Razer Kraken Ultimate review: A sublime surround sound experience

Translating the immersive power of a traditional surround sound speaker set-up into a pair of headphones has been a constant challenge for headset manufacturers. While some have taken the literal approach and built headsets containing five or seven individual speaker drivers (plus a pseudo-subwoofer), the result is often larger, heavier and significantly more expensive than your average stereo headset.

The more popular – and more affordable – solution is virtual surround sound which uses a raft of different techniques to fool your brain into thinking you're hearing 360-degree audio from standard stereo drivers. Different manufacturers have their own ways of achieving this, from Dolby Atmos to Windows Sonic.

Not one for sitting on the sidelines, Razer has teamed up with renowned audio company THX to deliver its own virtual surround sound solution, and it's a prominent selling point for the company's latest wired PC gaming headset: the Razer Kraken Ultimate. According to Razer, THX Spatial Audio offers an even greater level of positional fidelity than 7.1 surround sound, so how does that claim stack up? Let's find out.

Design

• Slick, formidable aesthetic
• Metal frame is suitably hardy for a premium product
• Impeccably comfortable

• Read our full review of the Razer Kraken Ultimate's design

  Razer's design MO is typically all about sleek curves and sharp edges, a style intended to convey the speed and power of its products. For the Kraken Ultimate, Razer has dialled it back slightly, producing a headset that looks inviting while still maintaining a strong, formidable profile. The large ear cups emphasise the power of the 50mm drivers they conceal, and the dark metal frame embodies a premium quality that reflects the headset's premium pricing.

  The Kraken Ultimate doesn't just look expensive, either. Its aluminium frame and steel headband convey resilience and sturdiness, making it clear that the Kraken Ultimate is built to survive plenty of heavy-duty use. At the same time, it doesn't succumb to the industrial aesthetic that headsets like Plantronics' RIG line do, retaining a sleek style that doesn't sacrifice build quality.

  Of course, good looks wouldn't mean much if the Kraken Ultimate felt like a vice strapped to your head. Thankfully, that couldn't be further from the truth. When I first slipped on the Kraken Ultimate, its cups sat so lightly around my ears that I was worried they were too big and wouldn't properly shut out the ambient noise around me. My concerns were unfounded. Not only did the ear cups effectively block out the world around me, they sat so softly that they might have been nothing more than the ear flaps of a winter beanie.

  My one design concern before testing the Kraken Ultimate was Razer's decision to incorporate a non-detachable microphone. I like having the ability to remove the mic when playing single-player games, watching movies or when I just don't feel like chatting. The Kraken Ultimate instead features a retractable microphone, and I do appreciate not having to worry about misplacing it or fumbling with re-attaching it in the heat of battle. That said, I still prefer the certainty of a disconnected mic over the click-to-mute approach, but it's very much a minor quibble.

Performance

• THX Spatial audio effectively condenses surround sound into a headset
• Heightened immersion and enhanced spatial awareness can legitimately change your gaming experience
• Does require a bit of tweaking to get the best result

• Read our full review of the Razer Kraken Ultimate's performance

  Make no bones about it; the Kraken Ultimate is the best-sounding headset I've had the pleasure of testing. Those 50mm Neodymium drivers pump out rich, crisp audio that retains its quality even as you crank the volume up to deafening levels. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the gel-infused ear cups offer solid noise isolation, so you can keep the volume relatively low and still hear clearly even in noisy environments.

  Where the Kraken Ultimate really shines is once you activate THX Spatial Audio. A quick tap of the spatial audio button on the left ear cup switches the headset from stereo output to virtual surround sound, allowing compatible content to envelop you with 360-degree audio. This won't do much for your music library or general YouTube videos, but movies and games are another story.

  Take Destiny 2, for example. Activating spatial audio adds a new layer of depth to the game's intricate audioscape. Spooked wildlife takes off in a flurry of wings and you can hear their ascent fade into the sky. The Doppler whine of an approaching dropship clearly advertises its trajectory. A nearby trill of submachine gun fire lets you know that your comrade has your left flank covered.

  The effect is even more pronounced in Call Of Duty: WWII. The greater sense of envelopment from the 360-degree audio boosts the impact of every boom, bang and ping. Call of Duty is already an intense experience, and with the cacophony of war pounding down on me from above, below and all sides, it is frankly overwhelming in the best way possible.

  While positional audio can enhance immersion and offer a competitive advantage through heightened spatial awareness, it does come at a cost. Audio quality takes a hit when activating THX Spatial Audio, with sounds coming through slightly muted and muffled, as if compressed. By default, the difference is quite stark, and I was initially surprised by just how muddy everything sounded.

  Fortunately, I stumbled across some tips from Reddit user dark_skeleton who recommended reducing the bass boost and EQ settings in the Razer Synapse app. This improved the situation significantly, though the drop in audio quality is still noticeable when switching between stereo and surround sound. I didn't have any trouble getting used to it, but folks with keener ears than mine may want to try it out for themselves before handing over their cash.

Features

• RGB lighting is present without being gawdy
• Volume wheel > volume buttons

• Read our full review of the Razer Kraken Ultimate's features

  Spatial audio isn't the only trick the Kraken Ultimate has up its sleeves. In true PC gaming fashion, the headset supports RGB lighting on each of the ear cups. You can go for static lighting, a breathing pattern or have the lighting synchronise with the volume of your audio. The light itself shines through the mesh of each ear cup in a much more subdued manner than you see from many PC peripherals.

  Speaking of the ear cups, you'll find a satisfyingly clicky volume wheel on the left cup just below the spatial audio button. I've always fancied volume wheels over buttons for their speed of adjustment, so I appreciate its inclusion here.

  Rounding out the Kraken Ultimate's premium feature-set is the braided USB cable. At 2m in length, it should be enough for most PC configurations, and the added protection of the braided cord means it shouldn't wear and tear anywhere near as fast as a standard rubber cable.

Verdict

I said it earlier and I'll say it again: the Razer Kraken Ultimate is the best-sounding headset I've yet reviewed. THX Spatial Audio offers the closest approximation of true surround sound I've experienced in a headset, and it does so at a price far below that of "true" surround sound headsets.

Combine that with its sturdy build quality, premium design and plush comfort, and the Razer Kraken Ultimate has easily ascended to the top spot on my best gaming headsets list.

Pricing and availability

The Razer Kraken Ultimate retails for $218.95 and is available directly from Razer as well as from retailers like Mwave and Centre Com.

Razer Kraken Ultimate PC Gaming Headset from Razer

Up your game with the Razer Kraken Ultimate wired PC gaming headset and its powerful 360-degree THX Spatial Audio.

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Specs

Finder score: 4.5

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