Razer Kraken Ultimate - THX Spatial audio no longer working

Quick Update: Razer Synapse just installed an update and now it is recognised correctly. as a THX device under “Audio Enhancement”.

However, drivers under Hardware Manager still show “generic” or “Microsoft” (not sure if intended, but I am quite sure prior to the Razer updates it was showing “Razer”), and changes to EQ, THX/Stereo, or any other Headset setting under the  Synapse app does not show any effect...
 

 

They have only changed the name, it is still generic USB. I don't know if they are trying to fool us with the name so that we believe that it already works. It should say THX APO and not generic USB. With the latest update everything is still just as rubbish.

I'm looking for another brand, I don't want to use Razer again..

Yes, you are right. 

Quick Update: Razer Synapse just installed an update and now it is recognised correctly. as a THX device under “Audio Enhancement”.

However, drivers under Hardware Manager still show “generic” or “Microsoft” (not sure if intended, but I am quite sure prior to the Razer updates it was showing “Razer”), and changes to EQ, THX/Stereo, or any other Headset setting under the  Synapse app does not show any effect...
 

I have similar issues as described by others previously. My Kraken Ultimate was running just fine until I updated to the new driver.

Issues:
1. Synapse recognises the Headset what connected, but wrong driver is applied by Windows 11
2. THX is not working anymore, pressing the physical button or in-app switch does not change audio processing
3. EQ does not apply
4. Uninstalling Synapse, cleaning Registry,  uninstalling devices from Windows Device Manager does not fix the issue
5. Manually applying the correct driver from Windows Device Manger does not work

Looking into this, I figured that Windows 11 does not apply the actual Razer driver to the headset but instead a generic Windows driver.
 

 

Attempting to change the driver by pointing to the correct driver located at Program Files, errors with the notification that the best driver “Audio Endpoint” is allready installed.
 

Also the WIndows Sound Settings > Audio Enhancements indicated “THX” as the Device Default Effect, however since this updated and with the Generic Windows Driver it now indicates “Microsoft Audio Home Theater Effects”. 
 

 

From all this so far I would assume the wrong driver is used for running the headset. Therefore Synapse audio settings are not applied.

 

My sound has now an entirely different pitch and color to what I am used and prefer making sound orientation in FPS games very difficult….Either revert or fix soon please…. 
 

Thats not the problem!! check the other drivers !! Others should be thx drivers or razer. 

should have mentioned in my original post. I had checked all freshly added Razer Kraken Ultimate devices in the device manager and all show the Microsoft driver.

Try uncheck compatibility and search for thx driver

 

Had tried this as well. THX or Razer are not listed with or without “show compatible drivers” checked and unchecked. Pointing to the driver location manually via “Have Disk...” errors with  “no compatible driver in specified folder.” The device PID for Kraken Ultimate is 0527 and I pointed to the driver folder the Synpase installation creates under “Program Files”.

 

Note: I have tried this for all “Razer Kraken Ultimate” devices to be found within the “Device Manager” i.e. Audio inputs and outputs, Human Interface Devices, Sound, video and game controllers- 

 

 

 

speakers and sound video and game controllers should be microsoft

I have similar issues as described by others previously. My Kraken Ultimate was running just fine until I updated to the new driver.

Issues:
1. Synapse recognises the Headset what connected, but wrong driver is applied by Windows 11
2. THX is not working anymore, pressing the physical button or in-app switch does not change audio processing
3. EQ does not apply
4. Uninstalling Synapse, cleaning Registry,  uninstalling devices from Windows Device Manager does not fix the issue
5. Manually applying the correct driver from Windows Device Manger does not work

Looking into this, I figured that Windows 11 does not apply the actual Razer driver to the headset but instead a generic Windows driver.
 

 

Attempting to change the driver by pointing to the correct driver located at Program Files, errors with the notification that the best driver “Audio Endpoint” is allready installed.
 

Also the WIndows Sound Settings > Audio Enhancements indicated “THX” as the Device Default Effect, however since this updated and with the Generic Windows Driver it now indicates “Microsoft Audio Home Theater Effects”. 
 

 

From all this so far I would assume the wrong driver is used for running the headset. Therefore Synapse audio settings are not applied.

 

My sound has now an entirely different pitch and color to what I am used and prefer making sound orientation in FPS games very difficult….Either revert or fix soon please…. 
 

Thats not the problem!! check the other drivers !! Others should be thx drivers or razer. 

should have mentioned in my original post. I had checked all freshly added Razer Kraken Ultimate devices in the device manager and all show the Microsoft driver.

Try uncheck compatibility and search for thx driver

everything working for me.

I have similar issues as described by others previously. My Kraken Ultimate was running just fine until I updated to the new driver.

Issues:
1. Synapse recognises the Headset what connected, but wrong driver is applied by Windows 11
2. THX is not working anymore, pressing the physical button or in-app switch does not change audio processing
3. EQ does not apply
4. Uninstalling Synapse, cleaning Registry,  uninstalling devices from Windows Device Manager does not fix the issue
5. Manually applying the correct driver from Windows Device Manger does not work

Looking into this, I figured that Windows 11 does not apply the actual Razer driver to the headset but instead a generic Windows driver.
 

 

Attempting to change the driver by pointing to the correct driver located at Program Files, errors with the notification that the best driver “Audio Endpoint” is allready installed.
 

Also the WIndows Sound Settings > Audio Enhancements indicated “THX” as the Device Default Effect, however since this updated and with the Generic Windows Driver it now indicates “Microsoft Audio Home Theater Effects”. 
 

 

From all this so far I would assume the wrong driver is used for running the headset. Therefore Synapse audio settings are not applied.

 

My sound has now an entirely different pitch and color to what I am used and prefer making sound orientation in FPS games very difficult….Either revert or fix soon please…. 
 

Thats not the problem!! check the other drivers !! Others should be thx drivers or razer. 

I have similar issues as described by others previously. My Kraken Ultimate was running just fine until I updated to the new driver.

Issues:
1. Synapse recognises the Headset what connected, but wrong driver is applied by Windows 11
2. THX is not working anymore, pressing the physical button or in-app switch does not change audio processing
3. EQ does not apply
4. Uninstalling Synapse, cleaning Registry,  uninstalling devices from Windows Device Manager does not fix the issue
5. Manually applying the correct driver from Windows Device Manger does not work

Looking into this, I figured that Windows 11 does not apply the actual Razer driver to the headset but instead a generic Windows driver.
 

Attempting to change the driver by pointing to the correct driver located at Program Files, errors with the notification that the best driver “Audio Endpoint” is allready installed.
 

Also the WIndows Sound Settings > Audio Enhancements indicated “THX” as the Device Default Effect, however since this updated and with the Generic Windows Driver it now indicates “Microsoft Audio Home Theater Effects”. 
 

From all this so far I would assume the wrong driver is used for running the headset. Therefore Synapse audio settings are not applied.

My sound has now an entirely different pitch and color to what I am used and prefer making sound orientation in FPS games very difficult….Either revert or fix soon please…. 
 

So you were having the same problem as me, next to the mute button on the right side there is the game sound and the chat sound and you just need to play it until it makes the balance sound and the sound comes back

Latest update seems to have fixed things with my Kraken Hypersense , sound definitely seems better and positioning is back , feels like it used to…...I think its the same quality but im not quite sure.

interesting how they removed the custom positioning options though ,

Never mind, the volume knob was in 0. Now I can hear the difference and the sound is good.

Kraken Ultimate = To properly use the Equalizer in Synapse I had to use the Enhancements provided by Microsoft instead of THX SFX APO (in case someone’s EQ in synapse is not working) I have no idea if this is intended but it feels off that you have to use a “Generic USB Audio” provider as Audio Enhancement.

Now, it sounds awful like that, but since you can now adjust the Equalizer, you are able to tweak it. However, I am not sure if this is a good as it used to be before the update.
I am also going to share my settings so far (I mainly play racing games and use the PC for media, music, etc… So probably not perfect at all) that seems to be decent, at least for my taste.
 

31hz = +3
63hz = +2
125hz = +0
250hz = +6
500hz = -4
1khz = -2
2khz = +1
4khz = +2
8khz = +4
16khz = +0
Sound Nomalization on 20%

I would love to have clarifcation about the Enhancement Audio provider, if it is intended or if there is a problem about the THX SFX APO that you were supposed to have before the update, when you selected Synapse THX as default speaker.

It’s not even that there is no sound, it doesn’t even play at all

I also had no sound until I went to Device manager in Windows and re-enabled a couple disabled sound, video and game controllers.. 

Check this update hasn’t disabled anything. Shortcut in Windows 11 is Right Clicking the Start button → Device Manager