The Razer Kraken V4 is the manufacturer’s mid-range gamer headset offering good audio performance, but also wireless connectivity, with a touch of RGB of course – this is Razer, not just anyone! So, what’s this gamer headset really worth? Let’s find out in this comprehensive review.
Design and packaging
The packaging is as meticulous as ever, as Razer knows how to protect its headsets during transport and offer a pleasant unboxing experience. Everything is protected by plenty of foam, with an immediate view of the headset and the USB-C connection dongle.
Let’s talk about the Kraken V4: Razer’s headset is as polished as ever, with a total of 9 backlight zones per earpiece, for complete, customizable illumination.
The logo in the center is backlit, as is the surround, while the center is glossy and the surround is matte. On the edges of the headset, you’ll find the start and mute buttons, as well as a button for switching from game mode to chat mode, and another for changing the connection mode. The Razer Kraken V4 connects via Bluetooth as well as 2.4 GHz.
There’s also a USB-C connector for charging the headset, as well as a retractable microphone here, which is quite a change from the Kraken V3 Pro previously tested. On the previous version, the microphone had to be removed; here, being able to store it on the Kraken V4 is interesting.
The ear pads are made of fabric, which is a change from leatherette, and I personally find the sporty fabric much more pleasant. The latter allows you to sweat less, feel more comfortable, and above all, doesn’t give you that cold feeling that leatherette can give you in the middle of winter when you put the helmet on.
The Kraken V4’s headband is also covered in the same fabric as the headphones, which is also flexible enough to provide the necessary resistance.
This new version is very practical and aesthetically pleasing, which isn’t a bad thing! Let’s take a look at its features and performance.
Razer Kraken V4 specifications
| Model | Razer Kraken V4 |
| Headset type | Gaming |
| Headset shape | Circum-aural |
| Connectivity | – 2.4 GHz – Bluetooth – Wired |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz – 28 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 98 dBSPL/mW |
| Integrated wireless technology | 2.4 GHz / Bluetooth |
| Microphone type | Retractable, omnidirectional |
| Microphone frequency response | 100 – 10,000 Hz |
| Operating time | Up to 70 hours (2.4 GHz) – RGB off Up to 35 hours (2.4 GHz) – RGB on |
| Fast recharge | Yes |
| Weight | 350 grams |
Kraken V4 audio quality
Priced at 200 euros MSRP, the Razer Kraken V4 leaves me hoping for very good audio quality. It’s a gamer’s headset, not an audiophile’s headset, so we can’t expect extraordinary quality, but something solid nonetheless.
Already, it’s important to note that these feature THX Spatial Audio technology, offering faithful and, above all, immersive in-game reproduction. What I have to say is that the immersive aspect is there, and it works really well.
In terms of audio quality, the bass reproduction is really good, and the midrange and treble are also very pleasant, so that you can walk around with the headphones on your ears, even on the train, in the car, etc. However, for certain types of transport, such as the subway or airplanes, this may not be ideal. This is because the Kraken V4 does not feature active ambient noise reduction.
Passive noise reduction with headphones, on the other hand, works very well, and I have nothing to complain about. With the headphones on and no music playing, I can hear my keyboard, which is a Corsair K100 Air, but the noise is considerably reduced.
Razer Kraken V4 microphone
The microphone here has the advantage of being retractable, which is a very good thing. On the previous version, this was not the case and we regretted it, but Razer has corrected the situation on the Kraken V4. The microphone is equipped with an activity LED to indicate when it’s muted.
In terms of audio quality, it’s really good, so admittedly it’s not a microphone like the Elgato Wave 3 I use on a daily basis, but it’s still very decent for calls on Discord! Then, if you want a good desktop microphone, there’s also the Razer Seiren, which does the job very well.
Kraken V4 comfort
In terms of comfort, the Razer Kraken V4 weighs in at 350 grams. It’s decent, if a little heavy, but frankly, you hardly feel it on your head even after several hours of play.
I was able to write this entire test with the headset on my ears, i.e. for around 2 hours, and after testing it for around 1 week, I couldn’t find any comfort concerns. The fabric means less sweating in summer, which is always handy when it’s 28°C indoors. As for the headband, you hardly feel it at all, certainly a little at first, but it soon becomes a thing of the past.
We also note that the earpieces are adjustable, enabling them to be perfectly adapted to the head of the person wearing the headphones on their ears. The pressure on the ears is not too great, although it is noticeable for the first few hours, giving you time to get used to them.
Good battery life
The Razer Kraken V4 promises a battery life of 35 hours with the RGB lights on, and around 70 hours with the lights off. It’s nice to see that you can double the battery life if you don’t need the lights.
In my tests, the headset lasted over 34 hours with the backlight on. With the backlight off, on the other hand, it gave me almost 71 hours of autonomy, with the volume at 40% and connected at 2.4 GHz.
Of course, it’s possible to connect it via Bluetooth, but I don’t want to connect such a headset in this way. It would be a shame to do without the immediacy of a 2.4 GHz connection. Especially when gaming, you don’t want any latency, which Bluetooth doesn’t offer.
Razer Synapse software
Razer Synapse is the manufacturer’s software for controlling all its devices. Here, the Kraken V4 is natively supported and offers a rather impressive set of options, which is not to my displeasure.
On the sound front, you can select stereo mode, or THX Spatial Audio, for a captivatingly immersive gaming experience. There’s also an audio equalizer, with three pre-programmed modes, as well as a custom mode for setting a 10-band equalizer.
The graphic equalizer is very useful for setting the sound you want yourself, and can be played with freely.
In the settings, you’ll also find the game/chat balance, offering the option of turning the sound up or down, so that one takes precedence over the other.
In the enhancements panel, there’s a “Do Not Disturb” mode, allowing you to mute Bluetooth calls while playing in 2.4 GHz, because you can also connect the headset in Bluetooth AND in 2.4 GHz, so you can have calls and gaming on the same device, which is hyper-practical. There’s also a bass booster, which works decently, but isn’t exceptional either.
Voice clarity can be improved with a simple click, with treble and midrange taking over from bass.
In the microphone settings, there’s also the option of normalizing volume, reducing ambient noise, or adding vocal clarity, again reducing bass here. The microphone also features a 10-band equalizer.
It is also possible to adjust the headset lighting, which by default is set to 25%, but effects and brightness can be changed.
Finally, the last panel lets you adjust the power settings, automatically switching off the headset if necessary, within 15 to 60 minutes when not in use.
Razer Kraken V4 : Reviews
The Razer Kraken V4 is a very good headset overall. It can be connected via Bluetooth and wired, but I use the much better 2.4 GHz connection. The microphone is decent, the sound is very good and, as always with Razer, the backlighting, although not essential, is absolutely impeccable. You’ll have to spend around €200 to afford it, but it’s a high-performance product that’s a pleasure to use every day.
