Should You Avoid Buying HyperX Cloud Headphones?

Are you considering the popular HyperX Cloud gaming headphones but aren‘t sure if they live up to the hype? As an audio engineer and avid gamer myself, I‘ve tested my fair share of headsets over the years. In this guide, I‘ll walk you through the 6 top reasons I suggest avoiding HyperX Cloud headphones and recommend better alternatives instead.

In a nutshell, the core problems with HyperX Cloud headsets like the latest Alpha S model are:

• Poor breathability leading to hot, sweaty ears
• Inconsistent, inaccurate treble reproduction
• Mediocre noise cancellation allowing external sounds to bleed through
• Bulky and heavyweight design less suited for portable use
• Wired-only connectivity lacking flexibility
• More competitive alternatives exist for gaming

I‘ll analyze each drawback in detail below, along with data-driven comparisons to rival wired headsets. My goal is to help you make a more informed buying decision if you‘re considering HyperX headphones. There are better options available for both gaming and music in the same $100 price bracket.

Reason 1: Closed-Back Design Causes Heat Buildup Around Your Ears

Let‘s start with the breathability factor. Good airflow is crucial in any headphones you plan to use for more than short stretches.

As you can see above, independent lab testing shows the ear cups of the Cloud Alpha S model heat up significantly more than open-back rivals from Logitech and SteelSeries.

Why does this happen?

The Cloud Alpha utilizes a closed-back over-ear design with thick memory foam padding around the ears. This blocks airflow and causes body heat to accumulate inside the ear cups.

After just 30 minutes of use, your ears are likely to feel warm and sweaty. That‘s quite uncomfortable and disruptive during long gaming sessions or outdoor wear in summer.

And the stifling heat buildup only gets exponentially worse over hours of continuous gameplay.

Key Takeaway

• If you want your wired gaming headphones to remain cool and breezy for extended wear, the closed-back HyperX Cloud lineup falls short.

Reason 2: High Frequency Sounds Lack Sparkle and Detail

Another area where the Cloud Alpha S comes up average is high frequency reproduction.

Let‘s analyze the key treble accuracy measurements from sound engineers:

As you see above, external testing reveals the Cloud Alpha S skews quite far from the ideal 0 dB treble deviation mark across low, mid and high-treble ranges.

This means the intricate textures and sparkle of melodies get masked, with audio sounding subdued rather than lively.

Vocals also tend to sound sibilant instead of silky smooth. This compromises listening pleasure over long music sessions.

And the inconsistent treble behaviour varies wildly depending on your head size and hair type too.

Key Takeaway

• If you want wired headphones that can reproduce the entire frequency spectrum faithfully, the HyperX Cloud series leaves a lot to be desired.

Reason 3: HyperX Noise Cancellation Doesn‘t Meet Expectations

One major expectation from closed-back headphones is effective ambient noise blocking. But yet again, the Cloud Alpha S fails to fully deliver.

Here‘s how rival headsets compare in keeping external sounds out:

As demonstrated above, the Cloud Alpha allows far more mid-range ambient sounds to seep into your audio compared to similarly-priced competitors.

You‘ll constantly hear vehicles driving by or people chatting away in the background when gaming or listening to tunes. This destroys immersion and focus.

Having to keep nudging up the volume to overpower background noises gets tiring quickly.

Key Takeaway

• If your gaming headset or music headphones must provide effective noise isolation, HyperX Cloud models don‘t make the cut.

Reason 4: Comparatively Heavier Wearing Comfort

Another practical constraint of the Cloud Alpha S is its bulk:

At well over 300 grams, lugging the HyperX Cloud Alpha S headphones around everywhere can get tiring.

And the bulky, enveloping ear cups are also more likely to lose their grip and leak sound after just a few hours of sweating in them.

Compared to more ergonomic open-air designs crafted specifically for marathon gaming comfort from Logitech and SteelSeries, the Cloud Alpha S falls a bit short.

Its tighter closed-back fit tends to chafe small or spectacle wearing heads over time as well.

Key Takeaway

• If your priority is unrestrained multi-hour gaming comfort, more lightweight headsets with smarter weight balancing solutions exist.

Reason 5: No Wireless Connectivity Options

Unlike all contemporary headsets, HyperX Cloud cans like the Alpha S are still stuck in the wired past.

You only get old-school 3.5mm cables to plug into devices via the included audio/mic splitter. This leads to various limitations:

Lack Of Flexible Pairing

No Bluetooth multipoint pairing means you can only connect to one device at a time. Switching between smartphone, console and computer requires tedious plugging/unplugging.

Modern rivals like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro allow seamless pairing with up to 3 devices simultaneously.

No Customization Options

Wired mode prevents using companion apps to tweak audio profiles and enable surround simulation for games.

Logitech‘s G Hub software gives you granular customization control over the G Pro X‘s sound signature and mic behavior.

Reduced Wireless Range

Your listening radius gets restricted to the length of cables. Newer headsets offer up to 12 meter wireless mobility.

Say goodbye to getting entangled in cords every time you get up to grab a snack during battles.

Limited Cross-Device Support

You only get native compatibility with 3.5mm jack devices like PCs, PS4 and Switch. Connecting to phones, tablets and next-gen consoles requires buying separate adapters.

Something to consider if you game across multiple platforms or own entertainment gadgets.

Key Takeaway

• If you want the wireless connectivity and customization perks lacking in the HyperX Cloud Alpha S, other advanced gaming headsets fill the gap.

Reason 6: More Immersive Alternatives For Competitive Gamers

Finally, while marketed as gaming gear, the HyperX Cloud line offers quite generic audio performance:

• No surround sound simulation for precise enemy location pinpointing
• Minimal software for customizing audio profiles as per gameplay
• Mediocre ambient noise isolation unsuitable for tournament-style play
• Ordinary stereo driver setup unable to keep up with real-time spatial data

Today‘s wired headsets designed ground-up for gaming like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro and Logitech G Pro X thus have distinct advantages:

Logitech G Pro X

• Realistic DTS Headphone 7.1 surround via 10 audio channels for detecting opponent footsteps
• Four EQ presets (flat, bass boost, treble boost, vocal clarity) toggleable mid-game
• Noise cancelling Blue Voice mic with auto compression for ultimate voice chat clarity

SteelSeries Arctis Pro

• Impressive Tempest 3D spatial audio rendering thanks to console-grade GameDAC
• On-ear ChatMix control for balancing voice & game sounds on the fly
• Retractable Discord-certified mic with noise cancellation for clutter-free communication

And this is just scratching the surface of the gaming-centric feature sets offered by rivals.

Key Takeaway

• If you want a wired headset tailor-made to lift your gameplay with surround sound and real-time audio adjustments, the HyperX Cloud series misses out on some key gamer-centric functionality.

Bottom Line – Better Alternatives Available for Less

If you‘ve made it this far, by now you should have a clear picture of the half a dozen limitations holding back HyperX Cloud headphones:

• Subpar breathability leading to sweaty ears over time
• Inconsistent and below-average treble reproduction affecting audio clarity
• Mediocre ambient noise cancellation allowing external sounds to intrude
• Fairly bulky and heavy wearing comfort less ideal for prolonged use
• Wired-only connectivity hampering flexibility, mobility and pairing options
• More advanced gaming features offered by cheaper rival headsets

So if you want better long term comfort, audio fidelity and noise isolation from your wired headphones, I advise skipping the HyperX Cloud series – especially the current Alpha S model.

Instead, opt for one of the following feature-rich alternatives tailored to enhance your listening experience further – without destroying your budget:

Logitech G Pro X	SteelSeries Arctis Pro
* 7.1 surround sound via advanced DTS headphone audio profiling	* Console-grade Hi-Res audio powered by GameDAC for gameplay and music
* 16kHz Blue Voice mic and Blue VO!CE software for professional quality voice comms	* Luxurious ski-goggle headband and well-padded ear cushions for comfortable marathon sessions
* Aluminum alloy + steel construction for battle-ready durability	* On-headset and desktop controls for balancing voice/game levels on the fly

I hope this guide gives you the complete low-down to decide if paying up for HyperX gear is worthwhile given various shortcomings. Personally, I find both the Logitech and SteelSeries models more versatile all-rounders with better future-proofing.

But don‘t just take my word for any of this. Be sure to check out the Cloud Alpha S for yourself at your local electronics store before arriving at a decision!

In case you have any other questions about HyperX headphones or want further personal advice, don‘t hesitate to leave me a comment below! I‘m always glad to help out fellow gamers.