HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset, A Deep Dive into the Icon of Audio Immersion

With every bullet fired, every explosion and every whispered line of dialogue sounding through your headset, it becomes an integral part of your game. For the player like me, it is impossible to overstate its value. I am spoiled for any other headset One such prized and perfectly crafted piece of equipment is the HyperX Cloud II gaming headset. I can vouch for it, and not just because I’ve written this article. I’m a ranked Overwatch player, and other over-the-ear headsets I’ve tested underperformed, weighed me down and pinned my ears to my skull like a butterfly between slides. But the Cloud II? Now… that’s another story entirely.

A Legacy of Comfort and Performance: The HyperX Cloud II's Genesis

It’s a headset that aims to improve your gaming experience with a playback experience so good and a comfort so great that the line between reality and the virtual is thinned ever so slightly. HyperX Cloud II embodies all the best aspects of the HyperX Cloud, the first in the line. Our story doesn’tX Cloud II, however. It starts with the HyperX Cloud. The first HyperX Cloud had come out in 2014, but its tight-fitting leatherette earcups and memory foam padding ensconced the ear in dense, cocooning comfort, and enveloped it in a spacious, enveloping soundscape that allowed you to crawl beneath the hood of the action. This was gaming audio served up astride a phenomenal volume of leather.

This was audio that pushed the heart and body’s feelers out toward whatever was happening on your computer’s display, letting you bathe in the unfolding melodrama and bestride it like a colossus. It was a sound as sensuous as it was spatial, the kind of audio that demanded you listen to it with your entire body. Along with this texturally rich palette, the HyperX Cloud boasted an airy open design that responded lightly and instead of anything heavy-handed or bloodless. What’s more, it was hellishly comfortable, with high-density memory foam fusing the earcups and padded headband.

That lush interior kept me plugged in and pliant, and let me binge on Lords of the Fallen for the better part of two long days in the fall of 2016, with scarcely a twinge of ill consequence. At the same time, though, it seems that the gaming audio market itself was evolving in a more rationalistic direction, one in which gaming itself was becoming a more cognitively challenging endeavour. Like a lobbyist who recognises a friendly ear – and a political opening – when he sees one, HyperX seized on the notion of creating an upgraded version of the original Cloud.

Unveiling the Features: What Sets the HyperX Cloud II Apart?

It is easy to explain how the HyperX Cloud II became legendary. It excels along nearly every dimension, making it a perfect jack of all trades for the average gamer. We’ll first tour the HyperX Cloud’s headphone features that make it appealing to so many people.

• Unbeatable Comfort: Cloud Heaven The Cloud II’s secret to comfort is the plushness of its memory foam earcups, which are designed to match the curvature of your ears and enclose them in a peacefully cushioned yet supportive blanket. The headset’s plushness creates a soundproof and sonically ergonomic solitude from the outside world, allowing you to completely disappear into the game world without noticing (or hearing) the world from which you’re escaping. The padded headband coats the top of your skull in a thin, comfortable cloud that evenly distributes the weight of the headset across your head, keeping any uncomfortable pressure points at bay.
• Immersive Audio Quality: Soundscape of Luminosity: The Cloud II houses 53mm drivers: an audio detail set that dampens the ‘pit-patahat’ nature of your audio profile, and brings you to a more immersive soundscape. This way, you seem to be inside the game world. Every footstep, every explosion, and every whispered dialogue is rendered so clearly and with such an incredible amount of depth that all aural aspects of your games reach a new level of immersivity. The brilliance of the 53mm drivers is in the detail. The degree in which they capture the games’ audio depending on its nature is incredibly wide. From the slightest movements, like a leaf under explosion, everything is rendered and reproduced with the correct amount of detail.
• Crystal-Clear Communication: Attention-Grabbing Voice & Noise-Absorption MicrophoneThe microphone is detachable so your voice can be clearly heard even in midst of gameplay and is so smart that it can absorb noise and “filter-out” surrounding noises and get your instructions clear to your teammates. The noise-absorption technology enables your voice to be “isolated” from the rest such that they could always hear what you are saying, even in the midst of the game sounded chaos. The microphone arm is also flexible to adjust to an optimal positioning of capturing your voice. The flexibility to adjust allows your voice to be more clearly and precisely heard in the midst of the gaming session.
• Durable Construction: Designed to Last a Lifetime:### If its build quality is anything to go by, the HyperX Cloud II’s durabillity is superb. The headset is well-made with top-notch material which ensures that the product lasts for a very long time. The sturdy head band which is robust enough to house solid metal pieces guarantees that this headset will not break even at the most intense moment of a game. The earcup is specially designed to withstand the undying pressure of the ear which will guarantee its longevity against quick replacements. No matter how long the hours of playing goes, the vibrant cloud II will definitely be with you for a lifetime.
• Ultimate cross-platform compatibility: The HyperX Cloud II works with any gaming console or PC. Regardless of your gaming console or PC, The HyperX Cloud II works flawlessly, ensuring that you get the benefits of the headset without fussing over platform issues or compatibility problems. This allows for an enjoyable gaming experience and no interference in gameplay while you plug in the headset. The HyperX Cloud II has universal compatibility, and you can be assured that you’ll receive the best HyperX features and quality calls, chats, or games. The wide compatibility allows for a good range of choices in gaming platforms without sacrificing the quality that an excellent headset should display.

The Pros and Cons: A Balanced Perspective

While the HyperX Cloud II is a great gaming headset, we should look at all products fairly. We should look at the pros and the cons of the Cloud II in order to give you a fair opinion on its good and bad sides so that you have a well rounded understanding of the Cloud II.

Pros:

• Exceptional comfort: Cloud II has large, over-ear memory foam earcups with a padded headband for maximum comfort and minimal effort. For a marathon gaming session, wouldn’t you rather be comfortable, less distracted by your physical surroundings, and better able to focus on your game? Cloud II’s comfort is second to none. You can ‘zone out’ for as long as you like, locking in on your game without feeling stressed or overburdened by your headset. 53mm drivers produce a deep and detailed low end, drawing you into the game’s soundscapes.
• virtual surround sound (available on the wired version) adds a further dimensionality to proceedings, enhancing the players’ sense of space, so that footsteps around corners and barrages of bullets can be picked out much more clearly. All of this serves to create an ‘immersive’ experience, which is useful shorthand for ‘more engaging’, because it ensures that you feel that you are inhabiting a game world, rather than simply observing it from afar.
• High-Quality Microphone: Detachable noise-cancelling omnidirectional microphone improves team communication and reduces background noises for better gaming experience. Communication in competitive games is essential in winning matches, which requires good communication with your team members to call out important attacks and strategies.
• DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Designed with high-durability materials, the Cloud II is built to withstand the rigours of gaming. The Cloud II’s durable construction makes it a lasting companion for you and your gaming sessions.
• Wide Compatibility: Enjoy yours with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Wide Compatibility adds to the versatility of this headset as it opens you up to an infinite gaming experience. Compatible with any platform, you can personalise your Cloud II to fit your individual style of gaming; that way, you can enjoy the features it offers in any platform you decide to engage in.

Cons:

• The wired model is kind of bulky for some gamers: Though the Cloud II was created for comfort, the wired model can be a tad bulky for gamers who want a lighter, more slim form factor headset. This large, overarching size can be a minor nuisance for some gamers as it adds surface area which they absolutely do not need. The last thing a gamer would want is added weight on their head.
• The wireless version can pace back a fraction of a second: The wireless tech gives this mouse version more freedom of movement (ie being untethered by wires) but at the small price of pacing back a fraction of a second which can be very annoying in twitch titles. This tiny delay can be potentially perceptible and affect your game by a fraction of second, especially in fast-paced games with split-second timing that require instant reaction.
• The price is higher than some entry-level headsets: The high premium features and world renowned reputation mean that the price tag on the Cloud II is a little higher than some of the entry-level headsets. You certainly get what you pay for but again do the math... you’re getting bang for your buck! This higher price point may be off-putting for some gamers on a budget, but you need to look at the whole picture and the prospect of the longevity of a product like the Cloud II.

Overall Value: A Worthy Investment for Serious Gamers

The Cloud II does not disappoint. The headset is a superb value at this price point and represents a premium gaming headset at a time when the bar continues to rise on all the hardware and not be an exercise in compromise to get going in competitive online gaming. This is a value, but not a starter set – it deserves the price. Premium pickups and winning ballgames are acquired in an investment game. That it’s a game at all is a bonus: it’s not work, it’s fun. Good job, Kingston. The HyperX Cloud II is a game-changer, a maker and a maker-upper. It is a thing – a headset – that provides an enduring value in immersive gaming for even longer than it takes to pay it off. And that’s pretty special.

Conclusion: A Gaming Icon for a Reason

And this is part of the reason why the HyperX Cloud II still leads gaming headset sales. Whether you get the wired or wireless version, you will still gain a wonderful headset to help you control your gaming experience. The headset and microphone still offer a decent quality gaming experience. It’s still a good use of your hard-earned money. And since it’s still compatible with almost every current console, the Cloud II will stay on our worth-while gaming headset list for years and years. HyperX: Cloud II gaming experience is now and for a long time to come. HyperX, a branch of Kingston Technology, sells the Cloud II for $79.99 ($109.99 wireless).

Where to Find the HyperX Cloud II:

Photo courtesy HyperX

You can find the HyperX Cloud II at electronics stores and many online retailers. In the USA, check out:

• Amazon
• Best Buy
• Newegg
• HyperX Official Website
• GameStop
• Walmart
• Target

Now, with a little bit of research, you can easily look online for comparable prices and any discounts or sales to get the most value for your money.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the HyperX Cloud II gaming headset:

• What is the difference between HyperX Cloud II Wired and Wireless? The plug. The wired version has a 3.5mm jack and one USB connector (for 7.1 virtual surround sound), whereas the wireless version is connected over 2.4GHz (no surround sound). The wired version has 7.1 virtual surround sound, whereas the wireless doesn’t. The wireless version lasts longer on one charge; the wired is generally cheaper.
• Does HyperX Cloud 2 work with PS5? HyperX Cloud II works. you can connect either wired version to the 3.5mm jack on the PS5 controller or a separate USB adapter, or connect the wireless version to the PS5. Is the HyperX Cloud II microphone detachable? Yes, the microphone is effectively detachable – this means that you will be able to remove it when you don’t need it, for example, when listening to music or watching videos.
• CAN I USE THE HYPERX CLOUD II WITH MY SMARTPHONE?
Yes, the HyperX Cloud II works well with a smartphone, but you’ll need to use 3.5mm adapter for the wired version. (Wireless isn’t compatible with smartphones.
• HyperX Cloud II Is the HyperX Cloud II PC-compatible?
  Yes! You can connect a wired HyperX Cloud II to the audio jack or USB port on your PC. If you have a wireless HyperX Cloud II, you can connect it to your PC. 3. Does the HyperX Cloud II fit well and is it comfortable to wear for a long time? YES! The HyperX Cloud II is the best value for a gaming headset that we’ve tested to date because it is just so comfortable to wear for a long time. The large plush memory foam ear cups are attached to a comfortable padded headband by a hinge and rubber band, which allows the headset to be stretched or packed without removing the headband.
• How long does the battery last on the HyperX Cloud II Wireless? It lasts for up to 30 hours on a single charge and, in my experience, that is more than enough for every gamer out there.