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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize mic quality and comfort, consider the HyperX Cloud II, which has a higher comfort rating and a top mic quality score. They also offer slightly better sound quality for music and are highly suitable for podcasts. However, if you value soundstage, which pertains to the perception of where instruments and voices come from while listening, the Razer Kraken scores higher, potentially offering a more immersive experience for gaming and movies. Neither come with active noise cancelling or wireless capabilities, so if you want a quieter environment or freedom from wires, you might look elsewhere. The HyperX Cloud II is known to be less expensive, so if budget is a constraint, it's the more economical choice. Keep in mind both are quite similar in weight and build quality, ensuring durability for extensive use. 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 HyperX Cloud II
- Good for phone calls
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Razer Kraken
- The Razer Kraken has no clear advantages over the HyperX Cloud II.
Key differences
Music
7.7
7.1
The HyperX Cloud II and Razer Kraken are both good for music, though the HyperX Cloud II is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
7.5
5.5
The HyperX Cloud II is good for phone calls, while the Razer Kraken is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.0
4.7
The HyperX Cloud II is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Razer Kraken is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0
6.5
The Razer Kraken and HyperX Cloud II are both only fair for noise reduction, though the Razer Kraken is somewhat better.
Cost
$93
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The HyperX Cloud II has a price of $93 and the Razer Kraken costs $50.
Build Quality
10.0
8.5
The HyperX Cloud II has best in class build quality, while the Razer Kraken has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
8.6
8.3
The HyperX Cloud II and Razer Kraken are both very good for gaming.
TV and Video
7.6
7.4
The HyperX Cloud II and Razer Kraken are both good for TV and video.
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How the HyperX Cloud II and the Razer Kraken compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HyperX Cloud II | Razer Kraken |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$93 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HyperX | Razer | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2015 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.6/10 | 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 | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 10/10 | 9/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.9/10 | 7/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 317.5 Grams | 322 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Boom | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HyperX Cloud II
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Rhys McIntyre | December 2022
"My overall impression of the HyperX Cloud II gaming headset is overwhelmingly positive. In my opinion, this is one of the best mid-priced gaming headsets currently on the market.Solid sound quality, superior comfort, and a sleek, lightweight design – this headset delivers all of the important aspects that a gaming headset should."
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 HyperX Cloud II or the Razer Kraken
About HyperX
Starting originally as a high-performance and gaming line of memory modules within Kingston and later acquired by HP, HyperX is a dedicated esports and gaming division focused on developing peripherals, microphones and headsets. Providing budget-friendly, comfortable and highly functional products, HyperX has become the go-to for many gamers around the world, resulting in sales of over 20 million headsets throughout the years.
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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