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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for detailed, accurate sound, particularly for listening to music in quiet environments, the Etymotic ER4XR earbuds would be your choice, despite their higher price. They offer superior noise isolation and precision, ideal for audiophiles. On the other hand, if you're a gamer or enjoy watching movies and want a comfortable headset with a microphone for communication, the Razer Kraken would suit you better. It's less expensive, but it's also bulkier and offers a different kind of sound quality that may not be as finely tuned for critical music listening but includes features like a boom mic and virtual surround sound that enhance gaming and video experiences. 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 Etymotic ER4XR
- Very good for music
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Razer Kraken
- Very good for gaming
Key differences
Music
8.0
7.1
The Etymotic ER4XR is very good for music, while the Razer Kraken is good.
Gaming
6.2
8.3
The Razer Kraken is very good for gaming, while the Etymotic ER4XR is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.7
5.5
The Razer Kraken and Etymotic ER4XR are both poor for phone calls, though the Razer Kraken is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.3
4.7
The Etymotic ER4XR is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Razer Kraken is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
6.5
The Etymotic ER4XR is excellent for noise reduction, while the Razer Kraken is only fair.
Cost
$234
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Etymotic ER4XR has a price of $234 and the Razer Kraken costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Etymotic ER4XR has excellent build quality, while the Razer Kraken has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
7.4
7.4
The Etymotic ER4XR and Razer Kraken are both good for TV and video.
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How the Etymotic ER4XR and the Razer Kraken compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Etymotic ER4XR | Razer Kraken |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$234 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Etymotic | Razer | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2016 | March 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.8/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.1/10 | 4.2/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 9/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4 Grams | 322 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
Shopping
Etymotic ER4XR
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | May 2015
"The Etymotic ER4XRs' top qualities are the detail and definition of the midrange, rewarding the closest listening. While the soundstage is large rather than gigantic, the excellent separation and spatial precision mean you can dive deep into music just as much as when wearing a pair of full-size open-backed headphones."
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 Etymotic ER4XR or the Razer Kraken
About Etymotic
Etymotic Research is an American based research, development and manufacturing company founded in 1983. They invented the first insert earphones that were used for the diagnosis and research of hearing loss and other auditory disorders. They went on to pioneer the market of high fidelity, isolating, in-ear earphones.
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.
Jason Lew
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.
Luis Torres
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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