With all the RGB lights you want and great sound quality to boot, this is ALMOST the only gaming headset I need

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the Razer Kraken V4 is an excellent choice for those seeking a versatile and high-quality wireless gaming headset. With its sleek design, comfortable fit, and powerful audio performance, this headset truly checks all the boxes for a top-tier gaming accessory.

Razer has long been known for creating exceptional gaming headsets, and I’ve had the pleasure of using and appreciating many from my time at Windows Central. Among their products, the original headset series has been particularly successful, and now, the Razer Kraken line is stepping into a new phase.

The latest Razer Kraken V4 boasts an upgraded, stylish design with enhanced customizable RGB illumination, superior sound quality, and exceptional connectivity for seamless wireless gaming experience. It’s not only aesthetically pleasing but also delivers excellent audio performance that makes it suitable for all your audio requirements, beyond just gaming. With the abundance of RGB lighting, you can truly personalize the Kraken V4 to suit your style.

The Razer Kraken V4 offers a great balance between price and features, along with overall high-quality construction. However, it’s important to note that this model isn’t compatible with Xbox consoles, and its microphone quality might not match the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) I reviewed, despite their shared name.

Kraken V4 review: Pricing and specifications

With all the RGB lights you want and great sound quality to boot, this is ALMOST the only gaming headset I need

Pricing highlights

The Razer Kraken V4 retails for $180, just below the normal threshold for Razer’s most premium gaming headsets.
It’s a fair price considering the quality and feature set of the Kraken V4, especially if you value the RGB lighting.
It puts the Razer Kraken V4 up against other great headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7, which is the same price.

The Razer Kraken V4 can be characterized as a “moderately high-end” gaming headset, positioned just beneath the price range of most premium models. It manages to stay below the $200 mark, retailing for $179.99 at Best Buy, and initially comes in black color.

This wireless gaming headset is entirely made of plastic, yet it boasts three connection options (2.4GHz, Bluetooth, and USB Type-C), giving it a premium feel without appearing cheap due to its robust construction and stylish design. The Razer Kraken V4 aspires to be distinctive in a highly competitive market by featuring unique 9-zone RGB lighting from Razer Chroma in each ear cup, allowing for extensive customization via Razer Synapse. In numerous aspects, the Kraken V4 emulates the experience of a high-end Razer headset and even incorporates the initial HyperClear Super Wideband microphone technology, which was introduced with the BlackShark V2 Pro.

With your purchase, you will receive the Razer Kraken V4 wireless PC gaming headset, along with a more streamlined USB Type-C Razer HyperSpeed Wireless dongle. Also included is a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable for both audio and charging, as well as a USB Type-A to USB Type-C adapter cable to connect the Type-C dongle to your computer’s older ports. The Kraken V4 maintains Razer’s commitment to being eco-friendly by utilizing sustainable and compact packaging that minimizes single-use plastics.

Kraken V4 review: The good

The pros highlights

The Razer Kraken V4 is by far one of the best-looking headsets Razer has ever made, significantly slimming down the old design.
The RGB lighting looks great, even if it’s unnecessary, and the Kraken V4 is very comfortable to wear.
It also sounds just as great as I expect from other high-end Razer headsets, with a good suite of supporting features like onboard audio profiles, multiple forms of connectivity, and more.

The Razer Kraken series of headphones has gained a notable reputation since its launch. Not only is it Razer’s top-selling family of headphones, but it also ranks among the best-selling lines of gaming accessories. Consequently, the large, circular ear cups are easily identifiable. However, the cumbersome design of earlier Krakens has been replaced, as Razer has updated the Kraken V4 to make it one of the most comfortable and stylish headsets they’ve ever produced.

The latest updates have allowed Razer to reduce the earcups’ depth and width significantly, resulting in a substantial decrease in size overall. Consequently, the Kraken V4 is noticeably more compact than its previous version, offering a more comfortable fit on your head and boasting an improved aesthetic appeal. Additionally, it now features 9-zone RGB lighting by Razer Chroma within each earcup, which adds a stylish touch (if aesthetics are important to you).

Without a doubt, Razer never disappoints when it comes to RGB illumination. In truth, the diffuser plate within the earcups ensures the light distributes consistently. Plus, Razer Synapse offers an array of possibilities for personalized customization. If you value RGB lighting in your equipment, the Kraken V4 is undoubtedly one of the top gaming headsets available today.

Besides boasting an appealing appearance, the Kraken V4 offers exceptional comfort. Its earcups and headband are furnished with Memory Foam cushions wrapped in microtextured fabrics for a snug yet durable feel. The headset’s clamping force is well-balanced, ensuring it stays secure without causing excessive pressure on your head. Moreover, the earcups now rotate to suit the unique contours of your head and ears, resulting in a customized fit and seal that enhances comfort and audio quality. Although it isn’t the lightest headset available, Razer has excelled in ergonomics with this model.

From my personal experience as a tech enthusiast, the Razer Kraken V4 headset delivers audio that’s almost on par with most other top-tier Razer headsets. It’s a high-quality sound, but it doesn’t quite reach the pinnacle of industry-leading performance. Inside this headset, you’ll find TriForce Titanium 40mm drivers that produce clear and detailed sounds. These closed-back headphones offer a robust soundstage, and their dynamic profile can adapt to any content you choose to play.

It’s fantastic to have THX Spatial Audio on the Razer Kraken V4 as it significantly enhances audio quality when listening to music or playing games. The swiveling earcups also provide better noise isolation than other Razer headsets I’ve tried. In comparison with similar headsets in its price range, the Kraken V4 holds up exceptionally well and I don’t think anyone would be unhappy with its sound quality.

The device offers a prolonged listening experience, with its battery lasting up to 70 hours. However, activating the RGB lighting might reduce this by approximately half, depending on your preference between aesthetics and longevity. Conveniently, you can recharge it via USB Type-C, and if desired, use the same port for wired audio in case battery power is not sufficient for your needs. Overall, it’s a well-designed product with no noticeable flaws.

Regarding connectivity matters, I’ve noticed consumer complaints about Bluetooth instability with the Kraken V4. However, my review unit has experienced no connection issues whatsoever and maintains a steady link to all devices. The wireless functionality has been impeccable, and audio quality via Bluetooth is exceptional due to AAC and SBC audio codec compatibility. The Razer HyperSpeed Wireless works flawlessly as well, and I appreciate the small, modern USB Type-C dongle that comes with it (plus, a USB Type-A adapter cable is included).

Kraken V4 review: The bad

The cons highlights

The Kraken V4 is a very well-rounded headset with no glaring faults to speak of.
However, some will criticize the all-plastic construction as being less than premium, and there’s no Xbox support.
This headset’s biggest weakness, however, is simply that its mic isn’t quite up to the new standard Razer has set for itself.

I can already hear people complaining that the Razer Kraken V4 doesn’t justify its price tag because of its plastic construction, but I frankly don’t agree. This headset feels like a premium, high-quality product, and it’s comfortable and attractive to boot. The audio quality, wireless performance, and extra features all meet or exceed my expectations for this price point, too.

As a researcher examining audio equipment, I must admit that while the microphone on the Kraken V4 headset is an improvement compared to older Razer models, it doesn’t quite measure up to some of its contemporaries within the same price range. However, it should be noted that the Kraken V4 is the first non-BlackShark model to feature the new HyperClear Super Wideband Mic, which I awarded a perfect 5/5 score in my review of the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) due to its exceptional recording quality. Although the Kraken V4 has made significant strides in this area compared to previous Razer headsets, it’s important to clarify that it does not share the same mic as the BlackShark V2 Pro, despite bearing the same name and underlying technology.

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The Kraken V4 headset often delivers superior sound quality with improved clarity and detail compared to many of its rival products. However, it tends to produce undesirable sounds, artifacts, and distortion more frequently than its BlackShark counterparts. Moreover, fine-tuning the microphone volume, EQ settings, and additional features like vocal clarity, noise cancellation, and voice gate can be tricky to get the optimal sound. I attribute this difference primarily to the physical design: the Kraken V4 sports a smaller, retractable microphone for a sleeker and more aesthetically pleasing look, and Razer has confirmed that this design choice involves using distinct components.

Incidentally, I’d like to express my frustration over the limited Xbox support. I get that Xbox creates challenges for third-party manufacturers in producing wireless accessories, but it’s particularly inconvenient for users like me. Additionally, there’s no feature here for mixing audio from multiple sources, a specialized yet handy tool. While it may not be essential for everyone, it certainly comes in handy when you need it.

Kraken V4 review: Final thoughts

You should buy this if …

✅You want a great all-around wireless gaming headset

The Razer Kraken V4 excels in multiple aspects. It boasts a comfortable design suitable for extended gaming periods, delivers a flexible and swift sound performance, provides battery life lasting over several hours, and maintains strong wireless connectivity without any hiccups. It consistently holds its ground against top competitors within the $200 price range and frequently outperforms them.

✅You really like RGB lighting

It was only a matter of time before Razer introduced its Chroma RGB lighting into another product, and it seems headsets are no exception. The design of the Kraken V4 is sleeker and more aesthetically pleasing than its predecessor, but what sets it apart is the 9-zone RGB lighting in each earcup, offering a unique level of customization that’s hard to find elsewhere.

You should not buy this if …

❌You need Xbox support

There are numerous gaming headsets that work with Xbox consoles as well as other platforms, however, the Razer Kraken V4 is not among them. Instead, you might want to consider options like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X or the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Xbox users. Unfortunately, I wish the Kraken V4 was compatible with Xbox, as I prefer it in several aspects, but unfortunately, it’s not an option (currently available).

In this price bracket of around $180 to $200, high-end wireless gaming headsets have a surprisingly intense competition among brands like Logitech’s Astro, HP’s HyperX, Turtle Beach, SteelSeries, Razer, and others. When you look at the Razer Kraken V4 compared to headsets such as the Astro A30, it stands out as a remarkable headset that delivers top-notch performance in most aspects for less than $180, specifically priced at just $179.99 at Best Buy.

However, it’s not the only great option here. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X is just as attractive at the same price, for example, and it’s really hard to ignore the excellent Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Xbox and its brilliant microphone for just $20 more. If I had to pick just one, though, it’d be really hard to ignore the Razer Kraken V4, especially if I didn’t need Xbox console support or really appreciated the RGB lighting. Just know that you honestly can’t go wrong with a lot of these options.

The updated Razer Kraken V4 is the most appealing and comfortable model yet in the Kraken series, setting a new standard for pricing within the line. As the mid-range option in the family, the Kraken V4 offers a commendable blend of features and affordability. For those seeking more advanced options, the Razer Kraken V4 Pro comes at approximately double the price tag of this headset, making it less directly competitive. Additionally, for budget-conscious shoppers, there’s the wired Razer Kraken V4 X, ideal for those who don’t mind keeping the cord.

Remember to incorporate the Razer Kitty Ears V2 into your new headset for a touch of individuality. These can be found in both black and pink options, priced at just $19.99 on the Razer website, which I must say I’m fond of. Unfortunately, they don’t have a glowing feature, though.

2024-10-01 16:09