If you’re in the world of PC gaming, there’s a relatively high chance you’ve seen people talking about the HyperX Cloud Alpha on forums or other sites. Gamers have long enjoyed the HyperX gaming headsets because they offer relatively high quality for a low price.
The band and forks are solid metal, and each movable part of the headset is protected by robust joints, or thick padding. When you start using the HyperX Cloud Alpha, you’ll notice that it creates a very good seal against your head after adjusting the band, which is important for two reasons:
It’s a given that you want solid isolation if you’re a gamer or work at home while the world around you is pretty loud, but ear pads this deep and soft are an unfortunate rarity. It’s definitely convenient to be able to adjust your master volume without changing your computer’s settings when you move back and forth between programs.
If you’re a parent or teen, being able to mute the mic when your family members walk in the room is also a good way to avoid the embarrassment of your Discord server hearing your home life. I’ve enjoyed my time with the HyperX Cloud Alpha, and I can understand why this headset is so beloved by the online community.
Because the isolation is so good, you won’t have to worry about destructive interference or auditory masking preventing you from hearing small details in music. However, the actual performance of the speaker elements in the HyperX Cloud Alpha also allow your music and games to really shine.
With the exception of a dip at 4kHz, the frequency response of the product doesn’t alter the signal sent by your console or computer that much, meaning the sound will be very similar to how it was originally mixed. Additionally, some listeners experience some resonances and echoes in this range depending on their ear canals, so some manufacturers will also downplay this narrow band to avoid it.
The Cloud Flight S model is more flexible as it supports wired and wireless connections; you’re provided with a 2.4 GHz RF USB adapter that’s compatible with Playstation 4 and PC. Even still, the Cloud Flight S doesn’t blow things completely out of proportion as bass notes are rendered almost twice as loud as all other frequencies.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha offers exactly that, far above its price point, so it’ll be a trusty companion for a long time. Given that pretty much every gaming platform now includes its own audio features like virtual surround sound, the Cloud Alpha arguably competes with higher-end headsets even more favorably today than when it first came out.
Very similar to the Audeze Mobius, the HyperX Cloud Orbit S has planar magnetic drivers, and built-in 3D sound support as well—but it’ll cost you. Additionally, gaming headsets in the sub-$100 range are typically made of materials that are either easily broken or will decay quickly with heavy use.
HyperX Cloud Alpha Review
Overall, while they feel very durable and well-built, they don’t look quite as premium as the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas or the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless.
HyperX Cloud Alpha review
Yes, the Razer Boomslang had the gaming mouse market sewn up in the early 2000s, and the GTX 1060 has managed a LeBron-like career of evergreen performance. There have been refinements to the cabling, the inline controls, and even the chamber design around each driver, but you could always count on a Cloud headset to deliver the basics better than just about anyone else. Punchy enough that throwing a grenade in your game results in a genuinely traumatic audio response, but well-balanced enough that you can hear the glass fragments falling to the floor after it goes off. The biggest difference between this Alpha model and previous Cloud designs is a two-chamber spec that allows bass and mid frequencies to reverberate in their own compartments within the 50mm driver.
HyperX has shaved a little overall weight off with a new wrought aspect to the aluminium frame, and expanded the headband width, but in truth the comfort levels remain roughly where they were—excellent in the first place. The leatherette contact points around your ear do mean that these are warmer headphones than the breathable designs of Steelseries’ Arctis and Logitech’s G pro headsets, though.
And in the worst case scenario, when a cable breaks, your headset survives and you only need to shell out $10 for a replacement part. Just like long-running successful sports dynasties, there’s a temptation to feel blasé or jaded about it after four years topping best gaming headset guides, but it’s truly earned that reputation.
HyperX Cloud Alpha review
Retailing for $100 / £80 (roughly), these compelling mid-range cups have become known as the unofficial gold-standard for no-nonsense, quality at a reasonable price point. The HyperX Cloud Alpha feature a minimalist aviation-style aesthetic that reminds you more of a studio set of headphones than a gaming headset.
Unlike most gaming headsets, which are a fairly plasticky affair at the best of times, the HyperX Cloud Alpha makes heavy use of Aluminium parts on the cups and main band. Even better still is the level of comfort the Cloud Alpha’s plush leatherette memory foam padding affords when worn.
You’d think the reliance on metal parts would add weight too, but that’s not the case – these are superbly lightweight headphones designed for long periods of wear. One could decry HyperX for not including a bevy of software, dials, and other bells and whistles on the Alpha Cloud, but it’s evident they prioritized build quality here over outright features. That, coupled with the really comfortable fit, means you’re in the sweet spot for chilled sessions with your favorite RPG or strategy game – Imperator: Rome, in my case. But, let’s also not forget HyperX is a brand with esports pedigree, however – a fact highlighted by the no-nonsense specs-sheet the Cloud Alpha’s afford. Despite not having any fancy software or spatial sound, all noises were easily placed using good old fashioned stereo inside a closed-back design.
What’s more, the cups afford fantastic sound isolation too, so you’ll have no issues picking out those footsteps or equally reveling in the thunder of a particularly well placed-shot. The detachable boom mic is again, superb quality, rendering a fairly clear and uncompressed signal.
Cloud Alpha – Gaming Headset for PS4, Xbox One, PC & More
The Cloud Alpha headset builds upon HyperX’s foundation of signature award-winning comfort with premium red memory foam, expanded headband and softer, more pliable leatherette. It’s also multi-platform compatible with in-line audio controls, so serious gamers on PC, PS4™, Xbox One™ and other platforms with a 3.5mm port will benefit from the bold sound of the Cloud Alpha evolution.
Cloud Alpha S – USB Gaming Headset with 7.1 Surround Sound
Bass adjustment sliders have been added to the ear cups so you can personalize your audio. The Cloud Alpha S still features the dual-chamber driver system which reduces distortion and provides clearer sound, as well as signature HyperX comfort afforded by the memory foam ear cushions, which have been upgraded with extra breathable leatherette.
Customer Reviews: HyperX Cloud Alpha Pro Wired Stereo Gaming Headset, for PC, PS4, Xbox One Blackout Black HX-HSCA-BK/WW
Some people indicated that the sound on these is very low, almost at a whisper level when you plug it into the xbox controller and were disappointed, even when they turned up the in-game volume in COD all the way up. These headphones are LOUD, and then you can use the inline audio wheel to lower it or adjust to your desire, or use in-game sound menu controls after that. It is something that can EASILY be missed, and apparently has been, by all of the reviews i read about these being really quiet on Xbox and people returned them….when I first plugged these in, the sound was low and i was disheartened because i through the reviews were correct about these being quiet on the xbox, but then i found the separate headphone menu and WOW.
Again, use the headphones menu to turn up the volume for the microphone as well if it seems low, and then use specific in-game menus for tweaks and you are all set! I enabled the Windows Sonic on the Xbox Series X for the headphones and it produces a really good surround sound.
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