A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
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
Phone Calls
4.3
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
4.7
The Focal Elex is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Razer Kraken V3 is poor.
TV and Video
8.3
7.0
The Focal Elex is very good for TV and video, while the Razer Kraken V3 is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The Razer Kraken V3 is only fair for noise reduction, while the Focal Elex is poor.
Cost
$749
$80
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Focal Elex has a price of $749 and the Razer Kraken V3 costs $80.
Build Quality
9.0
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
Music
7.7
7.3
The Focal Elex and Razer Kraken V3 are both good for music.
Gaming
6.9
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
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Elex | Razer Kraken V3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$749 | $80 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Razer | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2017 | June 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 7.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.1/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 7/10 | |
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 | 325 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 V3
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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
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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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