Kingston HyperX Cloud II 7.1 Headset (Hardware) Review

The sound of excellence.

Gaming headsets are kind of a fascination for me. Being a father and a gamer means I need to spend a lot of my play time with cans on my ears to be able to enjoy titles while my son is still roaming around the house. It also helps at night when I want a rocking explosion that won’t wake him up. I have played with the most expensive, the low-end, but one of the most impressive sets was in a perfect price range, and delivered outstanding quality. The Kingston HyperX Cloud was one of my biggest surprises last year, check out my review of the originals here, which is why when I heard they were updating the set, I had to check them out.

The new HyperX Cloud II headset doesn’t change the formula much. There are now three color schemes, and the input is now USB as opposed to the original’s separate jacks. The control box has also been updated with better volume controls for both the microphone and sound, as well as a 7.1 switch.

The new colors are definitely sharp.

The new colors are definitely sharp.

MSRP: $99.99

On PC all of this works flawlessly. Still I am not happy using it to record podcasts as turning on listening to the device still presents an audio lag due to Windows. This is common for all USB headsets and not everyone likes that feature, so it might not be a deal breaker for most.

Functionality also extends to the consoles this time with more success with PS4. The volume controls appear to do little on the console, but the 7.1 still exists and sounds fantastic. On Xbox One, the chat adapter is required, but it works great outside of that. It has become my new standard for Microsoft’s console, though I still prefer my wireless Gold headset for PS4.

The biggest advantage to the HyperX line is the comfort. These are still the most comfortable headphones I have used outside of Turtle Beach’s higher-end line. The included earcup replacements make it even better. In fact the entire packaging of the Cloud II matches its predecessor in both design and presentation. Opening the box feels like a treat. Everything is laid out in foam cut outs for perfect position. It isn’t something I usually notice, but when done right it really makes it feel like I got my money’s worth.

The sound quality is incredible. Testing it across all three platforms among a variety of games did not disappoint. Feeling hits in Killer Instinct and Dead or Alive 5 on Xbox One, to hearing explosions in The Order 1886 on PS4 sounded unbelievable. The quality coming from this $100 is impressive. Basses are deep and mids really stand out. The inclusion of 7.1 on PC and PS4 really adds dynamic flare to every sound.

The new control box is vastly improved.

The new control box is vastly improved.

Between the build quality, comfort, and sound superiority I cannot recommend these headphones enough. The only caveat is that they are in fact wired. The braided cord is long enough to accompany most setups, but for those that sit several feet away, it might be a deal breaker.

Outside of that I definitely suggest these for those like me that need a solid solution for all three major gaming platforms. They will also work with iPhone’s and other media devices, but they excel at delivering quality gaming audio without breaking the bank.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Great value for the price
  • Extremely comfortable
  • Sound is incredible
Bad
  • Still wired
9
Excellent
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.