HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset
Unboxing
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 Hanger
| Specific uses for product | Gaming |
|---|---|
| Headphone jack | USB |
| Noise control | Sound Isolation |
| Recommended uses for product | Gaming |
| Compatible devices | PC^Mac^PS4^Xbox One^PC/Gaming^(N/A) Headset |
| Impedance | 60 Ohm |
| Control type | Volume Control |
| Cable feature | Detachable |
| Item weight | 11.29 Ounces |
| Water resistance level | Not Water Resistant |
| Package type | Standard Packaging |
| Unit count | 1 count |
| Product Dimensions | 11 x 11 x 9 cm; 320.06 g |
| Item model number | KHX-HSCP-GM |
| Manufacturer | HyperX |
| Form Factor | Over Ear |
| Power Source | AC |
| Hardware Platform | PC Headsets, PS4 Headsets, XBox One Headsets |
| Supported Software | No |
| Lithium Battery Energy Content | 3.5 Watt Hours |
| Lithium Battery Packaging | Batteries packed with equipment |
| Lithium Battery Weight | 0.85 g |
| Number Of Lithium Ion Cells | 1 |
| Item Weight | 320 g |
| Guaranteed software updates until | unknown |
