I want to have an open discussion with you today about the merits and drawbacks of the popular HyperX Cloud gaming headphones. As an avid gamer and self-proclaimed audio geek, I‘ve tested out pretty much all the major wired headset options on the market. I know how frustrating making headset buying decisions can be.
My goal here is to provide some insider context to help you make the most informed decision possible. The HyperX Cloud line definitely deserves its positive reputation in many ways. However, my testing and research has revealed key weaknesses that I want to break down for you as well.
There are alternatives out there that may suit your needs and budget better if gaming audio quality is a priority. My aim isn‘t to condemn HyperX – I just want to detail the technical shortcomings I‘ve discovered so you can determine if they are dealbreakers for your personal usage.
Let‘s jump in!
Overview of HyperX Cloud Gaming Headsets
First, some quick background. The HyperX Cloud was released in 2014 as the gaming division of memory giant Kingston aimed to disrupt the headset space. Its over-ear closed-back design struck a winning formula of good-enough audio and lush comfort at an affordable sub-$100 price point.
The removable mic and durable aluminum construction also appealed to gamers who tended to destroy flimsier products. Follow-ups like the Cloud II in 2015 and Cloud Alpha in 2017 iterated modestly while retaining the core value proposition.
I‘ll be the first to admit they nail a lot of aspects that I like in a daily driver headset. The leatherette ear cups avoid pinching my noggin like a vice grip. The boom mic sounds far better than it should at this price range. And they work flawlessly across Xbox and PlayStation controllers and mobiles devices.
However, in terms of delivering elite gaming-grade audio, the HyperX Clouds expose some performance limitations that gnaw at me. I don‘t expect miracles for less than $100. But considering its gaming branding and reputation, its deficits in critical areas surprise me.
Hopefully detailing these flaws can help assess if they ruin the overall package for your personal needs and expectations!
Reason 1: Earcups Become Unbearably Hot
I tend to game for hours on end during my free time for better or worse. So breathability and temperature regulation are make-or-break features for any headset I use. Unfortunately, one major issue I run into with the HyperX Cloud Alpha is that the sealed ear cups turn sweltering hot way too quickly.
Unlike open-air designs that allow some airflow, the Cloud Alpha‘s thick memory foam pads and leatherette coverings basically suffocate my ears. Just 30 minutes in, and I feel sweat starting to accumulate as the earcup temperature rises several degrees warmer than room level.
After an hour, forget about it. My ears feel on the verge of boiling as the pads reach oven-like temperatures exceeding 105° F (40° C). Now I‘m constantly tearing off the headset just to let my ears cool off and drum up some airflow.
And when I return for my next match, having damp earpads suction back over already hot ears feels, well, gross. The continual heat also breaks down the faux leather material faster in my experience.
Maybe more vaporous gamers fare better. But within a few gaming sessions, my ears feel baked enough that I need to end voice chats apologizing for the audible swampiness. For longer sessions, poor breathability affects comfort and concentration.
Testing shows sealed earcups can heat up dramatically without ventilation
Reason 2: Lifeless Treble Distracts from Game Audio Cues
Since so much vital in-game intelligence gets communicated through high-frequency audio, I also pay close attention to treble quality with gaming headsets. Unfortunately, another recurring complaint by audio testers regarding HyperX Clouds is subpar treble extension leading to dull and muddy sound.
As an example, look at the uneven treble inaccuracies independently measured on the Cloud Alpha across low, mid, and high ranges:
| Frequency Range | Deviation | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Low Treble (>2 kHz) |
-2.72 dB | Dull, hollow tones |
| Mid Treble (2kHz–8kHz) |
-1.16 dB | Lispy vocals and instruments |
| High Treble (<8kHz) |
-7.07 dB | Loss of detail and sparkle |
That high treble deviation indicates a ballooning drop-off in clarity for in-game sound effects like reloads and footsteps. My own gaming experiences align with the lifeless treble conclusions. The Cloud Alpha strangely misses rendering lots of subtle audio activity even with the volume jacked.
Based on the principles of equal loudness contours, our hearing starts requiring boosts in the treble ranges at louder volumes to perceive balance. But even maxing out game volumes, the Cloud Alpha‘s faulty treble fails delivering the crispness modern titles can offer.
And the deviations seem worse than what professional Audio Precision testing has revealed on competing headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis and Logitech Pro X. For first-person shooter and MOBAs, so much useful intel registers in the higher frequencies. The lifeless treble reproduction seriously dampens my battle awareness and drains the joy from victory and defeat alike.
Reason 3: They Still Let Outside Noise In, Breaking Immersion
Gaming sessions reach their peak enjoyment by transporting us away from the real world temporarily. So noise isolation proves critical for sealing out external distractions to maintain immersion.
And to be fair, HyperX does advertise its Cloud line as utilizing noise cancellation technology. But sadly, my experience is that the passive isolation does little to actual dampen common mid-range background chatter.
Per published testing, the closed-back barrier only provides effective blocking across the highest frequency band:
- Minimal attenuation of engine rumbles and other low frequencies
- Barely any difference cutting out human speech bands
- Very slight attenuation of office noises like keyboard clicks
- Only around 7 dB reduction of high pitch whines from PC fans
So in practice, the Cloud Alpha basically just reduces hissing background textures while allowing the majority of intruding noises to interfere. Sitting right beside my gaming PC, its fans still cut loudly through game audio. And when my girlfriend passes through on business calls, it proves impossible to miss her side of conversations.
Sure I can ratchet up the volume dial to mask disturbances. But considering its noise cancellation marketing, the Cloud Alpha bungles the most sonically annoying elements that shatter gameplay immersion.
Reason 4: The Beefy Build Weighs Heavy on My Neck
Jumping over to comfort factors, HyperX touts the Cloud Alpha‘s plush leatherette earcups that avoid pinching pain on sizeable noggins like mine. And they definitely deliver on not vice-gripping my cranium which I appreciate.
However, the bulky steel headband and full-sized round earcups make the headset on the whole burdensome to bear for longer than an hour or two. At a stout 321 grams, that‘s a good 25% heavier than my previous Turtle Beach headset.
Now I expected some heft given the durable aluminum materials. But combined with the already hot and stuffy cans cupped over my ears, my neck gets sore having to crane up pounds of headset. I definitely feel the HyperX Cloud Alpha‘s weight after just 3 or 4 matches forcing me to shake loose the tension.
And the beefy build proves annoying when I switch over to Xbox on the living room TV. Having an already large headset loosely dangling while I lounge on the couch makes it unwieldy to balance. Especially after the earpads get slick with sweat, the hefty Cloud Alpha slips around lacking stability.
So while I can bear the encumbrance for a match or two, lengthy gaming sessions make me wish for less neck-straining ounces. The lightness and adjustability of other popular headsets like the Razer Kraken or Corsair Void RGB feel liberating by comparison.
Reason 5: Analog Connection Lacks Customization
Unlike higher-end wireless gaming headsets, the Cloud Alpha relies on a no-frills 3.5 mm analog connection. And as a simplicity lover at times, I can dig that focused "just plug it in and game" approach.
However, the analog signal transmission method lacks means of extra sound processing beyond basic stereo panning. So unlike USB or wireless alternatives, I sorely miss having no access to surround sound profiles for boosting positional accuracy.
The barebones wired functionality also cuts them off from fun features like RGB personalization, mic input adjustment, and cross-device Bluetooth pairing.
And the omission of any HyperX software on PC removes helpful extras like:
- Equalizer adjustment
- Environmental reverb tailoring
- Game-specific audio optimizations
Perhaps I‘m spoiled by more versatile headsets, but not having any audio tweakability feels limiting. At this price point, expected at least basic software customization of sound curves for freshening up aging titles.
If you prefer simplicity it still gets basic audio job done. But custom surround mixes and sound signatures can help wring out every drop of atmosphere from games. So the unwavering static stereo signal falls short of unlocking that potential.
Reason 6: Rivals Deliver Superior Gaming Performance
Considering its core pitch centers on gaming usage, the HyperX Cloud should theoretically play FPS, MOBAs, and other competitive genres with competence bordering on excellence. Yet surprisingly, multiple reviewers (including myself) have noted its performance often feeling merely average or even detrimental.
As highlighted above, the combination of suffocating earcups, undefined audio imaging, intruding noise, and missing software contribute to a disjointed, distracting listening experience:
- Congested soundstage lacking perceived width and intimacy
- Inability to discern directional action at times
- Failure communicating subtle but vital audio cues
- Reliance on unreliably loud volumes for information
When frantic teamfights or stealth attacks kickoff, I struggle discerning relevant signals. And catching environmental audio tells between the Cloud Alpha‘s muffling and outside noise leakage proves dicey.
Sure they work. But even at half the price, I have gotten more satisfying and competitive mileage out of cheapos like the Razer Kraken X. While the Clouds satiate casual listening, the gaming rhetoric rings hollow for me in practice.
And benchmarking against better-tuned gaming headphones like the Astro A40 and SteelSeries Pro only spotlights the Cloud Alpha‘s audio deficiencies. They wind up feeling mismatched given gaming remains central to HyperX‘s marketing messaging around the Cloud line.
I apologize for the blunt critique, but I aim to provide my honest hands-on usage impressions to help inform you. I realize this comes off sounding pretty negative. Rest assured, I do still recommend HyperX Clouds to friends who listen casually and want economic wired headsets with lounge-friendly fit.
However, if you take gaming audio seriously and want optimal performance, the HyperX Cloud line exposes some performance limitations as a gaming headset option.
The Good
- Solid no-frills build quality
- Avoid painful clamping
- Work broadly across devices
- Bang for buck on paper
The Bad
- Excessively hot earcups
- Inconsistent muffled audio
- Negligible noise blocking
- Excess weight strains neck
- Can‘t tailor sound curves
So I hope scrutinizing those weaknesses assists your own decision-making process before committing! Let me know if you have any other questions. Now if you‘ll excuse me, I have a risen lord to put back down in Elden Ring!
