Razer Kraken 7.1 V2
Exploring the depths of bass
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST time Razer has unleashed the Kraken, and it’s not the first time we’ve faced it down. Its first goaround, when we reviewed the shiny white Kraken Pro V1 in December 2015, didn’t exactly impress; its bass-above-all-else sound stage was a bit much, and we had trouble with the mic. Can this 7.1 model, which sits alongside the newly-tuned Pro V2, offer us something more palatable?
We’ll address the issues we had with the original shortly—let’s begin with the benefits (or not) that the 7.1 offers over the Pro model. The most obvious difference is the lack of a four-pole jack, consigning the 7.1 to USB-based use only. There’s also a bit of added virtual surround technology, Razer’s Chroma LED lighting, a MEMS microphone in place of the Pro’s more standard electret number, and active noise canceling through Razer’s Synapse app.
Like the V1 before it, this Kraken is a mighty aluminum monster—light, strong, and padded to within an inch of its life. It has even fatter circumaural ear pads— replaceable with oval models, which would suit larger ears, but only if you’re willing to pay for the upgrade—and despite its snug fit, this is a headset that you can wear from dawn to dusk without worrying about squeezing or discomfort.
The 7.1 virtual surround is, frankly, a bit weird. It’s highly adjustable through the app, but so subtle that it might as well not be there. When you do happen to catch a moving sound, it feels as though the Kraken is painting more of a vertical than horizontal picture, a disconcerting sensation, which throws one out of the game somewhat. The Chroma lighting, similarly, might as well not be there, seeing as you’ll ideally be wearing this headset rather than looking at it. It’s all about making a statement to those around you; if you’ve been dying to state “my ears are glowing purple,” more power to you.
Here’s something the Kraken 7.1 V2 does oh-so-right, though: its 5V-powered microphone. Retractable into the earphone and perfectly poseable, the microelectromechanical, fully siliconbased construction of the mic pulls in a clear, rich, quality sound that’s leagues above any tiny electret in this price bracket. The noise canceling is decent, too. This is an utterly, utterly impressive piece of gear. We’d like to see MEMS spread all the way across the mid-level headset market, and it’s a valid reason—one that isn’t silly pretty lights—to settle for USBonly headset solutions.
BASS CAMP
That’s one check in the box, then. So what of that all-important sound stage? We were a bit concerned when Razer described it as “louder” than its older sibling, which we diagnosed with acute Gamer Syndrome, as it leaned so heavily on the bass. Let’s begin with the good news: through Razer’s 50mm drivers, the crackles of treble and burbles in the middle are present and sound perfectly correct. You won’t be dragging anyone in to listen to your new headset, but there’s nothing missing, and a rich, satisfying level of sound reproduction is on offer. But then the bass kicks in, and those clear tones get hammered down by a relentless assault of low-frequency sound, boosted to within an inch of its life, and sometimes beyond the point of clarity. It’s more pleasant than its predecessor, and you can futz with the EQ controls in Synapse to calm it down a little (or, if you’re a real masochist, switch on the unnecessary bass boost), but this headset is positioned as a skull-shaker, and that’s precisely what it does. And, overall, it is objectively a better headset than the first wave of Kraken cans.
The microphone is out of this world, the padding luxurious, the gimmicks ladled on, and the sound, er, enhanced. But you’ll find a much more balanced sound elsewhere in the market. This is an explosive gaming headset, and if you’re not consistently immersed in a world of combat, you’ll be disappointed.
VERDICT7Razer Kraken 7.1 V2
CRACKIN’ Tremendous mic; supremely comfortable; tweakable sound.
CACKIN’ Over bass-heavy; poor 7.1; pointless lighting; USB only.
$99, www.razerzone.com