17.9.2016

In this review we are looking at the Razer Kraken 7.1. I’ve been testing this unit for quite a long time now, and have gotten to know it well. There have been a string of variations of the Razer Kraken in recent years, and whilst this review focuses on the Razer Kraken 7.1, I feel from my experience that it is likely relevant to the other variants of Kraken.I’ll jump straight in with saying that whilst I do like this headset, it doesn’t come without its problems.If you’re looking for a good place to start, the design of this device isn’t it. I’m rather confident now that I’ve spent more time repairing this headset than Razer spent producing it. It has literally started falling apart at the seams,so much so that I’ve had to take the sewing kit to it numerous times (at the cost of a few drops of blood no less) in order to keep the fabric over the foam ear cushions. Despite my best efforts, the plastic leather-effect material is gradually leaving the ear cups, which doesn’t make for the best aesthetic.My other gripe with the design of this Razer headset is the cable. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of braided cables, but this one just isn’t right. It twists, tangles and deforms itself and simply will not revert back to its original form. Every few days whilst using this headset, I found myself having to suspend it from a great height by the USB and watch as it spun itself into oblivion, untangling the worst of it. If I didn’t do this frequently, the 2m long cable would slowly shrink and tangle itself down to nothing more than a 30cm cord.On the upside, this headset is extremely comfortable. It can be worn for extended periods of time, entire days, without feeling like it’s crushing your skull or creating a vacuum around your ears. The ear cups, as they revealed themselves to me, are made of a soft foam, which provides a nice padding between the plastic frame and the large circle around your ear.The retractable, flexible microphone is also a nice feature of this headset. When you want clarity and volume, you can move the mic close to your mouth. If you’re sitting back for a casual chat, you can move it further away for a more relaxed feel, and to avoid odd mouth noises.Fortunately for Razer, the sound quality of this headset is redeeming. Simply put, this headset sounds great. For less than £100, you’ll struggle to find too many other headsets that produce such a nice sound as the Razer Kraken 7.1. The bass is especially thick and satisfying. Once you add Synapse to the mix, Razer’s propriety EQ software, this headset begins to really shine. I had noticed whilst gaming with friends on ARMA that I was able to hear distant sounds much, much earlier than my buddies, which undoubtedly saved us a few times.These headphones are good for music too, with pleasant mid-ranges and a satisfactory high-range. It seems to me that the sound these headphones output is especially tuned to sound good in large, dynamic shooter games, like Battlefield. Having said that, it also performs surprisingly well for listening to music, with everything sounding clean and crisp, and once again with solid bass.At £89.99, these headphones fall somewhere in the middle of the gaming headset market. They’re by no means cheap, but they won’t break the bank either. Their sound quality rivals that of some of the more expensive models and devices, but the build has significant flaws that really do detract from the overall experience. Although not part of the purchase per-say, Razer Synapse does add some killer features to this headset, and provides a lot of control over your sound. The microphone on this headset is nice both in terms of sound and design, which, in my opinion, does manage to tip the balance in favour of this headset.

31.8.2015

PRO:microphone is flawlessnice looking and pretty good built qualitysurround sound is pretty good for a virtual one (but u have to do some changes in settings because the default settings are terrible for sound)CON:even if in synapse u can choose for every single application surround 7.1 or stereo 2.0 it doesn't work is no difference (u will always have the surround sound even if you try to set it on stereo 2.0): this is pretty bad for Counter Strike because the sound of this game is not optimized for surround and the low frequency sounds (bass) will be too loud with a kind of echo that u can't fix it however you will try to set the EQ or other options.the only way until razer will fix this issue in synapse (if they will...and is not a hardware issue that can't be turn off the surround)for counter strike players is to calibrate the sound in this way:forward (let it at 12 o'clock)sides: forward to left ; left ; backward to left ; forward to right ; right ; backward to right try to set them like this : right side as close as you can to 3 o'clock and left side to 9 o'clockdefault calibration is like this (but i don't recommend it for CS GO players because is annoying and u will not be able to realize where the sound is coming from (so the default one are like this: forward 12 o'clock forward to right about 1:30 , right 3 back to right 4:30 back to left 7:30 left 9 and forward to left 10:30.) now you can say this is more precise than my settings (12 3 and 9) but when you play CS GO and somebody is coming from left side or right side u will hear clearly with side is. if u keep the default ones if he is right or left behind or in front of you your ears will hear sound in both drivers of the headset (left right) one will be lower volume the other one higher but the difference between volumes are not very easy to appreciate and u can be confused. if u set like i told you it will be more close to a normal headset that we are all used with (peoples that are playing CS for many years are used like i said with 2.0 headsets) however old players will still be confused because of virtual surround sounds because of the bass...Some other settings that u have to do are in AUDIO menu of synapse: select bass boost and set it to 10 (you will say why if they already have that bass too much powerful: the answer is: default bass that can't be lowered has a poor quality and this option improves the bass quality by removing some background noise of the default bass.NEXT make sure that Sound Normalization is turned off because it will distort the soundsSET Voice clarity to 100 and volume level of voice to 50 (default one is 0)Reasons; by turning this on in counter strike sounds like STEPS will be easier to hear otherwise bass will cover too much from this soundsMicrophone setup it's easy the default one is ok just make sure volume normalization is not checked and ambient noise reduction is up to you (in my settings is unchecked because the quality is flawless even without this optionSo if u play predominantly Counter Strike and u are a classic player about sound i recommend you to buy a headset without surround or to buy one that u can disable surround in software. Unfortunately in razer software even if you have this option for every application this option just doesn't work doesn't disable the surround at all. If you are razer fan just wait until they will fix this or buy the normal kraken not 7.1 (the analog ones with 3,5mm jack)

13.1.2015

Was in the price range for the headphone I wanted and considering I have other Razer products already, opted to stick with something I trust. Comes in a nice package and the usual Razer stuff like the stickers and instructions. The headset itself is very lightweight in comparison to other types of gaming headphones and the ear cups are soft. My ears do get a little hot after awhile, but that's kind of to be expected with most over-the-ear headphones. I have rather small ears, so they fit inside with ease and did a lot of noise reduction from my surroundings.The Chroma is the same as the normal Razer Kraken 7.1, albeit it comes with the ability to change what colour the snake logo on the side changes.You can have it cycle through the spectrum or pick a single colour. It can be stationary or do a 'breathing' like effect. Out of the 16million colours you have a choice of, I just kind of stuck with red and it's pretty, but isn't really a selling point of the Chroma. If you're not bothered with aestetics, then you might save a bit of money just buying the original Kraken 7.1. I chose the Chroma as my mouse is red and wanted my products to match.The sound is crisp and clear, but it does choose what kind of sounds are loud. Skype and Windows sounds deafen me, but certain video games are very quiet. I think it's to do with the calibration of the surround sound, which takes a little time to sort out after you get the headphone and needs adjusting. On Windows 8, I usually have the volume at around 20 for video games, but if I'm browsing the internet, it drops to about 10 unless I want my ears to bleed. I'm not overly bothered, as to listen to my laptop at all, I need the volume to be at 100 to hear anything.Microphone is pretty neat, as it bends about depending on how close or angled you want it to your mouth. It then slides back in beside the headset cups so it's no longer a bother. The LED on the bottom of the microphone glows red when I put it in mute, which you can do with a little button the side. this alters from the Neon Pro, as I believe that headset does not have a microphone button.When on Skype to a friend, he said that he didn't ear any background noise when I started using these compared to my previous headset and that my voice was very clear, as if I was talking directly into his ear.The highlight was the fact it was a USB and had a braided cable, as I go through headsets so quickly because of cable snapping. I wanted the cable to remain safe during travel and the USB makes it easier for me to plug it in without accidentally ripping it out like I do with ordinary jacks.Four stars because the volume control is an issue, but overall I'm very happy with the set. It's nice, light, soft, comfortable and aesthetically appealing.

24.9.2016

I am the proud owner of both the Hyper X Cloud II and now these guys - I bought these to complete my Razer Chroma set and to be honest I was at first a little put off with previous reviews saying that the Hyper X Clouds IIs are far superior.After having both on my desk and listening to both, here's what I think about both and you can make up your own minds on whether or not you should buy these or the Cloud II.The sound quality difference between both headsets is not exactly massive - in fact - personally after fiddling around with the settings (big bonus for Razer with Razer Synapse which allows you to change, alter and edit sounds, lighting and SS for your headset and other chroma products)

15.11.2016

Truely amazing headset.I've been using Kraken 7.1 Chroma for over a year now and I gotta say its amazing.Lets start with Pros1 Sound is superior+Amazing bass. If you play games like Battlefield/Call of Duty or any game that has alot of action - you will love these. Although its virtual 7.1, you can hear eveyrithing around you. I've had countless situations in battlefield 4 where I had huge advantage over my enemies just because I could hear them but they couldn't. If you like listening some music, its also a great option. Of course you won't get music quality of some senheiser headphones for 500 pounds, but still these headphones are exceptionaly good when listening to some music.

11.2.2017

I have used this headset both at work and at home. At work I usually listen to music and have meetings online with other colleagues.At home - gaming, isolating myself from the world to concentrate on the studies and music, as well.Pluses:1) Listening to the music and playing games with 7.1 Channel Surround is extraordinary. The sound is so deep. For music - I can hear every chord, riff or voice as it was intended. For games - 7.1 Channel Surround offers great sound perspective, where you can hear from which side the steps or gunshots are coming from.2) Microphone has great noise reduction. My work headset's microphone would take voices of people speaking next to me and pass them to the online meeting.

5.12.2015

Built Quality - The headset is mostly made out of plastic with material touches. The plastic parts make the krakens pretty lightweight but also making them feel a bit cheap although that is not a big problem at all. As for the material on the headband it is this kind of mesh material on the bottom which is pretty soft but there is only a thin layer of it, the top of the headband feels like leather that makes the headset look and feel nice. Although the headset seems to be pretty big it is good that the ear cups can fold in. The cable is wrapped in this material which i quite like it feels pretty solid like it is not going to be damaged easily.Microphone - I am pretty satisfied with the microphone

10.1.2016

This is one great pair of headphones!The general build is very solid. A reinforced headband and easily adjustable without becoming loose or moving while you have them on. The best thing for travelling is the fact that the cups fold in for protection, making the whole thing really compact. A stroke of genius is the retractable mic. It retracts into the left cup completely and is fully flexible so you can position it anyway you like once deployed. The fact that you can mute the mic by pressing the tip is a great feature and the red light indicating it's muted is really practical.it is comfortable to wear and doesn't hurt my ears, even after a long session listening to music, skyping or gaming.

7.8.2017

4/5.The sound quality of the headset is stupendous compared to most headsets I've tried before around and below this price. For games where hearing can be quite essential in the heat of battle, notably games such as Rainbow Six Seige, the 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound allowed me to hear and pinpoints noises I had previously not heard before; giving me the advantage in many situations and improving my gameplay. The ability to use Razer's own software 'Razer Synapse' to customise the headset to your own standards (Bass boost, profiles etc.) was amazing and would encourage me to purchase more from themselves in the future.I can imagine that the lights both sides of the earcups are more useful for streamers and the like where people can see them,

31.1.2015

hi guys n gamers this headset is amazing watch the sound turn it to around 15 before you instal these as they are loud "very loud " the only problem i had with these was the braide cabling sitting here in my hoody after unboxing them the braided cable rubs on anything the feed back goes straight back to the ear the cable goes into i have to sit still to not here any rubbing feedback through one ear why would a great company and product have this it is unacceptable on the other hand they are an amazing set of headphones just amazing for gaming and getting those sounds right around you just that cable rubbing though ?

4.3.2016

This headset was bought as a replacement for a tired three year old razer blackshark headset. It was a fantastic purchase.Boxing and presentation - the headset is wonderfully packaged and you feel like you are getting something special when you open it up. The headset itself is very well protected.Styling- just look at them. Great design, lighting is very good fun, and the microphone is completely hidden in the ear-piece, and even lights up red when on mute. Gold usb connector and braided able just make the quality feel of the headset stand out. The fold-in ear-cups also add a helpful feature for transporting them, but they lock out meaning you don't have to use two hands to put them on/take them off.Comfort - the cups are big enough to cover your ears well,

11.12.2015

I like these headphones but there are a few negative points that make me feel that the price tag is a little unreasonable. Given the cons, I'd say this is more of a £60-70 headset than an almost £90 one.The sound quality is brilliant and the colour on the external casing of the ear muffs are a nice touch - although you can't see them when you're wearing them, so what's the point? They're comfortable. I wear glasses but don't seem to have any discomfort from using them.PROS/+VE'S:- Nice colours on the external casing of the ear muffs.- Great sound quality.- Excellent sound quality when using the microphone to talk or record audio.- Convenient retractable, flexible, microphone.- Comfortable to wear,

15.11.2015

My first product from Razor which is the Razor Kraken 7.1 Chroma.. Yes I went full out! I was slightly nervous about the money I was paying although after Using them I'm in no doubt the money I paid for them are worth every single penny! The overall quality of these are amazing! the shape and feel to even the smell. It just smells of quality. I tested it on numerous amount of games and I myself, a very hardcore gamer was very suprised! This is an advantage over any other. For example.. Csgo, The footsteps.... To even Rust and Call of duty! The headset not only gives you an advantage but the reality if the sound makes you more immerse into the game itself which is a huge factor for me .

13.5.2015

Bought these to replace my Creative Fata1ity Gaming Headset.. which became crackly in sound. These Razer Kraken 7.1's are awesome. Nice bass response.. The 7.1 works well.. I found myself turning my head to where the sound was in game.. Not all games like it though. Older games like Age of Conan only work in stereo with this headset. Whereas Tomb Raider 2013 works great.. so much more immersive. Also the lighting is a good touch. If you've other Razer Chroma products you can link them so they all have the same colour or even have them cycle through the colours at the same time on each Chroma device. .. The USB cable isn't all that long at 2m. Also if you move around a lot,

3.5.2015

Sound is a bit too bass heavy right out of the box, but once properly calibrated (both for its 2.0 and 7.1 mode) it is a delight to use.ACalibrating the 7.1 surround sound is really easy, with the software guiding you through some very quick steps; and it does deliver a pretty impressive experience considering it's a Virtual 7.1 Headset. Playing games like "Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare", "Crysis 3" or even "DX: Human Revolution" with its 7.1 sound is amazing. And again, it is very appreciated that this software let us calibrate this virtual 7.1 sound to our liking; considering most 7.1 headsets from other manufacturers do not allow us to do so. Kudos to Razer.Audio is impressive,

Razer Kraken Pro 2015 - Reviews

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