httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8SvJOeIUO0
What’s goin on guys, Jerry Neutron here and today we’re gonna take a look at the successor of the ever so popular HyperX Cloud gaming headset. This is the HyperX Cloud II.
As we open up the box, HyperX immediately gives off a good first impression because the packaging is top notch.
Several items are enclosed in the box including:
- The headset
- Detachable cardioid mic
- Audio control box
- Velour ear pads
- Airplane adapter
- Mesh carrying pouch
Holding the headset in your hand, the first thing you’ll notice is the Beyerdynamic-like appearance and the solid build quality, which is definitely it’s best feature.
The edges of the headband have a nice gunmetal stitching which also comes in red or pink, depending on the model of the headset you get. There’s also a nice stitched black HyperX logo at the top.
The headband itself isn’t the most plush but it does offer a little bit of cushioning for the top of your head. It didn’t really seem to be an issue after wearing the headset for a few hours.
If we move down a bit we can get a glimpse of the brushed aluminum on the exterior of the ear cup as well as the HyperX branding. The brushed aluminum is definitely a nice touch and it adds to the value of the headset.
You’ll also notice this is a closed back design. I wouldn’t mind seeing an open or semi-open design in the future for that larger sound stage but I can see this current design appealing more to the masses. Especially if you’re in a loud environment or maybe you don’t want to annoy others with your leaking sound.
On the inside you get these soft leatherette over-the-ear cups which I really like a lot. HyperX says this is actually 100% memory foam. From a comfort standpoint, I can see myself wearing these for hours, the only downside is they make your ears quite warm.
They also do a great job with passive noise-cancellation thanks to the over-the-ear design.
You do have the option of swapping these ear cups out with the included velour pads. I didn’t notice any change in sound by using those over the leather and I actually think the default ear cups are more comfortable. Although the velour does offer better breathability so your ears won’t heat up as quickly.
Beneath the ear cups is where you’ll find the 53mm drivers. Despite the size of them the bass is surprisingly not overwhelming or boomy. But I’ll get into the overall sound in just a moment.
The clamping force is not too bad with this headset either, it’s just enough to keep the ear cups planted to your head. Although the overall fit can be a little snug if you have a big head or if you haven’t had a hair cut in a while like me.
HyperX also includes a detachable mic for voice chat during gaming. The microphone is supposed to be noise cancelling although I didn’t notice anything extra beyond the cardioid pick-up pattern.
Let’s actually listen to how the mic sounds…
(Mic Test)
So as you can hear you won’t be singing Beyonce’s greatest hits hands-free anytime soon but it is good enough to whine or yell at people like a 12-year old.
I do like the fact that it’s detachable though so you can use them as regular headphones if you wish.
Now the big difference between the Cloud II and the previous version is this time HyperX has included a USB sound card. This little unit amplifies your audio and voice signal. It also gives you the ability to control your headset and microphone volume as well as enable virtual 7.1 surround sound.
I did get an opportunity to test the difference between the Stereo and 7.1 setting so let’s hear it and you guys let me know what you think.
(Sound Test)
Personally I think the 7.1 setting sounds more like “enhanced stereo.” It seemed to kind of fill in some areas of the sound stage rather than open it up. It’s not horrible by any means but I think I could live without it.
I also noticed regardless of the setting that the sound lacks a little detail.
The headset seems to have a slight emphasis on the high-end with the mids and low-end coming in about equal. The bass again is not overwhelming or boomy like you’d expect from a gaming headset. It’s actually a little bit underwhelming for my preference but I think it’s current balance will appeal to the majority.
One thing this headset has going for it is versatility. Not only can you use this headset with your PC, you can also connect it to a mobile device like your smartphone or tablet. Or you can connect it to your console. For Playstation 4 it connects directly to your controller through the 3.5mm jack and the same goes for Xbox One once you purchase an adapter for it.
Having the short 1m cable allows it to work well in all 3 scenarios.
The only downside of the short cable comes into play when you want to connect this to your PC through a headphone amp. The cord just barely cleared across my desk and doesn’t leave much wiggle room for movement.
It seems HyperX did not account for those with their own headphone amplifiers in this iteration. Including a USB sound card is great for the masses but what about those that prefer stereo sound through their own amplifier? Are they supposed to purchase the Cloud I or is the Cloud II a replacement for the original?
Sure you can get it working with the purchase of your own adapters but it would be nice to have a solution out of the box and build upon that great versatility that is being offered for console and mobile devices.
So to kind of sum all of this up…here’s my verdict on this headset:
- I don’t like the lack of options for using this with your own headphone amplifier on PC
- Sound-wise, the headset seems to be lacking a little detail. The sound signature is fine overall though.
- The mic sounds like a typical headset mic, although being detachable is a plus
- Versatility is great with this headset, being able to use it on PC, console or mobile devices
- The headset is comfortable with the leatherette ear cups, gaming for long periods of time shouldn’t be an issue
- Presentation and build quality is awesome with this headset, definitely it’s best feature
If you’re on console, this headset is better than anything I’ve ever used Sony or Microsoft branded. On PC, a separate headphone and mic solution is still superior but also double the price in many cases. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution and you have crappy on-board audio, use this with the USB sound card, even if you don’t plan on enabling the 7.1 surround and that’ll give you the best results.
So that’s about all I have to say. Comment potato down below if you made it all the way to the end and also let me know what you think about this headset down below. Don’t forget to like this video if you’ve found it helpful or entertaining and also subscribe for more similar content. Until next time guys…see ya!
HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset for PC/PS4/Xbox/Mobile http://amzn.to/1JTIyTX
Available Feb. 9, 2015
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