JULY 2020 PCWorld 69ounces for the standard Kraken. That might
not sound like much but it makes a huge
difference in a device you wear for hours at a
time. The Kraken X even manages to best
HyperX’s aforementioned Cloud Stinger,
which weighs 9.7 ounces.
It’s surprisingly comfortable as a result,
even if Razer skimped on padding. The fit is a
bit tight at first, and the headband
adjustments are clunky and stiff, but the
Kraken X feels great once broken in. Give the
headband a few gentle flexes when you take
it out of the box to speed that process along.
And Razer finally moved away from
circular earcups, which is great because...
well, ears aren’t circular. It’s hard to tell, but
the Kraken X’s earcups are slightly elongated.
The resulting oval-shaped hollows are snug
compared to Razer’s past headsets, but form
a better and more even seal against the skull,
blocking out more ambient noise.
All in all, it’s a solid effort—especially for
$50—though there are a few weak points.
The cord is stiff rubber, a far cry from the silky
braided fabric Razer uses on its other
peripherals. The earcups also hold a lot of
heat. That’s a problem with leatherette in
general, but the Kraken X seems especially
bad. I’ve had sweaty ears wearing the Kraken
X here in San Francisco, which almost never
happens. And the microphone mute button is
awkward and unintuitive, hidden on the rear
of the left ear. Click it in and you’re muted—
but you can’t even tell without reaching back
to feel the switch’s position again. It’s a pain.
Still, I’m impressed. Razer trimmed $30