Razer Kraken X USB Ultralight Gaming Headset: 7.1 Surround Sound - Lightweight Frame - Green Logo Lighting - Integrated Audio Controls - Bendable Cardioid Microphone - for PC - Classic Black

(Don't worry if this review looks too long, I included a TLTR (Too Long To Read) at the bottom to sum it all up without all the extra waffle and detail)..I am writing this review at 3 month of owning this headset hoping anyone who happens to read it will find it useful. I ordered this when my previous headset had broke (Which I later found out was planned and guaranteed by the company that made that model).This headset surprised me more than anything upon first opening it.Lets get started with the sheer amount of bass. Gunshots feel more like they are being fired from a gun. Music I listen to has much more backbone. It could be that my old headset just didn't have much more bass than earbuds, but this headset is quite well for its bass. There are even settings to turn up the bass! Though, I honestly wish there were options software-wise to reduce bass, as sometimes its a bit much and your regular usage feels too loud or might make your ears hurt. Perhaps you could turn the bass in certain games down, but I wish it could be done with the headset.The sound quality I found (possibly because of the bass) to be absolutely gorgeous. Music I once found just the regular normal became tear-jerking and chill-inducing. Games couldn't sound better.The noise cancellation is insane, and honestly a bit too much for me. This is situational though, but my family does have to yell a bit louder to call me for dinner. However, if what you want is noise cancellation, this headset is best for it! Its like you are entering a portal, but for your ears, every time you put these on! The outside world stops existing for a bit and your games come to life in a whole other level of immersion.Because of how locking-in this headset is, the complaint about your ears getting hot since there's nowhere for the heat to escape these almost air-tight covers is often. But, that is why Razer has options for coolant variants at a steeper price, which honestly fits well.The headset I had previously had 3 customizable buttons on the side, as well as an auto-muting microphone (with a light to let you know when its muted) that disconnects when you raise it. This has neither. You have to click the microphone off here, which is fine.On the subject of microphone, it is incredible quality, honestly a bit too good for me. Rather than having a radius that picks up less noise as you go further, it appears to have a set radius where it picks up sound way too well before having a sort of 'wall' where it can barely pick up sound. This said radius is quite big, so even moving the mic far away from my face still picks me up. This is good for the obvious reasons, but a bit unhelpful when it picks up EVERY noise you make. Yes, you can lower the levels/sensitivity in microphone settings on your computer as well as in Softwares individually, and finding the right levels arent hard, but its a bit much to start.However, what really got me to write this review and why I had said pictures attached is this headsets major (Or potentially minor depending on how you use it) design flaw:The plastic 'band' that goes around your head isn't reinforced very well, specifically the parts above where the cusion for your head and the 'side plastic' connect. This is not jointed and instead is just a round piece of plastic. I was used to taking my headset off by moving the ears away from me, widening the headset, since the other headset I had handled that just fine. This headset does not though. The parts I described on either side are sensitive and just after these 3 months, one of them broke and gave way. I had to reinforce it with vinyl tape and a thin scrap of metal to give it the right shape, but no matter what it was broken.I feel like this could be worked on, though until then as the customer, I suggest YOU make sure to take this headset off either by turning it backwards to take out from behind you, or to turn it forwards and remove it that way. As evident by how long mine lasted so far, separating the ears from your head has proven to be a breaking point for a design flaw.Nothing wrong with this headset, as all pieces of tech have their own issues, like bugs in a game, just make sure to take care of this well.TLTR:Sounds quality, noise cancellation, bass, microphone all over perform substantially. Your ears can get hot but its not that bead. The only real issue is physical strain of the overall structure. Just be sure to take this off without stretching it sideways and instead turning it backwards or forwards to avoid breaking the top and needing to either get a replacement or augment/modify it like I did (Which worked quite well to allow this to last longer)

In case you are the kind of person that doesn't read entire reviews, in summary: these are good and if you are capable of taking care of the things you own, will last you.Now... to get into the specifics...Sound: The sound is a little bit scooped (mid range frequencies are cut, for those of you not savvy with the jargon) but really isn't that bad at all. In fact, it's just enough to keep your ears from getting fatigued too quickly without being so much that it is lacking and missed. For both gaming and music these headphones do sound pretty great.Surround Sound: I do NOT recommend you download and utilize the Razer surround sound algorithm download key that comes on a little card. It is not needed and it definitely causes phasing in certain areas of the frequency spectrum. It's especially bad when listening to music which is a stereo source. This is extremely noticeable in the mids which are already dipped without the algorithm but are not alone in suffering (lows and highs are affected too). Even when gaming it does a poor job of emulating surround sound, so it's just not worth it. For the sake of sound quality... Keep it "natural" stereo for all uses and ignore that download.Fit: The fit is quite great. Adjustable and very comfortable. The ear cups are spacious and encircle your entire ear with room to move around the headset (adjust how they sit on your head) and still keep your ears from touching the edges of the thick cushions that are keeping the speakers a respectable distance above your ear.Fit (continued): Even with the all encompassing fit they don't let the air get too stagnant around your ears and will not create an environment too muggy for prolonged use... for extended sessions they feel absolutely great. I personally use them to listen to music while working on the phones for 9-12 hours at a time followed by switching over to gaming afterwards without issue.Duribility: As I alluded to in my intro/summary, if you are capable of using these like a human being and not like some ape who is smashing things when they die in game or continually pulling on tangled cables with swift movements because they have no idea how to cable manage when setting up, these will definitely last you quite some time.Afterthought: I haven't researched if they already exist or not, but if they have a wireless version of these that maintain the exact same fit and frequency response (bold request, I know) so I could walk around my house and listen to music/work then I would definitely have to say: [insert Futurama Fry "shut up and take my money" meme here]

Earpads are nice and soft so you wont have trouble with long gaming sessions even with glasses. Both the sound quality of the headset as well as the mic isn't the best, even with their software but for the price point it is what it is. I actually thought there would be a significant difference with a 40mm driver as opposed to a 30mm driver from other companies but I cant really tell the difference tbh. The USB cord is more than long enough for my use as I game with a laptop. Mic mute and sound scroll on the actual bottom side of the headset is a cool feature - might want to check this if you cant get the mic to work.As with all headsets the length adjustment is the weakest part of the headset. That slimmer piece is not meant to take on much abuse as it will crack and then eventually snap if theres excessive trauma. If you sit on them or throw them around your best bet is to epoxy them back together if they crack to reinforce the plastic before it snaps.

The headset starting peeling only after a few months despite very little use. Good sound quality otherwise but would not recommend.