The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prefer wireless freedom with good battery life and exercise compatibility, consider the JBL Tune Buds; they are also better suited for use during air travel and offer app-based customization. On the other hand, if you prioritize top-notch mic quality for crystal clear calls and a very immersive experience for gaming and TV, the Razer Kraken is a strong choice. However, keep in mind that the Razer Kraken is wired and may not be as portable or convenient for use while moving around. The Kraken's lack of wireless features and app customization could be a drawback if those are important to you. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the JBL Tune Buds
Good for exercise
Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Razer Kraken
Good for music
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.2/10
7.1/10
The Razer Kraken is good for music, while the JBL Tune Buds is only fair.
Gaming
5.4/10
8.3/10
The Razer Kraken is very good for gaming, while the JBL Tune Buds is poor.
Phone Calls
4.9/10
5.5/10
The Razer Kraken and JBL Tune Buds are both poor for phone calls, though the Razer Kraken is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8/10
4.7/10
The JBL Tune Buds and Razer Kraken are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks, though the JBL Tune Buds is somewhat better.
TV and Video
6.1/10
7.4/10
The Razer Kraken is good for TV and video, while the JBL Tune Buds is only fair.
Battery
10.4 Hours
N/A
The JBL Tune Buds has 10.4 hours of battery life. The Razer Kraken does not have a battery.
Cost
$60
$50
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The JBL Tune Buds has a price of $60 and the Razer Kraken costs $50.
"JBL’s Tune Buds stick with the company’s signature bass-heavy sound by default, but a quality in-app EQ lets you sculpt the audio to taste. These noise-cancelling true wireless earphones also mitigate environmental distractions fairly well for the price and offer good battery life. If you're specifically seeking bold, bass-tuned audio out of the box, the Tune Buds are worth a listen."
"Generally the Kraken is a very comfortable headset and there’s nothing that really identifies it as anything else. All in, the Kraken performed exactly as I’d expect a premium, designated gaming headset to perform: performing well in game audio, though not quite with the same quality of those headsets further up the price scale."
Get a great deal on the JBL Tune Buds or the Razer Kraken
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
About Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean hardware manufacturer aimed specifically toward the gaming market. They manufacture a very wide array of gaming laptops, tablets, phones, peripherals and, of course, headphones and earbuds both wired and wireless. Since 2016, Razer has owned the THX suite, aimed at quality assurance of audiovisual systems such as speaker sets, video game consoles and even movie theaters.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
99,500
Recommendations made
14,925
Consumer hours saved
About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.