Daniel Boyd
I recently had the opportunity to check out the new Razer Moray In-Ear Monitors, and I am sorry to report that they simply fail to make the grade. I consider myself something on an audiophile. As an avid music lover and podcast enthusiast, I spend the vast majority of my day either wearing in-ear buds, or over-ear headphones.
I do have some previous experience with IEMs, mostly through a close friend who is a sound engineer. With that said, although I have briefly tried a number of high-end IEMs, I have never actually owned a pair myself. So the Moray IEMs don’t only mark Razer’s first time properly delving into the IEM space, but also mine.
The Razer Moray In-Ear Monitors are available now via Razer.
I slipped them into my ears for the first time expecting to be blown away, only to immediately be disappointed by how uncomfortable they felt. I kept them in for around two hours while I did a few household chores and they only got more awkward in my ears as time went on. For any sort of extended use exceeding two hours, the user is likely going to have sore ear canals. They certainly don’t feel as though they would remain comfortable during extended gaming-streaming sessions.
Not only that, but the cable required to connect these IEMs to a headphone jack is cumbersome and unwieldy. Each monitor has a detachable twisted rubber-coated cable attached to it. Because of the twisted design, the cables get easily tangled when shoved into a pocket. When you do finally untangle the IEMs to use them, the significant weight of the wire makes portability feel low, due to a constant dragging feeling behind the ears.
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On top of this, the sound quality of the Razer Moray is also rather underwhelming. As is often the case with Razer audio products, the bass is muddy and lacks definition, while the mids and highs sound exceedingly flat. This can be improved via the EQ settings within Razer Synapse, although it is still present. The overall audio reproduction here is lacklustre, failing to deliver the clarity and depth that one would expect from in-ear monitors.
Additionally, the Razer Moray IEMs lack any built-in microphone or remote control for call management and media playback. These omissions are honestly baffling, especially when you consider that many other lower-priced earphones offer these basic features.
While it is an inconvenience to have to reach into my pocket to grab my phone every time that I want to adjust the volume or take a call due to no wire-mounted remote control being included, it is the lack of a wire-mounted microphone that is truly perplexing here. Considering the steep price point of these IEMs, an inbuilt microphone should have been a requirement here.
Frankly, it is impossible to overlook the poor value for money that the Razer Moray IEMs offer. Given the price of the device, there are certain standards that are expected to be met. The Razer Moray IEMs fails to meet these expectations, instead delivering something uncomfortable and underwhelming. For the same price or less, there are far superior alternatives available on the market that offer better build quality, comfort, and sound performance.
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In conclusion, I cannot recommend the Razer Moray in-ear monitors to anyone looking for a quality IEM audio experience. The combination of a high price point, an uncomfortable fit, subpar sound performance, and a total lack of certain essential features cause the Moray IEMs to feel like a disappointing and overpriced product. I would advise potential buyers to explore other IEM options within a similar price range, as there are many alternatives that offer superior sound quality and feel more comfortable.
Razer Moray In-Ear Monitors – 4/10
The Razer Moray in-ear monitors were provided to FandomWire for review by Razer.
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