Loads of Razer products have previously been intricately divulged into and reviewed by us. From the minute specs of these offerings to the overall appearance, the verdict was perceived to be a cut above the rest. Some of the recent delights dished out by the peripheral company and reviewed by us include the Razer DeathAdder mouse and Megalodon gaming headphones. We now got our hands all slippery with the trendy Razer Moray+ earphones. As expected, the device is indeed christened with a spectacular and eerie name just like its other counterparts from the company.
The mention of Moray might be quite familiar with not only marine biologists but gamers as well and not because it has anything to do with eels in particular. This audio solution is the sequel to a Razer Moray earphones released by the company some time back along with a tagline that read ‘the essential gaming and music headphones’. Razer however seems to have taken the newer model up a notch by christening it with a new tagline, ‘the expert gaming and music headset’. Just as we dived deeper into the specs and functionality of the other Razer peripherals by actually using them in our gaming expeditions, we endow the Moray plus earbuds with the same treatment through a review.
One glance at the offering inside the compact box made us believe that we could expect much more than just the audio solutions. Besides the dark colored earphones, the contents of the casing included three interchangeable ear-bud sizes, an omnidirectional inline microphone and 3.5mm mini-plug. A complete set of adapters were also present with the whole array. These offerings are provided to make earphones fully compatible with the PC, Sony PSP 2000/3000, Nintendo DS Lite and DSi. The device was also coupled by a Certificate of Authenticity as well as those much-loved stickers slapped with the well-known Razer logo.
To top off all these inclusions, Razer further enhances the gaming experience with the trendy yet subtle looking carrying pouch. This helped us safely carry around the headphones to various gaming environments and LAN parties without much fuss. We could even tuck it anywhere in our backpack or pocket for that matter. We shall divulge more on this handy case a bit later. Cutting straight back to the earphones, we realize just why this offering was dubbed after that of an eel. True to its namesake, the audio solution came along with a cable length of 1.3mm which was coated with a complete smooth and slippery finish. Tackling the earbuds, we see the company endowing this product with a simple design and not something too fancy unlike a few other earphones in the market these days.
The individual ear pieces sport a thin silver band which aid in keeping the overall peripheral simple yet classy. This aspect was further accompanied by the Razer logo at the rear. Sadly, the eerie blue glow which most Razer offerings are famous for emitting was seen given a miss this time around. The Left (L) and Right (R) markings were etched on the inner side of the earphone instead of the outer cover. Comfort while gaming proved to be a quality that was up to the mark thanks to the three various types of earbuds that came along with the device. These offerings are varied enough to suit nearly all types of ear canals and hence sit snuggly in the ear without slipping out or being too tight. Removing and placing the earbuds was also a snap as we had to simply yank them out and replace with the desired size by giving it a slight push. Jotting down the specifications, the earphones offer a 20Hz to 22,000Hz frequency response, 20mW maximum rated input and 110dB sound pressure level. To add a bit of icing, it also boasts of mid or high range clarity as well as bass-driven stereo sound.
The slim streamlined wire also comprised of an omnidirectional inline microphone which sat plush and blended well with the exterior without much protrusion. The frequency response is between 300 to 3,000Hz with an output level of -46dB. The output impedance is 2.2Kohm while the signal to noise ratio is 55dB min. All these factors provide clear audio while communicating with fellow players and proves to be quite effective even in loud environments. As we moved lower down the sleek long wire, we found that the volume controls were absent and to some gamers, this aspect might prove to be a bit on the disappointing side.
At the end of that line is a 3.5mm mini-jack but unlike many other common headphones, Razer has packed along three attachment options which make the peripheral further compatible with various gaming systems. The PC adapter includes mic input and stereo output while the Sony PSP 2000/3000 and Nintendo DS Lite and DSi adapters sported an image of the respective consoles they could be paired with. Now to dig into something these earphones were really meant to do, bring out the best audio effects while gaming. By utilizing the PC attachments, we indulged in a game of Counter Strike. Besides offering some great heart pounding action, the game also struck an audio chord with the accurate sounds of footsteps emerging from the left or right as well as the rounds fired from different types of weaponry. From bomb explosions to commands given by the leader, all sound was picked up with good enough clarity. During gameplay, communicating with teammates was a snap while the strategic placement of the microphone helped convey the messages across loud and clear.
Next up, we wanted to see or rather hear how the Razer Moray+ earphones would fair when paired with the Sony PSP. For this, we inserted the UMD of the acclaimed title Dante’s Inferno. The hellish experience was further brought to life through the eerie in-game audio. The screams of the unfortunate tortured souls, the reapers scythe slashing and hacking enemies as well as the voices of the various characters Dante meets along his journey really gave us a chill up our spine. But what made our hair stand on ends were the shrill cries of the deadly unbaptized infants. Shifting consoles, we then inserted the final adapter into the Nintendo DS system. We immediately got down with some games fashioned for the DS such as Naruto Ninja Counsel 3, Pokemon Diamond, Platinum and Pearl versions, Castlevania and Nintendogs. Each title had their own audio pieces and engaging music which was focused upon and enhanced when we attached the Moray+ earphones to the portable system.
The Razer Moray+ is a great companion while gamers are constantly on the move. Besides being impressive with games, we could also groove to all our tracks stored on the PC, PSP, DS and iPod Touch. Movies were also a treat to watch as the audio added that extra flavor. And while on the subject of being highly portable in nature, the earphones weigh just 12.5g and can be further ported around in style with the Razer zipper pouch. Sitting atop the case was as expected, the company logo dressed in green while the inner border lining of the case was also given the green treatment. Once inside, the case offered respective compartments where we could place all four attachments neatly without any mix up. Each netted compartment had the particular system outline figure etched on it. Gamers must however be cautious and keep the pouch away from water as it is non-absorbent. The case could have also been coupled with a strap which would enable you to dangle it from the wrist rather than grasping the whole cover in the palm of your hand.
Final Word: While most other gaming products from Razer like the mice, mice pads, keyboards and more limit you to just the PC, this on the other hand allows you to take a piece of gaming equipment around you wherever you go. May it be LAN parties or to a friend’s place, these noise-isolating earphones seal off all the distracting ambient noise resounding in the background and let you focus solely on the game at hand. Although we reviewed the black ones, the company also offers them in angelic white. The earphones that come with the tagline ‘Clarity in Command’ can be picked for a price of 59.99 USD (approx. Rs. 2,772).
Looks: 8.5/10.
Comfort: 9.0/10.
Functionality: 9.0/10.
Overall (not an average): 8.9/10.