Razer Kaira X  Headphones Review

Reviewed Dec 10, 2021 at 10:50am
Writing modified Feb 16, 2024 at 12:11pm
Tested using Methodology v1.5 
Razer Kaira X

Track

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Neutral Sound 
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Commute/Travel 
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Sports/Fitness 
0.0
Office 
0.0
Wireless Gaming 
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Wired Gaming 
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Phone Calls 

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  1. Recommended in:
  2. Razer

The Razer Kaira X are wired gaming headphones that come in console-specific color variants. Although we tested the PlayStation variant, all variants work with any console with an AUX port. That said, these headphones have a somewhat warm sound profile that delivers a touch of extra boom to mixes. Their boom mic also delivers a great overall performance, ensuring you're heard clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. However, they lack sound customization features, and they have a plasticky design.

Our Verdict

0.0
Neutral Sound 

The Razer Kaira X are decent for neutral sound. They have a somewhat warm sound profile with a touch of extra high-bass to add boom to mixes. However, vocals and lead instruments are a bit thin and veiled. The headphones are also prone to inconsistencies in bass and treble delivery, and their passive soundstage gives the impression that sound is coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed around you.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built.
Cons
  • No customization features.
0.0
Commute/Travel 

The Razer Kaira X are poor for commute and travel. While they have a comfortable and well-built design, they aren't suitable for long days on the go. They don't block out the low rumble of bus or plane engines, and you can't detach their boom mic for a more casual look. These headphones also lack call and music controls, which is disappointing for casual use.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation performance.
  • No call or music controls.
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Sports/Fitness 

The Razer Kaira X are disappointing for sports and fitness as they're not designed for this purpose. They have a bulky design that can fall off your head with moderate movement. Their audio cable isn't detachable either, and it could get snagged on something as you're moving. They lack an IP rating for water resistance, although that's to be expected for over-ear headphones.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built.
Cons
  • No call or music controls.
  • Bulky and can fall off your head with moderate movement.
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Office 

The Razer Kaira X are passable for office use. Thanks to their wired design, you don't have to worry about battery life throughout your workday. They also have a comfortable fit, and you can take calls using their great boom mic. However, the mic isn't detachable, making the headphones look gamer-centric. They also struggle to block out ambient chatter.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation performance.
  • No call or music controls.
0.0
Wireless Gaming 

The Razer Kaira X are wired-only headphones, and you can't use them wirelessly.

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Wired Gaming 

The Razer Kaira X are decent for wired gaming. They have a somewhat sound profile with a touch of extra boom to help bring out sound effects in gameplay. Their boom mic also offers an excellent recording quality, ensuring your voice is clear and natural. Unfortunately, they lack sound customization features, so you can't adjust their sound to your liking.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built.
  • Great overall mic performance.
Cons
  • No customization features.
  • Disappointing passive soundstage.
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Phone Calls 

The Razer Kaira X are decent for phone calls. They have a non-detachable boom microphone that offers a great overall performance, ensuring that you're heard clearly, even in noisy environments. The mic can separate your voice from moderate ambient sound, ensuring you're heard clearly, even if there's noise around you. However, the headphones struggle to block out background noise, making it harder to hear your call well.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built.
  • Great overall mic performance.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation performance.
  • No call or music controls.
  • 0.0
    Neutral Sound
  • 0.0
    Commute/Travel
  • 0.0
    Sports/Fitness
  • 0.0
    Office
  • 0.0
    Wireless Gaming
  • 0.0
    Wired Gaming
  • 0.0
    Phone Calls
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Feb 16, 2024: We've updated the name of this review and expanded information regarding console compatibility in Differences Between Sizes and Variants, PC Compatibility, Xbox Compatibility, and Xbox Compatibility.
    2.  Updated Dec 10, 2021: Review published.
    3.  Updated Dec 06, 2021: Early access published.
    4.  Updated Nov 04, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.

    Check Price

    BlackKaira X for Xbox
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    Amazon.com
    Black/WhiteKaira X for PlayStation
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    Electric VoltKaira X for Xbox
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    Pulse RedKaira X for Xbox
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    Shock BlueKaira X for Xbox
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    Amazon.com
    WhiteKaira X for Xbox
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    Amazon.com

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    These headphones come in console-specific color variants: the 'Razer Kaira X for PlayStation', which have a black, white, and blue color scheme, and the 'Razer Kaira X for Xbox', which have a black and green color scheme. We tested the 'Razer Kaira X for PlayStation', and you can see our model's label here. The Xbox variant is also available in the following color variants: 'White', 'Shock Blue', 'Pulse Red', and 'Electric Volt' to better match your console's controller. There isn't a difference in performance between any of these variants, and since they all have a wired design, you can use any of them on Xbox or PlayStation consoles without an issue.

    If you come across another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.

    Popular Headphones Comparisons

    The Razer Kaira X are the wired sibling of the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless. Although they have console-specific variants, this is so that you can match their color scheme to your console or controllers. They otherwise offer no specific or unique features per console. That said, they have a somewhat warm sound profile with a touch of extra boom, and their boom mic does a great job of recording your voice, even in noisier environments. However, their 1/8" TRRS isn't detachable, and unlike the Razer BlackShark V2, they also lack a companion app to help you adjust their sound to suit your tastes.

    Check out our recommendations for the best headsets for PS5, the best gaming headsets under $100, and the best gaming headsets.

    Razer Kaira Pro Wireless

    Track

    The Razer Kaira Pro Wireless and the Razer Kaira X have different strengths and depending on your usage, you may prefer either one. While both headphones are comfortable and have great mic performances, the Kaira Pro are wireless headphones that are better built and have companion software that offers a graphic EQ and presets. They also support Bluetooth. However, the Kaira X are wired headphones with a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer.

    Razer BlackShark V2

    Track

    The Razer BlackShark V2 are better wired gaming headphones than the Razer Kaira X. While both headphones are comfortable, the BlackShark V2 have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and are compatible with Razer Synapse software, which offers a graphic EQ and presets. They also have a significantly better passive soundstage performance. However, the Kaira X for PlayStation are better built, and their boom mic delivers better overall performance.

    Logitech G432

    Track

    The Logitech G432 is a slightly better-wired gaming headset than the Razer Kaira X. While both headphones are comfortable, the Logitech have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, a virtual soundstage feature, and their boom mic has a better noise handling performance. They also have a companion app that offers a graphic EQ and presets so that you can tweak their sound on PCs. However, the Razer are better built and their mic has a better recording quality.

    HyperX Cloud Alpha S

    Track

    The HyperX Cloud Alpha S are somewhat better-wired gaming headphones than the Razer Kaira X. The HyperX are more comfortable, better built, and compatible with companion software that offers an adjustable mic level. Their audio cable and microphone are also detachable. 

    Show more 
    How We Test Headphones: Over 800 And Counting!
    How We Test Headphones: Over 800 And Counting!

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    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    TypeLockedOver-ear
    EnclosureLockedClosed-Back
    WirelessLockedNo
    TransducerLockedDynamic

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    0.0
    Comfort
    WeightLockedLock lbs
    Clamping Force
    LockedLock lbs

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    0.0
    Controls
    OS Compatibility
    LockedLocked
    Ease Of UseLockedLocked
    FeedbackLockedLocked
    Call/Music ControlLockedLocked
    Volume ControlLockedLocked
    Microphone ControlLockedLocked
    Channel Mixing
    LockedLocked
    Noise Cancelling ControlLockedLocked
    Talk-Through
    LockedLocked
    Additional ControlsLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Portability
    LLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    WLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    HLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    VolumeLockedLock in³ (Lock cm³)
    Transmitter RequiredLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Case
    TypeLockedLocked
    LLockedN/A
    WLockedN/A
    HLockedN/A
    VolumeLockedN/A
    0.0
    Build Quality

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    0.0
    Stability

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    Headshots 1
    Headshots 2
    Top
    In The Box

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    Sound
    Sound Profile
    Bass Amount
    LockedLock dB
    Treble Amount
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Frequency Response Consistency
    Avg. Std. Deviation
    LockedLock dB

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    Raw Frequency Response
    0.0
    Bass Accuracy
    Std. Err.
    LockedLock dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    LockedLock Hz
    Low-Bass
    LockedLock dB
    Mid-Bass
    LockedLock dB
    High-Bass
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Mid Accuracy
    Std. Err.
    LockedLock dB
    Low-Mid
    LockedLock dB
    Mid-Mid
    LockedLock dB
    High-Mid
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Treble Accuracy
    Std. Err.
    LockedLock dB
    Low-Treble
    LockedLock dB
    Mid-Treble
    LockedLock dB
    High-Treble
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Peaks/Dips
    Peaks
    LockedLock dB
    Dips
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Imaging
    Weighted Group Delay
    LockedLock
    Weighted Phase Mismatch
    LockedLock
    Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
    LockedLock
    Weighted Frequency Mismatch
    LockedLock

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    0.0
    Passive Soundstage
    PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
    LockedLock dB
    PRTF Size (Avg.)
    LockedLock dB
    PRTF Distance
    LockedLock dB
    Openness
    Locked
    0.0
    Acoustic Space Excitation
    Locked
    0.0

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    0.0
    Virtual Soundstage
    Head Modeling
    LockedLocked
    Speaker Modeling
    LockedLocked
    Room Ambience
    LockedLocked
    Head Tracking
    LockedLocked
    Virtual Surround
    LockedLocked
    0.0
    Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    WHD @ 90
    LockedLock
    WHD @ 100
    LockedLock

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    Test Settings
    Firmware
    LockedLocked
    Power
    LockedLocked
    Connection
    LockedLocked
    Codec
    LockedLocked
    EQ
    LockedLocked
    ANC
    LockedLocked
    Tip/Pad
    LockedLocked
    Microphone
    LockedLocked

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    Isolation
    0.0
    Noise Isolation
    Isolation Audio
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    Overall Attenuation
    LockedLock dB
    Noise CancellingLockedNo
    Bass
    LockedLock dB
    Mid
    LockedLock dB
    Treble
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Leakage
    Leakage Audio
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    Overall Leakage @ 1ft
    LockedLock dB

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    Microphone
    Microphone Style
    Integrated
    LockedLocked
    In-Line
    LockedLocked
    Boom
    LockedLocked
    Detachable Boom
    LockedLocked
    MicLockedYes
    0.0
    Recording Quality
    Recorded Speech
    JOIN NOWto hear audio samples
    LFE
    LockedLock Hz
    FR Std. Dev.
    LockedLock dB
    HFE
    LockedLock Hz
    Weighted THD
    LockedLock
    Gain
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Noise Handling
    SpNR
    LockedLock dB
    Noise Gate
    LockedLocked
    Speech + Pink Noise Handling
    Locked
    0.0
    Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
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    Speech + Subway Noise Handling
    Locked
    0.0
    Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample
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    Active Features
    0.0
    Battery
    Battery Type
    LockedLocked
    Continuous Battery Life
    LockedN/A
    Additional Charges
    LockedN/A
    Total Battery Life
    LockedN/A
    Charge Time
    LockedN/A
    Power-Saving Feature
    LockedLocked
    Audio While Charging
    LockedLocked
    Passive Playback
    LockedLocked
    Charging PortLockedLocked
    0.0
    App Support
    App NameLockedLocked
    iOSLockedLocked
    AndroidLockedLocked
    macOSLockedLocked
    WindowsLockedLocked
    Equalizer
    LockedLocked
    ANC Control
    LockedLocked
    Mic ControlLockedLocked
    Room Effects
    LockedLocked
    Playback Control
    LockedLocked
    Button MappingLockedLocked
    Surround Support
    LockedLocked
    Connectivity
    0.0
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth Version
    LockedLocked
    Multi-Device Pairing
    LockedLocked
    NFC Pairing
    LockedLocked
    Line Of Sight Range
    LockedN/A
    PC Latency (SBC)
    LockedN/A
    PC Latency (aptX)
    LockedN/A
    PC Latency (aptX HD)
    LockedN/A
    PC Latency (aptX-LL)
    LockedN/A
    iOS Latency
    LockedN/A
    Android Latency
    LockedN/A
    0.0
    Non-Bluetooth Wireless
    Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
    LockedN/A
    Non-BT Latency
    LockedN/A
    0.0
    Wired
    Analog Audio
    LockedLocked
    USB Audio
    LockedLocked
    DetachableLockedLocked
    LengthLockedLock ft (Lock m)
    Connection
    LockedLocked
    Analog/USB Audio Latency
    LockedLock ms

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    PC Compatibility
    Analog
    LockedLocked
    Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked

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    PlayStation Compatibility
    PS4 Analog
    LockedLocked
    PS4 Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    PS4 Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked
    PS5 Analog
    LockedLocked
    PS5 Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    PS5 Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked

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    Xbox Compatibility
    Xbox One Analog
    LockedLocked
    Xbox One Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked
    Xbox Series X|S Analog
    LockedLocked
    Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Base/Dock
    Type
    LockedLocked
    USB Input
    LockedLocked
    Line In
    LockedLocked
    Line Out
    LockedLocked
    Optical Input
    LockedLocked
    RCA Input
    LockedLocked
    Dock Charging
    LockedLocked
    Power Supply
    LockedLocked