Razer Kraken V4 review

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Razer has become one of the most recognizable brands in gaming peripherals. I have been using this line of headsets for a long time for a variety of purposes, from chatting on Discord to listening to music and even using them during DJ sets. That’s why I was keen to test out the latest offering, the Razer Kraken V4.

The headset arrived in Razer’s customary black and green packaging. Unlike several of its predecessors, the Kraken V4 is fully wireless and comes with a USB-C dongle for 2.4 GHz connectivity. Also included is a braided USB-C to USB-A cable and a USB-C to USB-A dongle adapter to enable connection to older devices.

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In terms of design, the V4 is very similar to its brothers, with nice, gigantic ear cups equipped with deep foam padding. Instead of the faux leather found in many headsets, the ear cups are covered with a mesh fabric that’s more breathable, keeping you comfortable during long gaming sessions.

Unlike some previous models, the V4 is made entirely of plastic. This makes it lighter to wear, but as a result it looks less bulky. This does not mean that plastic is low-cost or brittle, quite the opposite. However, I would be a little less cavalier about putting the V4 in my DJ kit bag.

Kraken V4 specifications

(Image source: Future)

Communication: Wireless via 2.4 GHz, Type-C dongle or Bluetooth; Wired via USB Type-C cable
Drivers: Razer TriForce Titanium 40mm
Microphone: Retractable, unidirectional Razer HyperClear Super Wideband
Battery life: Up to 35 hours with RGB function on
Libra: 350 gr
Characteristics: Nine-zone Razer Chroma RGB lighting, THX Spatial Audio, built-in audio profiles
Price: $180/180 pounds

The fit and feel are pleasant. More lightweight than my trusty Kraken Kitty V1, but just as comfortable and solid. Since I have a tiny head, I would prefer the adjustment to be one more stop, but this is a minor quibble. The clamping force is not too mighty, but enough to slip off if you turn your head sharply.

Traditional RGB lighting is circumscribed to the sides of the earcup and is controlled as usual via Razer Synapse software. Here we come to my biggest problem. Razer Synapse is an overly bloated program. It takes up way too much resources and I’ve had stability issues with it before.

For example, if I want to apply the Virtual DJ software, I have to completely uninstall and reinstall Synapse before it even starts working.

When Synapse wants to work, the nine-zone Chroma lighting can be adjusted to your liking. Honestly, if it works properly, it can provide some truly amazing effects or some pleasantly subtle ones.

Razer Kraken V4 gaming headset on a textile background with RGB support enabled.

(Image source: Future)

Like my older Kraken headset, the microphone sits on a versatile bracket that slides easily into the body of the headset. This makes it more practical for travel, but the way the microphone is recessed makes it sometimes tough to grip. The mute button is now located on the headset body on the ear cup housing. This probably makes it more reliable, but I miss the action of pressing the microphone tip to mute.

The microphone is a feature I always liked on my previous Razer Kraken, and that’s the same here. It provides solid sound quality and the internal pop filter also does a lot of work. It also manages to filter out any external sounds. My friends in Final Fantasy XIV never have to worry about being bombarded by the sounds of the washing machine or my husband wailing when he gets disgusted in Dead by Daylight.

Despite my overall positive experience using the Kraken V4, there is one aspect that confuses and frustrates me. V4 appears in audio devices as two separate devices. One is labeled Kraken V4 (Game) and the other is labeled Kraken V4 (Chat). I understand this will probably serve streamers and Vtubers.

Razer Kraken V4 gaming headset on a textile background with RGB support enabled.

(Image source: Future)

Buy if…

✅ You want customizable RGB lighting: This isn’t for everyone, but if you want your headset to glow in any color, this is a good solution.

✅ You want high-quality THX surround sound: The Kraken V4 performs well with THX surround sound enabled.

Don’t buy if…

❌ Want a budget headset: There are plenty of cheaper headphones out there.

❌ You want a lightweight headset: At 350 grams, this is quite a ponderous headset.

However, if I want to enjoy good quality audio, I need to make sure that the “Chat” version is set as the default in all my software. Otherwise I get inexplicable crackles and dropouts. Similarly, when I connect the headset via USB cable to apply it while charging, another two devices are detected. As a result, my computer recognizes no less than four devices that make up one headset.

I’m not sure what this actually does, considering the “Game” option seems to provide strangely terrible sound quality.

Overall, as long as I had the “Chat” device selected, the audio quality was excellent. The 40mm titanium TriForce drivers really get the job done. If you’re using the headset on a Windows PC, you can enable THX Spatial Audio for a truly immersive experience. Watching something like John Carpenter’s The Thing in the dim with this headset and THX Spatial Audio enabled is enough to scare you.

The Kraken V4 is an excellent gaming headset. Despite some issues with the software being a bit too slick for its own good, this is a great choice for the upper middle class.

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