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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're seeking high sound quality and wide soundstage for music listening in a quiet environment, choose the Focal Elex, noting that they are open-back headphones which don't isolate noise well and are not portable. However, for gaming, the Razer Kraken provides good sound and superior microphone quality, and their closed-back design offers some noise isolation, making them adaptable for various environments and they're more affordable. Neither are suited for exercise or travel due to size and lack of wireless features. Consider your primary use—music or gaming—and whether open-back or closed-back suits your environment, along with budget constraints. 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 Focal Elex
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Razer Kraken
- Very good for gaming
Key differences
Music
7.7
7.1
The Focal Elex and Razer Kraken are both good for music, though the Focal Elex is somewhat better.
Gaming
6.9
8.3
The Razer Kraken is very good for gaming, while the Focal Elex is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.3
5.5
The Razer Kraken and Focal Elex are both poor for phone calls, though the Razer Kraken is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.1
4.7
The Focal Elex is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Razer Kraken is poor.
TV and Video
8.3
7.4
The Focal Elex is very good for TV and video, while the Razer Kraken is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.5
The Razer Kraken is only fair for noise reduction, while the Focal Elex is poor.
Cost
$749
$50
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Focal Elex has a price of $749 and the Razer Kraken costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Focal Elex has excellent build quality, while the Razer Kraken has very good build quality.
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How the Focal Elex and the Razer Kraken compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Elex | Razer Kraken |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$749 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Razer | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2017 | March 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.8/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 8.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.4/10 | 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 | 2.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 9/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 450 Grams | 322 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Focal Elex
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Dig into reviews and images
Golden Sound
Golden Sound | October 2021
"The Focal Elex are an excellent pair of headphones for the money and a great all-rounder that will suit many tastes. They’re an easy recommendation for anyone looking for something comfortable, well built, that looks good, and will work with just about any genre."
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 Focal Elex or the Razer Kraken
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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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
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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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