Razer Carcharias gaming headset review

March 3, 11:19 AMPC Game ExaminerBryan Edge-Salois

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The Razer Carcharias -- as gorgeous as it is
unpronouncable.

The Razer Carcharias gaming headset offers excellent circumaural sound and a noise-filtering microphone in a lightweight, ultra-comfortable, affordable package perfect for long hours of gaming or listening to your favorite tunes.

The Carcharias ("sand shark" or "sand tigers") is definitely designed first and foremost for comfort, catering to gamers likely to wear them for extended periods. The earphones and adjustable headband are lined with soft, cushy fabric providing a snug, comfortable fit that doesn't heat up your head or make your neck tired after extended hours of playing.

Another nice touch is that the mic/headphone cable is made out of braided fabric, which makes it light and very easy to manage. The cable is also a very generous three meters long, which makes reaching nearly any headphone jack easy.

The microphone is reasonably flexible and adjustable, and you can slide it up and out of the way if you're not using it. An inline remote with a clip provides easy access to  volume control and microphone muting.

Installing the Carcharias is as easy as plugging them in to your 3.5mm headphone and mic jacks on your PC's sound card -- there are no special software or drivers required.

I played F.E.A.R. 2 (review forthcoming) from beginning to end, and plenty of Left 4 Dead to put these headphones through their paces. I gamed for many, many hours without the slightest bit of discomfort. That feature alone is worth high marks in my book.

The surround sound was generally excellent. I certainly had an easier time discerning the location of enemies -- such as Boomers and Hunters in Left 4 Dead -- via sound. In many ways the headphones provided a better overall experience than  my Klipsch 400 watt, 4.1 THX-certified speakers -- although a big part of that was simply because I could crank the audio higher and enjoy the sound without irritating the wife, shaking the house, or waking the kids.

Listening to music is just as good an experience, with plenty of bass and big sound. Whether you're gaming or enjoying your tunes, you'll love the quality sound and comfort that the Carcharias provides.

One feature that some might consider lacking is that the Carcharias are not 'noise canceling' headphones like the Razer Moray -- so they won't do much to cut outside noise from infiltrating your gaming Nirvana.

But the lack of noise-cancellation can be a bane or a boon depending on your situation. As a dad, I generally prefer noise-cancellation, but can't really use it. I typically need to be able to hear outside of my gaming, just in case a kid wakes up, the wife needs me, the cat throws up on the carpet, or whatever else might require Dad's superpowers to deal with.

Overall
The Carcharias delivers excellent circumaural sound, big bass, and the best ergonomics and comfort I've experienced in a headset. At a MSRP of $80 -- which puts it roughly at a middle-end price point -- you definitely won't be disappointed.

Carcharias Technical Specifications

Headphones

• Frequency Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz
• Impedance: 32 O at 1kHz
• Sensitivity (@1kHz, 1V/Pa): 102 ± 4dB at 1 kHzMax
• Input Power: 200 mW
• Drivers: 40 mm, with neodymium Magnets

Microphone

• Frequency Response: 50 – 16,000 Hz
• Sensitivity( @1kHz, 1V/Pa): -37 ± 4dB
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 50 dB
• Pick-up pattern: Unidirectional
• Cable: 3 meters, Braided Fiber Sheath
• Connector: 3.5 mm jack (headphone and mic)
Cable: 3.3 meters, Braided Fiber Sheath

Hardware Requirements

• Any PC with 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks

Read an interview with Robert Krakoff, the president or Razer

Learn more about the Carcharias at Razer's Web site

What the heck is a Carcharias?

Read more reviews of Razer products:

Razer Mako 2.1 speaker system review

Razer Moray gaming headphones review