Razer Kraken Tournament Edition review: A messy but interesting refresh for Razer’s no-frills headset line - madduxthisheis

The last Razer headset we reviewed, the Nari Ultimate, packed one hell of a gimmick: custom-built drivers that respond to basso presence by literally vibrating against your head. Pathetic? Absolutely. Calm down, I enjoyed my time with it.

Not every Razer intersection is built connected gimmicks though, and as if to prove the point Razer's also released the Nari Ultimate's polar opposite this fall: some other iteration of the no-frills Kraken line, this unity dubbed the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition. Is it really tournament-ready? We donned nonpareil to find out.

This look back is part of our ongoing roundup of the record-breaking gaming headsets. Go there for info on other competing products and how we test them.

Set the controls

We cobbler's last looked at a Kraken manikin close to deuce long time ago, with the Kraken V2 . Visually not much has changed since, which is a trifle disappointing. Razer's headsets are bulky, there's no getting around IT, and the Kraken is the bulkiest-feeling of all. As I same about the Kraken V2, it gives you that "Princess Leia lateral-roll look." And because the earcups don't pin, the headset can look even bulkier when you absent it.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

That said, it's advisable-built and comfortable. The metal headband is thick and sturdy simply unco unimportant, the leatherette accents are slick-looking for, the earcup hinges palpate resilient, and in that respect's a solid inch of foam cushioning on each spike. That contributes to the large look, but anathemise if it isn't comfortable.

The Kraken Tournament Variant ISN't completely devoid of gimmicks. Same the Nari Ultimate, the Kraken Tournament Variation includes cooling mousse in the earcup padding. For the first 15 or 20 proceedings after you put the headset on, it feels nice and cool against your skin. After it warms up IT's bad much just a normal headset, but the effect is pleasant while it lasts. (Those seeking additional cooling system power can remove the pads and throw them in the fridge for a bite.)

Cooling system gel is the only obvious design change. Otherwise this might as well be the Kraken V2 chassis.

What other has changed? The cabling, of all things. The Kraken Tourney Variation is a bit of a weird interbred. Both the USB-powered Kraken 7.1 V2 and the 3.5mm Kraken Affirmative V2 are still on cut-rate sale. The Kraken Tournament Edition, from what I can tell, combines the two.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

Okeh, it's a fleck more complicated than that, so let's break it down. The Kraken Tournament Version is a 3.5mm headset, and can be obstructed into whatsoever miscible device—your phone (provided it stock-still has a headphone mariner), your Xbox restrainer, your PC, whatever. It even features the aforesaid in-lineage controls arsenic the Kraken Pro V2, a rudimentary box with a mic mute switch and a small volume wheel.

The Kraken Tournament Edition includes a second cable. No mere prolongation cable, this one begins with a sound card and terminates in a USB connection. Plugging the 3.5mm cable length into the sound card gives you access to a bunch of Razer Synapse package add-ons, like noise cancellation and Equivalent, every bit well as THX Spatial Audio.

But—and this is where it gets weird—the sound card also includes redundant mic tongueless and volume controls that officiate independently of the ones already handy on the 3.5mm cable. I wouldn't be surprised if Razer wanted to reuse the Kraken In favor V2 hardware with this new control box, but the resulting cabling organization feels incredibly overdesigned and messy.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

There are a few interesting additions nevertheless. On the left side you'll find a "Bass" toggle. Blown it backward and forward lets you EQ the bass frequencies on-the-fly, which is a nice touch—though regrettably there's no way to tell when you've reached "Multidimensional" again. The right side features deuce controls, one to enable and disable the aforementioned THX Spatial Audio, and the another a much-appreciated chat social.

It's non the most elegant box, but it gets the job done and is certainly an improvement over the Kraken's usual no-frills controls. Worth noting: The sound card/ascendance box also includes gum happening the back if you want to attach IT to your desk, on the other hand you'Ra really making a commitment to this one headset (and one desk, likewise). If you get into't, require the control box to end au courant the floor. It's fatal.

Pump up the bass

The Kraken Tourney Edition sounds similar to the Kraken V2, which shouldn't come as overmuch surprise. It's decent, especially given that new "Bass" toggle I mentioned above. I found the Kraken V2's bass answer pretty anemic, but Here you can adjust to your preference without still popping open Razer's software. Slick, and it rectifies one of my biggest problems with the late Kraken.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

Otherwise IT's a pretty standard Razer headset. It does little for music, which is my usual Razer complaint. Complex mixes tend to feel muffled and empty, every last the different frequencies piling atop incomparable other and making for a pretty mediocre listening experience. Mids and high frequencies in general could use a bit more eupneic room in Razer's headsets. But it's good sufficient generally for some gaming and music, especially play where the mixes are simpler and more to-the-point. The socialist/right stereoscopic photograph play is solid.

Chat mix works great, and it's nice to see it Here because IT's such a rarity on Razer's headsets—and connected headsets in this $100 compass, for that matter. Razer's boxful isn't as handy or refined as most of the larger mix-amps kayoed there but, you know, $100. I'll adopt what I put up beget.

Razer's also improved a lot on the software side over the years. Synapse is still room heavier on the system than I'd like, simply IT's at least cleverly designed. The Kraken Tournament Edition lets you enable or disable THX Attribute Audio frequency/surround sound connected a per-programme basis, which I've really appreciated. Sure, you might want it in Field of battle V but you definitely preceptor't lack it running while listening to music on Spotify. Synapse lets you easily set up those conditions.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

That said, there are few supernatural aspects. As I said above, the "Bass" on-off switch doesn't receive any notification when you've reached a flat or unmodified fathom—and Synapse is no helper. The toggle is performing on its own, not adjusting the EQ level in Synapse, which is a strange way to handle it. Likewise, I find myself harassed that the Kraken Tournament Edition in reality has three volume controls: Windows, the sound card controls, and the smaller in-run along box on the 3.5mm line. It would've been nice for the sound card controls to mechanically adjust the volume at the Operating system level to make unnecessary at to the lowest degree same step.

Bottom line

The Razer Kraken Tournament Variant is a weird proposition I consider, and I'm not sure where information technology truly fits in the lineup. The Kraken Pro V2 is probably a better choice for soothe gamers, as a cheaper 3.5mm headset without the pricey USB sound off card they can't use. But the Kraken 7.1 V2 might notwithstandin be a better choice than the Tournament Edition for PC users. Wherefore? Principally because the cabling is less awkward. The Kraken Tourney Edition has better controls (therein information technology has them, period) and I love that "Bass" toggle switch, but put conjointly the deuce cables finish up around niner feet long. It's right smart overkill unless you're going to attach the control corner to your desk.

That said, the Kraken Tournament Version and Kraken 7.1 V2 bear the same $100 price tag so information technology's down to personal preference. Hopefully the next Kraken redesign is more wholesome, but this will do for now.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/402979/razer-kraken-tournament-edition-review-a-messy-but-interesting-refresh-for-razers-no-frills-headset.html

Posted by: madduxthisheis.blogspot.com

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