We have lost count of the very strong-looking plastic-frame headsets that after very little use, comparatively, use that was anything but harsh or abusive, simply fell apart, cracking through or breaking apart, and it happened over and over again. Hence, the hunt for metal headbands and construction in our headphones. Both the Sony and the Razer Kraken use metal in their construction, and what a difference! Neither set has come close to cracking or breaking apart! The Sony’s have been up for years without a single problem in that regard! Years, literally. We do not expect to see any less durability from our Razer Kraken–namely, the one reviewed in this article!Really, any aluminum-headband construction should suffice for a long, long time. Our advice is to avoid plastic like the plague–especially the plastic headbands that appear to hold massive weight and hold up under enormous wear and tear–especially those particular Plasticine headbands….;) They just aren’t going to be there one day when you really need them.Price: Believe it or not, the Sony cans are actually priced higher than the Kraken headset reviewed here. You can usually buy the Kraken Gaming Headset reviewed here plus the Razer THX Spatial Audio Software for less–that’s right–less than what the MDR-7506 is currently selling for in places such as AMAZON! Where you are right now.Summary: The Sony cans, the MDR-7506’s used as a baseline comparison for the Razer Kraken Gaming Headset review here, deliver really nice sound and were our number 1 choice in gaming headphones. Operative word being “were”….! These Razer Kraken headphones are better, in our very humble, sincere opinions!
Alexander –
Kraken as a brand is known for making quality products that are functional, comfortable, and durable. The noise cancelling earpieces do a good job blocking out sound, and keeping your ears warm.The product comes as two separate parts: The audio controller (USB to 3.5) and the headset itself, which has a 3.5mm jack that plugs in at a 90 degree angle. I’ll talk about the headset first.The headset uses quality fabric from top to bottom, a synthetic leather on top of the headband, with a more cushioned, lattice pattern fabric on bottom. The padding is very breathable and comfortable, so you don’t need to worry about the headset slipping off when using them, barring the most excessive headbanging.The foam they use is a very soft, flexible kind of foam, so you don’t need to worry about having the earpieces bite into any eyewear you are wearing. The extendable microphone has a soft arm, which means you can bend it to get the perfect angle for any face.Additionally, the audio quality is great for general use, meaning you’ll get a good quality mic whether you’re using it on console, PC or even mobile. When not in use, the microphone can be pushed back into the headset frame, making it very much out of your way when you’re trying to enjoy some music.The headset has a barebones, inline volume dial and mute toggle. Both have held up after extensive (+1 year) usage in tandem with the audio controller. The wire used is a not very thick, but dense enough braid, so you won’t have to worry about wire crimping or getting tangled in a travel bag or other container.Before we get started talking about the audio controller I’m going to be talking about the hardware, not the software currently, as while Razer is amazing a producing a great product, the software is notorious for several issues. The audio controller is a very small profile box at the end of a braided cable with a USB plugin. The box has buttons to raise and lower volume in general, a mute button that glows red when muted, and for the two audio channels the drivers for the device (without the software) create; game and chat.The two channels have two small actuators that return to a neutral position after adjusting volume for the respective channel. Finally, the audio controller has a button to enable THX spatial audio.The headset is 5.1 compatible for anyone wondering, and that should be good enough to satisfy most everyone.The major downsides are typically Razer’s software. Most of my issues with razer have been drivers following a patch, typically requiring you to go into settings for all apps using audio settings, or have certain features not work for all setups.Frequently the default THX audio settings don’t work, and audio doesn’t separate into the two channels properly. All audio funnels into the chat channel for me personally, but there have been anecdotes of people having no issues getting it working.Overall, great hardware, just don’t expect the full functionality the software claims. Treat it as a fancy UI and a way to keep your drivers updated, and you’ll be happy.
Alex F. –
If I could, I think I would give it a 4 1/2 star rating, but mostly it’s a solid headset for the price.I had a Hyper X Cloud II headset that finally broke, and I’ve been going on a headset quest to see if I can find a cheaper, same high quality headset. I’m actually returning this one because of a couple of things that I personally don’t like, but overall this was my third new headset and a pretty good one.Pros: sound quality; comfort; looks cool; no issues with mic; cord length and options were good; sturdiness; and volume control in the cord. Normally $59-79. I bought it used for $49 and I had no issues with the quality or look. It seemed brand new still. The volume control worked well, easily moved when you adjusted it, and was tight enough to not move when bumpedThe “cooling” quality of the headset seemed ok. Nothing extraordinary, but nothing wrong with it either.CONS:-it touts being “glasses friendly”, but I found the padding on the ears pulled my glasses around with it when it moved, which is pure annoying. This is the only headset that i’ve bought so far that specifically states that it’s comfortable for glasses, but I found it to be the opposite.-I don’t think I like round headphones as much as oval kinds either. When they’re round there’s more room for the headphones to move around in my opinion, which I don’t want., and which happened. These headphones also slide on the hair around my ears, which makes noise that I can hear because it’s amplifed from having my ears covered, and also causes them to move around too much. If you have shorter hair it might not be a problem.Despite the things I didn’t like, I would probably keep these if I didn’t like my Hyper X Cloud II’s so much and wanted to try another pair.*Side Note: I cant stress this enough, but try used headsets instead of buying new (unless you’re just buying $20 headsets then it doesn’t matter). I bought two used headsets recently, including these Kraken for about $25 less than the price for a new one, and I highly recommend going that route, especially if you find one sold through amazon that still qualifies for Prime and you can get it quickly. Both were in great condition, and I’m going to buy a third headset since they’ll be about $40 cheaper than the sale price right now.One of them had a damaged box because some idiot didn’t know how to open it, but other than that these didn’t even have a scratch on them, and if you don’t like them you get something like 90 days to return them for a full refund. Usually I got my refund within hours, but it might take a few days in some cases.(edited: I forgot, I also live in Seattle, so returning something can be way faster up here than in other places. That’s why most of my returns only take a few hours to get my money back.)
KaitlynKaitlyn –
So so cute! I like everything about these. The sound is great and accommodates surround/directional sound. I wouldn’t really say they’re noise cancelling but they do drown out a lot of the surrounding noise, just not quite everything. The cushions on the ears are nice and big and super squishy and comfy, they go around my ears almost completely instead of resting on them. The head bar is also quite comfy, not quite as soft but definitely softer than some others I’ve tried. Very adjustable and not slippy so they won’t click out of the adjusted height mid game. The retractable adjustable mic is a nice feature that I don’t see often. I was worried it would wear down or break a wire or connection with repeated retraction but it seems to be holding up well. The mic quality it pretty good too and my friend can hear me a lot better than with my last headset. It does pick up a lot though so make sure you don’t have any fans or anything near by because that will get picked up and transmitted. I especially like that the jack is L shaped and not straight out. It makes it easier to hold the controller in my lap without worrying about breaking/fraying the cord or jack. I also like the braided cord, it’s very solid and durable, and the mute button and volume wheel on the cord are easy to use and intuitive. Overall a very good purchase, I would recommend to others (and will probably be purchasing another set for my partner!)
Jeffrey ClarkeJeffrey Clarke –
I’ve had these headphones for over a month now because I really wanted to try them before, I write a review. I am happy I decided to get these because they have completely enhanced my gaming experience.These headphones are great and cheap for those who don’t want to spend over $100 for some headphones to game with. For a non-professional gamer more than happy with these headphones. The surround sound lets me know which direction an enemy is coming at me from. This alone has saved me multiple times from attackers from behind me.The durability of these headphones feels like they can handle a lot. When not in use I just put them away until I’m ready to use them again. They did come with a little dent on the top of the band but did not affect the playability in any way. They also feel comfortable and don’t cause fatigue when playing for long periods of time. I’ve played up to 6 hours in 1 setting and had no problem with the headphones on.The noise cancelation is good but does not cancel 100% of outside noise. I’d rather have some headphones that let me be emersed in a game but can still hear a little of what’s going on in my surroundings. When playing with others I can hear the game and team members’ voices just fine. I was told by a teammate that they could hear a lot of wind noise, and the only thing around was the ceiling fan on max. It’s not a loud fan but I guess the air was enough to be picked up by the mic.Overall, I’m thrilled with these headphones, I even plan on buying a pair for my son. Also, it may not matter but I’ve used these headphones while playing Elden Ring, Destiny 2, Spider-Man, and Back4Blood so far.
Alex RobinsonAlex Robinson –
I decided to get this Kraken headset after getting really tired of using a crappy old turtle beach from my previous Xbox for my PC/Hackintosh. They felt like they cracked the top of my skull open after 2-3hrs of use and my ears were sore. I also wanted a headset with a mic integrated for Zoom and for gaming, rather than using a headset AND the Blue Snowball at the same time, even though the acoustics are amazing on the Snowball.My thoughts on the Kraken: Is it worth the hype?I can confirm that this headset DOES live up to the hype and it’s not just a brand that ships out crappy equipment for high prices. I can’t say the same for some of their other headsets, which have terrible reviews. However, this headset is comfy and functional. Especially Amazon sells it for less than their MSRP, it’s a steal.Pros:-Their earmuff cooling technology actual feels legit…-The top of the headset doesn’t crack your skull-The mic is retractable, which I LOVE-The packaging gives a great first impression-Includes an extension cable with dedicated mic and audio jack, a nice touch for large desks like mine-Can wear easily for hours on endCons:-The lower volume range with the volume dial, located on the audio cable, absoluley sucks. Not sure if this is just my unit, but as you use the integrated volume dial to go from high to low volume, you’ll notice the balance between left and right just randomly shifts. This is surely annoying while gaming to adjust the volume. If you have this issue, I suggest turning the volume all the way to high, then use your keyboard to adjust the volume on the OS side, rather than the hardware side-The mic is a little finicky with MacOS on my Hackintosh, not sure why but I’ll keep working with it.-The ears are a little bigger than I imagined, but I feel like this may end up saving my ears throughout its life.-I wish the cable came with an integrated voice-chat/game volume balance feature, similar to Turtle Beach on Xbox. I understand the tournament edition includes this, but not sure if that is worth the $40 premium. A redesign of that stupid USB unit with the tournament edition would make this headset the best, hands down, headset on the market for $60-100.Summary:Both pros and cons considered–I love this headset. Of course, it has some flaws, like all things in technology do. Over the next few generations of this headset, I’m sure Razer will introduce some killer features to dominate the gaming market. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a headset that’s comfortable, functional, stylish, and inexpensive. With the features included in this headset, there’s nothing better out there that $60-70 can buy.
Christine K. –
TLDR Sound is good, mic is not my favorite.This is the first new headset I’ve gotten in a while and I’m a little torn on it at the moment. On the one hand, I super dig the audio. It sounds clear and the surround sound is nice. Since I’ve seen some other folks mention some issues, I’ll also note I do have a Razer laptop with Windows 10 and the laptop and the headphones play nice together. I will say I tried to download the free Surround 7.1 program that Razer offers and not only did my headset stop outputting sound, but my whole computer did, even with the jack pulled out. I uninstalled the program and it fixed it immediately. However, I am dealing with some challenges with the mic. I’ve used this headset for a lot of work meetings on a lot of different platforms (Zoom, Google. Discord) and I’ve been having issues with the mic. At first, I couldn’t get it to work at all. Because it uses an audio jack and not a USB, the computer doesn’t recognize the headset as a distinct sound/microphone, but I eventually figured out that issue. However, now that I’ve got the mic working, I’m almost eating it from how close I have to pull it to my mouth for people to hear me. Even pushing the mic half an inch away causes my voice to break in and out. I’m not super happy with that, but I’ll learn to deal with it.UPDATE 1/29/2021 I thought my instructions had been thrown away, but stumbled across them and realized that a lot of my mic issues were due to my having the mic diaphragm facing outward and the air vent facing inward when it’s supposed to be the other way around! Now that I’ve got it oriented correctly, the mic is working much better. Kicking up to 5 stars since the issues I was having turned out to be my own fault!
Ricardo Alvarez –
I like these headphones a lot! great quality, I think they’ll last me a long time. Only thing I didn’t like was that the cord is superr long my cats start messing with it while I have them on haha
Aspen Ellis –
I love this headset. Ive had it for over a year at this point and it still works perfectly! I have a lot of ear piercings, so I like that the earmuffs are big enough to not irritate those. 10/10 recommend
Ari –
I can’t remember how long I’ve had these, but they’ve served me well for that length of time. The important thing is that they work and have not failed since that time; many headphones tend to wear down pretty quickly (for some reason) and these have not. I’ve unplugged and plugged the jack several times already and everything goes smooth; I’ve pulled out/retracted the microphone many times. The manual volume control is helpful.These are also probably the only green headphones I could find that actually works well.