How to mute razer kraken x lite?

With all of that said, these headsets always represent great performance with great value. The latest iteration, the Kraken X Lite focuses purely on both of those things. This headset is designed as a cheaper alternative to everything else out there. For the average gamer, the Kraken X Lite looks like one of the best Razer headphones we’ve seen yet.

However, don’t let the price fool you. This affordable headset punches well above its weight. Let’s have a look at what makes this headset such a strong contender in the world of budget headsets in our Razer Kraken X Lite Ultralight Gaming Headset review. More competing headsets can be seen in our Logitech G Pro X review and the HyperX Cloud Orbit S review.

Razer has stuck with the black and green color scheme for a long time now. Recently, the iconic green is starting to fade away in the product themselves. However, the packaging still shows off the colors proudly. The front of the box is all black and happens to have a Razer logo at the top right corner. This is quite a contrast to other high-end headsets, such as what we saw in our HyperX Cloud II Wireless Review.

We have a picture of the headset itself, some of the main features, and a platform compatibility list at the bottom. As usual, the sides of the box list all of the features in detail, and the backside of the box breaks them down even further. After opening the box, we’re first greeted by the “For Gamers, By Gamers” branding on the tab itself.

More Razer Products: Razer Viper Ultimate Review

Finally, the headset sits inside of a brown cardboard box within plastic packaging. The box contents are as follows:

The Razer Kraken X Lite takes everything great about the original Kraken headsets and brings it down in size and weight. Similar to previous entries in the Kraken lineup, this headset is sleek and stylish. To put it simply, what we have here is a slight redesign of the classic Kraken headset. It is also quite similar to the design we saw in our Corsair HS60 Pro Review.

It is compatible with anything that has a headphone jack. This includes PCs, phones, tablets, all consoles, and even the Nintendo Switch. We mention this because it’s an important distinction from the previous headset. This one uses a 3.5mm four-pole connector, which means you can use this for communication as well. If you want to use the mic on a PC, you’ll have to use the included splitter cable.

As for the aesthetics, the whole matte black sleek look is always a win for us. Surprisingly, this headset has no Chroma or RGB effects. Everything from the grills, to the hinges, and even the logo are the same color. It is also impressively lightweight, as this thing comes in at about 230g. The Kraken X Lite achieves this feat thanks to the all-plastic frame.

Related Review: Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition Review

When we say all-plastic, we do mean it. The frame inside is plastic as well, and this includes the adjustable hinge. There are adjustment markings on the hinge, which is always a neat bonus to have. The reason for the all-plastic build is likely to cut costs and weight. While they could have added an aluminum headband, we’re not too bothered as long as the comfort holds up to the claims.

Related Razer Products: Razer Viper Mini Review

On the standard Razer Kraken X, you can find onboard volume controls like a dial and a mic mute button on the left earcup. The Kraken X Lite is the smaller sibling, and it gets rid of those controls. The mic is not removable, and the cable is rubberized and also permanently attached. That’s quite standard for this price range.

The all-plastic frame is one of the very few issues we have with this headset. However, the fact that the Kraken X Lite is so comfortable almost outweighs that problem. We have to give credit where credit is due, the Kraken X Lite feels excellent on the head, and it is one of the most comfortable gaming headsets we have tried.

More Razer Products: Razer Opto-mechanical Switches vs. Cherry MX

There is no swivel on the cups here, but you get a lot of range in terms of the tilting motion. As mentioned before, this headset has an adjustable hinge, and it can fit larger head sizes with no problem. Honestly, this is one of the few headsets out that can do this without creaking. The earcups use a light memory foam padding, while the headband uses artificial leather.

On a related note, you should also check out our HyperX Cloud II Review if you are interested in more gaming headphones.

These headphones even have channels for eyeglasses, so these should be comfortable for you folks with glasses out there. The outer diameter is 90 x 97mm, while the internal is 40 x 68mm. The padding covers the ear, but depending on head size, your ears may or may not fit inside the earcups completely.

However, that doesn’t take away from the comfort at all. The clamping force is just right as well. It’s tight enough to create a seal, but not tight enough to fatigue your ears. All of these things like the lightweight design, earpads, and minor clamping force make this one of the comfortable headsets out there. We can’t complain at all considering the price.

Related Review: Razer Huntsman Gaming Keyboard Review

The Razer Kraken X Lite uses a unidirectional cardioid microphone that is permanently attached. This approach is unlike the one we saw in our HyperX Cloud Alpha S review. As the main focus for Kraken headsets is obviously gaming, these headsets have always had decent microphones. However, the Kraken X Lite doesn’t just have a decent microphone, it has a great one.

The mic here is excellent, and it makes a couple of improvements coming from the previous versions. You are going to be limited to what you get out of the box, as you can’t adjust anything inside Razer’s software. This is because the microphone doesn’t use USB, so you’ll have to adjust everything in your PC settings or audio interface.

With that said, this is one of the better-sounding microphones we’ve heard. Sure, it has some compression going on, and it’s not the richest sound out there. However, it gets more than the job done for the price. Vocals sound crystal clear with this mic, and you can’t clip it even if you get extremely loud.

More Razer Products: Razer Deathadder v2 Review

You miss out on some of the higher-end features like chat mix and side-tone, but we were expecting that for the price. Overall, this microphone is great for communicating with your teammates, talking on discord, etc.

Moving on to sound quality, it is surprisingly very good. If you set the volume wheel to the max, you can drive these at quite a loud volume without any distortion. If you are someone who listens to their music loud or likes to game with a loud volume, you’ll be happy with this one. They can get powerfully loud, even with onboard audio.

You’ll get plenty of loud volume using this on anything you want. Phones and PCs work perfectly, and so will a Nintendo Switch. As for a PS4 controller, well, it’s the usual story. You’ll get decent loudness here, but not a lot of headroom. That’s an issue with the PS4 controller, and not with the headset itself. It works much better on an Xbox Controller.

We have 40mm drivers inside of here, and the sound is impressive for the price point. Surprisingly, it sounds relatively more balanced than any other Razer headset we’ve tried before. This is a gaming headset, so you’ll get some emphasis on the bass, and a lot of emphasis on the treble.

The highs are very detailed and emphasized. Despite the excellent detail, they can get harsh at times. However, you’ll only notice that if you’re looking for it. Unlike previous headsets, the bass does not storm in and make everything sound muddy. It’s powerful, sure, but it sounds a bit more mature and subdued compared to previous Razer headsets. All of this carries over to music listening as well. While these aren’t audiophile-grade headphones, they’ll sound great to most people, especially gamers.

Imaging is also very good, but the soundstage can take a back seat. It does a got job in left, right, and center positions. It backs up the rear positioning quite well too. However, there’s is not much verticality here, meaning you can’t accurately tell when someone is under you or over you.

Related Review: Razer Huntsman Elite Keyboard Review

The soundstage sounds tight and it’s honestly not quite wide. We doubt anyone is going to mind since if you’re looking for that sort of sound, you shouldn’t be looking at a gaming headset in the first place.

To help out with the soundstage and surround sound experience, Razer includes a digital download code for simulated 7.1 surround software. This is a new designation to adjust the spaciousness and surround sound experience for the headset. Apparently, it’s gotten better than Razer’s previous solutions.

Note that simulated 7.1 surround sound will only work on PC through the software. This feature does not carry over to consoles or phones. It impacts the audio interface on the PC, not the actual headset itself. This means you can use this software with other headphones as well if you want to.

On a related note, you should also check out the Razer Tiamat v2 2.2 Review if you want to take a look at more Razer headsets.

The quality and benefits of virtual 7.1 surround sound are debatable. It might expand the sound stage a bit, and make everything sound more spacious, yet positional audio isn’t that better. On some headsets, you’ll get better positional audio but it might mess with the quality of the sound. A perfect solution would be one that widens the soundstage, having great positional audio and no impact on the actual quality.

So, the Kraken X Lite lands somewhere in the middle. It works quite well in some games, and not as well in others. It helps with positioning sure, but depending on the audio engine in the game, it can mess with the quality and mix of the audio. But, when it works, it does the job quite well. We say that it’s passable for the price.

Overall, this headset makes a lot of sense for gamers who are on a budget. This headset offers a better audio representation than what you might expect at this price point. There is a bit of competition within this budget. Headsets like the HyperX Cloud Stinger which we reviewed, Corsair HS50, and other lesser-known headsets give some competition to the Kraken X Lite.

However, the Kraken X Lite can firmly hold its ground. It is comfortable, sounds great, and has a decent microphone too. Razer is giving gamers a lightweight and affordable headset, that is a very capable and sensible option for many people. This is by far our favorite budget headset available right now.

How do I mute the microphone on the Razer Kraken X? The mute button is at the back of the left ear cup. The microphone is muted when the button is not pressed or when the red part of the button is visible.

The video gaming market has steadily been one of the biggest markets in the world. And this $178 billion industry isn’t showing signs of slowing down; with the US accounting for almost a third of that figure.

In line with that, the demand for gaming headphones has been on a steady rise as more people try to get their hands on headphones to aid their gaming performance. That’s why the gaming headset market has now adjusted to cater to every type of gamers — new or old, fancy or not.

Now, gaming headphones do not have to cost a lot. And if you have been looking for budget options, chances are you have come across the Razer Kraken X already. However, if you want something lighter and more affordable, then you should consider getting its slightly toned-down version: the Razer Kraken X Lite.

But is the Razer Kraken X Lite good enough? Or should you just splurge a bit more for the standard Razer Kraken X? Read on for our full gaming review.

Razer is a Singaporean-American technology company that is famous for consumer electronics and gaming hardware. It was founded in 1998 by the duo of Robert Krakoff and Min-Liang Tan.

The brand was catapulted to fame in the early 2000s when it released a soon-to-be-legendary gaming mouse, the Razer Boomslang. Since then, Razer has been a household name in the PC gaming industry with continuous releases of iconic products such as the Razer DeathAdder and the Razer BlackWidow.

In 2011, Razer entered the gaming headphones arena by introducing the first pair of headphones with True 7.1 Surround Sound — the Razer Tiamat. Through the years, Razer has continuously improved its mastery of sound technology which was solidified with its acquisition of THX Ltd. in 2016.

The black and green cardboard box that the Razer Kraken X Lite come in is bulky yet lightweight. Inside, the headphones are placed in a grey styrofoam bag resting in another pull-out carton box.

I must admit that I expected a bit more from Razer packaging-wise. It didn’t have customized slots for any of the items inside so you’d definitely hear all the clutter if you shake the box. But I guess that’s one of the trade-offs Razer had to do to cut the cost.

This is something I won’t take against Razer, though. To me, it was a gentle reminder that the Kraken X Lite are one of the most affordable products from the brand and that expectations should be managed moving forward.

Razer did not deviate much from the usual Kraken Range look for these headphones. I got the classic Black Kraken X Lite and they really looked like a pair of Razer headphones right out of the gate.

Both of the ear cups and the middle part of the headband feature around half-inch plush memory foam paddings. I must say, the Kraken X Lite looked nothing less comfortable and I just felt like diving straight to wearing them. They also feature a non-detachable cardioid mic and a non-detachable 3.5mm cable.

All in all, the Kraken X Lite sports a simple yet seamless design. There are no exposed stitches and every part of it is well-fitted. I also appreciated the small numbers indicating the levels inside the headband that you’ll see when you adjust the headphones.

The loss of the mute button and volume dial can be a dealbreaker to most players, though. This means you have to go to your device settings every time you need to mute the mic or adjust the volume. It can definitely disrupt anyone, especially in intense gameplays.

Because of this, I sometimes find myself just leaving the mic on all the time, even though I would usually mute them in some circumstances, just because I didn’t want to bother adjusting the settings. I also couldn’t adjust the volume fast enough when my teammates start screaming too loud or when the game sound just becomes too intolerable.

The Kraken X Lite feature a 1.3-meter cable which is roughly 4.27 ft. The package also includes an audio splitter extension cable that extends the cord to 2 meters. Razer did not disclose the material they used as an insulator for the cable but it’s some sort of rigid nylon that feels flexible and durable to an extent.

Wired gaming headphones would always feature lengthy cables that could, admittedly, get in the way of mobile gamers. The Kraken X Lite weren’t an exception as I also found myself fending off the cable and managing it from time to time.

At just 230g, the Kraken X Lite are 20g lighter than the already ultralightweight Kraken X which weigh 50g. But whether this bit of information is good or not depends on your preferences.

In my case, I do prefer lightweight items so the Kraken X Lite were just up my alley. For those who want a bit of weight on their headphones, though, these might not have enough in them.

At first glance, you won’t be able to tell how much plastic is used for these headphones. But once you get ahold of them, you’ll know right away that they’re made with around 90% plastic.

The plastic housing provides the Kraken X Lite with more flexibility compared to those with metal frames. If we’re to talk about overall build quality, though, these headphones definitely need more work because they really lack that premium feel.

Don’t get me wrong – the Kraken X Lite are well-made and has a very sleek design. However, the plastic build combined with its light weight just screams flimsiness as if they would snap off anytime. Ironically, they are not as weak as how they feel on the hand.

To test their scratch resistance, I simply did a few light scratches with my nails, a dull metal, and a wooden surface. None of the three seemed to have left a distinguishable mark, so that’s good.

Comfort varies from one person to another because we all have different standards for it. In my case, I do prefer overly cushioned headphones with pillow-like paddings and, I must say, that the Kraken X Lite got this one right.

Both ear cups of the headphones are lined with half-inch memory foam paddings covered in leatherette. The headband is also lined with a quarter of an inch thick of memory foam as well, and although only the top part of the headband is lined with foam, it is still as comfortable as it can be.

The clamping force of the Kraken X Lite is not heavy but it’s snug enough to stay in place. They seal naturally well but the ear cups’ foam almost nullifies the pressure you’ll feel on your ear.

I did not have a problem using these for long periods of time and I didn’t experience any ear sweats or other forms of fatigue.

For those who wear glasses like me, you won’t be disappointed with the Kraken X Lite. These headphones feature a hidden eyewear channel where your glasses would slot in to ensure that you won’t feel any sliver of pain.

However, one drawback of the Razer Kraken X Lite is the lack of rotation from the ear cups. They can only rotate for around 30 degrees, which makes removing them quite challenging. They also tend to be bulky and uncomfortable when it’s hung from your neck.

The Razer Kraken X Lite have a built-in cardioid mic. The mic is not detachable but it is flexible enough to be kept comfortably on the side when not in use.

Being a cardioid mic, this can easily block out external sounds.

Razer Kraken X Lite’s microphone produces relatively clean audio for its price point. You won’t have a big problem when you’re talking in a quiet environment. The mic, however, can only isolate the noise to a certain level like keyboards and light taps so high-noise settings such as highways are not ideal.

I played a couple of games on my PC and my PS4 with these headphones and the mic quality performed up to par. My teammates still very easily understood me without the need to repeat myself. It is, however, very sensitive and wind gushes or overly loud sounds are quite common.

It’s good for indoor gaming but not at all recommended when gaming in a relatively loud environment. Although your voice will still be heard and recognized, your teammates may still be distracted from the background noise. I can say that it can noticeably lessen lower frequencies, like the rumble of an engine, but it leaves out high frequencies, which means my teammates can hear a lot of whistling wind sounds.

Here are some voice recordings I took to help you hear how the Razer Kraken X Lite’s microphone performs:

Admittedly, I wasn’t really expecting much from the Kraken X Lite and their 40mm drivers in terms of sound quality — and I was right to do so. After all, they are budget gaming headphones so, for me, as long as they produce the right sound details and proper directional audio, they would be fine.

To test them out, I played Apex Legends on PS4 and Valorant on PC. Playing mostly first-person shooter (FPS) games, I couldn’t help but notice that the Kraken X Lite provided great details. I heard the littlest clanking sounds of empty bullet shells touching the ground, enemy footsteps, and I also didn’t have a hard time hearing my team.

Other than that, there is also a noticeable spike in the mids and highs for these headphones. The treble is quite exaggerated and although there is bass present, it tends to get overpowered by other sounds.

With the bass overpowered by the highs, the gunshots and explosions had more crisp to them but lesser impact overall. While I personally prefer more bass on my headphones, the balanced mix of a tight ear seal and the overpowered bass alleviated a lot of pressure from my ears.

The Kraken X Lite are closed-back headphones with a soundstage that really isn’t the widest of all. For FPS games, there would be a tendency to feel more constricted since the sounds would feel extra closer. However, Razer compensates well for that with one of the best aspects of these headphones — spatial audio.

The Kraken X Lite’s 7.1 surround sound allowed me to accurately pinpoint the direction and distance of my enemies in-game. The audio wasn’t just simply blasted through the left or right ear cups and the headphones used volume control masterfully to indicate proper positioning. As a result, I was able to react better, face threats more accurately, and move more efficiently.

Despite being a budget bet, Razer chose to include their proprietary surround sound feature because they know that their market will be looking for it. Razer rightfully gets the credit on my book for this one.

The Razer Kraken X and the Razer Kraken X Lite are often compared to each other. With the Kraken X Lite being the lighter and more affordable counterpart of the already lightweight and affordable Kraken X, you could expect a couple of trade-offs.

The regular and standard Kraken X only have three key differences. First, the Kraken X has two nifty features — a mute button on the left ear cup and a volume dial under that. These two small additions may not amount to much, but they are extremely helpful and convenient especially in gaming setups. It’s a lot easier to simply toggle these buttons instead of going through your console settings every time you need to mute the mic or adjust the volume.

Aside from that, the Kraken X and its Lite version also weigh differently. At 250g, the Razer Kraken X are 20g heavier than the lite version but, quite frankly, you probably won’t even feel the difference in weight.

Other than the regular Kraken X, the MPOW Air SE are also a great matchup for the Kraken X Lite. These two headphones are in the budget category and they were both made for those who are looking for lightweight gaming headphones.

When it comes to durability and build quality, the MPOW Air SE have the upper hand — and it’s by a mile. MPOW’s budget bet feature metal clamps on their ear cups and they generally feel a lot more premium than the Kraken X Lite.

In terms of sound quality, though, the Kraken X Lite are the ones you would want to go for. It has better surround sound and you also get a relatively wider soundstage with them for a more natural but still immersive gaming experience.

I’m also a big fan of the Kraken X Lite’s seamless and featherweight design that really lessens the tendency for ear fatigue and sweating. I also found the Kraken X Lite more comfortable and I really appreciated their adjustment locks — a feature that isn’t present in the Air SE.

The mics on both are equally underwhelming, but effective nonetheless. They are both simple headphones that get the job done but Kraken X Lite’s 7.1 Surround Sound gives them a slight edge in terms of usability.

Razer’s tagline is “For Gamers. By Gamers.” and they have been true to their word with the Kraken X Lite. These headphones may not be as remarkable or as outstanding as other headphones under the same brand but they are great as who they are — budget gaming headphones.

The build quality and the overall premium feel are severely lacking with these headphones. But that’s a trade-off I can live with considering the surround sound feature and their optimum comfortability. Plus, with only costing around $50, what more can I ask for?

However, whether you should settle for the Kraken X Lite are go for the standard Kraken X variant is debatable. The standard Kraken X are 20g heavier because of two additional features — the mic mute button and the volume dial. If your budget is around $50, you may as well spend a few more for these features.

Career gamers would probably appreciate the effort that Razer has done for the Kraken X Lite, but it will undeniably fall short of their gaming gear shopping list. But, for casual gamers and those just starting to test the waters for gaming headphones, the Kraken X Lite would surely be a great place to start.