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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 gaming over ear headset that doubles as a serious all-rounder for PC play — with software-driven positional audio, a retractable noise-isolating mic, and a lightweight aluminum frame — choose Razer Kraken Gaming Headset; if you need a budget-minded over ear gaming headset with big 50 mm drivers, leather memory earmuffs and a flexible mic that plays nicely with consoles and phones, choose USOTSO MPOWER.
• Razer Kraken Gaming Headset — biggest strength: custom-tuned 50 mm drivers with software-enabled 7.1 surround sound (Windows 10 64-bit), plus a bauxite aluminum frame and cooling gel-infused cushions built for marathon sessions.
• Razer Kraken Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: the surround sound feature is tied to Windows 10 64-bit, so console and mobile players only get stereo, and the wired 3.5 mm connection means no wireless freedom.
• USOTSO MPOWER — biggest strength: multi-platform 3.5 mm compatibility with a bundled dual-jack conversion cable for PC, plus skin-friendly leather memory earmuffs and a retractable flexible mic.
• USOTSO MPOWER — biggest trade-off: stereo-only audio and a plastic build, with a narrower 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range than the Kraken's 12 Hz–28,000 Hz.
• Pick the Razer Kraken if you game mainly on Windows and want positional audio and a durable metal frame.
• Pick the USOTSO MPOWER if you split your time across PS4, Xbox One, mobile and PC and want soft leather comfort on a tighter budget.
This is a wired over ear headset aimed squarely at competitive gamers. The headline spec is the pair of custom-tuned 50 mm dynamic drivers, which can run software-enabled 7.1 surround sound for positional audio — the kind of thing that helps you place footsteps and gunfire directionally. That surround mode only works on Windows 10 64-bit, so it's a PC-first feature. On everything else you get solid stereo.
The comfort story is where the Kraken earns its keep for long sessions. The oval ear cushions are infused with cooling gel to reduce heat build-up and pressure, and the frame is made from lightweight bauxite aluminum — flexible and built to take a knock. Impedance sits at 32 ohm with 112 dB sensitivity, and the frequency range stretches from 12 Hz to 28,000 Hz, which is wide enough to cover deep low-end rumble and fine high-end detail.
The retractable noise-isolating cardioid microphone is a genuinely useful design choice: it reduces ambient and background noise for clearer comms, and it tucks away when you're not talking. In-line controls give you an analog volume wheel and a mic mute switch without leaving your game. Compatibility covers PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, Nintendo Switch and mobile via 3.5 mm.
Who should buy it: Windows-based gamers who want positional audio, a metal frame and a mic that disappears when not in use.
Who should skip it: anyone who mostly plays on console or mobile and wants surround sound — you won't get it here — or anyone who refuses to deal with a cable.
The MPOWER is a multi-platform wired gaming headset built around flexibility. It connects to PS4, Xbox One (2015 version), laptop, VR and mobile devices through a single 3.5 mm audio-plus-mic jack, and it ships with a conversion cable that splits into dual 3.5 mm audio and mic jacks for PC. That's the practical bit: one headset, most of your devices.
Audio is stereo, not surround, but it's driven by 50 mm speakers with a sensitivity of 98 ± 3 dB and a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range. That's the standard audible band — plenty for game audio and voice chat, though it won't reach as low or as high as the Kraken's wider range. The microphone is retractable and flexible, with an omnidirectional pickup pattern, -47 ± 3 dB sensitivity and a 100–10,000 Hz response, so it's tuned for voice rather than music.
Comfort is the other selling point. The ear muffs are padded with skin-friendly leather and the headband is breathable, which matters if you wear a headset for hours. The L-shaped jack at the end of the cable is a small design touch that lets you hold a phone or controller in a natural position while playing mobile games. Enclosure material is plastic, and the headset carries a 1-year warranty with an 18-month after-sale service promise from the brand.
Who should buy it: console and mobile-first players who want one headset to cover several devices, soft leather comfort, and a flexible mic.
Who should skip it: PC players who specifically want software surround sound, or anyone who prefers a metal frame over plastic.
• Best for positional/surround audio → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset (software-enabled 7.1 on Windows 10 64-bit).
• Best for multi-device flexibility → USOTSO MPOWER (3.5 mm on PS4, Xbox One, laptop, VR and mobile, plus a dual-jack PC cable).
• Best for long-session comfort → tie, with a lean to Razer Kraken thanks to cooling gel-infused cushions that reduce heat and pressure.
• Best for soft, skin-friendly padding → USOTSO MPOWER (leather memory earmuffs and a breathable headband).
• Best for build durability → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset (bauxite aluminum frame versus the MPOWER's plastic enclosure).
• Best for wider frequency range → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset (12 Hz–28,000 Hz versus 20 Hz–20,000 Hz).
• Best for tighter desk setups → USOTSO MPOWER (L-shaped jack and in-line control designed for mobile and controller play).
• Best for PC-only competitive play → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset; best for a shared console-and-phone headset → USOTSO MPOWER.
If I were buying for myself and I game mostly on Windows, I'd take the Razer Kraken Gaming Headset. In my opinion, the combination of software positional audio, the wide 12 Hz–28,000 Hz range, the aluminum frame and cooling gel cushions is the more complete package for someone who sits at a desk for long sessions. If your gaming is spread across a console, a phone and a laptop, or you simply want soft leather comfort and a flexible mic, I'd point you to the USOTSO MPOWER instead — it covers more devices with less fuss. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one variable that can flip this decision.
FAQ
are in ear headphones good for gaming
do over ear headphones damage hearing
No headset design inherently damages hearing — what matters is volume and listening duration. Both of these are over ear models with sound isolation, which can tempt you to crank volume in noisy rooms. Keep levels moderate and take breaks, and the design itself isn't the problem.
how do over ear headphones work
They sit around your ears rather than inside them, with drivers in each earcup pushing sound through the enclosed space. The Kraken adds cooling gel-infused cushions and the MPOWER uses leather memory earmuffs, both of which seal around the ear to improve isolation. That seal is what makes over ear models feel more immersive.
is gaming headphones good for music
They can be, with caveats. The Kraken's 12 Hz–28,000 Hz range is wider and better suited to music than the MPOWER's 20 Hz–20,000 Hz band, and the Kraken has higher 112 dB sensitivity. The MPOWER's mic is tuned for voice, not music. For mixed gaming and music, I'd lean Kraken.
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