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Razer Carcharias Gaming Headset

03 Feb 2009

The Carcharias is Razer's latest gaming headset and it touts itself as the complete communications package for discerning gamers.c

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			<h2 class="header-green">First Looks: Razer Carcharias Gaming Headset</h2>
		<span class="byline">Reviewed by Kenny Yeo on Tuesday, 03 Feb 2009</span>
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		 		<h2 class="page-title">Shark Attack!</h2>
		 		<h3 class="page_title">Shark Attack!</h3>
<p>Ever since its inception, Razer has been synonymous with gaming excellence and users familiar with the brand would know that they like to name their products after fearsome critters. So it should come as no surprise when we tell you that their gaming headsets are named after denizens of the sea. After the Piranha, Moray, Megalodon, here comes the Carcharias gaming headset, named after a species of sharks more commonly known as sand tigers.</p>
<p>Recently launched along side the Razer Mamba wireless gaming mouse at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, the Carcharias is tailored for gamers seeking uncompromising audio and microphone quality.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2010/04/6d15bb502f.jpg" /></p>
<h4 class="page_sub_title">Dressed in Black</h4>
<p>Like all Razer products, the Carcharias gaming headset is decked completely in black. However, while most Razer products project a somewhat futuristic look, the Carcharias, on the other hand, adopts a different approach. Audiophiles looking at the Carcharias' meshed cups and old-style size-extenders will immediately recognize the similarities between it and offerings from world-renowned headphone-makers Grado, whose headphones look wonderfully old-school.</p>
<p>Other than that, the Carcharias employs the generous use of cushion and padding to help keep the wearer comfortable for extended gaming or movie sessions. In our tests with the Carcharias, we found the headband cushion to be soft enough, but the earpads were a little stiff.</p>
<p>Fortunately, it softened a little after a few hours of use. Overall, the Carcharias was mighty comfortable and we could easily wear it for hours on end with no discomfort. Razer also thoughtfully gave the tangle-free Carcharias braided fiber sheath cable, which felt like shoelaces.</p>
<h4 class="page_sub_title">Typical Razer Performance</h4>
<p>Again, like most Razer products, the Carcharias performed admirably. Gamers who depend heavily on Ventrilo or TeamSpeak, will find the built-in noise canceling microphone to be a real gem as it helps significantly. There's also a conveniently located on/off switch on the handy volume dongle, so that you can turn off the microphone when not in use.</p>
<p>Audio-wise, Razer promised the Carcharias to be crystal clear yet big on bass, and it delivered, mostly. Remember, the Carcharias is not a pair of audiophile headphones, and it doesn't pretend to be one. Therefore, it is unashamedly big on bass. Its bass is punchy enough, but can be a tad overwhelming at times, so much so that it muddies the rest of the sound. This is painfully apparent on dance tracks. Elsewhere, the Carcharias sounded pretty decent, although vocals sounded a little veiled.</p>
<h4 class="page_sub_title">Final Thoughts</h4>
<p>The Razer Carcharias is yet another solid offering from the company. The microphone works well and the audio, though not audiophile-class, can hardly be described as mediocre. The Razer Carcharias has a recommended retail price of US$79.99 in the States and S$129 locally, which we think is rather reasonable given its all-around performance.</p>
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Razer Carcharias Gaming Headset

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