Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro

The Kraken Kitty V2 Pro Headset is available in pink or black and comes with cat, bear and bunny ears that can be attached to suit your personal preference. Thanks to the closed over-ear system, there is noticeable shielding from the outside world, but due to their design, you have to accept a certain amount of heat development on your ears. The fit is tight as opposed to loose, and this can have a negative effect during longer gaming or streaming sessions, as the headband is only sparsely padded. This is surprising in view of the “Pro” price and has been better dealt with by other Razer models Apart from this, the headset seems to be impeccably manufactured and quite robust.

Compatibility

The Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is intended to be used with a Windows computer and needs to be used in combination with Synapse software and the Streamer Companion App to take full advantage of its functionality. So far, the streaming portals Twitch and Streamlabs are supported, with other providers to follow. It is also compatible with a Playstation or Switch in dock mode but without customisation options. Unfortunately, on a Mac, there is no software connection, even though the headset is recognised immediately by macOS and can be used. Functions such as the Chroma RGB editor, 7.1 surround sound as well as extensive sound and microphone settings are only available with Windows.

Operation and handling

The Kraken Kitty V2 Pro has a rotary volume control which allows both fine-grained adjustment and quick lowering or turning up of the playback level. In addition, there is a button on the left side of the earcup to mute the microphone. All other controls are done via the software, which seems quite minimalist. An option to directly switch the RGB lighting on and off on the headset or to switch between a few lighting effects would have been nice. The Chroma RGB lighting can also be used when the Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is connected to a power bank for power supply; this is intended for “portable” use (without sound) for photo shoots or at parties. However, it is not possible to switch between different colours or effects. Neither is there direct access to the surround mode.

Further suggestions for improvement concern the USB cable, which is fixed and not detachable. At 190 centimetres, the cable is long enough so that even tall people can move around when connected to a tower case. However, it tends to make cable noises when it comes into contact with clothing or skin; it is too short for the Switch and can break over time or during transport, so it would be a welcome addition if it could be easily replaced. The Kraken Kitty V2 Pro does not offer other connection options, such as Bluetooth or via mini jack.

Speech intelligibility

This USB headset’s detachable boom microphone offers impeccable intelligibility and transmits one’s voice clearly without muffling or peaks. At the same time, microphone technology and a pop protection filter moderate background and wind noise even when used in the standard setting, so you can also stream in the garden or on a balcony in summer. The Synapse software also offers a wide range of adjustment options, such as an EQ, microphone volume control or active attenuation of ambient noise. So you can tune the voice quality to your heart’s content. Another practical feature is an adjustable monitoring function that counteracts shielding and can be used to create a more natural speaking or conversation situation.

Software connectivity

The Razer Synapse (Windows) provides a very comprehensive configuration tool that includes microphone settings as well as various audio and lighting settings. The main component of the audio control centre is again an EQ section with pre-configured pre-sets for film, music or gaming, while ten bands are available for custom adjustments. Other options include an adjustable bass boost, a normalisation function and a voice reproduction control. The lighting section allows you to switch the RGB lighting on and off and finely adjust the brightness. There is a timer for switching off. The cosplay mode also defines which effect will be used when the Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is used via a power bank or without Synapse. The selection ranges from a static glow in the selected colour, running through the colour spectrum or a star sparkle. If you own several devices with Chroma support, you can also synchronise them, and you can create your own light effects via Chroma Studio. For interaction during streaming, the Chroma Connect module and the Streamer Companion App (Windows) are required. The app can be used to define which lighting effect is used for a specific event in a chat or a subscription, donation, etc.

Sound

The Kraken Kitty V2 Pro headset features 50mm triforce drivers and is bass-tuned to deliver an engaging, fun listening experience during action-packed gaming or movies. The lush bass foundation reaches deep down that is also full-bodied in the lower regions so that thunderous lightning storms or cannon blasts rumble satisfactorily. When listening to music, however, the bass reproduction seemed somewhat dull and uncontrolled. The low bass, in particular, can quickly start to flounder when it is required for hip-hop and the like, but this can be remedied with the EQ. Otherwise, the basic sound showed no weaknesses and presented the midrange with appealing clarity and detail. Despite a degree of fullness, the reproduction was not too dense or cramped but cleanly structured, which simplified localisation. In addition, voices were well defined, making them perfectly understandable as well as benefiting from the basic warmth. The upper registers seemed a little more restrained, but they did not fall off and blended in harmoniously. Sibilants seemed slightly rounded and only became more pronounced at high playback levels. However, there was no tendency towards sharpness or harshness.