Razer Carcharias – Affordable Gaming Headsets
With a built in Microphone

The Story

After years of using a THX surround sound system and a table top PC, I have switched to laptop computing. Based on that, I was in need of listening to music, watching movies and most importantly, playing online multi-player games like EVE. Therefore I went on the hunt to locate something and I finally settled on the Carcharias model by Razer. Please read on for more details and information concerning the product.

Is this Product for me?

Do you play online video games?
Do you chat a lot online using Skype or other IMs?
Do you need total silence?
Do you want comfort from your headset?

If you answered yes to any, some or all of the above questions than this product is for you if you are on a budget. This is the best unit for under $100 – out the door (taxes and all). I will answer in more details, all of the questions above.

Comfort & Design

These are over the ear headsets with a velvet covered padding in a circular pattern. This means it will completely cover your ears, even if you have a misshapen ear. The velet and padding is soft to the touch and does not cause any undue irritation on your skin. The best part is the engineering design of the arch that connects the two speakers. It has a cushion padding in the center to rest on your hair, between that and the brace – it feels like you are not wearing anything.

The side of the circular speakers is a metal mesh design which feels awesome to the touch and looks great at a distance. On both sides you have the popular Razer logo imprinted, but it is barely visible. Overall, these look amazing and feel like heaven. As the Razer motto goes “For Gamers by Gamers!”

Sound Quality & Tech Specs

One of the highlighted features on the box is “True-to-Life Gaming Audio” and it does that very well. Crystal clear sound at any decibel level. The sensitivity level is 102 (plus or minus 4). The range is the standard of any gaming headset, 20 – 20,000 Hz, don't buy a head set with anything less than that.

In addition to the great sound, it has a perfect noise filtering microphone. This will deliver crisp clear messages while using Skype. Your friends won't be listening to a magnetized tingy robot, but your actual voice. Its a unidirectional microphone with a frequency rate of 50 – 16,000Hz & a sensitivity rate of -37 dB (plus or minus 4).

Other Features

The 3 meter cable connects to a standard 3.5mm audio and microphone jack. In addition, the cord is braided fiber sheath which is great. It doesn't kink or get into knotts like a standard cord. It also adds a great feel to the unit, just another added bonus feature to set it apart from the rest. There is also an inline remote with a clip that will allow you to turn on and off the microphone with ease and quick volume control without interrupting your move, game or whatever you are doing.

There is another model by another maker that rests on your ears, this looks cool but is not great for gaming but sports. If you use a headset like such, it puts all the weight on your ears and causes pressure points limiting the length of use. This is why I prefer the over the head model.

Possible Cons

Although is has an amazing sound quality which is great for gaming, it isn't surround sound. Razer does sell a surround sound model for another $20+ or so. In addition, the cord – 3 meters of cord can just get in the way sometimes, but it is your preference. There are some wireless units on the market, but the sound quality isn't as great and the battery, well you know the drill, recharging and charging and then when the battery doesn't last. Those models are usually a little heavier as well, which irritates me on long uses. Some people may prefer USB port connections, and unfortunately this does not have that, you would need an adapter.

In the End

A great light weight professional model for any gamer. I was unable to locate a lower priced gaming headset based on the tech specs and quality but there are other higher priced models with extra features like surround sound and other design elements. If you want to stay under $100 budget, then I highly recommend this model. If you have the extra money, stick with Razer and upgrade to the next model.

Well, thank you for reading my review. Feel free to ask questions! Have a great shopping experience.

Regards, JBHut