HyperX Cloud 2 : – When it comes to gaming headsets, there are only a some brands that are going to come to our mind. HyperX is one of those brands. That’s for a good reason, as the HyperX Cloud 2 and Revolver headsets have been incredibly popular. In terms of gaming headsets, they always bring the best. Their key to success has always been their high quality sound and simplicity. While other brands are all about gimmicks and questionable features, HyperX is all about overall quality. Visit Amazon to view
There are, however, many brands that are offering excellent quality. In 2023, gaming headsets are better than ever before. Now, the focus is on wireless headsets. It’s only natural, since cutting the cord is the next step to improving gaming headsets. HyperX has a major advantage because they already have a highly successful wired headset, so why not make it wireless as well?
This is exactly the intention of HyperX with the HyperX Cloud II Wireless. The Cloud II Wireless builds on the foundation laid down by its wired predecessor. You can find out more about it in our HyperX Cloud II Review. A lot of fans have been excited about the Cloud II Wireless, and fortunately, it lives up to it. We’ll cover everything in detail in this comprehensive review of the Cloud II Wireless.
Experience of unboxing
From the get-go, the HyperX Cloud II wireless arrives in a familiar yet exciting package. The box has an appealing look thanks to the white and red color schemes. There are a few black accents around the box. This is one of those boxes you put up on a shelf next to your gaming setup.
The front of the box shows a picture of the headset and describes some features. The back of the box lists all the specifications are given in detail, and the side of the box has a similar description.
In the box, we find a welcome pamphlet and a quick start guide along with the headset itself, a detachable microphone, a USB dongle for the wireless connection, and a USB type C cable for charging.
A Design Icon
Six years later, HyperX Cloud II Wireless carries the torch with a recognizable and iconic design. In this review, we will look into the design.
As this design has been refined to this point, it looks and feels almost identical to the original. As they say: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
A Y-shaped metal structure connects the earcups to the headband of the HyperX Cloud II Wireless. The design features a lot of red accents that can be seen on the yoke, logo, and even stitching on the headband. With its HyperX Alloy Origins Keyboard and gaming mice, HyperX’s design language is carried throughout its entire product lineup.
HyperX logos appear on both sides of the earcups. The earpads use memory foam interiors covered in faux leather. The headband padding is made from the same material.
On the left earcup, there are two buttons. One is a power button, and the other is a microphone mute button.
On the ride side, there’s a smooth volume dial that doesn’t have any physical stops and scrolls continuously. A beep alerts you when you’re at 100% volume.
When you plug the USB dongle into your PC, the headset immediately connects after powering up. It also works with PS4 and PS5.
How About The Comfort of HyperX Cloud 2?
In terms of comfort, HyperX has always excelled. With the name Cloud II, there’s nothing else to expect. Needless to say, this headset is among the most comfortable available in 2021. They are also nice and flexible, so they can fit some of the larger heads out there without a problem.
In addition to providing good cushioning, the faux leather padding feels supple. Due to the fact that these headphones are over-the-ear, they won’t interfere with your ears. The headband is well padded, so there aren’t many pressure points. The clamping force is also quite light.
It feels excellent even with glasses on. The headset looks good on the head as well, since it’s not big and obtrusive. As always, great stuff from HyperX in terms of comfort.
Performance in gaming and sound of HyperX Cloud 2
A wireless headset’s sound quality is of course crucial. Some would even say it is the most important aspect of the headset. Before we continue further in our HyperX Cloud II review, we’d like to make sure you know a few things. There was a time when wireless headphones and headsets weren’t all that great. This is why people still have reservations about buying wireless audio gear. Fortunately, the Cloud II Wireless skirts around this issue.
As with the original, the drivers here are 53mm neodymium. These are fine-tuned differently for wireless use, but the sound quality is where it gets interesting. The performance is excellent here, with a solid low-end throughout the sound, courtesy of the closed-back design. The imaging and positional audio are also excellent with this headset.
The overall performance of these headphones is excellent. However, let’s take a closer look. In terms of sound quality, these aren’t exactly the warmest headphones out there, which is a good thing. There is a good deal of bass, but it doesn’t interfere with the treble and midrange. During high volume, the vocals can become a bit bright, as is typical for gaming headsets. It doesn’t get too harsh, but audiophiles might notice it.
This depends on the type of game you play, of course. Although the bright vocals aren’t noticeable enough, they won’t bother you too much. Fortunately, they never overshadow the mids and don’t take away from the experience. Despite the wireless connection, the audio quality remains dynamic and full. In that regard, these still stand out as among the best headphones.
Sound Surround
It is impossible to have a gaming headset in 2023 without emulated surround sound. HyperX does a decent job, but I prefer stereo audio. Ngenuity software emulates 7.1 surround sound. In certain games, it sort of stretches out the frequencies, which gives the soundstage a wider range. This depends on your plans.
In games like Battlefield V, Call Of Duty: Warzone, and Resident Evil Village, the feature works great. As a result, it doesn’t provide much advantage, but it depends on the game. At the very least, we encourage you to try it out with different games and see if it works. Overall, we think the emulated 7.1 surround sound is better than some headsets.
Quality of microphones
Razer Blackshark V2 Pro is the main competitor of HyperX Cloud II Wireless. Although there is a slight price difference, the sound quality is almost identical. In addition, the microphone is good for communicating in games or just chatting with friends on Discord. It is cheaper and sounds just as good.
Hyper X Cloud II wireless headsets include a detachable microphone that lights up in red when muted. Is there a better microphone out there? Sure. But does that matter when a gaming headset like this offers excellent value overall? Of course, if you are a streamer, you will want to get a dedicated mic. Other than that, the Cloud II Wireless does well with the mic.
Although the Cloud II Wireless has a slightly superior microphone than the Blackshark V2 Pro, the differences are not that noticeable even in a side-by-side comparison.
Life of the battery
The battery life of a wireless gaming headset is also very important when it comes to its success. HyperX claims it can last up to 30 hours at 50 percent volume. Of course, at 100 percent volume, the metrics will be different. However, we had no major issues here, and even at maximum volume, the headset lasts around 24-25 hours. That’s an estimate, of course, but should give you an idea of what to expect.
Comparatively, the battery life is 25-30 hours (depending on volume). Sure, it’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s comparable to or better than some other headsets. The left earcup has an indicator that indicates the battery level. The battery stays green between 90 and 100 percent, flashes between 90 and 50 percent, and turns red when the battery is low.
If you plug in the USB cable, it works just like a regular wired headset. Unfortunately, the USB cable in the box is only 18 inches, so you’ll need to get a longer one.
Software developed by Ngenuity
For the sake of keeping this a thorough review, let’s take a quick look at the software. The Ngenuity software is quite basic, so there’s not much to cover. However, let’s take a quick look at it. The volume and microphone levels can be manually adjusted. You can toggle on 7.1 surround sound as well as microphone monitoring.
As a result of mic monitoring, you can hear your voice and check if it is working properly. It’s a popular feature and it works well here. However, there are no EQs or preset tabs here, which is a bit surprising. You can, however, customize your own presets. In spite of the basic software interface, I prefer it because the headset works fine even without the software. Neither it nor the PC get in the way or put excessive strain on it.
What is the difference between HyperX Cloud II (Wired) and Cloud II Wireless?
There is still a lot to be said about HyperX Cloud II. When it comes to the age-old debate between wired and wireless peripherals, most people prefer wired. The reason is that wired peripherals are more reliable, and there is no battery life to worry about. Both of those are good points, but what if the difference between wired and wireless is so negligible you might as well go wireless?
In terms of the Cloud II Wired and Cloud II Wireless, that is definitely the case. Wireless headphones are usually worse than wired ones, but the Cloud II Wireless is up to par with the wired version easily. To begin with, let’s discuss the differences (there aren’t many). The wireless version has a slightly different design. For the most part, they look the same.
While the wired version looks a bit more circular, the wireless version has an aggressive oval shape on the earcups. Compared to the original, the wireless yoke is a bit different, but the padding and stitching are of the same quality. The microphone on the wired version also looks a bit different than the original.
In addition, the wired version comes with a 7.1 dongle. Wireless versions use software for 7.1 surround sound. Both headsets sound great in their own way, but it’s up to you which one you prefer. You can hear footsteps and pinpoint enemy positions very well with both headsets.
However, if you do not want to hear a difference, the sound quality is quite similar. In the Wireless version, the drivers are tuned a bit differently, but the difference in sound quality is so small that it does not matter. As far as the overall experience is concerned, there is no latency or loss.
The microphone is one of the biggest differences. You’ll notice better quality on the wired version, but it’s not bad on the wireless either. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s worth mentioning. The Wireless version offers little difference from the wired version, which is a positive development.
In conclusion
This was going to be an easy review going in, because HyperX always focuses on quality, and the Cloud II Wireless doesn’t disappoint. The Cloud II has made quite a name for itself, and HyperX wasn’t going to ruin that with the wireless version. The build quality and comfort are phenomenal. It feels great on the head and is lightweight.
It is seamless to connect and pair because it works right away when you plug in the dongle. It has excellent sound quality and sounds full and immersive as usual. Battery life is also excellent. The only drawback is its short USB cable and the fact that it isn’t exactly compatible with Xbox. However, it also works with PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch seamlessly.
