Razer headphones are still very much the de facto standard of the industry, and not much has changed with the Kraken V4. It doesn’t pack in innovative features, but it offers everything you need and expect at a reasonable quality and at an affordable, albeit higher, price.
Like many other companies, they have decided to implement 9-zone RGB lighting. I still have a hard time seeing a need for it, except that it generates heat and uses extra power. It might look cool in an Instagram photo because everything is from the same brand and the same color, but in everyday life I think it’s not valuable to use good advice language.
As expected, there is both a regular wireless connection via a USB-C dongle and radio waves, and a wireless connection via super-fast Bluetooth. However, I still miss the upcoming wireless charging implementation. Battery life is pretty good, rated at 70 hours, and I was able to squeeze some extra juice out of it without any problems. One design issue is that there is no cavity or anything to store the dongle, which I am not so happy about. The old Nari headphones had it, along with haptic feedback, so why did they forget these two great features this time?
The price is around £180. It’s not cheap, but unfortunately it’s about the same price as headphones these days. That said, you can get really good headphones for less. No, they don’t have triple connectivity, but when you sit at the Kraken V4’s price point, you have to offer those extra bells and whistles.
Here’s a hint:
Razer still uses its three-way 40mm Tannoy-style titanium Triforce drivers, and they deliver a fairly balanced sound, although there is an emphasis in the high frequency range. The transition between bass and mids is much smoother than you’re used to, and reproduction is almost linear across the same frequency range. However, more could be done to improve the openness of the sound stage. The resolution is good, but it has limitations as a closed headphone. While the bass has a good punch, it’s better to get the deeper frequencies, but this has traditionally been reserved for headphones. Usually the sound is delicate and delicate.
The cushions are made of memory foam and fabric and are very comfortable to wear, and the earcups offer a very light weight. On the side you’ll find the power button, volume sliders, and the usual chat/game balance tweaks.
The microphone is the Razer HyperClear Super broadband. That’s probably a bit of a myth in many ways, because while it’s certainly an upgrade sonically, it’s still a bit loud and tinny compared to many of its competitors. That said, it’s well articulated, with minimal intonation on the P, T, and S sounds. We’ve tested it as-is, but if you’re willing to tweak it a bit you will get reasonable results. That being said, folding/roll-in microphones are not as robust or mechanically well-built as externally mounted microphones, and for good reason. So it’s also about being realistic about what you can achieve. Personally, I think using the integrated microphone rather than an external mic is the right choice, but it may depend on the type of game you prefer. Anyway, it’s sampled at 32 kHz, which isn’t quite the same as CDs, but it’s close.
On the software side, Razer’s Synapse software is, as usual, a study in functionality and functionality. But that’s a bit misleading, because if you want to use THX Spatial, which I admit is one of the few solutions around online worth your time, you have to pay extra. This might put some people off, but at least there’s a demo link on the Razer website. There are also several EQ profiles as standard, and Razer should be praised for not going crazy with the gaming profile.
Here’s a hint:
You can’t go wrong with the Razer Kraken V4. There are some flaws, and you’re paying for a premium brand, but in return you get a solid audio experience and well-built headphones.
