Razer Kraken Pro V2 Review: Slicker Than Most

From aesthetically pleasing gaming hardware with a black and snake-green color scheme to its first smartphone release back in 2017, Razer really can do it all. Although it was released well over two years ago, the newest member of the Razer headset family is an upgraded version of the Kraken Pro, the Razer Kraken Pro V2.

Rather than focusing purely on the gaming community, Razer has created a headset in the $80-range suitable for gamers and non-gamers. You may have even seen someone wearing this headset on their daily commute—although, I’d personally prefer to stick to some low-profile gaming earbuds when out-and-about.

Nevertheless, the Razer Kraken Pro V2 is an excellent headset that delivers frequencies from its 50mm neodymium drivers, through its speakers, and directly into your ear canals. That means you’ll be able to hear all of the screaming kids, shouting parents and Old Town Road every time you play Red Dead Online, loud and clear.

Razer Kraken Pro V2 Gaming Performance

When it comes to performance, we dare to say that the Razer Kraken Pro V2 is on par with its more expensive competitors. Now, owing to its analog connectivity, the headset doesn’t exactly support virtual surround sound. Rather, you’ll have to enable Window Sonic in order to enjoy the 360-degree sound. Truthfully, there isn’t much of a difference in sound quality once you do turn Windows Sonic on, but it’s nice to have the option to turn it off and on when need be.

With that said, dialogue, sound effects, and even music sound excellent through the Razer Kraken Pro V2 headset’s 50mm speakers. Now, it’s nothing remarkable compared to say, our choice of the best gaming headset, but it’s definitely good enough for the $80 price range.

For online multiplayer games such as Fortnite or Apex Legends, the microphone isn’t the best. Of course, we don’t expect every feature to be perfect from an $80 headset. But it would have been nice to find one with a high-quality microphone so that my teammates can actually hear me crying after I get killed five seconds into a match.

So, if you actually enjoy talking to your friends while in your favorite multiplayer games, opt for a high-quality microphone for gaming and Twitch streaming. On the other hand, if you’re an anti-social gamer who prefers to play solo, gaming using the Razer Kraken Pro V2 headset is a very enjoyable experience.

Razer Kraken Pro V2 Design

At first glance, the Razer Kraken Pro V2 gaming headset looks quite ordinary. But once you get beneath the Shrek-green shell, you’ll notice some superior features that make it a top-grade headset. Let’s start at the exterior and work our way to the interior, shall we? Aside from the preferable snake-green version of the Razer Kraken Pro V2, this headset comes in white and even black for you emo gamers.

Built for long hours of competitive gameplay, the upgraded Kraken Pro V2 might even be considered one of the best headsets on the market right now. From the sturdy band to the soft cushions, it’s truly a great headset fit for gamers. Even PewDiePie has his own custom Razer PewDiePie Kraken Pro V2 headset in neon red to match his chair—but can you do this?

Despite the fact that the round ear cushions are quite large, they provide good over-ear coverage for an immersive audio experience. If you were to slice open the heat-transfer fabric—something we definitely do not recommend—you’ll notice that memory foam is used, rather than low-density foam sponge. This way, the cushions will adjust themselves to the shape of your head for a comfortable and more natural fit.

The bottom cooling-gel layer is also a fantastic feature that we simply can’t get enough of. It stops heat build-up during even the most intense gaming sessions in your favorite first-person shooters to ensure that your gaming experience is. There’s even a concealed glasses channel so that blind people like me can see their high-grade gaming monitor from a distance.

Unlike some other headsets we have reviewed, the Razer Kraken Pro V2 isn’t wireless and therefore you’re tethered to your PC like a horse to a tree in RDR2. On the other hand, this shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a problem considering the braided cable is extremely sturdy.

With that being said, if you have younger children or a pet that loves to nibble on cables, keep this headset locked up as you will have to purchase a new gaming headset if the cord breaks. About a third of the way down the cable you’ll find a typical gaming control scheme that features a volume dial and a mic on/off switch.

On the end of the cable, you’ll notice a 3.5mm headphone jack suitable for a gaming PC with a high-end sound card. In addition to PCs, you can pretty much use the Kraken Pro V2 with any device with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Are you a console gamer who prefers the PlayStation 4? Great! Then you can plug this headset into the port on your DualShock 4 controller.

Prefer to pair the toxic green Kraken with your Xbox One? You’ll have no trouble connecting the Kraken Pro V2 directly into the 3.5mm jack at the bottom of your Xbox One controller.

Razer Kraken Pro V2 Pricing & Alternatives

To some gamers, Razer is the Antichrist; they believe that Razer is to the gaming computer world as Apple is to the mobile phone world. Or, if you’re an Apple fanboy, the Android of the phone world.

Comparing Razer to Corsair or some other gaming-gear companies can be a pointless venture, as they all got their strengths and weaknesses. However, this time, we completely disagree with those Razer-hating gamers and we’re here to say that the Razer Kraken Pro V2 is a value-for-money headset.

Why you may wonder?

Well, despite all of the superior features that the Razer Kraken Pro V2 has to offer, it’s a very fairly priced headset. Considering it’s been out for some time now, you won’t miss out on a sale or two either. Yes, we admit that the microphone isn’t the best—the reason most gamers opt for a headset over a pair of great open-back gaming headphones in the first place—but you can’t expect everything to be perfect for $80.

If you like the sound of the Razer Kraken Pro V2 Headset but you’re willing to fork out a little more to get the best headset available, why not take a look at the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition? It’s very similar to the Kraken Pro V2, albeit, it boasts virtual surround sound for an immersive audio experience. This way, you’ll be able to simulate 7.1 surround sound without the need for drivers.

Razer Kraken Pro V2 Headset: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the Razer Kraken Pro V2 gaming headset.

Is the Razer Kraken Pro V2 USB?

No, the Razer Kraken Pro V2 is not a USB headset, rather it comes equipped with a 3.5 mm jack. If you’re after a USB headset, why not opt for the mentioned Razer Kraken 7.1 V2? However, if you’re a console gamer, you must note that Xbox One does not support USB headsets.

So, you’ll have to either purchase a certified headset or one with a 3.5mm jack—like the Kraken Pro V2. 

Do Razer Kraken Headsets Work on Xbox One?

Yes, the Razer Kraken headset works on Xbox One as it comes with a very handy 3.5mm cable. This way, you can plug the cable directly into your Xbox One controller. If you own an older version of the Xbox One controller, you will require an adapter in order to use a 3.5 mm headset, which will set you back around $40.

Is the Razer Kraken Pro V2 Surround Sound?

Unless you turn on Windows Sonic, the Razer Kraken Pro V2 headset is not a surround sound headset. As we have mentioned, even when you do turn on Windows Sonic, it doesn’t make much of a difference. So, if you’re willing to spend a little extra money, why not check out our guide to the best 7.1 headsets?

After all, 360-degree sound allows for a more realistic gaming experience.

Is Razer Kraken Pro V2 Compatible with Synapse?

Since the Razer Kraken Pro V2 headset connects to your PC via a 3.5mm jack, there is no need for Synapse. Albeit, considering the Razer Kraken 7.1 V2 features a USB cable, it can detect the Synapse 2.0 software. This way, you can change the audio settings for a life-like gaming experience.

How Do I Connect My Razer Headset to Synapse?

Unfortunately, the Razer Kraken Pro V2 is not supported by Synapse. Saying that, if you own another Razer headset and you’re wondering how to connect it to Synapse, here’s how:

• Open Synapse 2.0
• Navigate to the Razer Surround tab and select “ON” under Razer Surround label
• Select your audio interface (the audio device your headset is plugged into)

Does the Razer Kraken Pro V2 Have RGB?

Unlike many other Razer peripherals and accessories, the Razer Kraken Pro V2 does not have RGB lighting. If you’re after a headset with Chroma RGB lighting, why not check out the Razer Kraken 7.1 Chroma V2?

Although the lighting is subtle, the logos on each ear light up, a nice feature for late-night gaming.

Is Razer Kraken Pro V2 Wireless?

Unfortunately, the Razer Kraken Pro V2 is not wireless owing to the attached braided cable. If you’re tired of wires and you want to go wireless, why not check out our guide to the best wireless gaming headsets on the market?

Razer Kraken Pro V2 Headset: Final Verdict

The Razer Kraken Pro V2 is a top-quality headset built to last. Not only is it well constructed, but it also looks pretty cool if I do say so myself. It even stays cool during even the most intense gaming sessions owing to the bottom layer cooling gel—a very handy feature that Razer has included.

Despite being considered a budget gaming headset, it can deliver audio from almost any gaming device on the market thanks to its 3.5 mm cable. Of course, as it’s between a budget-friendly $50 and a premium pick $100, there are some drawbacks.

That being the average quality microphone and the lack of surround sound. Albeit, if you’re after a headset suitable for online gaming that will blow your mind, why not take a look at the best gaming headsets for PUBG? Using one of these headsets, you’ll be able to hear and respond to your teammates for a better online experience.

Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Although the microphone is fairly average, anything from dialogue, sound effects, and music sound excellent through the Razer Kraken Pro V2 headset’s 50mm speakers.

Design: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Available in three color options, the Kraken Pro V2 is a comfortable headset that’ll hug your ears, all while staying cool during even the most intense gaming sessions.

Price: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

We believe that the Razer Kraken Pro V2 is a competitively priced headset that’ll last through the years.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As the Kraken Pro V2 can delivery fantastic audio from almost any gaming device on the market with a 3.5 mm port, we say that it’s a brilliant headset that shouldn’t be overlooked.