Kraken 7.1 V2

You can purchase a DAC that connects to the computer through usb-c, and then have a small 3.5 mm running to the DAC sitting on your desktop. You may have to research more on this because I've never actually done this myself but only wanted to and saw others do it. Myself I use razer kraken 7.1 V2 from around 2015. The sound isn't perfect, but I use the EQ to tweak what I need. I recommend only a tad bit of bass and balanced sound over all. Loud AK's for long sessions can tire out the ears. Tweak the in game settings as well as they are important for locating enemies on the 3D soundscape, which can be hard to do in CS2. In short, an EQ and tweaking in game settings can remedy about 70% of your sound issues. Razer Krakens are not high scale headphones by any means.

Bought used kraken 7.1 v2 about 6 years ago, alive to this day. New cushions and fabric on a band, sounds amazing. Only my cat make them fly one time and microphone tip broke off but still works 100%

I wasn’t trying to defend razer, I’ve just been surprised because I was always happy with their products. I had a kraken 7.1 v2 whatever and it lasted 4 years and then I gave it to a friend when I got an interface, xlr mic and studio headphones

**↓ TL;DR below ↓** I have to say this is a damn good headset as a start. Soundstage is extremely wide and well. Out of box tuning is some of the best I've experienced, rather balanced and gives you a bit of everything. Details are sharp but not disturbing, and sounds are easily distinguishable. I think the controversy comes from how most of gaming headsets and especially wired mid to cheap headsets emphasize a lot between 50-200Hz band, and peaks on 6-8k. This headset is one of the most well balanced headsets I've ever listened to. There really is little bit of everything and nothing empathized at all. That being said, that may sound boring or bleak to an untrained ear. And by all means it doesn't mean consumers are wrong to think that. I wish there were more discussion about neutral sound vs exciting sound in the gaming community. The battery life is crazy. I still haven't charged this headset after the "first time max charge", and I've been using it for video calls, gaming, and media. Onboard EQ is also really nice, especially if you don't have EQ available on your device connected with bluetooth, or it has some too basic stuff life 5 or 6 band EQ ( *looking at you Spotify* ). This headset is also one of the most comfortable headsets I've ever used. I keep forgetting I have it on my head due to low clamp force, and it still manages to hold onto my head when I lean or lie down. Passive noise cancellation is also great due to leatherette pads and proper closed back system. They do get hot quickly, but there are good alternatives like Wicked Cushion ones, but sadly most of their models don't exist in my country and they're really expensive ( *up to $40* :') ). Angled drivers are also a nice touch. I feel like they fit perfectly, though this is a personal opinion, and everyone's headshape is different. \------------------ About the cons, DTS:X Headphones is just useless. Before this headset, the headset I used for my personal use has been Razer Kraken 7.1 v2. Razer's proprietary surround software is miles better than whatever HyperX tried with DTS. It's not completely trash though. When you are listening to a content that's specifically made with DTS, **that** sounds amazing. Problem is that this is a gaming headset and almost no game has DTS:X support. Not even Dolby Atmos support, which is more common. That's where Ngenuity Beta's own, HyperX Spatial comes in. So far I still think Razer's and Logitech's own proprietary methods are far superior. And I think part of this comes down to way this headset is designed. The soundstage is so well made and wide, when you expand on it with spatial surround, it becomes too faint and dull. Lack of parametric EQ is sadly present, and I do wish it was there, which is where Fractal Scape shines with three onboard EQ presets with parametric EQ. Still, we have a 10 band onboard EQ, which is still better than most of the headsets out there. Lack of proper bluetooth codecs is also sad to see. There is no AptX or LC3 or LDAC alike codecs, only SBC and AAC. AAC is good enough for generic music experience and watching media, but low latency and higher quality is left to be desired on bluetooth. \------------------ I've been seeing a lot of controversy between Audiophile content creators and consumer experience, but as we all know, consumer experience online is always biased to be negative because people happy with their product rarely come and voice their experience, and many unhappy people do. This is the reason I decided to make this post, along with not enough being talked about this headset apart from content creators, which they usually fail to cover UX. I have to also say, I bought these headsets for damn cheap. MSRP on HyperX's website is $180, regular price is around $150. I got them for $126.5, which is dirt cheap considering every other tech piece in my country is usually 1.5x to 2x the US prices. I don't think it is possible to buy a better headset around this pricepoint. About the whole toxic components discussion with non "S" version, HP discloses every standard and certification with their individual products and it seems like everything is as they should be, if you can trust the documents of course. \------------------ Way I recommend you use these headsets until new firmware/software versions release, or HP decides to finally make a better beta software: * Do not use the beta software. As of currently, it creates multiple audio devices which is quite a clutter. Use the regular Ngenuity release. * Actively changing EQ causes headset to disconnect and reconnect when using the Beta software. * Use DTS: Unbound software if you want to take advantage of *DTS:X for Headsets* (can be downloaded from Microsoft Store). * Though I recommend leaving it off from both Ngenuity and Windows' spatial settings as it makes it worse unless you're specifically using content made with DTS audio. * If you want to use surround no matter what, then you can use Ngenuity Beta, but it is finnicky. * Raise 64Hz and 125Hz bands slightly if you want a more punchy experience. Slight reduction to 500Hz band also helps with nasality of speech. Present on Slight Kick EQ on photos. * If headset sounds really boring for you and you want a more saturated experience, try to also reduce 2k band a bit, and add to 4k band slightly. * If you're sensitive to peaky trebles (kinda like a needle poking or feeling like glass on your ears when you listen to high trebles, slightly reduce 8k. * All of these are present on screenshots in the 2nd image. \------------------ **TL;DR** \- These headsets are great, and I definitely recommend you to buy them if you are planning to spend around $130-150 range. Do not use DTS:X. Do not use the Beta software. They're one of the best headsets to use out of the box. If they sound boring or too flat for you, I made two really basic EQs for you to try. Mind you that these EQs will effect the way headset presents itself, and might make it more difficult to hear footsteps. You can find them on the 2nd picture. \------------------ Disclaimer: By no means I'm a professional, just some guy with slightly educated ear, who wanted to share their experience. Feel free to correct or add on top.

I used to play Apex year or two ago, and played CoD from TheCoD to MW2, but right now, nothing competitive. Closest it gets is I'm replaying Far Cry 4, which sounded horrible with DTS or HyperX Spatial, but great as regular stereo (might be purely because FC4's surround is just bad as game is made with stereo in mind). Apart from FPS, I play Satisfactory, Warframe, and Baldur's Gate 3. All I can say about footsteps is that even though Warframe has a lot of sound clutter, I was able to single out sounds with ease. You can distinctly tell where your companion roams just by sound, height included. Which is just amazing. I honestly don't think there's any need for EQ tweak for competitive FPS, as I think it'd compromise sound quality (losing sub-bass/risking tinny sounds) just to single out footsteps better (which imo is already good). Soundstage being wide and great with details being easily distinguishable makes it already great out of the box (just like your experience), and excels at competitive gaming as is. If you really wanna try your luck, I'd go with maybe +2 or +3 dB to 2k, at most +3 dB to 2k and +1 dB to 1k and 4k bands, but I'm definitely sure it'll compromise the sound quality. **TL;DR** \- I'd personally continue using a flat EQ, as boring as that answer sounds.

No popping whatsoever, though I did hear this problem from other people. It sounds like the power saving kicking in when theres no sound, which introduces a pop in but I did test the headset with multiple combinations of EQ, DTS, and surround but havent heard any pops. Just slight crackle when actively changing EQ bands, which only happens while moving the sliders. Maybe its a QC problem. If you haven't installed any software, you're probably using the firmware it came with. I can recommend installing ngenuity just to update the firmware, to see if that solves it. Either version (beta or regular) should be able to update. I used regular for mine. You can uninstall ngenuity afterwards if you dont want it stay installed. Its not required aside from HyperX spatial included in the beta version. EQ if you apply any, stays onboard.

I can't comfortably say anything because I don't play competitive FPS anymore, but as one comment here said, they're very happy with this headset to hear footsteps. I also haven't experienced any SteelSeries product so kinda limited with my opinions. I'll copy from my other comment saying "All I can say about footsteps is that even though Warframe has a lot of sound clutter, I was able to single out sounds with ease. You can distinctly tell where your companion roams just by sound, height included. Which is just amazing.". I don't like Corsair or Asus as a brand so I can't comment without bias. From looking at technical specs, HS80 can do louder sound, probably has crispier treble (although Cloud III S has really crisp highs already, some people prefer to even bring it down a bit). Pick between both, I'd definitely go with Cloud III S myself, as a lot of people are happy with its positional awareness performance. Cloud III S can also do bluetooth, so you can use it with your mobile, and battery life is I think 6 times of Corsair HS80.

After a lot of trial, I decided to use stereo for regular use :'D Ngenuity spatial definitely feels subpar and DTS:X is also a let-down aside from content made with spatial audio in mind (like DTS/Dolby bitstream or matrix). I tried in 4-5 games and it made it worse each time (Tried DTS:X from Unbound software @ balanced, tried it from ngenuity, also tried the hyperx spatial, they all make it sound bad), *except* when I tried it on Stargate Universe, which has DTS. That sounded amazing with DTS:X from Unbound (Ngenuity DTS:X and HyperX Spatial still made it worse than mixing to stereo). They do things differently but with a good physical setup, either sounds good on any. Dolby Atmos doesn't work as well on DTS setups due to Atmos utilizing the height channels. My information is slightly aged though, I'll have to check on that! We all think we hear every detail when a random TWS earbuds blow the rust out of our ears :') I find Dolby Atmos a better experience but I'm biased to have it hardware specialized on my mobile.

As far as I know, that's a known problem for this headset. He also explicitly says it doesn't work on the front port of PS5 in his review around 2:45 part (went ahead and re-checked the video. It's even present in chapter title). A solution I can think of is buying a short extension cord and connecting it from back to putting the adapter wherever you want. If you buy a USB A to C cable, you won't need the adapter as well, eliminating a connection. You can keep it at the back ports but that'll probably kill the adapter in the long run due to heat dissipating from the back. I think even the cable it comes with will work, but that's USB C to C so you'll need to use the adapter it comes with and daisy-chaining adapters a lot usually isn't a good idea.

Oh definitely, closed and open headsets sound miles different. Just like with Planar drivers. Maybe you can try to isolate what you're missing? We all hear and feel differently, and there's definitely no headset that's "best one for all" sadly. They might just not be for you, or you have a specific characteristic you're looking for that you might not be aware. I found [Audio University](https://www.youtube.com/@AudioUniversity)'s videos extremely helpful to understand how to think about audio, and what to do with EQ. It might be totally unhelpful as well, as I have no idea what's good or possible for PS5 or your situation. Hope you figure out what you're looking for!

I have to disagree with your comment. I can't say its wrong, neither can say I'm right, as audio is widely subjective and there's easily a crowd who agree with you as well. So I'd say we both are in our own way. The reason most audiophiles look discouragingly at strong bass, especially sub-bass is due to low frequencies overwhelming others and create muddy sounds. That's why V shape EQ was (and still is) a wildly popular choice. It tries to bring out both details and bass while clearing up the mud. I personally feel like even if the headset is really high grade, raising sub-bass definitely lowers the quality. Same goes for this headset. I did offer two EQs that slightly increase bass, but the headset does lose a lot of its clarity when its done. Mind you this is mostly because its a closed back headset. Sub-bass and bass increase to open backs respond a lot nicer and way less detail loss. We as humans suck at perceiving low frequencies. We can't even tell where sub-bass comes from. And bass pretty badly compared to how sharp we hear between 1k and 4k. Now I still do enjoy elevated lows from time to time. Hell my last headset even had +3-5dB on low ends. This headset has a strong sub-bass right out of the box. While listening a movie with LFE channel, I thought headset was even shaking (it was just sub-bass being sub-bass). Kicks on songs are rather below that sub-bass strength though, hence why I made the "Slight Kick" preset first for people who wants more punch. Slight reduction to 500 band to clear up muddiness. I'd say it blew any sub $150 MSRP bass-focused wireless headset away. In the end this is my opinion though, and thank you for sharing yours.

Personally i recommend 7.1 surround headsets. But not virtual ones. For example i used razer chroma 7.1 for years. I can recommend that one but razer usually has hardware issues

Even my Kraken V2s are holding up. Foam is falling apart which is to be expected after 10+ years of gaming, but there’s no structural damage

I have razer kraken wired version bc tbh I can't hear the difference between something like that and the audiophile headphones. I turned off the bass boost and it sounds great to me for what I need it for - game audio and being in voice with my friends - and I like a built in mic instead of a desktop stand mic. Background isolation seems good as it doesn't transmit my bf talking in the same room. Comfy enough to wear for 8 hours at a time also, but I dont wear glasses so if you do can't vouch for that.