HyperX is a well-known brand amongst gaming enthusiasts for their affordable yet high-performing peripherals and hardware. The HyperX Cloud headphones in particular have earned praise in the gaming community for offering versatile, durable and great-sounding headphones at a reasonable price point.
As an experienced tech product reviewer and avid gamer myself, I can confidently say that the HyperX Cloud headphones stand out in the mid-range wired gaming headphone market and are well worth buying, especially for casual to intermediate gamers. Through extensive testing and research comparing these headphones to competing products, I have identified 9 compelling reasons why you should consider picking up a pair of HyperX Clouds for your next gaming audio upgrade.
Why Choose HyperX Cloud Headphones?
Before diving into the specifics, let‘s briefly examine what sets apart HyperX as a gaming audio brand, and what the Cloud headphone series aims to achieve for gamers needing quality audio on a budget.
HyperX is the high-performance product division from memory pioneer Kingston Technology. Unlike more mainstream brands, HyperX gears their products specifically towards gamers and overclocking enthusiasts. This gaming-first approach allows them to offer great bang for your buck.
The Cloud series headphones epitomize HyperX‘s gaming focus by striving to deliver three key characteristics – comfort, sound quality and compatibility – at affordable pricing tiers. Available in wired and wireless models ranging from $50 to $130, what you‘re getting is a durable, no-frills gaming audio workhorse optimized for competitive and immersive gameplay.
Now let‘s explore 9 reasons why HyperX Cloud is a smart choice for gamers seeking quality wired headphones without breaking the bank.
#1 – Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound for Immersive Gaming
A standout feature of the HyperX Cloud is its virtual 7.1 surround sound support. Using software algorithms, audio is processed to simulate a multi-speaker setup in your headphones. This allows gamers to experience richer positional audio and accurately pinpoint things like enemy locations and movements – crucial advantages for competitive gaming.
The Cloud‘s 7.1 surround can even be toggled on or off with the press of a button, allowing for more immersive movie watching or music listening when activated, or passive stereo when deactivated. Compared to competing headsets lacking virtual surround capabilities in this price tier, the HyperX Cloud offers superior in-game spatial awareness for the cost.
#2 – Durable and Premium Build Quality
Despite the reasonable sub-$100 pricing, HyperX does not compromise on structural quality with the Cloud series. Making strategic use of aluminium, leatherette and high-density memory foam materials, Cloud headphones feel anything but cheap or flimsy during use.
The solid aluminium frame, thick headband cushion and flexible detachable mic withstand normal twisting or dropping without concern. Users report getting years of nearly daily use without any cracks or breakages.
By leveraging fairly premium materials usually reserved for pricier brands, HyperX ensures a polished construction that can keep up with gaming marathons day after day.
#3 – Versatile for Both Gaming and Entertainment
HyperX designed the Cloud with gaming versatility in mind, evidenced by the easily detachable microphone and onboard 7.1 surround toggle. This versatility allows the headphones to pull double duty as great sound companions for music or movies while on the go.
Since game audio tends to be more mid-centric to highlight critical sound effects, the Cloud‘s audio reproduction caters to gaming needs first without compromising enjoyment of vocal-forward music genres or intense action films.
The closed-back ear cup design also allows you to enjoy punchy bass without sound leakage in libraries or public spaces. Considering most gamers enjoy entertainment beyond just gameplay alone, the HyperX Cloud is a Swiss Army knife companion.
#4 – Natural and Well-Balanced Sound Signature
Audio performance sits at the heart of any gaming headset. Through my evaluation, the Cloud produces a balanced sound signature giving equal emphasis to lows, mids and highs. The tendency for many cheaper headsets is to over-boost bass or treble extremes, resulting in uncontrolled boominess or shrill highs.
The Cloud instead sounds smoother and more natural to my ears for both gaming and music listening. Mids and vocals sound clear without harshness, while low-end provides just enough punch for in-game explosions or EDM tracks without muddiness.
Given its natural tuning, the Cloud gives gamers an honest and fatigue-free sound experience during extended gaming sessions while allowing you to pinpoint audio cues clearly.
#5 – Lightweight Comfort for Long Gaming Sessions
Wearing an uncomfortable headset inevitably distracts from your gaming immersion. Thankfully, HyperX accounted for ergonomics and constructed the Cloud series for comfortable long-term wear through smart material choices.
The memory foam leatherette ear pads isolate noise without putting undue pressure around your ears after hours of use. The padded headband prevents any hot spots at the crown of head as well. Despite its durable build, the Cloud still weighs just a svelte 275 grams allowing me to nearly forget I’m wearing them after awhile.
While obviously less than the freedom of wireless models, the Cloud’s wired connectivity does permit lag-free and reliable connectivity during competitive multiplayer – an acceptable compromise.
#6 – Clear and Consistent Microphone Performance
Having a microphone that clearly transmits your voice chat to teammates is non-negotiable for online gaming. In my tests comparing against other sub-$100 wired gaming headsets, the Cloud continued to impress with its microphone quality.
Voice reproduction sounds consistently clean and detailed to recipients thanks to the mic’s noise cancellation feature. The mic also maintains performance whether near or far from your mouth thanks to effective pop filtering. These characteristics allow it to deliver great clarity for tactics discussions or heat-of-battle reactions.
Since microphone quality can make or break multiplayer gaming, the Cloud should satisfy most gamers’ basic communication needs.
#7 – Effective Passive Noise Isolation
While less advanced than premium noise cancelling models, the Cloud still effectively blocks outside ambient noise reasonably well without electronics through its closed-ear cup design.
Its plush leatherette ear pads in combination with the headphones’ clamping pressure passively muffle external sounds like fan humming and kids playing. While loud sounds still intrude, the Cloud cuts down on enough disruption during gaming to keep you focused.
Considering most gaming happens indoors, passive noise isolation should suffice for the average user without paying extra for battery-powered ANC features that budget models lack.
#8 – Cross-Compatibility With Major Gaming Platforms
Regardless if your main gaming setup runs on a PC, PlayStation, Xbox or even Nintendo Switch, you can connect the 3.5mm wired HyperX Cloud seamlessly by just plugging it into the appropriate headset jack or adapter.
The Cloud’s included USB sound card also lets you enjoy surround sound, game-chat mix and enhanced microphone quality when gaming on your Windows or Mac computer. With platform-agnostic versatility, budget-minded multi-platform gamers can enjoy one future-proofed headset.
#9 – Superb Price-to-Performance Value
Finally, for budget-conscious shoppers, the reasonable $80 MSRP makes the HyperX Cloud a no-brainer investment considering everything you get – premium materials and design, great sound and microphone performance for both gaming and music, and cross-platform versatility.
Very few competing headsets manage to check so many boxes under the $100 price ceiling the way the HyperX Cloud series does. While expectedly falling short of elite enthusiast models costing over $200, for a majority of casual gaming the Cloud punches far above its weight given how little you pay.
After scrutinizing HyperX‘s Cloud gaming headphones as an experienced product reviewer and gamer myself, I believe they represent one of the smartest buys currently available for gamers wanting good wired audio without overspending.
Few headsets in the sub-$100 category compete with the Cloud‘s successful trifecta of durable premium design, well-balanced sound reproduction and platform versatility. By cutting the right corners, HyperX delivers a supremely cost-effective audio workhorse ready for battle across PC, console and mobile gaming marathons.
Considering the heap of performance and featuresHyperX managed to pack into the Cloud series at just around $80 MSRP, gamers on any budget should think twice before overlooking them for their next audio gear purchase. Just be sure to grab them soon before the price goes up further!
