HyperX are no strangers to making some of the best gaming headsets around, including the excellent Cloud Alpha S Blackout and the groundbreaking Cloud Orbit S.
For late 2020, the company introduces the Cloud II Wireless – a riff on the stylish Cloud II headset, which maintains a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Amazon from 30,000 reviews. I have been using Cloud II Wireless for the last week, and there is a lot to like about it, especially if you like cutting the cord without relying on spotty Bluetooth.
What you'll love about the HyperX Cloud II Wireless headset
The tl;dr of what makes these headphones great is the comfort. The headphones are a light (309 grams, with mic, 300 grams without), single-banded style with metal mounts for the 53mm over-the-ear drivers. The top leather band is well padded with fancy red stitching giving these headsets a familiar red-and-black flair known from HyperX.
Putting on the headphones and you get why so many prefer HyperX's design – the balance between the headband peak and the clamps of the headphones is perfect. These headphones go on, and you can leave them on for hours with no discomfort. I'm particularly sensitive to pressure on the top of my skull, making it challenging to wear headphones for hours on end, but these were pure joy.
| Specs |
|---|
| Driver | Dynamic, 53mm neodymium |
| Type | Circumaural |
| Frequency response | 15Hz–20kHz |
| Impedance | 60 Ω |
| Sound pressure level | 104dBSPL/mW at 1kHz |
| Weight | 300g |
| Weight with mic | 309g |
| Cable length and type | USB charge cable (0.5m) |
| Battery life | 30 hours |
| Wireless Range | 2.4 GHz Up to 20M |
The wireless connection is also great. The Cloud II Wireless ditches a wired format for a high-performant 2.4GHz dedicated connection via the included dongle (although there is a 3.5mm jack). The thumb-sized Type-A dongle plugs into your PC (or PlayStation 4, but not Xbox), and a small red LED lets you know it is on and connected.
This is a universal setup, too, as I could use a Type-C adapter and plug the dongle into my Surface Pro X and everything worked just fine.
That's the other bonus: setup. There's not a lot to these headphones, making them simple to use. You can download NGENUITY — HyperX's software via the Microsoft Store that lets you configure things — but it is not necessary to install (and being from the Store, it's a well-behaved app too). That app lets you visualize some settings like the 7.1 surround and check on battery life, but there's no EQ to fiddle with or loads of settings to toggle.
HyperX Cloud II Wireless: What's new
- 2.4GHz wireless connection with a 20-meter wireless range
- LED indicator on the microphone to indicate the mute status
- Upgraded microphone with an optional pop filter to reduce plosive sounds
- Built-in mic monitoring
- NGENUITY support for audio controls, toggle for 7.1 surround sound, mic volume adjustment, and battery life monitoring
The plug-n-play ability is only as good as the audio, and HyperX delivers. The 7.1 surround sound is impressive, and it makes games and movies that much more immersive. The 53mm drives with a 15Hz–20kHz frequency response are tuned thoroughly. Bass is strong, the highs don't peak, and the sound is rich and pleasing whether I'm watching Interstellar, playing DOOM, or listening to Pink Floyd.
These headphones look really lovely too. The red accents add some flair without going overboard, but I appreciate the metal mounts for the earcups, giving them a high-quality feel. There is no creaking or anything cheap feeling here.
Mic quality is crystal clear, with my gaming partners noticing an improvement from some of my other headphones.
Battery life is rated at 30 hours, which is exceptionally good, giving you at least four hours a day for the week. Recharging is simple, with the Type-C connector letting you use any charger on these. A small green LED on the headset lets you know it is currently powered.
The power button is recessed versus the raised mic-mute button. On the right side is a volume wheel. All the controls are easy to discern. Pressing the power button toggles 7.1 surround sound on or off, which is why you don't need the software to manage anything. If HyperX's surround format doesn't suit you, Dolby Atmos, Windows Sonic work just as well.
What you'll dislike about the HyperX Cloud II Wireless headset
There's not a lot to pick on for these headphones, but here are some niggles that may bother you.
Even though you can use these wired, there is no 3.5mm cable included in the box, so you'll have to procure one yourself if you want to go old school. These headphones also do not work on Xbox (but they work on PlayStation), presumably due to the licensing costs involved (I tried, just in case, but no dice).
While the setup is easy and painless, that lack of complexity may turn some buyers off who want to fine-tune with an equalizer or other advanced "frills" found in some gaming headphones.
There is no active noise cancellation for audio – which is expected at this price point.
Finally, there is the obvious: needing to use a thumb-sized 2.4GHz dongle. Dongles can be a pain, especially if you are short on ports or you lose it. While the plus here is 2.4GHz is better than Bluetooth for reliability, there is no arguing that Bluetooth requires even less hardware. These headphones do not have a Bluetooth radio in them, so it is 2.4GHz or 3.5mm cable wired.
Should you buy the HyperX Cloud II Wireless headset?
Yes. Although pricing at $150 puts these headsets up against some heavy hitters like SteelSeries Arctis 7x, Logitech G533, and Razer Nari, HyperX's reputation and quality really shine on the Cloud II Wireless.
These headphones are comfortable, look great, feature long battery life, and the sound is just fantastic. While $150 is a lot ($50 more than the wired option), there is a good chance some discounts will be offered with the holidays. Wired Cloud II often drops to $70, so you shouldn't have to pay full retail for long.
Overall, these are just excellent wireless headphones for your PC, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch. There are no dealbreakers for my usage (although Xbox support would be ideal), and these are easy to recommend. Plus, HyperX (Kingston) also has a solid reputation for customer service.
