Razer Kraken X Headset Review

Rating: 8.0.

Here at KitGuru we've reviewed plenty of Razer headsets over the years, with some costing as much as £200. We were very interested to hear, then, that Razer has bolstered its headset portfolio with a new model – the Kraken X. The killer feature? Pricing. At just £49.99 this is the cheapest Razer headset we've seen by a fair distance, yet on the face of it you'd be unlikely to know this was a more budget model. After a week of use, here's what you need to know.

Priced at just £49.99, the Razer Kraken X is coming up against other entry-level competitors like the Corsair HS50 and HyperX Cloud Stinger. Razer does have a trick up its sleeve, though, in the form of 7.1 virtual surround-sound. Granted, this is not a feature of the headset itself – it connects via an analog 3.5mm jack – but rather it is something Razer has introduced more recently for its 2019 range of headsets.

Essentially, if you buy the Kraken X, you get a license code for ‘7.1 Surround Sound‘ – a proprietary software which enables virtual 7.1 for the Kraken X. It's only for Windows – so console gamers will miss out on this feature – but it definitely adds value.

So without more preamble, let's dive right into the review.

Specifications:

At a Glance:

• 7.1 Surround Sound
• Ultra-light at 250g
• Bendable Cardioid Microphone
• Custom-Tuned 40 mm Drivers
• On-headset Controls
• Cross-Platform Compatibility

Headphones

• Frequency response: 12 Hz – 28 kHz
• Impedance: 32 Ω @ 1 kHz
• Sensitivity (@1 kHz): 109 dB
• Drivers: 40 mm, with Neodymium magnets
• Inner ear cup diameter: 65 x 44 mm
• Connection type: Analog 3.5 mm
• Cable length: 1.3 m / 4.27 ft.
• Approx. weight: 250g / 0.55lbs
• Oval ear cushions: Designed for full-ear coverage with leatherette, for sound isolation and comfort

Microphone

• Frequency response: 100 Hz – 10 kHz
• Signal-to-noise ratio: > 60 dB
• Sensitivity (@1 kHz): -45 ± 3 dB
• Pick-up pattern: Unidirectional ECM boom

On earcup control

• Volume up and down
• Microphone quick mute toggle

Audio Usage

• Audio Usage: Devices with 3.5 mm audio jack
• Audio + microphone usage: Devices with 3.5 mm audio + mic combined Jack
• Audio / mic splitter adapter cable usage: Devices with separate 3.5 mm audio and microphone jacks

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