HyperX Cloud II Headphones Review – A Classic Gaming Headset For $100

HyperX Cloud II

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Current testing methodology is v1.2

Release Date
October 18, 2014
Price
Price not available
Model:
KHX-HSCP-GM
Weight
11.3 oz
Size
4.33 x 4.33 x 3.54 in

Choosing a dedicated gaming headset is no easy task, thanks to the many options in the market for various budget ranges. 

The market is saturated with cheap products with no thought put into their actual quality. Most gaming headphones tend to lack in one department or another, but that’s not the case with the Hyper X Cloud II – one of the classic $100 headsets used by many reputable streamers and gamers.

Here’s my detailed review of the classic HyperX Cloud II after continuous multi-purpose use for six months. Keep reading to find out more!

Editor’s Pick

HyperX Cloud II

Extremely comfortable headset for gamers and streamers.

4.5/5
Price Range: $$
Brand: HyperX
HyperX Cloud II - Ear Cup Design

TL:DR;

For people wanting to nab top-tier competitive headphones set around $100, the HyperX Cloud II is a steal.

Having decent sound quality paired with the comfort and fit of this headset, it can easily compete with some of the well-regarded professional products in the market.

In addition, HyperX Cloud II is compatible with many devices like PC, XBOX, and PS4. Although this headset was primarily built for gaming purposes, the comfort, paired with its audio performance, has compelled me to use it for most of my casual audio needs.

However, if you focus on technical performance and balanced tuning, you may want to look into other, more audiophile-oriented options.

The Specs

  • Material:  Aluminum
  • Drivers:  Single dynamic 53mm with Neodymium Magnets
  • Frequency response:  15Hz –25,000 Hz
  • Impedance:  60 Ω
  • SPL:  98±3dB
  • Power handling capacity:  150mW
  • Ambient noise attenuation:  approx. 20 dBa
  • Weight:  5N
  • Connection:  Single mini stereo jack plug (3.5 mm)
  • Microphone – Transducer type:  Condenser (back electret)
  • Microphone – Impedance:  ≤2.2 kΩ
  • Microphone – Frequency response:  50Hz –18,000 Hz
  • Microphone – Max. SPL:  105dB SPL (THD≤1.0% at 1 KHz)
  • Length mic boom:  150mm (include gooseneck)

What’s in the Box?

  • HyperX Cloud II Headset
  • Detachable microphone
  • Spare set of soft ear cushions
  • USB control box

Stuff I like

  • Distinguishable tones in the audio
  • Overall comfort from the soft head and ear pads
  • Cinematic feel of the Surround Sound 7.1
  • Sturdy aluminum frame design
  • Excellent headset performance relative to the budget range
  • Solid noise cancellation

Stuff I like less

  • Inconsistent in treble range
  • No volume control on headphones (separate USB box is provided)
  • Microphone quality is rather lackluster in this range
  • Lack of RGB might be an issue for some

Comparable products to consider

Koss KSC75
Koss KSC75

For under $20, the Koss KSC75 is a portable and budget-friendly headset that can be used for gaming.

GAME ZERO
EPOS I SENNHEISER GAME ZERO Gaming Headset

This headset from Sennheiser has great noise-cancelling which makes it perfect for gaming and working from home with a noisy background.

Review Metrics

Sound Quality: 7
Bass: 8
Mids: 8
Treble: 7
Sound Isolation: 10
Build Quality: 10
Comfort & Fit: 9
Value for Money: 8
Accessories: 8
Review Metrics Average: 8.33 / 10

First Impressions

The HyperX Cloud II packaging has a delightful theme, with the box coming in eye-catching black and red colors, which is the signature theme of the HyperX line. The front of the box features the image of the headset in full display. 

While unboxing the HyperX Cloud II, I saw a red-themed note containing all the remarkable features of the product, its qualities, and the details of the company’s efforts to make this headset a top choice for gamers.

A headset guide was also present inside the box, explaining how to use the equipment and its features correctly. The headset was placed in soft foam along with the USB control and a travel pouch.

If you’ve owned the HyperX Cloud before, you won’t notice much of a difference in the HyperX Cloud II model with the only visible distinction being the support bracket that is located around the ear cups.

Comfort and Fit

According to Kingston, the HyperX Cloud II was designed keeping in view the modern gaming demands and the comfort desired by every gamer for long continuous gaming sessions. 

Their efforts become instantly apparent once you put on the headphones and barely feel anything on your head due to their lightweight design and fit.

The frame of the HyperX Cloud II is completely adjustable and composed of light aluminum material, which can fit on heads of any size and shape. The soft foam in the ear pads ensures you can have the headphones on for hours without hurting your ears.

HyperX Cloud II - Ear Cups
Signature memory foam
HyperX Cloud II - Headband
Premium leatherette

The pads will cushion your ears well, and you can have the headset on comfortably for several hours before feeling fatigued. 

If you opt for the wired model of the HyperX Cloud II, you can be assured that the cable quality won’t deteriorate even after years of use. Since the cable can’t be removed independently, the cable quality isn’t compromised.

However, do note that portability on these is pretty limited, and they don’t fold for comfortable transport. 

Tech Specs

The drivers installed in the headset are 53mm with neodymium magnets, enhancing the sound quality and clearing the fluctuations. 

These large dynamic drivers are capable of producing some really powerful volume and bass. 

There’s a handy USB control box with built-in sound cards to handle settings on the go. However, I might have preferred that these settings be found as buttons on the headset itself.

The frequency response of this headset is 50-18,000 HZ. The nominal Impedance of HyperX Cloud II is 60 ohms, meaning you shouldn’t try to drive this with a phone. The current consumption while its use is usually up to 0.5 mA. The supply Voltage of the HyperX Cloud II is 2V. 

For noise cancellation, a closed-cup design is used. The noise cancellation is excellent, providing reliable isolation for the most part as the cups fit firmly over your ears.

The cable length and type used in this headset is 1m long with a 2m extension for long-distance usage. It makes use of 7.1 Surround Sound technology to enhance the precision of its imaging.

Sound Quality

The sound quality of this headset is a significant improvement over the previous versions of HyperX. 

HyperX Cloud II - Surround Sound controller
7.1 Surround Sound can be toggled | Make Life Click

The 53mm drivers of the HyperX Cloud II enable the headset to clearly distinguish between the fluctuations in the tones. The 7.1 surround sound gives you the cinematic experience you want in your games and home theater movies.

The sound quality section will be divided into three parts, where I will cover the bass, mids, and treble performances of the HyperX Cloud II and I’ll be discussing these in light of the headset’s total cost to give my honest impression.

Bass

The bass of the HyperX Cloud II is exceptionally good compared to the other headsets in the $100 range. 

The bass responses can produce a low-frequency effect of 14 HZ, which is good enough for all your gaming needs. 

Normally gaming headphones opt for an extremely high bass boost that is almost obnoxious to listen to. Luckily, the HyperX Cloud II reigns its bass back to a comfortable level while maintaining that signature bass impact one expects from gaming headphones.

However, in the HyperX Cloud II Headset, more emphasis is on the high bass rather than the mid-bass, making the booms clearer in audio but sacrificing some of that impact. 

Mids

The midrange performance of the HyperX Cloud II is one of the best I’ve experienced in gaming headphones. 

Low mid is well within the range of 1dB and boosted a bit compared to the HyperX Cloud. The midrange is usually flat, which makes up for clear and transparent vocals. The technical frequency response of the mids was superb, and you can EQ it a bit for even more clarity.

Cloud II Headphones
Flexible aluminum frame can be adjusted for various head sizes | Make Life Click

With the amount of bass on this headset, I was expecting the mids to be more obscured or muddied, however, this wasn’t the case.

For both gaming and music listening purposes, the mids are well-centered and produced as their separate entity. 

Treble

The treble overall is pretty serviceable, but as someone used to a more energetic and balanced treble, it left much to be desired. It has energy, but it lacks the resolution to make use of it.

The treble range is a bit inconsistent and results in some sound getting sharp and peaky, which I disliked about this headset. While this won’t pose much of an issue for gaming, it means you’re better off lowering the volume to serviceable levels for music listening. 

Sibilance is never fun for anyone, and if you’re someone who is very treble sensitive, this might be a deal breaker.  

General Sound Comments

The sound quality of the HyperX Cloud II meets all the requirements for gamers and makes up for a pretty good overall sound experience. 

I didn’t feel any sort of communication lapse while playing games. Music sound quality has been remarkable, and I could listen to music with a lot more clarity than other gaming headsets you’d typically run into.

It has also been a huge step up in my competitive gaming experience as I could listen to the slightest movements, the voice of the footsteps, explosions, and other sounds to give me an edge over my opponents.

I’d suggest not using the surround sound feature while listening to music as it takes away a lot of energy and depth from the music rather than making the soundstage wider. 

Other more technical complaints include the lack of a wider soundstage and less than optimal detail retrieval. However, these aren’t things I’d generally expect from a closed-back set and especially not for one designed for gaming.

HyperX Cloud II - Mic Cable
Detachable microphone cable | Make Life Click

The only other negative aspect regarding the sound of the HyperX Cloud II is the inconsistency in the treble range, which is the only issue worth mentioning I faced during my six months of usage.

Conclusion

If you’re a gamer who spends a lot of time with their headset equipped and value comfort over everything, then I’d easily recommend the HyperX Cloud II.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ONE?
HyperX Cloud II - Gaming Headset, 7.1 Surround Sound, Memory Foam Ear Pads, Durable Aluminum Frame, Detachable Microphone, Works with PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One – Gun Metal
HyperX Cloud II

This closed-back design makes lengthy sessions comfortable while providing some extremely competitive sound quality for its price. The specs of the HyperX Cloud II are second to none in this price range. 

So if the treble isn’t that big of an issue for you and you’re looking for a pair to last you for a long time within the $90 to $110 price range, the HyperX Cloud II is one of your best options.

HyperX Cloud II on a man's hand
HyperX Cloud II
Sound Quality
Build Quality
Sound Isolation
Comfort & Fit
Value for Money
Reader Rating0 Votes
4.6

An audio lover currently enrolled in university and writing about my hobbies in my free time.

You're guaranteed to find me testing out a new piece of audio equipment while going about my everyday life.

This post was last updated on 2025-01-31 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.


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