Razer is well-known for its gaming and computer peripherals, like keyboards, mice, and headphones—but now they’ve also dipped their toes into the in-ear monitor (IEM) market, with the Razer Moray. Sadly, the audio quality just isn’t there, even if they are a comfy pair of IEMs for all-day wear.
Razer Moray
Razer’s wired in-ear monitors (IEMs) are designed for streaming and gaming. Featuring dual hybrid drivers and THX certification, you would be forgiven for expecting more from these earbuds than Razer is offering.
All-Day Comfort
Razer dubs the Moray an “ergonomic in-ear monitor for all-day streaming”. And really, there’s no denying these IEMs are incredibly comfortable. Not only do the Razer Moray come with a useful, soft carrying case, but there are also three silicone and memory foam ear tips included, ranging in size.
IEMs are designed to fit securely in your ears; they shouldn’t pop out or fall out even if you’re moving around. The Razer Moray IEMs offer a snug fit thanks to the considerate design that fits in and around the contours of an average ear.
Many IEMs tend to be wired to achieve higher fidelity, and the Razer Moray are no different. The wire has also been carefully designed to ensure a comfortable fit and comes with a silicon cable tie to manage the cable when it’s not in use.
If you want to listen to music or game all day, these IEMs will cause you no trouble in the comfort department. In fact, they are probably the closest you’ll get to custom-molded earbuds without the extra expense. The Razer Moray are a perfect travel companion, too, thanks to the included travel bag and carabiner.
Muddy Audio Results
The problems arise when it comes to audio quality, though. The Razer Moray IEMs have a somewhat muddy sound stage. Audiophiles certainly wouldn’t be seeking these out to offer rich, balanced audio. The problem here is that these earbuds prioritize certain frequencies, making them better suited for specific uses like streaming, where voice clarity is crucial.
Razer aimed to boost voice intensity and detail by employing a dual-driver setup: one for bass and mids, and another for treble. While this offers enhanced voice clarity during streaming and gaming, it alters the music-listening experience, resulting in a muddied sound that lacks crisp and balanced EQ.
The high frequencies almost seem forgotten about, causing a noticeable drop in treble.
The passive soundstage is limited as well, due to the closed-back design. This design confines the sound within your head rather than creating a more expansive soundscape. So, if you’re listening to music or playing an immersive game, you just won’t get the same experience you would with many other pairs of earbuds or open-back headphones.
Despite the inclusion of memory foam tips that should offer better isolation, the Razer Moray’s sound quality just isn’t there. While the bass is probably the only thing going for these IEMs sound-wise, the clear lack of audio finesse is just too obvious to ignore.
For users who enjoy customizable audio, I’m afraid you’ll also be disappointed. The lack of customization around sound profiles is extremely restrictive. There’s no fine-tuning going on here, resulting in an even more lackluster audio experience that you wouldn’t expect from IEMs, especially not those designed by a company like Razer.
What Are They Good For? Not a Lot
The Razer Moray IEMs are really frustrating; Razer could have done something really good here, but it’s hard to say these are anywhere near worth the $130 price tag. Granted, these IEMs offer undeniable comfort; you could easily wear them all day, and use them while sitting down, running, or anything in between. But what they don’t offer is decent sound quality or noise isolation, which is ultimately what you want in a pair of earbuds or headphones.
So many other options are available—even from Razer, like the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless earbuds. Elsewhere, even cheaper unbranded offerings you may pick up on Amazon would likely come up better than the Razer Moray, and you wouldn’t have to fork out over $100 for the pleasure.
If you like listening to music, watching films, or feeling immersed while you’re gaming, there are plenty of other IEMs and earbuds that will suit your requirements. Saying that, however, if you may grab the Razer Moray on offer and you spend a lot of time traveling, then you might find them a useful companion.
All Comfort, No Substance
Despite offering a really nice design, useful accessories, and being one of the most comfortable pairs of IEMs around, the Razer Moray lack in too many other areas that make them hard to recommend at $130.
It’s hard to see why someone would choose the Razer Moray over something else that offers better audio, sound isolation, and at a cheaper price, in favor for these. And it’s such a shame considering most of the other peripherals Razer offers are so damn good.
If you’re a frequent traveler, the Razer Moray would probably be a good investment if you can get them on sale. They are lightweight, well-crafted, and look incredibly stylish. But headphones should primarily offer audio you can shout about, and you just won’t find that here.
