How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a featherweight wired headset that disappears on your head during long sessions and costs as little as possible, choose Razer AUDIO GAMING RAZER; if you need certified high-resolution audio with proper spatial positioning and a detachable mic, choose NZXT Relay.
• Razer AUDIO GAMING RAZER — biggest strength: Extremely light at 230 g with a slim, minimalist over-ear frame, plus 7.1 surround software and a cardioid boom mic with inline controls.
• Razer AUDIO GAMING RAZER — biggest trade-off: 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range, plastic build, no detachable mic, and a control scheme (touch media controls) that some players find fussy.
• NZXT Relay — biggest strength: Hi-Res Audio certification, a 20 Hz–40 kHz range, DTS Headphone:X spatial audio, and a detachable microphone backed by a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
• NZXT Relay — biggest trade-off: Heavier at 320 g, no active noise cancellation, and the full feature set leans on NZXT CAM software to unlock EQ and surround tuning.
• Who Razer AUDIO GAMING RAZER is for: Budget-conscious players who want a light, no-fuss plug-and-play headset for marathon sessions.
• Who NZXT Relay is for: PC gamers and music listeners who want detail, spatial accuracy, and a mic they can remove when they're not chatting.
The Razer Kraken X Lite is built around one idea: keep it light. At 230 g, it's one of the lighter over-ear headsets you'll find, and the modern minimalist black plastic frame with rounded earcups is designed to sit on your head for hours without reminding you it's there. The 40 mm dynamic drivers run at 32 ohm impedance with a 20 Hz–20 kHz range and 60 dB sensitivity, which is a standard, easy-to-drive profile — the kind of tuning that handles booming explosions and quiet footsteps without needing an amp or a sound card.
Feature-wise, it leans on Razer's 7.1 surround sound software for positional audio, so you can pick out which direction a sound is coming from. The flexible cardioid microphone focuses on your mouth and pushes down noise from the sides and behind, which is exactly what you want in a voice chat full of keyboard clatter. Controls are tucked under the left earcup: a mute button and a volume slider you can find by feel. It's a wired 3.5 mm headset, so it works with a PC, console, or phone that has a jack, and it ships with a splitter cable for devices that separate mic and headphone inputs.
NZXT Relay: Who It's For
The NZXT Relay is the more ambitious headset of the two. It's Hi-Res Audio certified by the Japan Audio Society, and its 20 Hz–40 kHz frequency range reaches well past the 20 kHz ceiling of the Razer — that extra headroom is what lets it resolve detail in music and pick apart layered in-game sound. The drivers are tuned for a neutral, sonically accurate profile rather than a bass-heavy one, so individual elements in a mix stay separated instead of mushing together during chaotic fights.
Spatial audio is handled by DTS Headphone:X, which is a genuine 3D positional engine rather than a simple stereo widening effect. In practice, that means you're locating footsteps, distant conversations, and explosions by direction and distance. The frame is adjustable and distributes weight evenly, which matters because at 320 g it's noticeably heavier than the Razer. You get a detachable microphone — a real quality-of-life feature if you also use the headset for music or single-player games and don't want a boom in your face. NZXT CAM software is where the customization lives: preset sound modes plus custom EQ, surround settings, and mic monitoring. The 3.5 mm wired connection keeps latency at zero, and there's a 2-year manufacturer warranty backing it.
Who should buy it? PC players who want accurate, detailed audio, reliable positional cues, and the flexibility of a removable mic — and who don't mind installing CAM to get the most out of it. Who should skip it? If you want the lightest possible headset, if you hate companion software, or if you're plugging into a console and can't use CAM's tuning, the Relay's advantages shrink considerably. It also has no noise cancellation, so a loud room stays loud.
• Best for long-session comfort → Razer AUDIO GAMING RAZER. 230 g versus 320 g is a real difference over a four-hour session.
• Best for audio detail and music → NZXT Relay. Hi-Res certification and a 20 Hz–40 kHz range beat a 20 Hz–20 kHz ceiling.
• Best for positional accuracy → NZXT Relay. DTS Headphone:X is a more sophisticated spatial engine than Razer's 7.1 software.
• Best for mic flexibility → NZXT Relay. The microphone detaches; the Razer's does not.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → Razer AUDIO GAMING RAZER. No companion software required to get surround working.
• Best for build confidence and support → NZXT Relay. A 2-year manufacturer warranty versus no stated warranty on the Razer.
• Best for travel and lighter setups → Razer AUDIO GAMING RAZER. Lower weight and a compact, minimalist shell pack easier.
• Best for tinkerers → NZXT Relay. CAM gives you EQ, surround modes, and mic monitoring to tune to taste.
• Best for console-first players → Razer AUDIO GAMING RAZER. Its software-free 3.5 mm approach and included splitter suit devices where CAM isn't available.
In my opinion, the NZXT Relay is the better headset for most PC gamers in 2026. The Hi-Res certification, the wider frequency range, DTS Headphone:X, the detachable mic, and the 2-year warranty add up to a more capable, longer-lived product — and if you're already in the NZXT ecosystem, CAM ties it together neatly. I'd only steer you to the Razer Kraken X Lite if weight is your top priority or you want to avoid software entirely. It's the lighter, simpler, more affordable-feeling option, and for marathon sessions that lightness genuinely matters. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit, since that's the one variable that can flip this decision.
On specs, yes for audio quality and features — Hi-Res certification, a 40 kHz range, DTS Headphone:X, and a detachable mic. The Razer wins on weight and simplicity. It comes down to whether you value detail or lightness more.
Does the Razer Kraken X Lite have noise cancellation?
Yes — it's a wired 3.5 mm headset and works as a plain headphone. But you'll lose the EQ, surround tuning, and mic monitoring that CAM unlocks, which is a big part of what you're paying for.
The Razer at 230 g puts less pressure on your head and ears over time, which generally suits glasses wearers better. The NZXT Relay's adjustable frame distributes its 320 g evenly, but it's still the heavier of the two.
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See also: Razer AUDIO GAMING RAZER vs Fachixy Gaming Headset, Razer BlackShark V3 vs CVJ Shadow Blade IEM: PC Gaming, Razer BlackShark V2 vs Audiovance Vibes 202: Wired Gaming