HyperX Cloud II – Gaming Headset PC/PS4/Mac/Mobile
HyperX Cloud II – Gaming Headset PC/PS4/Mac/Mobile, gunmetal
TeamSpeak certified
TeamSpeak certifies the voice quality to be clear and crisp with better sound quality. No audible echoes, background noises or voice distortions were detected in tests. Other compatible chat clients include Skype, Mumble and Ventrilo.
Enhanced comfort
HyperX Cloud II comes with 100 per cent memory foam ear pads and interchangeable ear cups for varying sound profiles and different texture options.
Pro-gaming optimised
The official headset of Intel Extreme Masters, HyperX Cloud II lets you game comfortably and get better audio experience on PC, Mac and consoles. Its closed-cup design allows for passive noise cancellation so that you can compete at the maximum level.
Distinctive design with improved accessories
HyperX Cloud II headset comes with all the accessories you’ll need, including an aeroplane adapter, leatherette and velour ear cushions and a travel-friendly mesh bag to take your game on the go.
 |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connection Type | Dual 3.5 mm (Audio and Mic) | Single 3.5 mm (4 Pole to USB) | Single 3.5 mm (4 Pole to Dual 3.5 mm) | Single 3.5 mm (4 Pole to Dual 3.5 mm) |
| 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound | _ | ✓ | _ | _ |
| Driver Size | 53 mm | 53 mm | 53 mm | Next Generation 50 mm |
| Ear Cup Memory Foam | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Headband Memory Foam | _ | ✓ | ✓ | _ |
| Extra Velour Ear Pads | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | _ |
| Noise-Cancellation Mic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audio Volume and Mute Controls | Audio Control Box | USB Control Box | In-line | Audio Control Box |
| Detachable Microphone | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Headset Case | Mesh Bag | Mesh Bag | Hard Case | _ |
| Weight: | 320 g |
| Dimensions: | 11 x 11 x 9 cm; 320.06 Grams |
| Brand: | HyperX |
| Model: | KHX-HSCP-GM |
| Colour: | Gunmetal |
| Batteries Included: | No |
| Manufacture: | HyperX |
| Dimensions: | 11 x 11 x 9 cm; 320.06 Grams |
These headphones are extremely comfortable and the sound quality is great (I use them for listening to music as well as gaming). I’ve not had any complaints about the mic quality after a few months of use so I’m guessing it’s good but I’ve not heard it for myself.
Comfort is key during long gaming sessions, and the Cloud III excels in this area. The headset is equipped with plush memory foam ear cushions and a padded headband, providing a comfortable and snug fit that can be worn for hours on end without discomfort. The headset also features a durable aluminum frame and braided cable, ensuring that it can withstand the rigors of competitive gaming.
I’ve used this headset for over a year now, and whilst it has been good for everything, the main issue I have with it is how easily the wires tangle themselves together, otherwise it’s certainly worth your money.
This review is based on a few hours play time. So far I have not encountered any issues, the product arrives very nicely packaged, is very comfortable to wear and the audio quality is very, very good. Very happy so far.
I really wanted to point out that while the product capabilities say it works on PC, PS4 and PS5 (no Xbox), they’re probably referring to the usage of the usb-powered volume control, as it controls the operating system’s volume settings vs the onboard volume.
However, the headphones themselves use a 3-pole 3.5mm connector, which works just fine when plugged into the bottom of an Xbox Series X|S game pad. This was a consideration when buying the headphones and it wasn’t clear on the product page (or I just missed it), but I bought them anyway as PC gaming was the main use case. However, I’m pleasantly surprised that it comes with this connector and thus will work on the gamepad too!
Bought as a gift for my nephew. Great sound quality and the mic is very clear. He loves how easy it is to adjust the voice or game volumes. He uses these for gaming on his pc.
The HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset is a top-of-the-line headset that offers exceptional sound quality and comfort. As someone who spends a lot of time gaming, I recently invested in this headset and have been thoroughly impressed with its performance.
First off, the sound quality is outstanding. The 7.1 virtual surround sound provides a truly immersive gaming experience, allowing me to hear every detail of the game’s audio. The headset also has a frequency response range of 15Hz-25kHz, which means that it can produce both deep bass and clear high notes.
In addition to its sound quality, the HyperX Cloud II is also incredibly comfortable to wear. The ear cups are made from soft memory foam and covered with leatherette, which allows for extended gaming sessions without any discomfort. The headband is also adjustable, providing a perfect fit for any head size.
Another standout feature of this headset is its detachable noise-canceling microphone. The microphone is flexible and can be adjusted to any position, and the noise-canceling feature ensures that your voice comes through loud and clear without any background noise.
Overall, I have been thoroughly impressed with the HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset. It provides exceptional sound quality and comfort, making it a great investment for anyone who spends a lot of time gaming or working from home. While it may be on the pricier side compared to other headsets, the quality and performance make it well worth the investment.
I purchased 2 of these in Gunmetal Grey, 1 for me and 1 for my dad.
He uses his for Gaming, whilst I use mine for work and listening to music whilst working.
I had a set of these for years when playing games like PUBG and Destiny 2 etc and they sounded amazing back then, they still sound amazing now.
Punchy bass is amazing if you like bass heavy music, just be careful though as they do go quite loud which I like but it will damage your hearing.
Great product for gamers and well sound quality in games. Not a studio level headset for listening music but the sound is crisp and clear. I would love some more bass and vibration.
EDIT 02/06/2023: DO NOT BUY THESE ANYMORE! When I was looking to buy a replacement a few months ago I took a look at the updated reviews. It seems that HP has bought Hyper X and this headset has been changed. I watched a few videos online as well and it seems that the headset has been ruined. If you are looking to buy a pair it’s probably best to go on ebay and look for sellers who are selling new/unopened. I bought like 3 pairs for around 30-50 because I really like it lol, they’re that good.
I use this mainly for online meetings and sometimes for gaming; so every day and sometimes for long periods. It is very comfortable and I don’t have to pull it down to the smallest band setting and hope it stays that way.A spare set of ear pad covers is provided and they are plush rather than leatherette, which is nice for a change. The Mic position adjust is lovely and stays where you put it (no spring back), it is also removeable. I think the sound quality is good, but I don’t realy “push the envelope” on that front and my hearing is not perfect. I love using it and thought the price was good.
I’ve used this headset on and off for over 6 years and it has proved very reliable. The sound quality is great for listening to music and or gaming, and the quality/build construction of the headset itself is very good. There are countless in-depth reviews on YouTube/online that can attest to this.
The aspect of this headset that I’d improve is of course the mic/mic volume. It is pretty quiet and I find that others have to turn my volume output up to hear me properly, regardless of boosting the mic’s sensitivity or output volume.
Overall, very happy with this purchase, a great pickup at standard retail price or better yet on a discount.
A quick thing to mention is that HyperX RMA Staff are very friendly and helpful when it comes to supporting use of their products. I’ve had an excellent experience with them.
Bought these back in early March of 2018, almost 4 years later and they’re still going strong. The leather ear cups did however begin to peel/crack after around 3 years but I swapped them out for the fabric cups and they’re working perfectly. The same issue I had with the leather ear cups has also occurred around the inner portion of the headband but it’s not irritating me at all. Depending on how much you use them, yours might last longer than mine did. I have used them everyday for around 6-10 hours since 2018 (and will continue to do so) so it makes sense that there’s been some damage to the leather. Also the thin plastic around the mic creased quite a bit from moving the mic around so I just pealed it all off, actually looks better than it did before. There are no signs of them breaking anytime soon – they’re great value for your money. Here’s hoping they last another 4 years haha.
It is excellent for FPS and it also features 7.1 surround sound but tbh your better of not using that for gaming, but movies sound excellent with it on. This headset is definitely way better than the SONY PULSE HEADSET that is made for the PS5, it also works with the 3D sound on the PS5 and this is cheaper, you don’t have to worry about charging it as it is wired.
The wire is just over 3 meters long and has the sound card built into it with headset volume and mic volume and has the 7.1 surround sound button right in middle for easy control.
It also comes with spare cloth earpads for the headset and a bag to keep I all in.
I would definitely recommend this to any PS5 owner as it is a minefield out there atm and until the next gen headsets are out this is definitely the best choice.
So for 3 years I’ve been using a Wireless Corsair H2100 headset, which I don’t even think you can buy anymore. Apart from a few niggly issues where I had to open it up and disconnect the internal battery once or twice I was happy with it. Recently though a part of the case broke which meant the headphones no longer stay against my ears on one side and the whole thing is very loose. I tried to glue it back together but it only worked for about an hour until it fell apart again.
So it was time to get a new headset. I spent a long, long time researching the various makes and models, wireless, wired, 7.1 sound, different-sized drivers, all budgets etc. I finally settled on these as I decided I didn’t need the wireless and the extra expense for them was for me just not worth the money. I also needed them to work from USB, not audio jack, as it’s inconvenient to get to mine and stretch the cable to my head. Also, there was a deal on them so that was an extra bonus.
When I first put them on I couldn’t believe the difference in sound quality compared to my old ones, it was worlds apart, and the fit was better and much more comfortable. Had some issues with the mic when I first tried it as it needs a bit of force to make sure it’s seated correctly but works well once it is.
If your looking for a good sound quality, well-built headset these won’t disappoint, the lack of wireless will be an issue for some but, if you don’t walk about the house often with your headset on, I really wouldn’t bother paying the massive price difference.
The mic unplugs from a jack in the left ear bud, I really appriciate the option to remove it as I use a seperate mic. For this reason I can’t comment on it as I don’t and have never used it. Though in my experience the quality is just fine for what you need it for and audio quality is still charming despite it not being crystal clear. The removeability of the mic means I never need to move or position it out of the way and can keep it safely stored inside the box in case I need it later.
The USB control box is an extender and can only be used if you choose to connect the headset’s permenantly affixed 3.5mm Mini stereo jack plug into it – this will add an additional 2m to the length of the cable. The Mini stereo jack plug cable is 1m and is permenantly affixed to the headset. 3m is the max length once everything is connected. There is one drawback for the control box and it is my only real complaint about this product; when you activate the 7.1 option it glows from underneath with an agressively powerful red. To fix this I just taped over it with some electrical tape to avoid the small LED from lighting up my room. It’s too much.
The ear cushions are comfortable, of course. Though I transitioned from Razer Kraken Pro to these I am not use to the oval shape. It’s still very comfortable and barely noticable but I do sometimes become aware of the strange shape that’s pressing on the side of my head.
I have found that with previous headphones I have been self-consious of the size of the headband and ear buds but the HyperX Cloud is thin enough for me to never worry about it doesn’t feel like I’m wearing a crown of silliness on my head. The colours aren’t distracting either and blend well with I think any set up.
And it looks amazing. The grey gunmetal is conservatively used as to not be overwhelming in its design. The grey gradient transitions nicely from band to bud. It is beautiful for an item you will rarely see if used correctly. Again I don’t feel self-consious about using this headset as it lacks unnecessary aesthetics.
You might need to install an update for the headset to get it to work properly on the console as well.
Ps. if you’re trying to use the headphones with your (android) phone and they aren’t connecting – plug in the mic first. You can unplug the mic again once it’s connected but (some) phones get confused as to what they are connecting with if the mic isnt connected to the headset.
Solid build with what seems to be a metal frame. They’re pretty comfy but will clamp the sides of your skull after a while. Too clunky for anything other than home use. Noise cancellation is pretty good, audio quality is good.
Some background static that is louder than i’d like when turning on the 7.1 but you won’t notice it once the shooting starts. Mic is good, just a little too eager to pick up your breathing and background noises. Has mic mute switch and volume control for both input and output on the usb thing.
Included in the kit is a modular microphone which does the job but is nothing remarkable – mid to highs are crisp but there’s no depth on the low end so keep it for calls, not for something like podcasting. However, when the microphone isn’t an element – wow.
My daily drivers for headphones usually alternate between the Sennheiser 450s and the Sony WH-1000XM4 and let me tell you, these impressed me. Not only that, but the comfort is just amazing. I’ve relatively big ears and always have trouble with over-ear headphones due to tightness, but these are some of the most well fitting cups I’ve ever had. As a bit of an audiophile, these are some of the most well balanced frequency headphones for under 150 quid. If you look at the design, it’s clear they’ve taken some cues in terms of design from both Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic, with the audio profile closely replicating the latter. On top of that, they come with spare felt cups – insane!
I’m assuming that, as a gaming oriented headset, you’re looking up reviews for how they work as such. Let me tell you, if you’re looking for the marriage of good quality audio and a budget friendly price tag, you’ve found it. Equipped with 7.1 and drivers that will make anything in the same price range pallor by comparison, these are a no-brainer.
I purchased this on the 04/04/16 and I am still using it to this day.
These are by far the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever used and in terms of the amount spent va the amount used, it’s fair to say I’ve got my moneys worth out of this.
The padding has started to wear now, however, it’s still comfortable and stuck on. I use these 8 hours a day for work currently 5 days a week and then again for when I’m gaming.
My GO TO headphones and if they ever did break, I think I would just buy another pair of the same ones.
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I purchased these back in April 2016 after my last set of headphones brokedown.
I’m writing the review today because after I stopped gaming for around a year, I’ve gotten back into it. Not just that, but with working from home and taking calls/team meetings, I needed something more reliable than my standard earphones.
Plugged in without the USB soundcard into my laptop and these were good to go.
I forgot how GOOD these sound as the audio is so crisp, the bass so deep, it just gives a more satisfying feeling than listening to audio in earphones!
I’ve been using these for 4 years now and they STILL work fine.
I neglected the USB Cable so it will cut out if it’s moved, but that’s because my little one has been tugging on the wire and I have just kept it coiled up for a while.
Since you can unplug the jack from the USB drivers, you can carry on using it even if the USB cable has stopped working.
Pros:
GREAT sound
DEEP bass
Noise cancelling mic
Very good mic which I’ve had so many compliments for on my gaming sessions
Comes with a USB driver with soundcard built in, great if your PC/laptop’s soundcard is crap
Can be used as 3.5MM Jack OR as USB
Detachable Mic so you can still use as daily headphones
Price is very reasonable for what you get
CONS
Wire with just 3.5MM jack is a little short for my liking (but if you’re going to use the USB cable, it’ll be MORE than long enough).
USB cable wire can wear down over time (but again, this may be my neglect and the way it’s plugged into my PC)
Summary
This may be the best gaming headset I’ve used,
It’s so comfy for long our gaming sessions 7+ hours tested and does not squeeze your ears in any way
The sound quality is great and the option to use the drivers built into the adaptor or not
5 stars
Without this headset I rely on visual play only and it can be a bit unfair when you watch an enemy killcam replay and you see it was your footsteps they heard first.
The headset works on most platforms however for the PS4 you have to first update the sound card through it’s usb on a computer. This is easy to do, literally go on their website plug in your sound card and follow the update instructions. The sound card supports 5.1 surround sound, so it’s easy to locate those important sounds.
Not sure if the Xbox one needs an update but just be aware before buying incase you don’t have a pc.
The headset sound quality is more of a treble setup rather than bass. It picks up most of the sound effects and amplified them whilst reducing the bass.
It has no voice mixer on it so you can’t turn down chat and game volume independently. This was a let down for me but I’ve stuck with the headset as it’s very good value and very well made.
It comes in a well presented sturdy box and has a nice carry case. Also in the box you will receive two pairs of headset cushions, one made of leather and one made of soft fabric.
The microphone on this headset is very clear and voice sensitivity control can be adjusted through the sound card dongle. The microphone can be detached and transforms the headset in to a cool looking casual set of music headphones.
With the dongle and headset wire combined, it’s roughly three meters so you have a good amount of free play.
Being wired and having no preset functions make this a simple to use, pick up and play headset.
Overall if your after a headset for FPS battle royale type games then you can’t go wrong with these.
I never leave reviews unless they’re negative, but these headphones are so astoundingly good I went out of my way to log into amazon, find this product again and leave a review. What can I say, they do exactly everything you could possibly want from headphones at this price. I’ve been wearing mine EVERY SINGLE DAY for over 4 years for multiple hours a day.
For gaming? Absolutely excellent. I turn the volume high and can ALWAYS hear the enemy footsteps, even if it’s a Caveira in R6 Siege (the quietest character). I never use the 7.1 surround sound though because it messes up my orientation but the USB to headphone jack is basically an essential for someone like me that has my PC a bit far away from my desk.
For music? Phenomenal. Yes there exist higher quality headphones, you can buy 400+ Senheiser headphones if you’re such an audiophile, but for anyone who’s normal and listens to music on Spotify or YouTube (or even a sneaky illegal pirated .mp3 file) these headphones will play your song loud and clear with a bass too.
For long stretches of time? Fantastic. These headphones feel extraordinarily comfortable on me (my head is normal sized, maybe if you have a megamind head it’s not for you) and last multiple hours before any discomfort. I’d say after about 4 or 5 hours of usage I need to take them off for a while and massage my head and ears a little.
For running? Well… I’ve not only gone running with these but also I’ve done parkour with them. They only came off when doing rolls from large heights. I’m not gonna lie though, there are better products out there if your main goal is running. Apple earphones are by nature lighter and I’m sure there are many bluetooth options that may specialise more. These definitely hold up just fine for running though.
Water damage? I’ve been out running in the rain- and I’m talking London rain. Never caused any hearable or visible damage despite the copious rainfall. I’ve never submerged these headphones though… I wouldn’t push them THAT much.
Have I ever damaged them? Yes actually. One time I left it under my friends coat in a coach journey to Belgium and I sat on it, causing one earmuff to bend outwards at a 45 degree angle. This seemed unfixable until I got home, dismantled them then bent the metallic red connector piece back to shape using a hair dryer and lots of force.
Anyway that’s my review. I promise I’m not being payed by HyperX or whatever, I just really appreciate how fantastic the build quality and attention to detail this product has. If you found this review helpful, press the button below! I spent some time writing this and it would be cool if someone recognised it amid the sea of other reviews. Also… no I am not “Martha” writing this, I’m a younger family member of hers.
So I though I’m gonna upgrade. And brought HyperX Cloud Revolver S ( 107.99 at the time of purchase ) as an replacement. And boy I was dissapointed. It was such a big downgrade for me as a competitive PUBG player. First of all Revolver S headphones is twice less loud. Second of all. You can hardly hear enemy footsteps even if they are 5-10 meters from you. After 2 days of usage I’ve returned Revolver headphones and I decided to go ALL-IN.
Steelseries Arctis Pro + GameDac was my next purchase. The best gaming headphones your money can buy. (249.99 at the time of purchase).
Immediately all exited I unpacked everything and hooked it up to my PC and started listening to Hi-Res audio and I was amazed by how good they sound compared to Revolver S. Next thing in line was to fire up PUBG and to compare how is the things in gaming. And this is where everything fell apart.
I can hardly explain this, but If enemy shots are somewhere far away – I can blindfolded PIN exact location of an enemy (e.g. 355 North East), but when the enemy is close – the sound of the steps are muffled and there’s no precision what so ever. I tried to play a little bit with EQ to make it better, but I hardly had any luck. It was better then before but no where close to HyperX Cloud 2.
Before this I never understood how people don’t know where the enemy steps are coming from or where are the shots are being fired at. NOW I KNOW.
Cloud 2 have a razor sharp precision when it comes to enemy movement sounds. They are extremely good at FPS (best headphones that I’ve ever tester). Maybe they fall a little behind when it comes to Audiophile usage, but c’mon – it’s a gaming headphones and if I pay 249.99 pounds for it – IT NEEDS TO DELIVER.
After everything is said and done – I brought HYPERX CLOUD 2 again. AND I WILL NEVER LET THEM GO AGAIN
This headset is really great. It feels very high quality in terms of the build quality – with nice leather sections and metal components. It has a nice weight to it but it is very comfortable and nice to use for prolonged periods of time.
It comes with a set of replacement ear pads which are made of a soft fabric instead of leather – I prefer these in warm weather when the leather can get a bit uncomfortable. They are a bit of a pain to switch between but after a bit of rummaging about you can manage it.
The cable from the headphones to the aux cord is not so long, around 80 cm, but it then plugs into the ‘control panel’ which has around a 1.5-2m length towards the USB connector which goes into the computer.
The sound quality is very high, and in games you get full 7.1 surround sound which is good for hearing where enemies are coming from. People I have played with also tell me that the microphone sound quality is very high for voice chat in game.
I would highly recommend these headphones.
I play games for a long time throughout the day. Games like Fortnite, Cod, GTA. I also watch youtube/twitch for long hours.
The sound for hearing enemy footsteps are AMAZING. Games like fortnite and COD, where sound is needed a lot, the 7.1 surround sound is good as you can pinpoint where the enemys are exactly. The mic is incredible for what I thought it would be, you can raise the mic volume via the hyperX volume box. With a mic switch, you can easily close your mic whenever you need to 🙂
Wearing the headset for long hours may cause you to take it off for a bit and irritate, however, wearing these for as long as 18 hours a day made me only take it off a couple of times throughout! I never buy products more than 20 but these are amazing!
The build is strong with a sturdy feel. A really long cable attached to the hyperx volume box makes it possible to reach all around my room with the headset on connected to my PC. One problem is that the wire connected to the headset creates a slightly little noise that is annoying whenever you move. However, the headset is good so i’ll give it 4 stars!
When my Razer Kraken Chroma 7.1 broke last year I was in the market for a good replacement, and I’m really glad I purchased this back in January because it’s definitely been worth the money. The Cloud II has lasted me almost a year now so I wanted to make a review to recommend it to anyone who was In my position looking to pull the trigger on a new headset purchase that will last them far into the new year and beyond.
It arrived in a quality foam packaged box with a spare mic filter and replacement ear cups should you need them (I haven’t) along with a small mesh bag that you can store your headset in should you want to take it abroad as I have. There is even a small compartment on it where you can place your numerous accessories such as the mic and sound card which is very handy!
Moving on to the headset itself, the sound quality has been nothing less than excellent in my experience so there’s not much to say other than it handles both music and game sounds marvellously, whether that be from your pc or your phone. It’s very easy to set up in your pc as you only need to plug in the USB to a suitable port or connected hub and then connect your headphone jack into the USB sound card that can enable virtual 7.1 surround sound at a moments notice.
The sound card itself has a really cool design as it lights up the 7.1 logo to show you have it enabled with a lit hyperX logo just beneath it. In addition, it’s functionality is equally superb, allowing you to lower both the mic and volume levels should you need to do so with a simple sliding on/off switch for your microphone present at the side should you need to have a quick conversation with someone without the entire team hearing you.
An additional feature included is a noise-canceling microphone that is both flexible as well as detachable. Not only has this microphone has worked really well for me when talking to my friends through a multitude of voice chat software on my pc, but it’s also worked well when being in use for phone calls and some light gaming there. Although you can’t use the 7.1 on your phone due to the sound card only being powered through USB.
Overall, the HyperX Cloud II has been an amazing purchase for me and as I stated earlier, if you’re looking for a comfortable, high-quality headset with a fantastic mic then I would highly recommend it. I don’t think you will regret it.
The sound quality of these headphones is great. In Counter Strike, you can hear footsteps from half a map away while also jamming out to your fire Spotify playlist.
My friends say that my voice is just as annoying as it is in real life with these headphones, which means that the microphone is doing a bang up job. No one has ever heard someone say “Rush B” with such great audio fidelity, until now.
The Clouds are also super durable. You CAN drop them and they will be OK.
The difference between this (The Cloud 2) and the Cloud 1, is the inclusion of a USB DAC that connects to the headphones. I would actually recommend the Cloud 2s over the Cloud 1s because of this, even though there is a price a bit of a price difference.
By using the integrated USB DAC the Cloud 2s don’t have to use your PCs built in audio DAC which means that sound quality is consistent across every PC the Cloud 2s are used on, therefore meaning that there isn’t a possibility of bad sound quality (or mic quality) due to bad software or a bad PC sound card.
If you want a gaming headset that is actually good, then get the HyperX Clouds plus these will let you get 3 ranks higher on CS GO and a division and a half higher on LoL, so there’s that as well.
I’ve had these almost 3 years now. Most headphones I’ve used previously cut out on one side eventually – these are the first that haven’t. They are also some of the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn. They look nice, build quality has held up and the detachable mic is the most useful feature ever (even if a little easy to get lost).
I’m not an audio expert but the sound seems great to me. I imagine diminishing returns the more you spend but these are certainly an improvement over my 30 Sennheiser in-ears that I can compare to directly. The ‘pretend 7.1 surround sound audio boost’ button is a gimmick. It just boosts what seems to be the background noise by a large amount. I never use it although I will note that it does make listening to music an interesting experience (arguably better for some songs). My partner has it switched on whenever she uses the headphones so it’s definitely a personal preference thing.
Finally the downside, and the only reason I have removed a star. These disconnect occasionally from the PC even while in use, and all sound will cut out. Usually fixable by unplugging and replugging in the USB but this is annoying when I like to have them plugged into the rear I/O of the PC case which is hidden away and purposefully hard to get to. Sometimes they refuse to be detected at all when plugged in, and I will have to try every single possible USB port until one eventually recognises them. This has gotten worse over 3 years, but I remember it being an issue very early on. It was even well commented online as a common problem, yet still no fix – come on Kingston.
I’ve had the HyperX Cloud II gaming headphones since around December. I never thought headphones could sound so good until I got these!
The sound quality is amazing and is quickly noticeable when you’re playing games. If you feel like you don’t want to wear headphones, the hack with the set here is you can put them in front of you, turn headphones up, spread the cups apart and have a neat sounding mono/stereo sound that still sounds brilliant! Sounds can be heard clearly and are almost felt! I really feel like the balance of bass, mids and highs are greatly optimized, and not once have I thought of changing any sound settings on any of my devices which I have used with this headset! If there are better headphones then these then let me know, stunning sound quality, great comfort for long standing game sessions!
The bonus with the headset is the usb dongle which is also a usb soundcard! You get a massive bonus of better sound quality as you’re not using the internal sound run through the motherboard which adds noise to a sound signal, so your sound is as pure and great quality and yes you can plug your speakers in the headphone jack on the usb dongle too!
The only thing wrong with this headset is the mic! I was almost going to send the headset back due to that! I am a lets player on YouTube and wanted a 2 in 1 headset as opposed to a studio mic in a unit run through the PC. I now just do that and have the headphones sitting on my head which is okay with me! It’s still good!
Other niggle is the cable length when not using on PC, it’s short! I mix music as a hobby and when I want to move around a bit I feel like I am tied down, or if I have my mp3 player set down while doing dishes, it generally sits on the side or just falls and hands due to the short cable (without the usb dongle)
I want to give these a 5 but they need improvements, for the money you get what I feel you could be paying a good 100.00+ for!
I don’t review all my products I purchase, I had to share what I feel was the best purchase in a while from Amazon!
first, the package has such a great quality! as soon you start opening the box you feel, smell and see the quality everywhere.
I come from using USB Plantronics 700 to these. I thought Plantronics was confortable but after I lift these up way lighter and then when i put them on way confortable! I wear glasses and I can’t feel them. Just great.
The detachable micro was a must have so i can use them on the go, easy to detach and attach, nothing to say here. I found my Plantronics mic better, for skype and in voice games they were more sensitive and easy to pick up my voice if i couldn’t speak too loud. I don’t know if when i press the + for the mic if it is actually doing something.
I use the USB port and the cable with the USB dongle is too big, i just unfolded a bit of the cord and left it tied as it was from packaging, and it is confortable like this.
I know there is no noise cancellation, but i expected them way better than the plantronics but they are just slight better, I have always my flatmates around talking and watching Tv, if they are not speaking down I can hear them.
Sound quality really good!!! much better than my previous ones.
Overall I would still wait weeks to get the good price and buy them again. Super confortable, great sound quality, USB+Audio Jack, detachable mic and so on.
To start off with, I was just using this headset to watch youtube so I could check out the sound quality. The sound is amazing, the definition is just incredible with this headset.
Pros
-Very good quality sound
-Nice feel and build quality
-Extremely comfortable
-Good 7.1 surround sound
Cons
-Microphone issues (fixed by deleting USB drivers from device manager)
-Slight whining feedback sound when no audio (common in most headsets)
-7.1 Surround sound
Detailed:
The sound is just incredible with easy audio adjustment just next to me, including microphone adjustments.
The surround sound is almost perfect with me now able to pinpoint sounds in games like CS:GO and BF4. However, it does take a little getting used to because the 7.1 surround control is on an external USB device instead of through software. This also means that the headset can’t be fine tuned with settings with its own software which is a shame but not the end of the world.
This has to be the most comfortable headset I have ever worn as I could wear it for about 3 to 4 hours straight away with absolutely no issues, my old headset (Sound Blaster Evo ZX) couldn’t do that!
The build quality feels amazing, like it should last for years. It is pretty much all metal construction which is nice because I currently have a backup USB gaming headset that has to be held together with glue and duck tape.
The microphone is actually really good but Windows 10 (and some other versions) doesn’t like trying to detect it; in the recording devices menu I had to shout at the microphone which was about 2cm away from my mouth to get it to register I was speaking but any software that goes straight to the device itself will have absolutely no trouble. I did manage to fix this by going into device manager and deleting all of my USB drivers and letting them reinstall themselves.
Conclusion:
Incredible quality for the price but be prepared to get used to the surround sound and also to do some quick troubleshooting to fix any microphone problems. (There are lots of forum pages where most of them get fixed)
I have given 4 stars purely because I shouldn’t have had to go into my device manager and delete drivers to fix my microphone after going through many other steps that didn’t even work. I will just mention that technical support was amazing and very quick at trying to help me but can be a little tricky to navigate the website.
I don’t usually leave reviews but felt I had to for this headset. I ordered Saturday night (11pm) when my cheap headset decided to give up during BF1! These arrived first thing Monday (today) morning – fantastic service Amazon, thanks.
So, the headset – first thing you notice is the presentation of the packaging. They have thought about it, it looks great and everything is neatly packaged in its own area. The headset feels like it’s built well and to a good standard. It has a decent weight to it too. I have quite a big head so finding a headset that is comfy for prolonged usage isn’t an easy task, so far this is living up to the expectations perfectly. I’ve had it on now for a couple of hours just listening to music, no discomfort at all. I even tried putting glasses on which I occasionally wear and it’s still comfortable.
The sound quality is excellent, the 54mm drivers really pack a punch. Crisp sound, good bass which is important. The mid to upper frequencies are there too, even when pushing them loud they handle whatever you throw at them perfectly. No distortion or loss of sound quality. I have given them a bit of a work out with everything from hip-hop, house and drum and bass – all sound excellent. The microphone positions well on your face so not to be in the way. I did a test call on Skype and the playback of me was excellent, confident that there won’t be any inconsistencies like I used to have.
I loaded BF1, set the sound options to surround, pressed the 7.1 button on the USB in-line remote and started the first single player mission again. Wowzers! The sound design work in BF1 is immense and really comes to life with this headset.
You get the idea – I’m chuffed to bits with this headset and can’t recommend it enough! I wasn’t brave enough to save the 13 and buy the white and pink one!
Buy it, you won’t regret it.
Only really my second headset. The first being a Turtle Beach that I used on PS3.
Pro’s
The sound from the headphones and the mic is crystal clear.
The cord is very lengthy too. I’m using it on my PC at a desk and there is plenty of cord to plug into the back of the machine, up behind the desk and to my face.
There’s an in-line remote as well to adjust: volume, mic volume, mute and 7.1 on/off. This also has a clip too so you can clip it onto your clothes for easy access.
Build quality is excellent. They’ve used really high quality parts and they feel like a luxury/premium product. Nothing feels flimsy. It feels really sturdy.
Cons
Comfort wise, it is great however, I wear glasses and after a while, the headset can cause the frames to dig into the side of my head a little so I have to readjust. This is just a general problem for all headsets though.
Additional Info
I would say this is a game issue and not the headset, but I play Battlefield 4 and the directional sound can be a little strange.
If there’s a helicopter hovering behind me, I can tell from the headset that it’s behind me, but as I move around to find it, the audio for the helicopter seems to jump rather than transition smoothly from one ear to the other. But like I say, this is probably a software issue rather than the headset.
Some software to go with the headset to adjust audio frequencies would be nice.
Unboxing
————-
Very nice packaging with HyperX Cloud2 — classy looking grey and very sturdy box with foam padding in all the right places. Comes with a mesh bag for the headset, an airplane adapter, a spare set of earpads, and the detachable microphone. Good to see a few useful accessories at this price point. Perhaps a stow-able mic would have been nice, but a minor quibble and the supplied mic is very easy to attach/detach and also to find a convenient position with.
Hardware
————-
I’ve got the gunmetal (all black) version, and I think it looks great – much more understated than most gaming headsets. The construction appears very solid, with metal used in the headband (rather than the more common plastic) — they’ve already been dropped several times from desk height (sometimes violently because of the way I attach the control unit to my chair) with no signs of any damage or any squeaks/rattles developing. Definitely strong enough to sling around at a LAN party (I sound old 🙁 ) . The braided cable is a good length with the USB connection, but only really suitable for listening to a portable device without it (more on this later).
The USB portion has a decently long cable for connection to a rear USB port and comes with a handy clip on it (presumably for clothing — mine is attached to my chair with Velcro), with separate volume controls for the headphones and microphone, a mute switch for the microphone (bit fiddly to operate and I usually bind a key in game to speak), and the toggle button for the Surround Sound.
One minor downside is the little rubber grommet used to protect the microphone port when the mic is detached — once removed it looks eminently losable, and since my microphone will be plugged in most of the time it went straight back in the box with the other bits and bobs.
The HyperX Cloud2 comes with 2 sets of earpads, a faux leather set (shipped fitted) and a velour pair in the box. Both sets are comfortable but I find the faux leather slightly more so, as the foam is a little softer. However, during the recent heatwave (by UK standards) I found the velour set to be distinctly less sweaty (although slightly itchy). I don’t think I’d complain about either, so to receive both pairs as standard is a nice touch.
The headband seems to adjust over a pretty wide range so I think this would be suitable, size wise, for most people (I used to have a boss who looked like Herman Munster and it probably wouldn’t fit him).
I’ve worn the headset for quite a few hours now with very little discomfort — they’re light enough not to slip down at all on my ears and they don’t apply too much pressure (a problem I’ve found with headphones in the past and it gives me a headache, yes, poor me).
Installation
————–
Installation under Windows 10 was a breeze — nothing more is required than plugging in the USB portion of the headset, letting Windoze do it’s stuff, then remembering to set it as the default playback device.
Audio Output
——————
I’m a classically trained musician and I listen to (nearly) everything from baroque classical to techno / trance (sorry, can’t abide R&B or happy hardcore), so I’m pretty fussy about audio.
With the USB connection, the audio quality is good. Decent amount of bass and reasonable mid and treble clarity. Hard to tell the quality of the headphones exactly as the sound signal goes through many layers of software before it gets to you.
I’m not entirely convinced by the Virtual Surround Sound. It’s quite nice in a solo game like Far Cry 4 as it really brings the sounds of the environment alive, especially things like waterfalls. But for a more competitive game like CS GO I much prefer the standard stereo sound — the surround sound just interferes when listening for the footsteps of an enemy and makes it harder to pinpoint their location.
Where I have found the Surround Sound to be useful is when watching films — admittedly I don’t watch many films on my PC directly, but I tried a few such as The Revenant (don’t watch unless you have a strong stomach), Iron Man, Deadpool etc. and my impression was positive. It definitely makes you feel more as if you’re part of the action with less of the ‘inside your head’ effect one usually gets with headphones. Of course, it doesn’t really emulate the setup of a proper 5.1 speaker system.
After I’d already purchased this headset (d’oh!) I read a very good review of it (link at the end). Following the reviewer’s advice is definitely a good step if you plan on using these extensively for audio only from your PC. I purchased a splitter (to separate the headphone and microphone connections) and extension cable which both work well (links also at the end).
The difference in audio quality is quite noticeable when the headset is plugged directly in to the sound card (an ageing SoundBlaster in my case). The bass really ‘pops’ a lot more and the mid and treble ranges are very clear.
The USB connection also adds a faint hiss — only noticeable in extremely quiet sections (try ‘El Nino’ for an example) but it’s definitely there. No such hiss exists with a direct connection.
I don’t think the direct connection makes much difference in game and the Surround Sound is nice for those rare occasions when you get to just chill and take in your environment (which a large team of people took ages to craft — I grew up with games like the legendary ‘Chuckie Egg’ so I really appreciate the advances in graphics technology which provide such beautiful gaming environments now). It’s also very convenient to have the USB device handy with its various controls.
Unfortunately, I don’t have much other than a PC (and portables) for listening to music right now, so it’s difficult to judge the audio quality without all of the layers of software interfering. Fortunately, my Dad has a rather nice separates system with a lovely and very expensive pair of Bose headphones. When listening through the HyperX headset using this high quality setup I was immediately impressed — these really are good enough to use daily for audio only. Plenty of bass though not overly so — it still works well with classical music. Nice and rich through mid, and clear in the treble. Very impressed.
Of course, I then had a go with the Bose headphones and, as you might suspect, the difference was clear — the Bose has a much tighter response with no discernible dropouts. But the HyperX are a fraction of the price, and when listening to a compressed format such as MP3 I struggled to tell the difference.
Audio Input
—————
The microphone seems good enough — apparently people can hear me in game, but I can’t attest to what they’re actually hearing. Might be making me sound like a fluent Russian speaker judging by some of the responses I’ve received
Skype calls seem to work fine with the headset.
Conclusion
—————
I had previously purchased a HUHD set which were much cheaper (and wireless) but of a much lower quality. They were returned due to dropouts in the audio. This set have been far superior all round.
I would wholeheartedly recommend the HyperX Cloud II headset. Its looks may be too understated for the teenage crowd (although it does come in red and also in a quite shocking white/pink combo which, perhaps unsurprisingly, they sell for a lower price), but for us oldies I think it looks perfect.
The build quality and comfort are both excellent.
Audio is also very good, but it’s definitely worth getting a splitter and extension cable to plug directly into your sound card when listening to music for an extended period.
Overall, a good quality, well designed headset which will give much more expensive, audio only headphones a run for their money.
If you found this review helpful, please click on ‘Yes’ below.
Links
Review: http://www.pcgameware.co.uk/reviews/headsets/hyperx-cloud-ii-headset-review/
Splitter: StarTech.com 3.5mm 4 Position to 2x 3 Position 3.5mm Headset Splitter Adapter – F/M – 3.5mm headset Adapter Cable
Extension: KabelDirekt 3m Headset Extension Cable 3.5mm male to 3.5mm female connector 4-pole – PRO Series
NB: When purchasing an extension cable for this headset bear in mind that the microphone won’t work with a standard audio extension cable which lacks a carrier for the microphone signal. You need a 4-pole extension cable (sometimes sold as compatible with smartphones) to use the microphone.
I can also recommend this headphone hanger Brainwavz Hooka The All Metal Headphone Stand Hange
This headset is fantastic, the unboxing experience is perfect, it comes with a bag to store it in if you’re travelling and an airplane adapter, it also comes with both leather and cloth earcups. It is THE MOST COMFY HEADSET I HAVE EVER USED. No really, I wear mine pretty much all day, wish glasses on, no feeling of pressure, no headaches, nothing. The sound these produce is among the best I’ve heard too, there’s not too much of anything, and bass is boomy without being overpowering. The surround sound available through USB is the best I’ve come across, it feels more… spacey? There’s also not an annoying amount of echo effect that other headsets with virtual surround get.
I’ve had mine for 9 months now, around the 8 month mark I unforunately started having issues with the USB connection cutting out when the cable was in certain positions. I contacted Kingston support and they sent me a new cable for free, it arrived within the week, problem solved. Due to the fact that this was probably user error, the fact the headset itself is so fantastic and the customer support was great I won’t be taking any stars off.
[UPDATE]
Sadly I lost sound in the right ear of my headset after nearly a year (?) of use. However, Kingston support was once again fantastic, I sent the headset back (they said I did not need to include accessories so I didn’t), and they sent a brand new box back, all accessories included! Due to their continued excellent service and the headset still being probably one of my favourite peripherals I own (I basically wear these all day), I am still not knocking off any stars!
One of the best purchases of my life. I wear them a good 8 hours a day. I had never spent more than 10 for a headset before, as I considered even the cheap ones more than enough. But oh boy, this was totally worth it.
– Speakers: Very good quality. Very loud as well, I have yet to max out the volume, I will probably lose my hearing. The only area they lack in is the bass. They are still great for music, but I wish they had a bit more bass. Razer’s Surround Sound software, which increases bass helps quite a bit with this issue. Though if you’re looking for a headset mainly for music, you should probably look for another one.
– Microphone: A friend of mine even bought the same headset because of my recommendation and we’ve had moments where we think our skype call has broken up, because it’s so silent when neither of us is talking. If your in-game teammates are complaining because of your microphone, that won’t happen with this one. The quality is pretty good too, it’s not just silent. The voice is crystal clear, albeit it’s not an actual representation of what your real voice sounds like.
– Quality: Fantastic. They feel very sturdy, I’ve been using them for 8 hours a day for the last 2 months or so and haven’t had any problem with them. I also keep attaching and detaching the microphone several times a day, still no issues with it.
– Surround: Pretty darn good. I play CS:GO and I’ve actually got my teammates reported for cheating. True story, I was dead and a teammate was alone against 2 people. He was facing one of them and the second was coming from his left. Only I head him and told him that he’s incoming from the left. We won that round, but my teammate got reported, because he “magically” knew that there was someone coming from the left.
Been using this for the last 2 months or so.
Long enough to give it a proper review.
First up packaging is outstanding for a headset in this price range. The headset is boxed with 2 sets of ear cup pads (one pair in velour/microfiber and one in ‘pleather’). There is also the detatchable mic on a very adjustable boom and a padded mesh drawstring bag for (I guess) transporting to LANs etc
The earcups are solid plastic with aluminium backs. The headband has nice soft padding, is of the same pleather as the ear cups. The internal construction of the head band is metal (I’m guessing steel) and the forked ends which hold the ear cups on a pivot are aluminium – the same as the backs of the earcups.
The cord has a beefy braid over the sheathing. The cord is split into 2 sections. From the headset unit, there is a 1m cord that terminates in a 4 pole 3.5mm jack. The other section of cord (aprox 2m) which connects to the USB soundcard to your PC terminates in a standard USB2 male plug.
Overall the build quality impressed me, especially for the price, the corsair vengeance set (which I paid more for) feels like a cheap chinese ebay special by comparison.
I’ve been using the velour ear cup padsones as the reason I bought this headset was that the pleather on my corsair vengeance headset had worn and torn over their 4 year service rubbing against my (only occasionally shaven) face. I’ve been very impressed with the comfort, even when gaming for long sessions. Which is even more impressive as it doesnt mash the arms of my glasses into my face.
I’m guessing that’s where they got the ‘cloud’ name from because they really are very comfy. Head pressure is just right, not too loose so they fall off when you rage quit, but not too tight that your scalp gets numb patches either.
The mic is what you would expect for a little boom mic like this, maybe a tad better – but it does the job of making call outs just fine.
The main event – The sound.
There is no software included or even available for this unit. it uses a generic USB sound device driver (on windows) so the sound EQ you get is entirely governed by the game or media software you are running.
Like bass?
You better.
That’s probably a little glib. They’re by no means a reference set though. The sound is bass dominant, but mids and highs are just as well reproduced maybe favouring the mids. I listen to a lot of old thrash metal, djent, hard rock, punk, ska and it’s all sounded great to me.
Games too have sounded… actually better than ever.
The emulated 7.1 – it’s okay. Just remember it’s NOT 7.1, it just creates the impression of opening up the soundstage. I’ve really enjoyed having the feature for StarWars Battlefront. All the explosions and orchestral arrangements just come alive through this.
But if you need to sound whore with your try-hard pants pulled up all the way to your armpits, then I suggest you turn it off.
Overall.
For the money, I think you will struggle to beat this. Plenty of media sources have said likewise and I have to agree.
I’m VERY happy with my purchase.
Note – You can not use a speaker system that is plugged into your PC’s onboard (or discrete) soundcard while the cloud 2 is plugged into your PC via USB. Your PC has to recognise this as the primary device to work properly. So if you want to use speakers, you gotta unplug it for your PC soundcard to take over.
Might be obvious to some of you, but I thought I’d broken my brand new amp for about 20 minutes when I first came across the issue (Derp)
Pros
Very comfortable
Great Sound
Plug and Play
Strong braided cord and very long.
Cons
Microphone sucks
Let me explain that con and the reason for only 4 stars. Although I love everything about these headphones and love the fact that you control everything from an external soundcard which is easy to access. HyperX should of allowed the the option to control your headset through windows instead of locking you out. I found the the microphone is just too quiet and my friends was complaining they couldn’t hear me on discord or skype.
I turned the volume all the way up on the external sound card but still didn’t help, I then went into windows sound manager and found I was locked out, by which I mean, there is no volume slider because you control it on the sound card but also the boost microphone slider can’t be moved. Now most people know you normally have to boost your microphone on a headset but with this headset you can’t through windows.
I did find a way to do it, but it was by installing a third party software and it took some playing around with to get it to work. I think an update for these should be released to allow you to boost the microphone through windows which would then make them perfect.
For those that have bought these and are having problems with the microphone, install a software called Equalizer APO, search google and it should be downloaded from the open source website.
If you install the software and have problems getting it to work, feel free to email me or message me on here for help. I will do my best to help you to get this headset to be perfect.
email – [email protected]
So recently my Astro A40s which I had for 2 years broke on me due to cheap plastic for the headband and I needed a new headset because I game and listen to music a lot. I searched the web and found the HyperX Cloud 2 Headset and thought I’d give it a go because the specs looked really good and fitted all my needs.
This is my first ever headset review which means these have to be amazing for me to do this.
I’m going to start with the pros of this headset.
Pros:
1. Boxing, the boxing that came with this headset was so well packed and organised everything had it’s own section.
2. When I took the headset out of the box the first thing I done was put them on to check how comfortable they are and their extremely comfortable. I could literally wear these in my sleep.
3. The microphone is high quality which is a bonus as I use Skype and other VoIP software to talk to mates. Also the microphone is detachable which is a bonus if you don’t need it.
4. The quality of the speakers within the headset are amazing, the sound is true sound without any annoying static noises or broken sound.
5. This is a huge thing for part of the headset and that is the 7.1 surround sound. When having the surround sound turned off it sound great but when you have the surround sound turn on, it feels like you have just walked into a night club and had the night of your life.
6. The cord for the headset is braided with fabric so it has protection and doesn’t seem like it would break easily.
Cons.
I wouldn’t say there is any cons to be honest for the headset as everything seems to be well thought about.
I have tried the expensive, the cheap and everything inbetween. This headset is brilliant for the price, outstanding.
I previously had a set of Sennheiser and paid a wopping 260 for them but they were sent back inside a week as my 40 Turtle Beach headset was alot better. I snapped them and then settled on this set.
They come with a travel bag, ideal for when I work away, a second set of faux velvet ear muff surrounds which are lovely, and an adapter for planes so you can use them onboard for audio too. In game these are brilliant, with a control on wire for headset volume and microphone volume.
For heavy gamers they are comfortable enough to wear for extended times. I even wear them as I work at home and listen to the radio all day. I am really happy with them. One of the few areas of technology where you don’t always get what you pay for.
OK negatives – I am really struggling for negatives, maybe the only issue and I am really clutching at straws for this is the control for the volume is a little too far down the cable, it would be better being higher up as sometimes when its on the floor I nearly roll over it in my PC chair. But that really is pushing for a negative and its not enough to lose a star.
Literally plug and play headset which has a superior audio quality for the price tag.
Great sounding headset, comfortable to wear for long periods.
I don’t like when overear headphones press on my ears, or touch the tips of my ears (a previous headset did and it drove me nuts!) and I am pleased to say my ears ‘just’ fit in the cups without touching on anyside. That said, I don’t have particularly large ears. It comes with 2 sets of covers for the earcups, a soft leatherette finish and a microfibre-esque. I am currently using the microfibre style pair because I find they have slightly less sound isolation (and I like being able to hear myself when talking in a game; not a narcissist, just don’t want to be shouting!), I live in a quiet place so excluding outside noise isnt a big worry.
The mic is clear and I don’t get any complaints for echoes, horrbile volume or background noise pickups. It is quite sensitive to placement and if it is slightly out of place people comment that I am quieter.
Last but not least: the sound! Overall, these sound brilliant. I was a little bit disappointed with the inline soundcard that advertises 7.1 upscaling in games. Testing this out in various games I barely noticed a change to the direction of the sound compared to plain old stereo. The difference I did notice was a drop in sound quality, especially noticable when listening to music.
As an attempt to make it easier to switch from speakers to headset, I decided to get a 4pole headset to 3.5mm jack plus mic input converter ( StarTech 3.5mm 4 Pin to 2x 3 Pin 3.5mm Headset Splitter Adapter – F/M ) and plug the headset straight into the back of my soundcard (soundblaster Recon Fatal1ty). The change was dramatic, music sounds amazing through them, the bass has come alive, so round and deep and responsive, much punchier! It is like listening to the music in a room with proper, high quality speakers and subs! I have some very expensive ulitmate ears headphones for ‘on the go’ that I thought were incredible, and these certainly challenge them for the title!
Having been the owner of the Philips Fidelio X2, arguably a very highly rated, 250+ set of headphones, I realised that I played a lot of games where I required a microphone and had to seek a comparitively good headset with microphone but not lacking in the sound quality department.
I have tried and tested around 5 different headsets and these are by far the best.
The build quality is VERY good, I would say for the price but if they were priced at 100+ I would suggest that they were as good as the money suggested. They sit very comfortably on the head, with adjustable aluminium arm bands wrapped in squishy leatherette and interchangable ear muffs mean you can have a choice of leather or fabric.
The headset comes in a fantastic box with a letter written from the CEO printed on the lid, a nice touch I must admit. The microphone can be taken on and off with ease, meaning that if you want them to become a set of fantastic headphones its simply a quickly pull and done!
Speaking of sound quality, with my Sound Blaster Z sound card these really pack a punch, and I really mean it – not only in the lows but mids too, where traditionally gaming headsets do not focus (they want BIG BASS and stupidly whiney highs, something that this headset, thankfully, doesnt do out the box). The sounds are clear and the sound space is great, truly a good fit for multi-purpose use, whether you wish to game or listen to music.
I would recommend using a sound card with this headset. They can be picked up for very little, my Sound Blaster cost just 50 and it has changed the way I experience all audio on my computer, so if you listen to music frequently and/or game it is an absolutely no brainer.
This would be my recommendation for any headset under 150, I really did not see any reason to spend above 70 when you can have the quality of a 150 headset in this package. You will not be disappointed.
Audio without USB dongle: The sound is crystal clear and sublime at every volume, you should feel fairly relaxed with such a lightweight and comfortable headset whilst accompanied by undisturbed audio for a fantastic experience. You can hear the bass perfectly well unlike other “gaming” headsets. Note without the dongle you cannot use the microphone or 7.1 virtual surround sound.
Audio with USB dongle: With the addition of the USB dongle you will be able to benefit from the 7.1 virtual surround sound and be able to use your microphone. However this is where things start changing, when using the USB dongle you might start to hear crackling and audio disruptions at low volumes. This is a known fault caused by the USB dongle (not this is not the case with all headsets) however audio will not be affected at higher volumes. Personally I would not use the USB dongle unless it was for the microphone or 7.1 sound but as my laptop’s 3.5mm jack does not work I have no choice.
7.1 Virtual Surround Sound: The 7.1 virtual surround sound is great, when in video games that are impacted by the audio it really does make an immense change. Despite it being only virtual, you will still be able to determine where audio is coming from whether North, South, East, West and all other possible directions without any sort of disruptions. Note that in games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive this really does improve your capabilities.
Xbox/PS: This headset is compatible with both the xbox and playstation however you will NOT be able to use your microphone and the 7.1 surround sound will not work at all for most games. Do note this is primarily designed to be a PC gaming headset, if you’re looking for a xbox/playstation headset I would strongly recommend turtlebeach.
Issues: At lower levels whilst using the USB dongle I could hear a very distinctive crackling sound that disturbed audio levels and sound quality. After a couple months my USB dongle also started experiencing another fault, at times when I moved the dongle or accidentally pulled on the cord I would lose all sound and the only way I could recover from this is to unplug my headset completely, wait a few seconds and plug it back in. This is extremely bothersome in the middle of a game. Note I do not pull ANY cables out, the USB dongle simply seems to bug/glitch and it causes a complete loss of sound.
I have contacted HyperX over at kingston and they are sending me a new USB dongle free of charge due to this fault. Note that I am not the only one who has had this issue, if you do experience it and you can confirm the fault is with the USB dongle then contact the Kingston support and do give them details and ask for a replacement. Note your warranty must still be intact if you do not wish to pay.
Conclusion: This is an all-round, fantastic headset. The build, sound, 7.1 and microphone are all of fantastic quality. For 70 this really is a good deal however I cannot give it 5 stars due to the disappointing faults with the USB dongle. Despite known faults having been around for a while I have not heard of any planned fixes from HyperX themselves.