HyperX is no stranger to creating pro-gamer headphones with a history of producing some of the most popular accessories around.
Today, the company announced its new $199 Hyper Cloud MIX headphones, which combine the best of PC gaming with the increasingly mobile lifestyles.
The non-geeky way of saying that is the Cloud MIX gaming headset has a boom mic, excellent 40mm drivers, but also Bluetooth 4.2 built in with 20 hours of battery life to be used with your favorite laptop or smartphone. I've spent a few days with the Cloud MIX headphones and here's what I think.
Bottom line: Great for gamers on the go who also listen to music, but just so-so overall headphones.
For
- Lightweight high-quality build.
- Removable mic boom.
- Comfortable ear cups.
- Built-in Bluetooth.
Against
- Not double-banded.
- Audio is so-so.
- Ear cups are small.
- micro USB charger.
HyperX Cloud MIX design
The Cloud Mix is a typical looking gaming headset that doesn't draw a lot of attention, which can be a good thing. No flashy LED lights, or crazy colors the headphones feature a muted silver logo on the ear cups and look high quality. A soft-touch paint was used giving the headphones a svelte, smooth feel.
The single-banded frame is built well with leatherette material and metal mounts for the ear cups. The included braided cable with in-line volume and mute controls are typical and matches the overall quality expected at this price range. There are no meta adjustments for head size so those with large noggins may find these to be tight.
I did find some soreness after prolonged usage
Because of the Bluetooth 4.2, there are more buttons on the ear cups than usual including a volume rocker, power button, micro USB port for charging and an LED. The battery is rated for 20 hours of usage per charge, which should be long enough for most trips without having to worry about carrying an extra cable, which unfortunately here is the dated micro USB style.
The detachable boom microphone has a nice flex to it, and the end microphone has a bulbous wind guard to prevent audio pops. HyperX says the mic is TeamSpeak and Discord Certified. When removed the headphones fall back to a built-in microphone for phone calls, gaming and more.
The headphones use dual chamber technology and are powered by 40mm drivers that meet Hi-Res Audio requirements and produces sound up to 40kHz when wired.
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Sound | Frequency Response: 10Hz – 40,000HzImpedance: 40 ΩSound Pressure Level: 100dBSPL/mW at 1kHz |
| Headphone Style | Circumaural; Closed back |
| Cable | Detachable Headset Cable: 1.3mPC Extension Cable: 2mUSB Charging Cable: 0.5m |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 |
| Connector | Detachable Headset Cable: 3.5mm plug (4 pole)PC Extension Cable: 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs |
| Driver | 40mm driver with neodymium magnets |
| Volume control | On cable |
| Microphone Style | Detachable electret condenser flexible boom with Noise-cancelling (50Hz-18,000 Hz)built-in (Bluetooth) |
| Weight | 275g (0.61lbs) |
| Dimensions | 8.07 x 8.58 x 4.49 in |
| Battery | Up to 20 hours (Bluetooth) |
Is HyperX Cloud MIX any good?
Audio quality is decent with the Cloud MIX, but it won't blow you away. It's a very even sound profile that doesn't push bass too much but also has muddied or muted highs compared to other headphones in this price range. I wasn't impressed, but it gets the job done.
Comfort is OK as well, but without a preferred double-band design which alleviates pressure at the skull apex, I did find some soreness after prolonged usage. The need to shift the headset slightly is a common flaw with single-band designs, but your comfort level will vary (I'm particularly sensitive to such things). The headphones are light though at just 275 grams. The ear cups nicely cover your ears but they are smaller than something like HP's new OMEN Mindframe which are more encompassing.
Bluetooth performance was decent and performed as expected.
For charging the Cloud MIX uses a dated micro USB charger. I would have preferred Type-C to match most modern Android phones and PC laptops so that you could use one charger, but alas, you'll need to carry a legacy cable for occasional charging. The good news is the battery is rated for 20 hours usage, so you should be able to keep the wire at home for trips unless you plan to use it exclusively in Bluetooth mode.
Should you buy HyperX Cloud MIX?
The big selling point with the Cloud MIX is the added Bluetooth 4.2 radio with a decent sized battery for mobile use. The ability to share the same headphones with your PC as your phone or laptop is an enticing option for some who want to keep things simple.
If that ability to use this untethered is only of mild interest to you, or not your primary purpose, then I see no reason to buy the Cloud MIX headphones.
The Cloud MIX is just that: a mixed bag
The overall audio profile of this headset – despite the fancy numbers in the specs above – did not speak to me. I found the sound rather dull and lacking vibrancy especially for $199, which makes using these for secondary and tertiary functions like movies and music a pitfall.
The design is commendable with smooth, professional look and the included cables and flexibility is noteworthy, but for long durations, I did get soreness at the top of my skull.
I can forgive mediocre audio if the headphones are exceptional in other areas, but the Cloud MIX is just that: a mixed bag of features that are neither terrible, but also nothing extraordinary. If these were $99 headphones, those flaws are easy to overlook, but at $199 it's hard to love these.
