HyperX Cloud II Review and Test

The only visible difference between Cloud II and the original Cloud is that the former’s cup arms have a red anodized finish rather than the black of the latter.

As such, the Cloud II retains the sturdy black leather headband, large circumaural ear cups and comfortable, leatherette-covered, memory foam-filled ear pads that made the Cloud a pleasure to wear during long gaming sessions. Inside the large 53mm, drivers are still present too, as is the detachable microphone. Even the bundle of extras remains the same, with a handy airplane adaptor, carry bag and an extra pair of microfiber-covered ear pads included in the box.

It’s only by venturing away from the headset and looking at the cabling that you see why Hyper X has made its changes. Here, you’ll find that the original Cloud’s pair of two-conductor 3.5mm jacks have been amalgamated into a single 4-conductor3.5mm jack. This means the Cloud II is far more comfortable being plugged into a smartphone or tablet, as there’s no extra jack cable dangling, and you can use the microphone if you wish. On the negative side, the headset now plays much less nicely with traditional PC sound cards, which tend to require microphone audio delivered over a separate jack (as with the original Cloud).

To skirt this issue, HyperX has turned the Cloud II into a USB headset (via a 1m extension cable), integrating a dedicated sound card into the Cloud II’s in-line remote. This particular setup won’t please everyone (especially people with discrete sound cards) but it does make for a more flexible headset.

As a sweetener, the in-line sound card boasts an optional emulated 7.1 surround mode. Opinion on this mode was mixed at best – some in the team liked the extra sense of space it lent audio, particularly in games, whereas, others felt the default stereo audio was cleaner and better balanced.

Thankfully, with the 7.1 surround mode off, the audio output of the Cloud II was all but indistinguishable from that of the Cloud, despite the change in connection. Bass was still deep and booming, the mid-range was still beautifully balanced and high frequencies were still picked out in a way that no other gaming headset seems to be able to manage.

The redesigned in-line remote was also much more pleasant to use than that of the original Cloud, as it now features a clip, to keep it just where you need it, and the buttons are much bigger (despite the remote itself being smaller).

Conclusion

The Cloud II is an excellent headset – the audio, build quality and extras bundle are all top class, while the tweaks made to the connections of the headset will benefit most people. The 7.1 surround mode won’t suit everybody, but it’s easily ignored if you don’t like it. If you’re in the market for a new headset and are comfortable with it connecting via USB, the Cloud II should be at the top of your list.

VERDICT

The new connections make the Cloud II more flexible,while retaining the original Cloud’s excellent audio and build quality. 

CLOUDY CIRCUITRY SCORE = 89