We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a console-first headset with big drivers, cooling gel cushions and a retractable mic, choose Razer Kraken Gaming Headset; if you need a lighter, travel-friendly headset with a detachable mic and a steel-reinforced headband, choose SteelSeries Arctis 1.
• Razer Kraken Gaming Headset — biggest strength: custom-tuned 50 mm drivers with software-enabled 7.1 surround sound on Windows 10 64-bit, plus cooling gel-infused oval cushions built for long sessions.
• Razer Kraken Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: it's the heavier of the two at 11.36 ounces, and the surround sound feature is tied to Windows 10 64-bit rather than being a universal, plug-and-play effect.
• SteelSeries Arctis 1 — biggest strength: a 10.24-ounce steel-reinforced frame with a detachable ClearCast mic and fold-flat earcups, which makes it the more portable, more flexible pick.
• SteelSeries Arctis 1 — biggest trade-off: a narrower 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range and active noise cancellation handled through a push-button control, which is a different approach than the Kraken's passive sound isolation.
• Who the Kraken is for: someone parked at a desk or on a couch for hours who wants bass-forward sound and a mic that's always attached and ready.
• Who the Arctis 1 is for: someone who moves between Xbox, PC, PS5, PS4, Switch and mobile, and wants one headset that can pass as everyday headphones.
The Kraken is built around one idea: keep the player comfortable and immersed for as long as the session runs. The 50 mm custom-tuned dynamic drivers are the headline spec here, and paired with a 12 Hz – 28,000 Hz frequency range they're clearly aimed at a wide, bass-heavy soundscape — the kind of tuning where explosions land hard and low-end rumble is part of the experience. On Windows 10 64-bit you can enable software-driven 7.1 surround sound for positional cues, which is the feature that matters most if you play shooters and want to place footsteps and gunfire directionally.
Comfort is where Razer put real thought. The oval, cooling gel-infused cushions are designed to cut down on heat buildup and pressure over long hours, and the leatherette rims add passive sound isolation — so the headset blocks some outside noise simply by sealing around your ears. The frame is bauxite aluminum, which Razer describes as flexible and durable, and the headband padding is thicker than a bare-bones design. At 11.36 ounces it's not featherweight, but the weight is distributed over a full over-ear fit with 32 ohm impedance and 112 dB sensitivity, meaning it's easy to drive from a standard 3.5 mm jack without extra amplification.
The microphone is a retractable unidirectional cardioid design. You pull it out of the earcup when you need it and push it back in when you don't — no dangling boom when you're just listening. Razer tunes it to reduce background and ambient noise, and because it's flexible you can position it close to your mouth. Controls live inline: an analog volume wheel and a mic mute switch on the cable, so you're not hunting for buttons on the earcup.
SteelSeries Arctis 1: Who It's For
The Arctis 1 takes the opposite approach: flexibility first. It's designed for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One but works across PS4, PS5, Switch, PC and mobile through a single universal 3.5 mm connector. That one cable is the whole pitch — no dongles, no platform lock-in, no separate headset per console.
The sound philosophy is different from the Kraken's. SteelSeries describes the Arctis soundscape as emphasizing subtle, critical sounds — the small audio details that give you an advantage — rather than leaning on thumping low end. The spec sheet backs up a more conservative tuning: a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range and 32 ohm impedance, which is the standard, easy-to-drive range you'd expect from a headset meant to plug into anything. If you want pinpoint audio cues over booming bass, this is the profile you'd pick.
The mic is detachable, not retractable. SteelSeries uses a ClearCast bidirectional, noise-canceling design that the company says delivers natural-sounding clarity, and it carries Discord certification — a meaningful detail if voice chat is a big part of how you play. Because it detaches completely, the Arctis 1 can pass as a normal pair of headphones once you pull the mic off. The fold-flat earcups and low-profile design reinforce that: this is a headset that goes in a bag.
Build and comfort are where SteelSeries makes its case. The headband is steel-reinforced and adjustable, so it holds its shape and fits a range of head sizes, while the headset weighs 10.24 ounces — lighter than the Kraken. The earcups use AirWeave performance fabric, an athletics-inspired material meant to keep ears cool and dry, which is a different cooling strategy than gel: breathable fabric versus gel-infused padding. Noise control is handled with active noise cancellation via a push-button control. The included cable runs 3 meters, so you have room to move, and the package includes a carrying case.
Buy it if you game across multiple platforms, want a detachable mic so the headset doubles as everyday headphones, and prefer a lighter fit with fabric cushions. Skip it if you specifically want software surround sound, a boom mic that's always attached, or the deeper low-end tuning the Kraken's larger drivers suggest.
• Best for bass-heavy, cinematic sound → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset (50 mm drivers, 12 Hz – 28,000 Hz range).
• Best for positional surround on PC → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset (software-enabled 7.1, Windows 10 64-bit only).
• Best for long-session comfort → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset (cooling gel-infused oval cushions, thicker headband padding).
• Best for multi-platform flexibility → SteelSeries Arctis 1 (Xbox, PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, mobile over one 3.5 mm jack).
• Best for travel and everyday listening → SteelSeries Arctis 1 (detachable mic, fold-flat earcups, low-profile design, carrying case).
• Best for lighter weight → SteelSeries Arctis 1 (10.24 oz vs 11.36 oz).
• Best for voice chat clarity → SteelSeries Arctis 1 (ClearCast bidirectional noise-canceling mic, Discord certified).
• Best for a mic you never have to detach → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset (retractable unidirectional cardioid mic).
• Best for durability under flexing → Razer Kraken Gaming Headset (bauxite aluminum frame); best for a frame that holds adjustment → SteelSeries Arctis 1 (steel-reinforced headband).
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the SteelSeries Arctis 1. In my opinion, the combination of a universal 3.5 mm connection, a detachable Discord-certified mic, fold-flat earcups and a lighter 10.24-ounce build makes it the more useful headset for most people — it covers more platforms and more situations, from the couch to the commute. I'd only steer you to the Razer Kraken Gaming Headset instead if you want bigger 50 mm drivers, deeper low-end, cooling gel cushions and software 7.1 surround on Windows. That's a preference for immersion and long desk sessions, not a knock on the Arctis. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing that can flip this decision.
The Arctis 1 is explicitly designed for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One and also works with PS5, PS4, Switch, PC and mobile via the universal 3.5 mm connector. The Kraken lists the same console families in its compatibility, so both work on Xbox — the difference is that the Arctis 1 is built around Xbox first.
Per the specs, the 7.1 surround sound is software-enabled and only available on Windows 10 64-bit. On consoles you're getting the 50 mm drivers through the 3.5 mm jack, not the virtual surround feature.
They solve it differently. The Kraken's mic is a retractable unidirectional cardioid design tuned to reduce background noise, so it's always available. The Arctis 1's ClearCast mic is bidirectional, noise-canceling and Discord certified, and it detaches completely when you don't need it. If voice chat clarity is your priority, I'd lean Arctis 1; if you want a mic that's always there, the Kraken wins.
The Arctis 1 is lighter at 10.24 ounces and uses breathable AirWeave fabric cushions. The Kraken is 11.36 ounces but uses cooling gel-infused oval cushions with leatherette rims for sound isolation. Both target long sessions — fabric breathability versus gel cooling is largely a matter of which you prefer against your ears.
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