The HyperX Cloud Alpha is one of the most comfortable headsets that you can get today with thick padding on the ear cups and headband along with the light weight. The sound is also pretty good with boosted bass and okay detail on the highs. This combination of features is quite difficult to find in this price range.
The low-end of the HyperX Cloud is powerful, so you’ll get a lot of punch and rumble from explosions, guns shots and similar sound effects from games and movies. The mids are also quite forward so you’ll be able to easily hear dialogue. The highs have great clarity but are quite recessed, and the mids and bass tend to overpower the treble, so it may be a little difficult for you to hear the minute details of the audio.
You’ll get a good sense of width and separation from in-game audio, making it much easier for you to determine the direction from where sounds are coming from. The HyperX Cloud Alpha features a dual-chamber design which separates the bass from the mids and highs, and results in well-defined audio source separation and direction.
This headset can be worn for many hours straight with little to no pain, due to the thick padding on the earcups and headband along with its light weight.
This headset does not put a lot of pressure on the head, and further enhances comfort. The clamp force is firm enough to keep the headset on the head, but is not too tight that you feel an uncomfortable pinching sensation on the head. The headband is made out of lightweight aluminum, and the yokes are perforated, further reducing weight without compromising the rigidity of the headset.
In-game conversations shouldn’t be a hassle with this headset. Audio quality from the mic is quite good and with good volume, so your friends and teammates should be able to easily hear what you are saying. The mic also filters out background noise pretty well, so keyboard/mouse/game controller presses and other sounds do not overpower your voice. You can also remove the microphone when not in use.
Should the Cloud Alpha’s cable get damaged, replacing it shouldn’t be too difficult. The cable features standard 3.5mm to 3.5mm male connectors, so you should be able to easily find a replacement when needed. This also makes the headset easier to store as you won’t have to deal with a long and fixed cable.
You won't get virtual surround sound audio out of the box. The Cloud Alpha does not come with the USB module that grants 7.1 surround sound to the previous Cloud models. You can purchase the module separately for use with this headset though.
You won’t get a highly detailed audio experience with this headset. The highs are quite recessed, and combined with the powerful bass and forward mids, the finer audio details can be difficult to hear.
You may feel heat build-up quickly on your head and around your ears. The ear cups and headband feature a leather surface which may feel smooth on the skin, but does not allow a lot of airflow.
The sound signature of the Hyper X Cloud II is fun, with boosted bass and highs, while the mids are slightly recessed. This results in game or movie sound effects getting a lot of detail and oomph. However, dialogue and more midrange-centric sounds may sound a bit softer in comparison.
The headset itself comes with a 3.5mm fixed cable which should work with a lot of audio capable devices. Then, there is the headphone dongle that features a 3.5mm female port to USB. This allows the headset to be used with most computers and devices which only feature USB as I/O.
The optional in-line dongle features a button to enable virtual 7.1 surround sound, which gives the sound a much wider feel, with enhanced positional audio. This should help make it easier to identify and determine where objects or other players are in the game world based on sound.
You can easily remove the mic from the left ear cup when not in use. With the microphone on, you can swivel it to various directions or positions as the mic is flexible and bendable.
Plastic is the primary material of this headset, but the types chosen look and feel great and do not make creaks easily. The yokes and headband adjustment are made of brushed aluminum which adds a premium look and a welcome amount of heft to the product.
The wires are sleeved, so they look and feel more premium compared to just the bare wires.
The ear cups feature a closed design, which means that only very little sound can leak out of them. Outside noise is also blocked, and can help users focus better when gaming.
Thick foam material is used in the headband and ear cups. This makes the headset feel really soft on the ears and head, resulting in optimal comfort even with long gaming sessions.
Aside from the pads being easily removable, users also get a pair of velour ear pads along with the attached pair of faux leather ones. Not only does this give users a backup pair of ear pads, but this also gives the choice as to which pair fits comfort preferences better.
If you decide to connect the headset to the USB dongle, you will gain access to extra features control options. On the dongle is the button to toggle 7.1 surround sound on or off and also features volume adjustments for the headphones and mic, along with a mute button.
The 3.5mm cable on the headset is non-removable so should it get damaged, it will be very hard to replace, and may involve RMA or extensive DIY repairs. This also means that the headset is not ideal for mobile use as you will have to deal with the cable when traveling.
The PX24 is easy to wear as it is quite light. This doesn’t mean that the headset is fragile though. While the headset is made of plastic, the type used is flexible and doesn’t break easily, so you’ll definitely be able to get a lot of use from this headset.
The bass output of the PX24 is not very powerful, but it does deliver a good level of punch and depth that makes in-game explosions and gunshots satisfying to hear. The mids and highs are great. They are slightly forward that you can easily hear in-game dialogue as well as voice chats. The forward treble also makes it much easier for you to hear faint audio details like footsteps from a distance, the rustling of leaves or grass and the like. This can be helpful in competitive gaming as you’ll know if opponents are
You’ll get a lot of useful functionality with the included SuperAmp in-line accessory. There are a number of buttons that allow you to mute/un-mute the microphone, adjust volume, turn virtual surround sound on or off, as well as turn on/off the Superhuman Hearing feature for a volume boost.
It is not ideal to charge the SuperAmp while in use. When you do, a lot of static and hiss is added into the audio, which can be unbearable to listen to.