Razer Kraken for Console Gaming Headset

The hardware in the Krakens is excellent, imo. My husband loves these phones (and I do, too!) My previous phones, a pair of Sony MDR-7506's, were so good we thought nothing could beat them, even though the Sony phones' drivers are 40 mms in size and these Razer Kraken drivers are 50mm--much depends on the amplification hardware in the ear pads and motherboard hardware as to which will drive the better sound--eg., 50 mm drivers are not automatically better than 40mm drivers, regardless of the hardware environments. A lot also depends on the preferences of the individuals asked to state their opinions, of course. Some people like bass so overwhelming it actually distorts whereas other people like it only enough to hear it plainly with no distortion, and others like it turned down or off, inexplicably, etc. (But you can't argue with individual opinions, right?...Opinions are like armpits--we all have at least two of them, eh? So, I advise listening to all sides and colors of opinions, especially about computer hardware! There's always something new to learn even we don't agree with the overall opinions other people have or their conclusions. Opinions should always be debated--never, ever censored, we firmly believe!) Bear in mind, both sets of phones were tested via my husband's x570 Aorus Master motherboard's RealTek'HD Audio 3.5mm analog Hi-Definition front-panel jack--the best earphone connection jack in the system, btw. (Give me wired over wireless any day--I hate batteries and frequency interference, not to mention security concerns that do not exist with wired connections, etc.) The x570 Master also supports, in hardware, a 3-position headphone amp, and a hardware DAC, a SABRE 9118 DAC--the combination has to be heard to be properly appreciated, imo. Connector cabling. The Kraken offers a superior wiring connection--Kraken uses an extremely thin and ultra-flexible braided connector cable, whereas the Sony offers a thick, plastic-covered connection cable in which most of the length is coiled, just like analog amp cables circa the 1960's were made. Indeed, the Sony cabling doesn't look like something made for a 3.5mm plug! It looks exactly like something made for a full size plug! It's opinion, sure, as everything always is in the end, but we much prefer the Kraken's cabling over that used in the Sony cans used as the baseline comparison for this review. The Kraken cabling is ultralight, ultrathin, cloth braided, and so ultra-flexible that there simply isn't any obstinate stiffness in the cable that can be perceived. We both like it very much because of that--it is the nearest thing to not having a cable at all, but without any of the negatives of wireless. Sony's cabling is--well--SoA, circa 1969...;) Reminds my husband of plugging in his ancient but revered Gibson SG-Specials or Fender Strats & Telecasters into nice big onstage amps (which he still does, only the amps are a fair bit smaller, thankfully...;) ) Razer Kraken has an inline volume and microphone control switch. The Sony has neither--well, it doesn't have a microphone at all, so of course no Mic on/off switch. The Kraken has a nice, radial volume control for the cans, and a straight on-off switch for the Mic. Neither of us is a Mic user, so I'll leave that portion of the review to others better qualified to write about it in another review. Suffice it to say the Mic works as advertised and the on/off inline switch works fine. Now for the optional DSP software. Here's the situation as we think it stands regarding the extra-cost surround software available for the Kraken, the THX Spatial Audio software for the Kraken. We don't recommend anyone buying the Headphones without buying the offered THX Spatial Audio software! It's offered at 50% off when you buy the Kraken Phones, by Razer. So it's $10! It's the best $10 you are going to spend for a long time. We believe that these phones should not be offered sans the THX Spatial Audio--it's kind of baffling that they are offered without the custom THX software, frankly. However, there are people who love distorted bass and volumes so loud that King Kong's eardrums would burst!...;) So maybe that's why Razer doesn't integrate this into this Kraken package. Still, it would be unusual to find earphone wearers who would prefer their games sounding like an avalanche of boulders tumbling down the side of Everest. I think, anyway...;) To sum it up--I love this software. Husband loves it. He says it's much better than what he thought it might be. Razer includes a 7.1 surround-sound software solution free of charge with the Kraken, and it's just "OK"--just kind of average--seems to induce a fair bit of bass distortion in speech in some of our games--one guy's speech is nigh unintelligible with the Razer 7.1 surround sound package for the Krakens. But run the THX Spatial Audio, instead, and the difference is real and immediately noticeable. THX really justifies its commercial claims--the software brings out the best in the Kraken hardware! Comfort. It's a very important category with cans--as all of us know. If you can't game for hours because your phones are causing you pain or discomfort after a certain wearing time--that's unacceptable. These Kraken phones have "Oval Cooling Gel Cushions" in the pads and I'm just going to say that they are very comfortable indeed. My husband says that this set is the most comfortable set of cans he's ever worn. Both of us think the Sony set tends to "pinch" a bit in a long wear. The Sony pads are by no means uncomfortable, absolutely not. But both of us--my husband's typically swelled head and my petite but usually swifter smaller head both find the Krakens more comfortable in all wear scenarios--which I find a bit unusual. My husband says that what surprises him about the Krakens in addition to the gel-filled ear pads is how comfortable they feel--even for a large head like his they feel like they've got more room to give--not something the Sony's ever did. The Sony's were adequate, just not as comfortable. Durability. This is a big one for us, but especially for my husband. He's gone through many Plasticine sets of cans promising great durability. Hah. We have lost count of the very strong-looking plastic-frame headsets that after very little use, comparatively, use that was anything but harsh or abusive, simply fell apart, cracking through or breaking apart, and it happened over and over again. Hence, the hunt for metal headbands and construction in our headphones. Both the Sony and the Razer Kraken use metal in their construction, and what a difference! Neither set has come close to cracking or breaking apart! The Sony's have been up for years without a single problem in that regard! Years, literally. We do not expect to see any less durability from our Razer Kraken--namely, the one reviewed in this article! Really, any aluminum-headband construction should suffice for a long, long time. Our advice is to avoid plastic like the plague--especially the plastic headbands that appear to hold massive weight and hold up under enormous wear and tear--especially those particular Plasticine headbands....;) They just aren't going to be there one day when you really need them. Price: Believe it or not, the Sony cans are actually priced higher than the Kraken headset reviewed here. You can usually buy the Kraken Gaming Headset reviewed here plus the Razer THX Spatial Audio Software for less--that's right--less than what the MDR-7506 is currently selling for in places such as AMAZON! Where you are right now. Summary: The Sony cans, the MDR-7506's used as a baseline comparison for the Razer Kraken Gaming Headset review here, deliver really nice sound and were our number 1 choice in gaming headphones. Operative word being "were"....! These Razer Kraken headphones are better, in our very humble, sincere opinions!