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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Razer Barracuda X — biggest strength: a real headset setup. 2.4GHz plus Bluetooth 5.2 with SmartSwitch, a detachable HyperClear cardioid mic, 40mm TriForce drivers, and up to 50 hours of battery.
• Razer Barracuda X — biggest trade-off: it's a personal listening device. Everything funnels into your ears only, so nobody else in the room hears anything, and you're wearing 250g on your head the whole session.
• kstime Computer Speakers — biggest strength: open, shared sound. Dual 52mm drivers at 14W RMS, a 15° rear tilt aimed at your ears, a bass reflex port, and a built-in mic with a front headphone jack.
• kstime Computer Speakers — biggest trade-off: it's a desk-bound speaker pair. It's powered over USB, it won't work with a TV, and Bluetooth mode has one specific setup rule you have to follow.
• Pick Razer Barracuda X if you want the mic on your face, private audio, and freedom to walk away from the desk.
• Pick kstime Computer Speakers if you want room-filling sound for a desk, laptop or phone, with hands-free calling through a mic already sitting on your desk.
The Barracuda X is built around one idea: you shouldn't have to own three different audio devices. It runs on two wireless modes — low-latency 2.4GHz through a USB-C dongle, and Bluetooth 5.2 with roughly 10 meters of range — and SmartSwitch lets you hop between them without repairing anything. That's the part that matters in daily life. Game on your PC over the dongle, then take a phone call over Bluetooth without touching a menu.
The headset side is where it earns its keep for anyone who needs a mic. The HyperClear cardioid mic is tuned to push your voice forward and suppress background noise, and it detaches completely when you just want to listen on the move. Physically it's a 250g over-ear design with memory foam cushions and swiveling earcups, which is the spec combination that makes long sessions tolerable. Battery is rated at 50 hours with USB-C charging, so charging becomes a weekly chore rather than a nightly one. Sound comes from 40mm TriForce drivers with a 12Hz–28kHz frequency range and 32 ohm impedance, and there are on-earcup controls for media and calls so you're not alt-tabbing to change volume.
Who should buy it: gamers who also take calls, students and commuters who want one device for PC, console and phone, and anyone who needs a boom mic close to their mouth. Who should skip it: people who want sound in the room rather than in their head, anyone who dislikes wearing a headset for hours, and shoppers who simply want speakers for a desktop. In my opinion it's the stronger pick for the "computer headphones with mic" job specifically, because the microphone is attached to your face instead of sitting across the desk.
The kstime set solves the opposite problem. These are small desktop speakers — 6.4" tall, 3.1" wide, 3.1" deep, 1.4 lbs each — that angle sound at you instead of straight past you. The 15° rear tilt is the detail I like most here: upright speakers fire across the desk and bounce off surfaces, while a tilted pair aims at your ears and cuts some of that reflection. The result is a wider, more realistic stage for music, video and games.
Under the hood it's dual 52mm full-range drivers with 14W RMS total output, plus a curved bass reflex port that's designed to reduce turbulence and give the low end more depth than a sealed cabinet. That's a modest, honest power figure — it's a near-field desktop setup, not a party speaker. Connectivity covers USB power with AUX input, and Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless playback. There's a built-in mic for calls and a front headphone jack so you can switch to private listening without crawling behind the desk. A 49" combo audio/USB cable and 43" bridge cable come in the box, and it carries a 12-month manufacturer warranty.
Two things to know before you buy. First, it's made for computers and general digital devices — not TVs. Second, Bluetooth mode has a rule: don't connect the 3.5mm audio cable when you're pairing over Bluetooth. Power it over USB only, then press the control knob to switch to Bluetooth mode and pair. Running both at once can cause no sound, noise, or dropouts. Follow that and it behaves.
Who should buy it: desk workers who want sound in the room, students on laptops, anyone who takes frequent voice or video calls and doesn't want a headset clamped on. Who should skip it: gamers who need pinpoint positional audio and a close-mic boom, and anyone who wants to walk around while listening.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a proper headset mic → Razer Barracuda X. The HyperClear cardioid boom sits at your mouth and is tuned to reject background noise; the kstime mic is a sensitive built-in that picks up the room.
• Best for filling a room with sound → kstime Computer Speakers. 14W RMS through dual 52mm drivers with a bass reflex port is built to project, not to isolate.
• Best for battery freedom → Razer Barracuda X. Up to 50 hours per charge over USB-C, and 2.4GHz or Bluetooth 5.2 with SmartSwitch between them.
• Best for staying tethered to the desk → kstime Computer Speakers. USB-powered with AUX and Bluetooth 5.4; no charging schedule to think about.
• Best for long sessions comfort → Razer Barracuda X. 250g with memory foam cushions and swiveling earcups, versus wearing nothing at all with the kstime pair.
• Best for phone and laptop use → kstime Computer Speakers. Bluetooth 5.4 plus a front headphone jack makes switching between a laptop, desktop and phone straightforward.
• Best for a PC-only, TV-free setup → kstime Computer Speakers. Just remember it isn't compatible with TVs, and don't run Bluetooth and the 3.5mm cable at the same time.
If your priority is the words "computer headphones with mic," I'd buy the Razer Barracuda X. In my opinion the detachable HyperClear cardioid mic, the dual 2.4GHz/Bluetooth 5.2 wireless with SmartSwitch, and the 50-hour battery make it the more complete tool for gaming and calls — the mic is where your voice is, and the audio stays yours. I'd choose the kstime Computer Speakers only if you specifically want sound in the room and a mic that lives on the desk. Before either purchase, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page, since that's the one variable that can flip the decision.
how to use headphones with mic on pc without splitter
With the Razer Barracuda X you don't need a splitter at all — it connects wirelessly over the bundled USB-C dongle or Bluetooth 5.2, and the detachable mic carries your voice over that same wireless link. No separate mic and headphone jacks required.
how to use headphones with mic on pc
Power the Barracuda X, plug in the USB-C wireless dongle, and it appears as your PC's audio input and output. The HyperClear cardioid mic handles voice capture, and the on-earcup controls let you adjust media and calls without leaving your game.
how to get headphones with mic to work on pc
Charge over USB-C, connect the 2.4GHz dongle, then set the headset as the default input and output device in your PC's sound settings. If you'd rather stay wireless on a phone or laptop, press to switch to Bluetooth 5.2 instead.
what is the best computer headset with microphone
For a headset with a mic that sits at your mouth, the Razer Barracuda X is my pick: a detachable noise-suppressing cardioid mic, 40mm TriForce drivers, 250g memory foam comfort, and up to 50 hours of battery. If you want a desk mic and room speakers instead, the kstime set is the alternative.
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