Razer Kraken V4 Pro hands-on review: ready to rumble

Introduction

The Kraken V4 Pro is a high-end gaming headset with a difference – and not just because it comes with its own handy base station for adjusting your setup while you’re mid-multiplayer match. It’s the first with a new generation of haptics, which promises true in-game force feedback usually reserved for console controllers.

Launched during RazerCon, the firm’s regular showcase of new products and upcoming tech, Razer is hoping the flagship Kraken will bring Sensa HD Haptics into the mainstream. It’s aimed more at the mainstream than the esports-grade Blackshark series, and multi-device support means it takes on the likes of Steelseries’ Arctis Nova Pro and the Logitech G Astro A50 X.

I got to try one on ahead of the official unveiling to see if Sensa is as transformative as Razer reckons – and whether it’s enough of a draw to justify the Kraken V4 Pro’s wince-inducing asking price.

Design & build: test of metal

If the Kraken V4 Pro looks familiar, consider yourself a true Razer fan. The headset is virtually the same as the regular Kraken V4, with a new button dedicated to the haptics and a Sensa HD logo engraved on the metal headband. The ovalised ear cups are thinner, and with a smaller diameter than the previous generation, and they fold flat DJ-style to wear comfortably around your neck when not in use.

The black metal build and precision-milled ear cups that show off the RGB lighting underneath are about as far removed from the original plastic 2012 Kraken as it gets, and is up there with high-end audiophile headphones for visual appeal. They were seriously comfortable, too, with thickly padded cups wrapped in faux leather and the headband packing plenty of memory foam.

A handful of on-ear buttons, a USB-C charging port and a volume rocker on the ear cups make this a perfectly usable pair of headphones away from your console or PC, and the thick padding did a great job of passively dampening background noise. The notched headband gave plenty of adjustment, and I liked how the coiled cables stretched and contracted back into place as I extended or shortened the fit.

Features & battery: haptic headcase

The Pro’s biggest selling point over the regular Kraken V4 is its Sensa HD Haptics. Razer’s proprietary form of force feedback uses vibration motors and understands direction, passing from one side of your head to the other appropriately based on what’s happening in-game – if your title supports the tech, that is. The Unity, GameMaker and Unreal engines are all supported, and Razer has plenty of big names on board for launch, so there’s a good chance it will be.

My demo included Hogwarts Legacy and Final Fantasy XVI, while upcoming releases S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and the Silent Hill 2 remake will have Sensa baked in. The effect aren’t quite as pronounced as they were on the Freyja haptic cushion, on account of it having three times the number of motors to rumble at any moment, but I still felt combat became more visceral with the feature switched on, as swords clattered and magic spells erupted.

It’s a totally difference experience to a bass-heavy headset that rumbles at the merest hint of low-end noise; the vibration is completely divorced from the audio in compatible games, so can be used for things like opening heavy item chests or adding weight to a weapon reload. I’ll want to try it on games I’m more familiar with before giving a full verdict, but can already see the appeal for racing sims.

Otherwise the headset itself is almost identical to Kraken V4, with a whopping nine different RGB zones on each earcup for fine-grain colour customising, and a full gamut of connectivity options. As well as Razer’s proprietary, zero-latency Hyperspeed wireless, you can listen wired over USB-C, via Bluetooth, or a 3.5mm cable. This is the first Razer headset to let you mix Bluetooth and wireless sources, which could come in handy when using a second device for voice comms.

The retractable boom mic uses Razer’s HyperClear super wideband pickup pattern, which promises pin-sharp clarity and effective background sound rejection. I didn’t get the chance to put it to the test during my brief taster session.

Battery life is also something of an unknown right now. Razer claims a healthy 50 hours of use with the haptics and RGB illumination switched off, but dial them both up to the max and you could be drained in as little as 13 hours. I’ll need a full review to see if that’s accurate.

Interface: new kind of synapse

It launched alongside Synapse 4.0, the long-awaited update to Razer’s one-stop-shop software for all its gaming gear, but the Kraken V4 Pro also has an off-screen alternative. The connectivity box acts as a control unit, with a giant multi-purpose dial and bright monotone OLED display putting crucial settings and features within easy reach.

Plopped down on a desk, it puts adjusting volume, EQ presets and microphone sidetone just a few taps and twists away, without having to tab out while you’re mid-game. The screen was sharp enough I could make out icons and text clearly from a few feet away, and the selection of retro game-inspired screensavers are a neat touch. I got premium hi-fi vibes from the oversized volume knob, too.

It’s packing two USB-C ports at the rear – one for your PC, one for a games console – along with a 3.5mm auxiliary, with the display letting you pick which is the active input. Bluetooth pairing is handled via the headphones, rather than the base unit; Astro’s rival A50 X does it the other way around, meaning you meaning you can’t take it too far from the base station. That’s not a problem for the Razer, if you want to wear it out of the house.

Naturally there are plenty of advanced features that won’t fit on the control unit’s simple screen, like the 10-band custom EQ, so Synapse 4 is still worth the download. Based on my short hands-on, the software is much more responsive than before, and should be a bit less of a performance hog too. Everything now opens in floating tabs, like a web browser, and the general UI is that much easier to read.

Sound quality: gaming goes audiophile

The Pro re-uses the Kraken V4’s tried-and-tested 40mm dynamic drivers, which are made from a bio-cellulose material. They’re a closed-back design, but have an open driver plate instead of mesh, so there’s less material getting between the drivers and your ears.

I listened to a bunch of different music tracks, watched several film clips, and played a handful of games during my demo, and walked away impressed by the clarity on show. This is a finely tuned headset right out of the box, with a respectable amount of low-end oomph that doesn’t intrude on the rest of the mix when it isn’t required. Explosions and magic effects would rumble, and the sub-bass squelch of a Chase & Status tune was suitably filthy, yet vocals rang clear and higher frequency sounds were crisp.

Naturally you’re getting THX spatial upmixing here, which can make all the difference to games and films, but I was also impressed with how the Sensa HD haptics could give music more impact. It can work with any audio-enabled content, but doesn’t just translate sub-bass to vibrations – there’s a nuance here I’ve not seen on other headphones with haptics, including previous Razer efforts.

Razer Kraken V4 Pro initial verdict

On first impressions alone, the Kraken V4 Pro isn’t just a showcase for Razer’s new Sensa haptics tech; it’s a no holds barred headset that primarily puts useful customisation options on your desk, courtesy of the base station control unit. The head-rattling rumble feels more like a neat addition, rather than a must-have – at least while in-game support is still in the early days.

That makes the heady $400/£400/€450 asking price tough to swallow when the design, materials and sound quality are otherwise on par with the much more affordable Kraken V4. Expanded connectivity is a win for anyone with consoles and handhelds as well as a gaming PC, but there are plenty of alternatives that can do the same for less cash.

It absolutely looks and feels the part, though, and it sounded great in my brief demo. I loved how easy the base station made it to change EQ presets on the fly, too. Some more testing will determine whether the haptics are worth the price of admission.

Razer Kraken V4 Pro technical specifications

Drivers	40mm dynamic
ANC	No
Connectivity	Proprietary wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C, 3.5mm
Ports	2x USB-C, 3.5mm
Battery life	13hrs (haptics & RGB on) 50hrs (haptics & RGB off)
Weight	397g