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Elex
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Kraken V3
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What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·

If you prioritize top-notch music listening and a wide, open soundstage, the Focal Elex over-ear headphones with their open-back design and excellent build and sound quality would be suitable, though they are not ideal for noisy environments or portable use due to poor noise isolation and size. On the other hand, if you're looking for a more affordable option that still offers good sound quality, the Razer Kraken V3 may be better, especially for gaming thanks to its low-latency design, good microphone, and virtual surround feature, but they won't provide the same music listening experience as the Focal Elex. The Kraken also has an advantage in durability and is optimized for prolonged use with its comfortable design. However, neither headphone is suited for exercise or travel due to their bulky form factors and lack of active noise cancelling. 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 V3
  • Good for gaming

Key differences

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Phone Calls

4.3
Elex
Kraken V3
5.0
The Razer Kraken V3 and Focal Elex are both poor for phone calls, though the Razer Kraken V3 is somewhat better.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

7.1
Elex
Kraken V3
4.7
The Focal Elex is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Razer Kraken V3 is poor.

TV and Video

8.3
Elex
Kraken V3
7.0
The Focal Elex is very good for TV and video, while the Razer Kraken V3 is good.

Noise Reduction

2.5
Elex
Kraken V3
6.0
The Razer Kraken V3 is only fair for noise reduction, while the Focal Elex is poor.

Cost

$749
Elex
Kraken V3
$70
Product image
Product image

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

$300

$350

$400

The Focal Elex has a price of $749 and the Razer Kraken V3 costs $70.

Build Quality

9.0
Elex
Kraken V3
8.5
The Focal Elex has excellent build quality, while the Razer Kraken V3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities

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Music

7.7
Elex
Kraken V3
7.3
The Focal Elex and Razer Kraken V3 are both good for music.

Gaming

6.9
Elex
Kraken V3
7.3
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Razer Kraken V3 to be good for gaming, while the Focal Elex is only fair.

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How the Focal Elex and the Razer Kraken V3 compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Focal ElexRazer Kraken V3
Focal ElexRazer Kraken V3

GENERAL

Price
$749
$70
Brand
FocalRazer
Release Date
December 1, 2017June 1, 2021
Form Factor
HeadphonesHeadphones
Connectivity
WiredWired

SOUND

Music Score
7.8/107.3/10
Phone Calls Score
4.4/105.1/10
Gaming Score
6.9/107.4/10
TV and Video Score
8.4/107/10
Exercise Score
4.3/104.1/10

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoNo
Noise Reduction Score
2.5/106/10
Virtual Surround
NoYes
Mic Quality
N/A7/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
9/108.5/10
Comfort score
8/107/10
Weight (headset or single earbud)
450 Grams325 Grams
Microphone style
N/ABoom
Waterproof Rating
00

Shopping

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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 V3

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Dig into reviews and images

Soundguys

Sam Smart | November 2022
"This Razer Kraken V3 is a great headset for gamers who want comfort, surround sound, and software customization for a reasonable price. It's primarily a headset for PC gamers since THX Spatial audio is only supported on Windows. If you want something more multifaceted for multiple systems, this won't be an ideal headset for you. Luckily, there are plenty of competent Kraken V3 alternatives available to you."

Get a great deal on the Focal Elex or the Razer Kraken V3

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

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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.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,600
Recommendations made
18,390
Consumer hours saved

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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