“…despite its more entry-level price point than other Kraken products, the Kraken X relinquishes few of the indulgences that previous Razer headsets have offered.”
Razer has fashioned themselves paragons of the immersive gaming experience with their industry-leading Kraken gaming headsets. Their latest model, the Kraken X, seeks to advance that experience further, reaching new levels of comfort and quality.
The ultra-lightweight Kraken X weighs in at just 250g, and the comfort this affords is unlike any headset I have played with to date. Combined with the soft, high-quality oval-shaped memory foam ear cushions and the well-padded adjustable headband, it was quick and easy to find the perfect and most comfortable fit. The leatherette ear and head cushions are luxuriously soft and supportive, providing a firm but unburdening grip on your head while you play. Indeed, despite its more entry-level price point than other Kraken products, the Kraken X relinquishes few of the indulgences that previous Razer headsets have offered. Perhaps the most notable downgrade from the Kraken V2 headset is the plastic framework on the Kraken X, but even this has a sturdiness and relative air of quality about it.
On a similar note from the perspective of value for money, the audio quality of the Kraken X is outstandingly good for its price tag. Truly, no other sub-£50 headset that I have worn has come even close to the Kraken X experience. 7.1 surround sound immersion is conveyed through the Kraken X’s 40mm drivers; a notable decrease from the Kraken V2’s 50mm offering but with a surprisingly negligible drop in quality. Certainly, when put to the test in Rainbow Six Siege, the Kraken X accurately delivered on its marketing promises of powerful, clear and detailed directional sound, allowing me to accurately determine the direction of nearby footsteps with ease. In a game where audio cues are so critical, the Kraken X passed the test with flying colours.
When used on Discord whilst gaming, the Kraken X offered a high-quality and well-balanced experience on both ends. I found it easy to hear and communicate with my friends whilst playing, and they reported a notable smoothness of my microphone quality when I first entered our server. The active noise suppression of the Kraken X’s microphone seemed to work well upon testing and bending it into the optimal position for the quality without visual intrusion was quick and easy too. The microphone is suitably sensitive for speaking, and equally omits any unwanted clicking and clacking from other, nearby peripherals. The only criticism I have of the Kraken X microphone is that it is not retractable; a feature which was possible with previous Kraken models. You can fold the microphone mostly out of view when not in use, but you cannot slide it neatly away or out of the way entirely.
Consideration of ease of use is standard for any Razer product, with the Kraken X being no exception. On-headset audio controls allow you to change your volume and mute your microphone on the fly and with ease. These controls are subtle but easy to reach and use during play, offering you full control of your communication experience without having to leave your game. There are, however, a couple of aesthetic features which have been notably omitted from the Kraken X’s offering, presumably with a view for making that low price point possible. Perhaps most instantly noticeable is the lack of RGB on the Kraken X earcups. Whilst this is a purely aesthetic feature, it is one that has become synonymous with the Razer brand and will likely disappoint some gamers. Similarly, the move to separate 3.5mm audio and mic jacks comes as a bit of a surprise given the general industry move towards USB, and the lack of a braided fabric cable will be of note to some local customers, too.
Switching from the Kraken V2 headset to try the Kraken X was a nervy move to endure, but the moment I put on the new headset I was overwhelmed by the effort that had gone into creating a near-weightless and extraordinarily comfortable peripheral. The difference is audio and voice quality seemed to be minimal, which given the difference in price at launch came as a surprise. Despite a few, small feature omissions on the Kraken X model, I found that using the headset was an overwhelmingly positive experience. For gamers looking to make the move to Razer at the entry-level, or anyone looking for a quality audio experience under £50, the Razer Kraken X is easy to recommend.
Enjoy the review? want to read more of our reviews? then click right here to be whisked away to the realm of our opinions.
Want more news from the Tech world for Gaming Peripherals to Hardware Click Here
You must be logged in to post a comment.