HyperX Cloud 2 Wired Review | Best Gaming Headset For PC

How Do I Test?

There are several factors upon which we test every headphone/headset and determine the quality and value to money. HyperX Cloud 2 headset is meant for gamers. Therefore, we tested this headphone according to gaming needs (more on that later.)

However, here is a quick preview of factors we use to test a headphone.

• Performance: First of all, It is crucial to know what this headphone is suitable for. According to this, certain criteria are made to test a headphone. For example, this headset is meant for gamers. So the best thing to test it is on games and music, of course.
• Build: Comfort, in my opinion, is the most important thing to look at in a headphone. Many factors can determine the comfortability of a headphone. Just like comfort, the durability of a headphone is also a crucial thing to look at. A headphone should be robust enough to stay intact for long periods of time.

Who Is This For?

I think it is clear by now. HyperX Cloud 2 headset is made for gamers. And specifically FPS players. The sound quality and surround sound make sure that they are perfect for shooting and fast-paced games.

The Mic quality also allows you to stay connected with your teammates via voice chat, which is also crucial.

The sound quality is also good enough for you to enjoy your favorite music. I will not say it is the best, but it does the job well. Not only that, the comfort and sturdiness also play an important role. These headphones are durable enough to stay intact for a very long time.

You can also expect excellent and long-lasting comfort from this headset. Therefore, if you play games for long periods of time, then this one is definitely for you.

The Kingston's HyperX Cloud II is featured as my Top Pick in these Buying Guides:

Best Headset For CSGO

Best Headset For Dota 2

Best Headsets For Streaming

Build Quality

As I have said before, the Build Quality of a headphone is the most crucial aspect to look at.

Interesting Design

Design is not always the most important criterion to look at when buying a gaming headset if you want my opinion. However, the HyperX Cloud 2 has a beautiful design.

Although it is relatively sober, the choice of materials shows you right away that you are dealing with a quality product. In addition, the standard design of HyperX on the Cloud 2 is not very fancy, which gives it a classic gaming look, in my opinion.

The easily accessible controls allow you to modify the main parameters of your headset. In fact, all the controls have been placed on the USB sound card. So you can use it to control the device without making a mistake.

Headband: I noticed the flexibility on the headband. Moreover, the headband can easily be adjusted according to your head size. Moreover, the headband is covered with foam which allows it to be positioned well on the head.

Earcups: HyperX has kept the shape of the circumaural earpads. The imitation leather enhances the elegance and prestigious look of the headset. Cloud 2 has an Over-Ear design, and it covers the ears perfectly.

The only thing that concerns me is the size, which is relatively large. You might have some difficulty transporting them. But generally, HyperX Cloud 2 has a decent, aesthetic, simple, and unique design which makes them stand out in the market.

Robust Build Quality

When buying a new device, sturdiness and reliability are absolute criteria that you must take into account. This is more important for a gaming headset, especially if your gaming sessions are long. Therefore, the headset must be able to withstand extreme conditions. At the same time, a poor-quality headset could break down quickly.

The Brand (HyperX) wanted to keep their old products relevant and provide standard, unique, and simple looks. Thus the HyperX Cloud II is made of rigid aluminum and rubberized plastic.

It comes in different colors that are metal, black, red, and black with aluminum parts. Combining these materials gives the Cloud II a strength and durability that allows it to last for a very long time.

Accessories

Many extra things come with the Kingston HyperX Cloud 2 in the package. A carrying case that allows you to store and move the headphone and you is also provided in the box.

There are two pairs of ear pads in the box that can be replaced. You can opt to use the velour or imitation leather pads. The removable microphone is stationed in its own separate place. A headphone and microphone jack separator is also present in the box.

A USB sound card, used to enhance the sound quality, can also be found in the box when you open it.

Performance

Just like build quality, performance is also the most important thing to look at.

You can also find the latest firmware software update for the USB sound card (provided with the HyperX Cloud 2) from here.

Sound Quality

I wasn't surprised at the quality of the audio that HyperX Cloud II produced. I found the Bass to be very impressive, with nice linearity at low frequencies.

The membranes ( outer layer of the driver unit ) are responsive enough to provide a good treble level and mids without delay. However, I did notice a slight lack of precision in the mids. But, the vocals were quite distinct, clear, and understandable.

Also, note that the HyperX Cloud II provides excellent passive noise isolation, which allows the gamer to stay focused on the game.

Cloud 2 also provides 7.1 surround sound, but it is not very efficient and effective as one might consider. The added reverberation on the sound makes the 7.1 surround sound less effective. But, it is good enough for gaming and getting a proper sense of the environment around you in games.

I would have liked them more with an active noise-cancelation system to reinforce the passive noise isolation. However, passive noise isolation is also good enough to keep focus in a quiet environment.

NOTE:

The 7.1 Surround Sound can only be used on PC. Therefore, it is not compatible with gaming consoles like Xbox, Playstation, or Nintendo.

If you happen to face the crackling or static noise in the audio of your headphone, then you can check my guide on how to remove the static noise from the headphones

Mic Quality

Before all, the most prominent feature in Cloud 2 is the detachable microphone feature. You can easily remove and reposition the microphone when needed. The microphone featured on the Cloud 2 is a condenser and cardioid. It has a frequency response of 50Hz to 18,000Hz, which covers most sound types.

The windshield placed on the tip of the microphone reduces the breath noise. It is safe to say this mic is quite effective in performance, capturing crystal clear vocals. It does a good job in excellent sound reproduction.

The sound card cancels the external noise and echoes from the sound. Because of this sound card, the incoming chat volume is automatically increased when the game gets louder.

Many users have complained that the microphone on the HyperX Cloud 2 is very low in some cases. In that case, try to check the audio settings first. If it does not resolve the issue, proceed to the next step to find out more.

Download an audio equalizer software from here. After installing, launch the software and select your device to equalize it. Now, go to the " Capturing Devices" and select the Cloud 2's microphone.

You can also read this Reddit discussion to find a more in-depth solution.

HyperX Cloud 2 - quiet mic SOLVED! from HyperX

The mic quality is good enough to enjoy your favorite party games with your friends, in my opinion. However, if you are looking to use it for your Streaming or Youtube videos, you may want to invest more in a separate microphone.

Features

You might have seen the specification of this headphone before. In this section, I will talk about these features in detail.

Driver Unit

The HyperX Cloud 2 comes with a dynamic 53mm driver unit (transducer) with neodymium magnets. This driver unit is updated and works exceptionally well, even today. You will also see much latest gaming headset with 53mm driver units. Therefore, this headset nailed this feature.

Frequency Response

The frequency response can be defined as the total coverage of different audio types, including Bass and Treble.

The HyperX Cloud 2 has 15Hz of lowest and 25,000Hz of highest frequency response. Therefore, it is safe to say this headset covers all the audio types perfectly. The low frequencies are for Bass, while the high frequencies are for treble.

Most mid-end gaming headsets have a frequency response of 20Hz to 20,000Hz. And HyperX Cloud 2 is clearly on top among many gaming headsets.

Impedance Rate

The impedance rate of a headphone can be defined as the required power for it to function properly. The more the impedance rate, the more power is required by a headphone. The impedance of a headphone is measured in ohms or Ω.

But keep a note that headphones that require more power (have higher impedance) tend to perform better generally.

As for HyperX Cloud 2 wired, it has an impedance rate of 60ohms. This impedance rate is slightly higher than most gaming headphones. Therefore, it requires a sound card or an amplifier to fulfill its power requirements.

As a matter of fact, HyperX got it covered. A USB sound card is provided with the headphone. This USB sound card is good enough to fulfill the power requirements of this headphone. However, it might get problematic for it to work properly on a mid-end or low-end smartphone.

Connection

First of all, this headphone is wired and uses a mini 3.5mm jack for the connection. The mini 3.5mm jack has four poles (TRRS), and it can be used on laptops and the microphone with a single jack. I would have preferred this cable to be removable so that there is less risk of breaking it.

The standard cable has a size of 1 meter, while the USB sound card can extend this length to 3 meters. A microphone and headphone separator is also provided with the headphone.

Comparison With Other Headphones

Once I got my hands on the HypeX Cloud 2, I tested and compared it with other gaming headsets of the same caliber as well. And, it's not a surprise that the competition between these headphones was tough.

HyperX Cloud 2 or SteelSeries Arctis 7?

The first thing I noticed while comparing these two headphones is that the SteelSeries Arctis 7 has detachable cables, which is not the case with the Cloud 2. Both headsets are compatible with Playstation and have a mute function to mute the microphone easily.

Both headsets have long earcups which can cover your ears completely. The length of the cable is almost the same as well, 1-meters for Cloud 2 and the 1.2-meters for the Arctis 7.

Both HyperX Cloud 2 and SteelSeries Arctis 7 are equipped with passive noise isolation function and have identical sound pressure levels of 98dB/mW. The Arctis 7 has 20Hz to the lowest frequency, while the Cloud 2 has 15Hz. This means that Cloud 2 is ahead of the Arctis 7 in terms of Bass quality.

The Cloud 2 also got a lead of 5,000Hz on the highest frequency response (25,000 for Cloud 2 and 20,000Hz for Arctis 7). Thus, the highs produced by the Cloud 2 are clearer and more impressive.

There is a massive difference in driver units of both headphones as well. The HyperX Cloud 2 comes with 53mm, while the Arctis 7 is equipped with the 40mm driver unit, giving an upper hand to the Cloud 2. With that being said, it is safe to say that the Kingston HyperX Cloud 2 got a clear lead over the SteelSeries Arctis 7 in terms of sound quality.

However, the Arctis 7 is ahead of the Cloud 2 with the rechargeable battery and wireless connection. It gives the freedom of using it wirelessly or with wires, which is not the case with Cloud 2.

In the end, I would say that the Cloud 2 has a mini control area located on the cable with allows you to manage the headphone remotely. And, the microphone on both headsets is quite similar and good enough for standard gaming sessions.

HyperX Cloud 2 or JBL Quantum 400?

In terms of frequency response, the JBL Quantum 400 has less frequency response than cloud 2. Even more, the impedance rate of the Quantum 400 is also relatively lower than the Cloud 2. And, same goes for the driver unit. Therefore, it is safe to say that HyperX Cloud 2 can perform better than the JBL Quantum 400 in sound quality.

On the other hand, the JBL Quantum 400 is lighter in weight than its competitor. Even more, the cushions and clamping force make the Quantum 400 more comfortable than the Cloud 2.

You can also find our detailed comparison between the HyperX Cloud 2 and the JBL Quantum 400 here.

Frequently Asked Questions

xxIs HyperX Cloud 2 wired compatible with Xbox?

The HyperX Cloud 2 wired uses a 3.5mm jack for the connection. Any platform that supports a 3.5mm jack is compatible with the HyperX Cloud 2 since it is a plug-n-play headset. However, keep a note that the 7.1 Surround Sound is only compatible on PC through the USB sound card.

xxIs there any option for Mic Mute on HyperX Cloud 2?

Yes, you can mute the microphone on this headset quite easily through the button available on the side of the control box. The red LED tab will indicate that the microphone is turned off.

xxCan you use the 7.1 Surround Sound on PS4 through a USB converter?

No, The 7.1 Surround Sound on the HyperX Cloud 2 is compatible with only PC and Mac through the USB sound card. The PS4 or any other gaming console gets the Stereo Sound effect.

Conclusion

ٰIf you want to buy a gaming headset while enjoying excellent value for money, then HyperX Cloud 2 is definitely for you. During my test, I observed that it provides excellent performance. And, it is comfortable and durable as well.

The microphone is also good enough for normal gaming conversations on discord. The USB sound card, replaceable earpads, and detachable microphone make them even more valuable for gamers.

The 7.1 Surround Sound also makes it more suitable for the FPS games like CSGO, Valorant, Battlefields, Call of Duty, and Rainbow Six Seige. You can also enjoy your favorite music on this headset. Therefore, I will conclude that this headset is definitely a good choice.

You can access the HyperX Cloud 2's User Manual from here.

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