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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming or frequently use a microphone for voice chat, the Razer Kraken headphones with their excellent mic quality and very good performance for gaming would be suitable; however, these are bulkier and less portable. On the other hand, if you're seeking a premium experience with wireless convenience, touch controls via a smart charging case, and better noise isolation for travel and exercise, the JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds may be worth the higher price, though they're not ideal for gaming or TV. Both offer good overall sound, but the JBL also features LDAC codec for high-quality audio over Bluetooth, active noise canceling for quieter environments, and a longer battery life making them more versatile for on-the-go use and listening to music. 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 JBL Live Beam 3
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Razer Kraken
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.8
7.1
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Razer Kraken are both good for music, though the JBL Live Beam 3 is somewhat better.
Gaming
5.4
8.3
The Razer Kraken is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9
4.7
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Razer Kraken are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the JBL Live Beam 3 is somewhat better.
TV and Video
5.6
7.4
The Razer Kraken is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
6.5
The JBL Live Beam 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the Razer Kraken is only fair.
Battery
12.0 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The Razer Kraken does not have a battery.
Cost
$216
$50
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Beam 3 has a price of $216 and the Razer Kraken costs $50.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.2
5.5
The Razer Kraken and JBL Live Beam 3 are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Razer Kraken both have very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Beam 3 and the Razer Kraken compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Beam 3 | Razer Kraken |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$216 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Razer | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2024 | March 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.9/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 12 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 36 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.8 Grams | 322 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
Shopping
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 JBL Live Beam 3 or the Razer Kraken
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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
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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