Razer Kraken V4: two-minute evaluate
The Razer Kraken V4 is the most recent incarnation in Razer’s mid-range line of wi-fi gaming headsets, promising enhancements over earlier generations. True to Razer’s latest design language, the Kraken V4 retains the gaming accouterments to a minimal, though the RGB lighting does sufficient to brighten the in any other case austere black colorway.
Each facet of Kraken V4’s building feels premium, from the outer shell and swivel mechanisms to the switchgear and microphone. My one gripe is that the amount management is a bit too free, and leaning again in your chair can set off unintentional scrolls.
Carrying the Kraken V4 is a nice expertise, if a bit cumbersome given how broad the drivers are. The scarf and earcups are as plush and comfy as lots of the greatest wi-fi gaming headsets, and glasses wearers also needs to hit it off with them. Nonetheless, the within of the drivers did press into my ears barely, which might trigger discomfort over time, however to not the extent of different headsets I’ve tried.
There are many options on the Kraken V4, together with varied listening modes. These might be toggled through a button, or custom-made in higher depth utilizing the Razer Synapse software program. There are detailed EQ settings and varied modes to toggle, together with the near-essential Bass Enhance perform. There are additionally mic settings in an analogous vein, together with EQ and noise cancellation settings.
In observe, I didn’t discover the assorted sound modes to be significantly helpful. Barring Music mode, the remainder cut back low and mid frequencies an excessive amount of. And even with Music mode chosen and Bass Enhance activated, the low-end continues to be left wanting.
One other function I might advocate conserving on is THX Spatial Audio. Sadly, this solely works on PC, however it conveys a a lot fuller sound. Utilizing a wired connection through USB is marginally higher too. Nonetheless, even with these suggestions, there are nonetheless better-sounding gaming headsets on the market, resembling these in Beyerdynamic’s MMX lineup.
The microphone gives good vocal high quality, and the assorted settings are helpful, particularly noise cancellation, which prevents undesirable sounds from coming by with aplomb.
Battery life is nice too, though as Razer signifies, it could actually fluctuate wildly relying on utilization. I managed to get round a few days value of use out of it, which is on par with most different wi-fi gaming headsets.
Whereas it’s priced barely beneath the Razer BlackShark V2 Professional, that headset gives larger drivers and an extended battery life. Nonetheless, each share quite a few specs, so that you’re not lacking out on a lot.
It additionally undercuts a few of the greatest wi-fi headsets round, such because the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi, our choose because the greatest PC gaming headset. And in case you’re completely happy to maintain the cables, then there are wired gaming headsets on the market with even higher worth, such because the Epos H3.
Razer Kraken V4 evaluate: value and availability
- $179 / £179 / AU$329
- Accessible now
- Black colorway solely
The Kraken V4 prices $179 / £179 / AU$329 and is out there now. It is available in one colorway: black.
As wi-fi gaming headsets go, the Kraken V4 is priced fairly nicely. It’s barely cheaper than the Razer BlackShark V2 Professional, our choose as the most effective wi-fi gaming headset general. Nonetheless, that could be a headset designed for esports, and though each function Razer’s HyperSpeed Wi-fi know-how and HyperClear Tremendous Wideband microphones, the TriForce titanium drivers are 50mm on the BlackShark V2 Professional versus 40mm on the Kraken V4. The BlackShark additionally has a battery lifetime of as much as 70 hours, whereas the Kraken can solely handle as much as 50 hours.
In case you’re after superlative sound over options, then Beyerdynamic’s MMX vary of gaming headsets might match the invoice. Nonetheless, these are significantly costlier, regardless that the MMX 300 and 330 Professional are wired. And as we famous in our MMX 200 Wi-fi evaluate, this headset suffers from awkward setup and connectivity.
In case you can reside with a cable-only connection, then you possibly can’t do a lot better than the Epos H3, our choose because the greatest wired gaming headset general.
Razer Kraken V4 evaluate: Specs
| Worth | $179 / £179 / AU$329 |
| Weight | 12.3oz / 350g |
| Compatibility | PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Change, Steam Deck, Android, iOS |
| Connection sort | Wired (USB-A), Wi-fi (Bluetooth 5.3, 2.4GHz USB dongle) |
| Battery life | As much as 50 hours |
| Options | Razer HyperSpeed Wi-fi know-how, Retractable Razer HyperClear Tremendous Wideband Mic, THX Spatial Audio |
| Software program | Razer Synapse |
Razer Kraken V4 evaluate: design and options
- Understated design
- Comparatively comfy
- Razer Synapse integration
Within the flesh, the Kraken V4 is comparatively understated for a bit of gaming {hardware}, though the important thing indicators are nonetheless there. The black design is illuminated by a big RGB gentle show on each drivers, which might be custom-made in-depth through Razer’s peripheral software program, Synapse.
Though the oval driver design helps to maintain their profile slim, the Kraken V4 continues to be comparatively cumbersome due to the protrusion of the drivers, though the drivers do swivel 90 levels, which makes them simpler to hold round your neck and retailer.
The drivers themselves don’t get in the way in which when leaning again in your chair or couch, however annoyingly the amount wheel does, which led to frequent unintentional scrolls and made me reluctant to ever recline totally. Due to this fact, this isn’t a headset I might advocate for couch gamers.
The padding on the headscarf and earcups is delicate and well-cushioned, permitting for lengthy gaming periods, even for many who put on glasses. It additionally doesn’t look like the type of materials that may flake over time, which bodes nicely for its longevity – though the headscarf isn’t replaceable ought to it perish.
Regardless of the general consolation, I did discover the within of the drivers pressed barely into my ears – a standard downside I expertise with many headsets and headphones – which might trigger aching after a very long time.
The construct high quality of the Kraken V4 is as much as the same old Razer requirements, with a strong but light-weight building and premium, easy-operating buttons. The included USB cable is braided but thick and appears fairly sturdy. It additionally doesn’t crush the headset, as different headset USB cables can. The aforementioned difficulty with the amount wheel is without doubt one of the solely missteps and is principally as a result of looseness of the incremental notches.
The celebration piece of the Kraken V4, although, is the retractable microphone. For probably the most half, that is straightforward to function, though it may be a bit cumbersome to place again, because the gooseneck design tends to fold as you try and push it again in. When you get the knack, nevertheless, it’s a sublime resolution to conserving the mic stowed. Adjusting and fixing the mic into place can be straightforward, though the cable isn’t that lengthy, so you might battle to position the tip proper in entrance of your mouth (it solely managed to succeed in the facet of my lips). Once more, as with the remainder of the headset, the microphone feels premium and hard-wearing. There’s no material tip both, eradicating one other level of potential degradation.
As for options, the Kraken V4 contains varied listening modes relying on the kind of media you’re consuming, together with Film, Music and Gaming modes, which might be activated with the press of a button.
This identical button might be pressed twice to rapidly swap between Bluetooth and a pair of.4GHz modes, which works fairly rapidly and effectively. There’s additionally a mute mic button, and a button that may be held to permit for the amount wheel to regulate the steadiness between sport and mic audio, though this implementation is considerably awkward, and did not work constantly throughout my exams. Fortunately, many of those button presses are accompanied by clear audio cues, so that you’re positive when they’re activated.
The Kraken V4 might be custom-made additional utilizing Razer Synapse. On this software program, you’ll discover changes for the RGB lighting, together with choices for various colours and patterns. There are additionally audio enhancements together with bass increase and vocal readability enhancements.
The aforementioned media modes might be altered to your liking, due to the 10-band EQ, letting you drag factors on a graph to spice up or cut back sure frequencies. This gives extra in-depth sound sculpting than software program from different rivals.
You may also alter mic settings, once more with EQ changes accessible, though there’s solely three modes to select from right here. You may also activate monitoring to listen to your self by the headset, and there are numerous helpful parameters to regulate thresholds for sound being picked up.
The Kraken V4 works on PC and varied consoles, together with the PS5 and Nintendo Change. Because the PS5 does not assist audio over Bluetooth, the Kraken V4 can solely join wirelessly through the two.4GHz USB-C dongle. Just like the greatest PS5 headsets, the Kraken V4 connection is prompt and works flawlessly with the console. Connecting through Bluetooth to the Change is equally straightforward and trouble-free. In case you’re on Xbox, although, you’re out of luck because the Kraken V4 isn’t suitable; think about one of many greatest Xbox Sequence X headsets as a substitute.
Razer Kraken V4 evaluate: Efficiency
- Tweakable in Synapse
- Weak bass
- Excessive-quality mic
The Kraken V4 gives well-balanced audio for gaming, though the low-end is missing considerably. The totally different listening modes, nevertheless, can alter the sound.
In concept, these totally different listening modes are good, however in observe, I discovered that Music mode gives the most effective expertise for all events, because it offers the fullest sound with the most effective bass response. This makes the opposite modes redundant: Gaming mode sounds too weak within the decrease frequencies, whereas Film mode scoops the mid-range frequencies far an excessive amount of, which makes for a frankly weird listening expertise that I can’t think about anybody wanting to make use of.
There are additionally varied enhancements, together with Bass Enhance. I might advocate having this on on a regular basis, because it noticeably will increase the low finish with out being overbearing. Nonetheless, even with this activated, the bass nonetheless lacks the impression of headphones designed for audio playback. This weak spot is also attributed to the shortage of isolation from the earcups, so the sense of immersion isn’t as robust as you may anticipate from over-ear headphones.
You may assume this might be remedied by activating THX Spatial Audio, because the Kraken V4 helps this commonplace. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t characterize the mode as including more room – however once more, it does supply a a lot fuller sound with extra backside finish, and with out overshadowing mids and highs. It’s a disgrace that this mode is just accessible on PC and never console.
There’s no discernible distinction in sound high quality between Bluetooth and a pair of.4GHz wi-fi dongle, though the latency is diminished barely when linked through the latter. I additionally skilled a bug whereby the amount wheel wouldn’t work when in 2.4GHz mode on a Home windows 10 machine, though this might’ve been a quirk of my specific setup. Sound is additional improved when utilizing a wired connection through USB. The bass response is fuller nonetheless, and the general constancy appears barely improved as nicely.
The microphone high quality can be good. Voices are rendered clearly, though some microphones do supply barely higher high quality, such because the Beyerdynamic MMX fashions, however it’s nonetheless greater than enough.
The assorted microphone changes work nicely too, particularly the Noise Isolation and Voice Gate modes, the previous of which prevents undesirable sounds and the latter permits you to select the edge for enter detection.
Battery life varies relying on utilization, with a claimed most of as much as 50 hours when the RGB lighting is turned off, or as much as 35 hours when on. Throughout my exams, I managed to get a number of days of use out of the Kraken V4, which is on par with different wi-fi gaming headsets.
Ought to I purchase the Razer Kraken V4?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally think about…
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Razer Kraken V4 | Razer BlackShark V2 Professional | Epos H3 |
| Worth | $179 / £179 / AU$329 | $199 / £199 / AU$349 | $119 / £109 / AU$179 |
| Weight | 12.3oz / 350g | 11.3oz / 320g | Not specified |
| Compatibility | PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Change, Steam Deck, Android, iOS | Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Change, cellular | Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Change, cellular |
| Connection sort | Wired (USB-A), Wi-fi (Bluetooth 5.3, 2.4GHz USB dongle) | Wi-fi (USB-C dongle), wired (USB-C, PC solely) | 2 x 3.5mm jack / 1 x 3.5mm jack (GSA 30 PC Cable/GSA 30 Console Cable) |
| Battery life | As much as 50 hours | As much as 70 hours | N/A |
| Options | Razer HyperSpeed Wi-fi know-how, Retractable Razer HyperClear Tremendous Wideband Mic, THX Spatial Audio | THX spatial audio, twin connectivity, PlayStation 3D audio | Raise-to-mute mic, EPOS BrainAdapt Expertise |
| Software program | Razer Synapse | Razer Synapse (PC) | None |
How I examined the Razer Kraken V4
- Examined for a number of weeks
- Performed on PC and on consoles
- 20+ years gaming expertise
I examined the Kraken V4 for over per week. Throughout that point, I used it for gaming, listening to music, and watching movies. I attempted to make use of as many options and tweak as many settings as attainable utilizing the Razer Synapse software program.
I performed quite a lot of titles on PC, PS5, and Nintendo Change, together with Sea of Thieves, Silent Hill 2 Remake, Counter-Strike 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I performed on-line multiplayer so as to check the microphone in a true-to-life setting.
I’ve over 20 years of gaming expertise and have tried quite a few headphones and headsets throughout that point. I’ve additionally reviewed different gaming headsets.
- First reviewed October 2024.
- Learn extra about how we check
