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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audio Technica ATH M40X offers superior overall sound quality, making it great for music enthusiasts who prioritize audio fidelity. However, these are not ideal for calls and meetings due to the lack of a microphone. They are also well-regarded for TV and video watching due to good imaging. On the other hand, the Razer Kraken is designed with a focus on gaming experience, boasting a high-quality microphone for communication and virtual surround capabilities for immersive gameplay. They are more versatile for calls and have a boom mic that enhances voice clarity. The Kraken’s sound quality is decent but may not satisfy audiophiles. If portability is a concern, the M40X is foldable, making them easier to transport, whereas the Kraken is not. Noise isolation is marginally better on the Kraken, which can be a deciding factor if you’re often in noisy environments. Choose the M40X for top-tier audio and the Kraken for gaming and communication. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Audio Technica ATH M40X
- Very good for music
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for air travel
Advantages of the Razer Kraken
- Very good for gaming
Key differences
Music
8.1
7.1
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for music, while the Razer Kraken is good.
Gaming
7.0
8.3
The Razer Kraken is very good for gaming, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is good.
Phone Calls
3.3
5.5
The Razer Kraken and Audio Technica ATH M40X are both poor for phone calls, though the Razer Kraken is somewhat better.
TV and Video
8.7
7.4
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for TV and video, while the Razer Kraken is good.
Noise Reduction
5.3
6.5
The Razer Kraken is only fair for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Cost
$99
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the Razer Kraken costs $50.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
4.7
The Audio Technica ATH M40X and Razer Kraken are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks.
Build Quality
8.2
8.5
The Razer Kraken and Audio Technica ATH M40X both have very good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M40X and the Razer Kraken compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | Razer Kraken |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Razer | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | March 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.2/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 9/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 245 Grams | 322 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Audio Technica ATH M40X
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Lily Katz | August 2023
"If you were to pick one headset to fill all of your needs, the ATH-M40x is a great buy with its sub-$100 price tag, pleasant sound quality, and accessories. Whether you need to use it for live monitoring, a midnight editing session, or to underscore a campus walk, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is a great companion."
Razer Kraken
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Gamer
Rob Dwiar | March 2019
"Generally the Kraken is a very comfortable headset and there’s nothing that really identifies it as anything else. All in, the Kraken performed exactly as I’d expect a premium, designated gaming headset to perform: performing well in game audio, though not quite with the same quality of those headsets further up the price scale."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the Razer Kraken
About Audio Technica
Audio Technica is a 60-year-old, Japan-based, professional audio equipment manufacturer. They started off making phonograph cartridges and have expanded their scope of products ever since to include extremely popular models of microphones and headphones. They have been the official audio equipment supplier of several editions of the Summer and Winter Olympics and every edition of the Grammy Awards since 1998.
About Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean hardware manufacturer aimed specifically toward the gaming market. They manufacture a very wide array of gaming laptops, tablets, phones, peripherals and, of course, headphones and earbuds both wired and wireless. Since 2016, Razer has owned the THX suite, aimed at quality assurance of audiovisual systems such as speaker sets, video game consoles and even movie theaters.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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