The updates follow one another and are not the same at Razer, which is making room after the renewal of its range of mice headsets. The Kraken V3 X is an ambitious model that needs to strengthen the American brand’s mid-range sector without competing too strongly with the BlackShark range.
Whether it’s Nari, Kaira, Opus, Hammerhead, Kraken or BlackShark, Razer always talks about calling up headsets for gamers. A historical catalog with 15 products, which should enable the American company to reach all target groups and player profiles. Apart from the fact that with so many references there has to be a certain amount of competition. This is exactly the problem that arises for the Kraken V3 X, a model that is not uninteresting but whose existence we can hardly justify.
Plastic, it’s fantastic …
The Kraken V3 X is the fourth device in the Kraken lineup and underscores that famous X, which exemplifies Razer’s desire for low prices. The Kraken X was already a cheaper version of the Kraken and there is, for example, the same nuance in BlackSharks. But we’re making good progress, we’re talking about a large branded product and, as with Corsair or Logitech, there is no question of competition with Chinese manufacturers: The Kraken V3 X has a recommended retail price of 79.99 dollars, which remains a good effort on the part of Razer.
So for this price we don’t have the end of the headset for gamers, but the product presents itself quite well. When you take it out of the box, you immediately notice the lack of a box or a carrying case: if you need to move it, it is your responsibility. We also quickly show the great general sobriety that characterizes the entire Kraken range anyway … in contrast to the BlackSharks exactly and their more industrial design with visible hinges. Everything is integrated there, almost hidden, and we no longer think of a silhouette that no longer emanates.
Comfort in use
A completely black silhouette without the slightest green use that reveals its affiliation with the American brand. As soon as you plug in the headset, two Razer logos light up: They are on each of the two ear cups and can be deactivated. Noteworthy. On the other hand, we don’t appreciate the simplicity of the helmet’s design. In reality, this is no surprise as it pushes the Kraken X’s limits, but you are dealing with the ubiquity of plastic and the impression of a slight lack of sturdiness. At iGamesNews we’re fans of the Kraken era, but we have to recognize a lesser liking for X models.
Unsurprisingly, the central arch does not benefit from any metal reinforcement. However, it shows some flexibility and presses on the skull to avoid the feeling of being squeezed. It also has a very suitable foam coating that we simply fear the possible wear and tear. No, the real problem lies elsewhere in the atria. By and large, these are circumferential pads that must therefore encompass the entire auricle. Our Esgourdes are not huge and yet we find them very correct: The foam surround of the headset stumbles over our pavilions, of course relatively uncomfortable, but guaranteed.
To make matters worse, Razer overlooked those rotating hinges that can be found on some competitors. Unsurprisingly, the left atrium contains the main controls: volume controls, mute … and that’s it. We will, of course, note the presence of the cable for connecting the headset – only via USB-A – of a compatible device. Note this level of operation on Windows, MacOS and PlayStation consoles (4/5). Also note the presence of a microphone boom in the left atrium. Flexible, it can’t be rolled up or detachable in the headset like high-end Kraken.
Surround 7.1 … an addition!
When connecting the headphones to our PC, we are a bit surprised that Razer uses a simple cable of just under two meters. The length is of course not the problem, but although the manufacturer has gotten us used to excellent quality cables and very flexible keyboard / mouse, this saves money. Pity. In terms of comfort, however, there is nothing to be said for it … once the helmet is securely on your head. As we said earlier, the atria appear to be a little small and the central arch may lack flexibility, but once you find a comfortable posture it is very satisfactory.
The foams of the atria are thick enough to prevent the ears from heating up too quickly, and the whole thing stays under 300 g: far from being unbearable. However, one may wonder about the longevity of foams and their sound insulation. That doesn’t matter with a gaming headset: we rarely have a party right next to it. On the other hand, this can be annoying in terms of outdoor use such as public transport, and you will sometimes have trouble clearly distinguishing your interlocutors while on the tram (or the subway, we are not sectarians) a loud jump is people.
Perfect rendering?
But let’s get to the point and quality of the refund. First disappointment: The 7.1 room advertised by Razer is only available under Windows 10 and the condition for paying for the THX Spatial Audio surcharge: 24.99 dollars, even if Razer, in its infinite quality, has a code of -50% in the helmet box provided. In any case, we were never really convinced of this pseudo-spatiality of the sound with these types of inexpensive headphones. In this case, it worked quite well in action games with an interesting geolocation of the other participants. On the other hand, it also tends to denature more felt atmospheres. So turn off Solo.
Problem: Compared to the BlackShark X series and other Kraken, the Kraken V3 X mainly suffers from a clear lack of nuances. Some players will no doubt be delighted to see how much it boosts bass, and it is true that for the explosiveness of the environment it is impressive and quite clean. We had better defined bass, less boom-boom, but the result is interesting. The same goes for the media, which benefit from a good presence and don’t get too dirty from the bass. On the other hand, once we focus on a little heavy orchestration, we become disillusioned.
The Kraken V3 X also struggles to bring depth. The scene always seems to be lacking in relief, and the higher up you have to go, the harder it becomes for the Razer product. These heights appear as unnatural veils. We are also clearly losing precision, in the details. That said, without the audio rendering bad, it is way too strong and it is all the more embarrassing that it cannot compensate. Fortunately, we can rely on the quality of the microphone recording to compensate for a rendering that is too bass-oriented: the voices are clear, natural, and the immediate surroundings are not a problem.
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A VERY REAL HELMET, BUT ALL DISAPPOINTING After Razer spread very compelling BlackSharks and BlackShark X, he fell asleep a bit and it’s Kraken-era fans who say it! In reality, the Kraken V3 X is not a bad product and in full swing we cannot say that we regret having it on our head. However, Razer charges almost 80 dollars, while the product has less interesting finishes than the BlackShark X and tries to justify a 20 dollars higher note than the Kraken X by integrating lighting without interest. Razer signs a suitable product, but it is inferior to what it offers us, regardless of the range of products. Pity. |
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