Razer Ifrit Streaming Headset Review – Perfect for the hobby streamer

Live streaming is one of the biggest aspects of the gaming industry at the moment. If you’ve never personally watched someone live stream a game, you would at least know of one. That friend/cousin/niece/nephew that watches other people play Minecraft. For those that either aren’t terribly talented in specific games, or otherwise don’t find them as exciting as watching someone who is more experienced – live streaming platforms have proven to be incredibly entertaining. As a result of this, websites like Twitch.tv and Mixer.com have absolutely exploded in the past few years.

In order to stream however you need some gear. Namely a webcam, gaming computer and a headset – which is where the Razer Ifrit steps in.

The good

• Excellent audio quality.
• Microphone lives up to the hype.
• Setup and use is very easy.

The bad

• Not comfortable for long periods of time.

The verdict

Razer’s Ifrit streaming headset is a well designed, very functional piece of tech that is perfect for anyone interested in streaming. It sure beats spending hundreds of dollars on a microphone and headset – while staying well clear of your face and producing a surprising sound quality.

DESIGN

The Ifrit is styled significantly more like a presenting headset than a gaming one. Looking at the shape and layout of the thing, you’d expect to find it on stage behind a lectern.

However there’s no doubt that it’s actually a really well designed piece of tech. What actually frustrated me is that the Razer website promotes it by saying “no more headset hair”, when in reality there are so many more benefits. Namely that when streaming, you’re in front of camera and want to present well – you want the fans to see your face, especially if you’re a wrap on yourself;

It comes with an EXTENSIVE cable that means you can really get quite some distance away from the computer. The only potential problem you’ll face is that you’ll need to step away from the stream should you leave the room but really… do you love yourself that much?

Ultimately the design is practical. Out of the way, out of your face and all around non invasive – which is exactly what you’re looking for.

QUALITY

I was really conflicted when it came to the quality of the Ifrit. It quickly became a question of what to compare against… On one hand there are a lot of gaming headsets and streaming devices that produce some serious sound, but on the other hand the Ifrit sets you back a whole $169. There comes a point where you have to concede that for the price point, Razer are doing something brilliant.

While I won’t pretend that the sound is amazing, unless you’re playing and streaming highly competitive games that require you to use sound to your advantage, the Ifrit is more than capable. Just as every Razer product before it the Ifrit is incredibly base heavy and focuses on delivering a bigger sound over a precise one.

The microphone is exceptional. We actually tested it using VOIP (as nobody in the office has the personality to stream) and found that it was very professional. It did a decent job of cancelling out background noise while still delivering a really clear sound. I gave it a proper shout and didn’t notice any clipping or distortion which says a lot about such a relatively cheap device.

MISC

As I titled, the only thing wrong with the Ifrit truly is that it’s not professional. That’s to say it is significantly better suited to a hobby streamer or someone looking to dip their toe in the industry.

There’s a really groovy mute button pictured above with a very simple green/red LED letting you know whether or not your mic is active.

If you’re keen to get into the streaming industry and want something that’s both afforable and effective – you can pick up a Razer Ifrit for $169 on the Razer store.