Razer Kraken Tournament Edition Gaming Headset Review
The current “big” Razer Kraken is an iteration of a design that first launched way back in 2016. Then called the Kraken V2, it was a complete overhaul of Razer’s most iconic headset. It ditched the plastic frame and boomy sound profile for a refined metal design and something one step closer to accurate.
In 2018, after buying THX, Razer released the Tournament Edition upgrade to the headset, adding oval-shaped cooling gel ear pads, a thicker headband, and a THX Spatial Audio USB dongle into the mix.
A couple of weeks ago, Razer released the first “V3” Kraken product, but to my dismay it wasn’t an updated version of their iconic large aluminum powerhouse. Instead, it was the Kraken V3 X, an awkward mashup of new Razer parts and the plastic frame from their cheapest budget product (more on that in my full review here).
The arrival of that product means it’s probably almost time for the long-running Kraken V2 family to head into the sunset later this year, so I thought I’d take a look at its latest iteration since I hadn’t touched one in almost five years.
There’s a lot to like here…and also some things in desperate need of a modern update.
Note: I bought this headset with my own money and wasn’t sponsored or paid by Razer to write this. You can read my full review and monetization policy right here. None of the links in this piece are affiliate links as I don’t believe in the practice.
OVERVIEW
The Razer Kraken Tournament Edition (official site here) sells for a standard retail price of $99, and it’s available in Black or bright Razer Green. I got the green version at a discount for around $70 from Amazon. It goes on sale constantly. Inside the box, you get the headset, a THX Spatial Audio dongle, and some documentation and stickers.
If you’re looking to save a couple of bucks and you don’t need the dongle, the standard Razer Kraken is the exact same headset minus the USB device for twenty dollars cheaper. It comes in a few more colors, but outside of cosmetic differences the core headset is the same.
After spending a few weeks with this headset…I personally think you’re better off getting the one without the dongle, which I talk about a bit more in the dongle section below.
SOUND QUALITY
When I first tried the Kraken V2 back in 2016, I found it had a functional v-shaped sound that was saved by a more nuanced treble than I was expecting and by a wide soundstage.
Those same things are still true here. The Razer Kraken Tournament Edition has a warm sound, with a recessed midrange response and a slight bump in the midbass. The treble is surprisingly accurate, and the subbass is surprisingly rolled off. The resulting sound is fun for most listening tasks, but not really all that accurate or neutral.
Compared to the Kraken V3 X, however, they sound great. Where that headset stomped all over itself with bass, things are more subdued on the Kraken TE. The bass does over-thicken the midrange a bit, but the surprising amount of width, air, and image accuracy keeps this headset listenable in spite of its frequency response flaws.
I hope that a potential Kraken V3 follows the path of the BlackShark lineup, and doesn’t fall into the trap of absurdly powerful bass like the Kraken V3 X. If you enjoy a warm, easy-listening sound or you want one of the wider-sounding closed back gaming headsets, the Kraken TE is a solid option.
THX DONGLE
I had high hopes for the spatial audio dongle here. I was hoping it would solve the few usability issues I had with the software version of THX Spatial Audio, namely that I needed to turn on surround support manually for each game.
Unfortunately, the dongle suffers from that exact same problem. While there is a hardware button on the side of it that enables the THX virtual surround effects, you’ll still need to manually click into Razer’s Synapse software to enable spatial audio for each game after launching them for the first time. Disappointing!
My problems with the dongle didn’t stop there. The back of the unit features a sticky re-usable adhesive similar to some of the home mounting solutions made by 3M. You’re meant to stick the dongle to your desk, where it will live forever…or at least until you decide you’re done with it. While the adhesive is technically removable, it’s stickier than I would like, and it will eventually wear out if you repeatedly attach and remove it.
The dongle is large enough that I’m not sure why Razer decided to include adhesive on the back. I don’t think it would slide around on my desk if I didn’t stick it down. I guess it would be handy if you wanted to mount this to the side of your PC case or the underside of a desk, but for most users I think the adhesive is more trouble than it’s worth. If they stick with this dongle in future revisions, I hope that they’ll remove the adhesive or include a pad of it in the box as an optional extra.
The bass boost rocker on the side of the dongle is also frustrating. It has 17 steps of adjustment…but there’s no feedback about which step you’re on, and the middle is neutral sound, instead of the bottom. If you turn the bass boost all the way down, the mid-bass presence of the Kraken TE gets completely sucked out, ruining one of the strengths of its sound profile. A simple set of beeps that told users what step they were on would be a massive improvement, and shouldn’t have been hard to implement since the dongle requires Synapse for full functionality.
Finally, while the dongle does have some mic adjustment options, I found that they didn’t really improve my mic audio. The sidetone function is nice, but the sensitivity slider just seems like a badly-implemented noise gate.
I got frustrated with the dongle after about five days and I pried it off my desk. I decided to complete my review sessions using the Epos GSX 300 I reviewed recently. I’d absolutely recommend buying the non-dongle version of this headset, and then buying Razer’s THX software if you feel like you need those features. The headset itself is sensitive enough that it doesn’t need a dedicated amp, so your desktop or laptop will handle it just fine without the dongle.
COMFORT/BUILD/DESIGN
The original V2 version of this headset had exceptional comfort, and the current revision slightly improves things. The thick ear pads have a layer of cooling gel on top that provides a cold sensation for about the first ten minutes of wear. The ear pad openings are so large and deep that your ears shouldn’t touch inside. The headband pad is about fifty percent thicker than on the launch version, and the frame has enough flexibility and fit adjustment that you shouldn’t have trouble getting a good seal.
I can only really find one comfort downside, and it’s that the clamping force is a bit too loose on my personal head. If I move my head around, the headset shifts, and even though it does maintain a decent fit, a twenty percent tighter clamp would feel perfect.
Moving over to build, I really like the bauxite aluminum frame of the “Big” Kraken. It’s one of the most sturdy-feeling headsets on the market today, easily rivalling the builds of the other major brands. The frame and the adjustment sliders have a great, solid feel in the hands, and the metal support forks for the cups extend all the way around their exterior.
Unfortunately, the design is still as massive as it ever was. If you’re wearing these out in public, people will absolutely know that you’re wearing a Razer gaming headset, especially if you go for one of the brighter color options. I know that the design is part of the timeless appeal of the Krakens, and it helps give them their awesome comfort…but it’s still one of the largest headsets you can buy. It’s not quite as big as Razer’s Nari or Man O’ War, but it’s a close second.
MICROPHONE
The microphone is wholly unremarkable, especially within a crowded 2021 field. It has a nasally thin tone, with a good amount of acoustic background cancellation. I’m hopeful that the inevitable future revision will include the “HyperClear” mic from many of Razer’s other headsets, as that capsule has a much more pleasant sound overall. Here’s a short test I recorded.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I still love the large, comfortable design of the Kraken TE, and in spite of its many little flaws in sound, and the disappointing dongle…I had a good time revisiting this headset in its twilight.
It’s a better buy than the Kraken V3 X, although I think the BlackShark family offers more bang for the buck. I also think that the Turtle Beach and Roccat headsets I reviewed recently sound better for the same price, and both of those are wireless models, which puts the Kraken TE in an awkward spot.
If the Kraken V3 shows itself later this year with an improved dongle, 50mm TriForce drivers, and a HyperClear mic, it’ll be right back in the race. For now, the older Kraken is still a decent option if you like the design, need massive ear pads, and don’t mind a sucked-out midrange. Otherwise, you’re probably better off waiting for a revision or looking elsewhere.
