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Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prefer a lighter, more portable option for on-the-go listening, and enjoy an open sound with better music performance, the Koss Porta Pro might be more suitable. However, they're open-back which means they'll leak sound and won't isolate noise well, making them less ideal for noisy environments. The Razer Kraken V3, on the other hand, is a better choice if you want a closed design for sound isolation and play a lot of video games, due to its virtual surround feature. It also has a durable build and boom mic for clear communication, but it's heavier and less portable. Both have similar comfort and overall sound quality, but neither supports wireless connectivity. Keep in mind, the Razer Kraken's size and weight may not be as comfortable for long periods of use outside or during travel. 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 Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
Very good for music
Very good for gaming
Advantages of the Razer Kraken V3
The Razer Kraken V3 has no clear advantages over the Koss Porta Pro (with mic).
Key differences
Music
8.2/10
7.3/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for music, while the Razer Kraken V3 is good.
Gaming
8.2/10
7.3/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for gaming, while the Razer Kraken V3 is good.
Phone Calls
6.1/10
5.0/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair for phone calls, while the Razer Kraken V3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.8/10
4.7/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Razer Kraken V3 is poor.
TV and Video
7.6/10
7.0/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) and Razer Kraken V3 are both good for TV and video, though the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
2.5/10
6.0/10
The Razer Kraken V3 is only fair for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is poor.
Cost
$60
$100
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) has a price of $60 and the Razer Kraken V3 costs $100.
Build Quality
6.0/10
8.5/10
The Razer Kraken V3 has very good build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) has only fair build quality.
"It’s clear to see why these have been such a popular choice amongst listeners for nearly four decades. It’s a charming pair of headphones that delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience and one that I think punches well above its weight."
"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 Koss Porta Pro (with mic) or the Razer Kraken V3
About Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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.
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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.