If you want a straightforward wired headset for cross-platform gaming, choose Razer Kraken Gaming Headset; if you need a dedicated DAC, detailed audio controls, and a system built around PC or PlayStation gaming, choose SteelSeries Arctis Pro +. For swimming, choose neither: both are over-ear gaming headsets, not swimming headphones. The real decision here is simple everyday connection versus a more involved desktop-style audio setup.
• Razer Kraken Gaming Headset: 50 mm drivers, a retractable noise-isolating microphone, and a standard 3.5 mm wired connection. Its trade-off is that software-enabled 7.1 surround sound is limited to 64-bit Windows 10.
• SteelSeries Arctis Pro +: A dedicated GameDAC, Hi-Res audio support, and an on-ear ChatMix dial with an OLED menu. Its trade-off is a more specialized setup focused on PC and PlayStation.
• Razer Kraken is for players who want a simple headset that can connect to several listed platforms through a 3.5 mm jack.
• SteelSeries Arctis Pro + is for players who want more control over game and voice audio from a dedicated DAC setup.
• Neither headset is designed for swimming, and neither is a true wireless earbud. That matters because search terms such as “best true wireless earbuds for swimming,” “touch control headband headphones for swimming,” and “best sleep headphones for swimming” describe very different products from these wired, over-ear gaming models.
The Kraken’s appeal is its direct, familiar design. It connects through a 3.5 mm jack and is listed as compatible with PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. If you move between a console and a phone, that broad compatibility gives it a practical advantage over a headset built around a more specific audio system.
For gaming, it combines 50 mm drivers with a retractable cardioid microphone intended to reduce background and ambient noise. A volume wheel and mic-mute switch sit on the in-line control, so basic adjustments do not require digging through menus. The cooling-gel-infused cushions and flexible aluminum frame are designed with extended sessions in mind.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
I’d point toward the Kraken for someone who wants a wired headset with straightforward controls and a microphone that tucks away when it is not needed. Its software-enabled 7.1 surround feature is only available on 64-bit Windows 10, so I would not choose it expecting that particular feature to carry over unchanged to every connected platform. And if your main goal is swimming, sleeping in headphones, or going wireless, this is the wrong category of product.
The Arctis Pro + is the more involved pick. Its dedicated GameDAC is designed to handle the audio path for PC or PlayStation use, while the system combines premium speaker drivers with DTS Headphone:X v2.0 surround processing. The on-ear ChatMix dial and OLED menu add controls for adjusting game and voice audio without relying solely on software menus.
Its microphone is a bidirectional ClearCast design with background-noise cancellation. The headset also uses a ski-goggle-style suspension headband intended to spread weight across the head, plus AirWeave fabric ear cushions designed to help ears stay cool and dry. Those details make it a considered option for long gaming sessions, especially for someone who values a dedicated audio interface and hands-on adjustment.
The main compromise is that this isn’t the simple, broadly listed plug-in option the Kraken is. The Arctis Pro + is explicitly positioned for PC and PlayStation, and PS5 use requires changing settings: disable Sony 3D Audio and raise the default volume to 100%. I’d skip it if you want a headset primarily for Xbox, Switch, mobile, swimming, or wireless listening. Despite a Bluetooth field in the product information, the product is identified as a wired gaming headset; I would not treat that field as proof of a wireless listening mode.
• Best for broad listed platform compatibility → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset. Its 3.5 mm connection is listed for PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and mobile.
• Best for a dedicated DAC and menu-based audio control → SteelSeries Arctis Pro +. The GameDAC includes an OLED menu, while the on-ear ChatMix dial handles game and voice adjustments.
• Best for an easily tucked-away microphone → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset. Its microphone retracts into the headset when you do not need it.
• Best fit for PC or PlayStation audio tuning → SteelSeries Arctis Pro +. The system is built around the GameDAC, and its surround processing is part of that more specialized setup.
• Best for in-line volume and mute controls → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset. Its cable control includes a volume wheel and microphone-mute switch.
• Best for adjusting game-versus-chat audio on the headset → SteelSeries Arctis Pro +. Its ChatMix dial is made for on-the-fly balance changes.
• Best for swimming or a true wireless earbud use case → Neither. Both are over-ear gaming headsets, and the listed connection for the Kraken is wired; the Arctis Pro + is also identified as wired.
The distinction is less about choosing a universal winner and more about the setup you want. The Kraken keeps the connection and controls familiar. The Arctis Pro + adds a dedicated audio unit and more direct control over the game-and-chat mix, but asks you to stay within its PC and PlayStation-oriented use case.
My Verdict
I’d choose the Razer Kraken Gaming Headset for a straightforward, wired headset that can serve several listed platforms and has useful in-line controls. I’d choose the SteelSeries Arctis Pro + instead if a dedicated DAC and on-headset game/chat adjustment matter more than broad compatibility. For swimming, I recommend neither: these are gaming headsets, not swimming audio gear.
The Kraken offers a 3.5 mm connection and software-enabled 7.1 surround sound on 64-bit Windows 10. The Arctis Pro + adds a dedicated GameDAC, DTS Headphone:X v2.0, and controls for adjusting game and voice audio. Choose based on whether you prefer simpler connection or more dedicated audio control.
The Kraken’s listed compatibility includes PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices through its 3.5 mm jack. The Arctis Pro + is specifically positioned for PC and PlayStation. For the broadest listed platform range, the Kraken is the more suitable choice.
No. Both products are described as wired over-ear gaming headsets, and the Kraken connects through a 3.5 mm jack. Neither is presented as a swimming headset or a true wireless earbud, so I would look for a different product category for use in water.
The Kraken has a retractable cardioid microphone designed to reduce ambient and background noise, with a mute switch on its in-line control. The Arctis Pro + uses a bidirectional ClearCast microphone with background-noise cancellation. The clearest practical distinction in the listed features is retractability and cable-side muting on the Kraken versus the Arctis headset’s GameDAC-centered controls.
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