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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a featherweight, no-nonsense wired headset that disappears on your head during marathon sessions and plugs straight into a console controller with no adapters, choose Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK; if you need a feature-packed USB-C headset with virtual 7.1 surround, a retractable mic and customizable RGB lighting, choose Razer Kraken V4.
• Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK — biggest strength: At under 230 g with closed-back isolation and large 45 mm drivers, it's built for long, comfortable, distraction-free sessions.
• Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK — biggest trade-off: It's a plain analog 3.5 mm headset — no surround processing, no lighting, no software, and you'll manage a cable.
• Razer Kraken V4 — biggest strength: A loaded feature set — TriForce 40 mm drivers, 7.1 surround sound, a retractable cardioid mic, Chroma RGB and a convertible USB-C/USB-A cable.
• Razer Kraken V4 — biggest trade-off: At 0.65 kg it's dramatically heavier, and the USB-C connection means no analog jack for older controllers or phones.
• Pick the Audio-Technica if you game for hours, value a light fit and want plug-and-play console audio.
• Pick the Razer if you want surround sound, lighting and a cleaner digital connection on PC or modern consoles.
The ATH-GL3BK is the headset you forget you're wearing. At less than 230 grams, it's in a completely different weight class from most gaming headsets, and for anyone who's ever ripped a headset off after three hours because the top of their skull was aching, that number is the whole pitch. Audio-Technica pairs that low weight with closed-back earcups, which seal around your ears and block outside noise — useful when a fan is humming, a roommate is watching TV, or you just want the game to swallow you whole.
The audio hardware is serious. Large 45 mm dynamic drivers with a 10 Hz to 35,000 Hz frequency range and 98 dB sensitivity are a spec sheet that leans more toward "good headphones that happen to have a mic" than "gaming toy." The flexible boom mic is detachable, directional, and comes with a windscreen, so voice chat stays clean and you can pull the mic off entirely when you're just listening. Volume and mute live on the left earcup, which means no fumbling for inline controls mid-fight.
The clever part is the cabling. You get two detachable cables: a 3.0 m cable with separate 3.5 mm headphone and mic plugs for a PC, and a 1.2 m TRRS cable for consoles — PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X are all listed. That short console cable is exactly what you want plugged into a controller. Earpads and the headpad detach for replacement, and the stainless steel enclosure should shrug off daily abuse. It's wired, it's analog, and it's adult-sized in the sense that it assumes you already own the devices you want to plug into. If you want RGB, virtual surround or a companion app, this isn't that headset — but if you want light, isolated, straightforward and repairable, it's a very tidy package.
The Kraken V4 X is the opposite philosophy: pile on the features and let the buyer enjoy the spectacle. The My Melody Edition is styled in gentle pink with plush, marshmallow-like earcups and Razer Chroma RGB that spans 16.8 million colors and syncs with a huge ecosystem of games and devices. If you want your desk setup to look like a desk setup, this is the headset doing the heavy lifting.
Under the styling, Razer's patented TriForce 40 mm drivers use a three-part design to separate highs, mids and lows so they don't muddy into each other. The company also bundles 7.1 surround sound, which processes the game's audio to make positional cues — footsteps, reloads, distant gunfire — easier to place. The retractable HyperClear cardioid mic is a genuinely practical touch: pull it out to talk, push it back in when you're solo, and its cardioid pickup pattern is aimed at grabbing your voice and rejecting room noise.
Connectivity is the other big draw. It's a wired USB-C headset with a convertible USB-C-to-USB-A adapter, so one headset covers PC, Mac, PS5, Nintendo Switch and handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. The hybrid fabric-and-leatherette memory foam cushions are designed for long sessions with sound isolation baked in. The trade-offs are real, though. At 0.65 kg it's roughly triple the weight of the Audio-Technica — you'll feel it. And because it's USB-C digital rather than analog, it won't plug into a standard 3.5 mm controller jack or an older phone without the right adapter. It ships with a protective case, adapter and manual, and carries a two-year manufacturer warranty. This is a headset for someone who wants features, not minimalism.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for marathon comfort → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. Under 230 g versus 0.65 kg is not a subtle difference; your neck will notice.
• Best for console controller plug-in → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. The 1.2 m TRRS cable goes straight into a PS5 or Xbox controller; the Razer needs USB.
• Best for PC and handheld versatility → Razer Kraken V4. The convertible USB-C/USB-A cable covers PC, Mac, Switch, Steam Deck and ROG Ally in one headset.
• Best for mic flexibility → Razer Kraken V4. The retractable cardioid mic stows away cleanly when you're not on voice chat. The Audio-Technica's mic also detaches, but it lives on a boom.
• Best for passive noise isolation and durability → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. Closed-back stainless steel cups with replaceable earpads and headpad.
• Best for looks and lighting → Razer Kraken V4. Chroma RGB with 16.8 million colors and broad game/device sync.
• Best for long-term ownership → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. Detachable cables and replaceable pads mean you can keep it running; the two-year limited warranty backs it up.
If I were buying for myself and my priority was simply sitting down and playing for four hours without my head complaining, I'd take the Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. The sub-230 g weight, closed-back isolation and analog plug-and-play simplicity are exactly what a gaming headset needs to get right, and the 45 mm drivers suggest it handles music and single-player atmosphere well too. I'd only steer you to the Razer Kraken V4 if surround sound, RGB styling and a USB-C connection across PC and handhelds matter more to you than weight — because in my opinion, the Kraken's feature list is its strength and its heft is its tax. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one variable that can flip this call.
Not universally — they target different buyers. The Audio-Technica wins on weight (under 230 g), analog console compatibility and replaceable parts. The Razer wins on features: 7.1 surround, Chroma RGB, a retractable cardioid mic and USB-C/USB-A versatility.
The Kraken V4 X connects via USB-C with a convertible USB-C-to-USB-A adapter and is listed for PC, Mac, PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Because it's a USB connection rather than a 3.5 mm jack, it isn't the plug-and-play choice for a standard Xbox controller's headphone jack — the Audio-Technica's 1.2 m TRRS cable is.
On paper, the Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. At less than 230 g it's roughly a third of the Kraken V4's 0.65 kg, and lighter headsets generally create less pressure over long sessions. The Razer counters with hybrid fabric-and-leatherette memory foam cushions, which are designed for comfort and isolation.
Yes, in different ways. The Audio-Technica's flexible boom mic is detachable and includes a windscreen. The Razer's HyperClear cardioid mic is retractable, so it tucks into the earcup when not in use.
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