Razer Kraken X Headset Review

1. Introduction2. Unboxing and First Look3. Testing4. Closing Thoughts5. View All Pages

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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